LATEST ADDITIONS  12/0/2014

MAGAZINE
UGLY THINGS #38


COMPACT DISCS
BENNY BARNES

SHIRLEY BERGERON
CECIL CAMPBELL
DOCTOR CLAYTON
EDDIE CONDON
L.C. COOKE
VERNON DALHART
MERCY DEE
THE DEEP RIVER BOYS
EDDIE & ERNIE
THE FIESTAS
SLIM GAILLARD
EDDIE GILES
BABS GONZALES
JOHN LEE HOOKER

JOE HILL LOUIS
MACHITO & HIS AFRO-CUBANS
THE MILLER BROTHERS
LUCKY MILLINDER
HEATHER MYLES
RICKY NELSON
WEBB PIERCE
JOHN PRINE
LOU RAWLS
HARRY RESER
SAM THE SHAM & THE PHARAOS
THE SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET
JIMMY SPRUILL
ERNEST V. STONEMAN
ROOSEVELT SYKES
VARIOUS ARTISTS
JUNIOR WELLS
JOSH WHITE


IMPORTANT NOTE: We currently do not have a shopping cart. The company who handled our cart has gone out of business. However we are still handling orders and are keeping our web site up to date with new releases. You may place your orders by email (roots@toast.net), phone (toll free in USA 1-888-ROOTS-66, Elsewhere: 510-965-9503) or by mail P.O. Box 837, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA

 
Since our Second Time Around listings are so popular this list includes some great releases which have been out for a while but you may have missed them the first time we listed them.To avoid you getting possible duplicates we have added  asterisks (**) after these particular titles. We have also included some choice sale items.
 

DVDS


UGLY THINGS #38 Ugly Things 38 ● BOOK $9.98
176 pages / perfect bound / full-color glossy cover, highly recommended Ugly Things is chronicle of cool that we all get to enjoy two to three times a year. They are really cooking with this new issue with a big, exclusive, interview with Dave Davies of The Kinks by Richie Unterberger that's worth the price of admission by itself. Add to that detail rich articles on a wide variety of cool like Texas garage-psych icons The Golden Dawn, the great music journalist Lester Bangs in his early years, Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies, Dennis Dunaway of the Alice Cooper band, Blue Cheer, legendary DJ Dave Diamond, an extensive unpublished 1978 interview with art Punk legends The Screamers by Jon Savage, and much more. (JM)


COMPACT DISCS


BENNY BARNES Bear Family BCD 16517 Poor Man's Riches - The Complete 1950s Recordings ** ● CD $21.98
33 tracks, very highly recommended
Fabulous collection of sides by this superb honky tonk singer from Texas. Barnes had a 25 year recording career from 1956 to 1981 (he died in '86). He notched up one top ten country hit - the terrific Poor Man's Riches (1956) and one minor hit in the 60s and one in the 70s. This set includes all his recordings in the 50s for Starday, Dixie, Mercury and Faith including two previously unissued songs and two solo demos from 1956 including a great version of the Little Walter blues hit My Babe. Barnes had a hand in writing many of the songs here including Poor Old Me/ A Nickel's Worth Of Dreams/ King For A Day/ Gold Records In The Snow (a tribute to Buddy Holly, Big Bopper & Ritchie Valens)/ Nickel's Worth Of Dreams and others. There are also a couple of George Jones composition - Jones and Barnes were good friends and Jones introduced Barnes to Starday owner Pappy Dailey. There are also some almost note-for-note covers of three Johnny Cash hits - a common practice from Barnes's producer Dailey. Sound quality is, as usual for Bear Family, outstanding and the 48 page booklet has extensive notes by Andrew Brown plus rare photos and full discographical information. (FS)

 
SHIRLEY BERGERON Mardi Gras 1102 French Cajun Music! ● CD $16.98 $9.98
22 tracks, 52 mins, highly recommended
Previously available on a long out of print album on Ace this is a wonderful collection of traditional Cajun music at its best. Recorded for Lee Lavergne's Lanor label in the late 50s and early 60 it features Bergeron's expressive voice accompanied by the faultless accordion playing of his father Alphee. Half the tracks are very traditional with Shirley playing acoustic guitar and the duo accompanied by Noah Bourque on fiddle and Marc Savoy on triangle. The other half is a bit more "modern" with Shirley on electric or steel guitar and here Shirley and Alphee are accompanied by a drummer. The music is a mix of originals and traditional favorites like Madame Sosthene/ Poor Hobo and one of my all time favorite Cajun songs J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte. Superb! (FS)

 
CECIL CAMPBELL B.A.C.M. 467 From Tennessee Farms To Hawaiian Palms ● CD $14.98
24 tracks, strongly recommended
Steel guitarist Cecil Campbell started recording with a string band called the Tennessee Ramblers in the late 30s but these recordings are from the late 40s and 1950s and, probably features different musicians. Most of the tracks are instrumental giving Campbell a chance to show his steel guitar talents which are pleasing and low key and not flashy and he is giving solid backup by a small group with accordion, guitar and fiddle. The material ranges from country tunes to Hawaiian flavored numbers - nearly all Campbell originals including Waltzing With A Steel Guitar/ Steel Guitar Tango/ Neath Hawaiian Palms/ Steel Guitar Ramble/ Tropical Island/ I Trusted You/ Steel Guitar Dig, etc. (FS)
CECIL CAMPBELL: Barn Dance Breakdown/ Blues On The Steel/ Coconut Island/ Hawaiian Moon/ Hawaiian Skies/ I Trusted You/ Just A Drop In The Bucket/ Little Hula Shack In Hawaii/ Neath Hawaiian Palms/ No Blues, No Blues For Me/ No Wedding Bells For Me/ On The Prado/ Paper Roses/ Please Daddy Don't Drink No More/ Serenade Of The Winds/ Spanish Style/ Steel Guitar Dig/ Steel Guitar Ramble/ Steel Guitar Tango/ Steel Guitar Waltz/ Tear Drops/ Tropical Island/ Tryon Street Boogie/ Waltzing With A Steel Guitar

 
DOCTOR CLAYTON Document DOCD 5179 Complete Chronological Recordings (1935-42) ● CD $15.98 $10.98
24 tracks, 69 mins, recommended
Although not terribly prolific or well known today Peter "Doctor" Clayton wrote several songs that have become blues standards (Gotta Find My Baby, Cheating & Lying Blues (usually known as Gonna Murder My Baby) and others. He was the major influence on Sunnyland Slim and an influence on B.B. King. He had a distinctive vocal style with a lovely soaring swooping quality to it. He wrote some brilliant lyrics including the previously mentioned songs, Slick Man Blues/ Moonshine Man Blues the patriotic '41 Blues and Pearl Harbor Blues, the witty Ain't No Business We Can Do- and the original version of Confessin' The Blues. Nearly all the cuts feature effective piano by John Davis and several feature the rather unusual but effective sound of a tuba played by Ransom Knowling. (FS)

 
EDDIE CONDON JSP JSPCD 958 Classic Sessions, 1927-1949 ● CD $28.98
Four CDs, 98 tracks, highly recommended
This appears to be a reissue of JSP 906 which was issued many years back. Another outstanding collection featuring classic jazz recordings remastered by the legendary John R.T. Davies. This time the focus is on guitarist/ banjo player Eddie Condon who didn't issue a whole lot under his own name but played on lots of sessions featuring many of the giants of jazz and was one of the leading lights in the "Chicago school" of jazz which later evolved into Dixieland. There are sessions here by McKenzie & Condon's Chicagoans (with Jimmy McPartland, Bud Freeman, Gene Krupa & others), Frank Teschmacher's Chicagoans (with similar lineup), Eddie Condon & His Footwarmers (with Jack Teagarden, Mezz Mezzrow, Joe Sullivan, etc), Fats Waller & His Buddies, The Mound City Blue Blowers, Billy Banks & His Orch (with Red Allen, Pee Wee Russell, Joe Sullivan, Gene Krupa, etc), Eddie Condon & His Orch. (with Max Kaminsky, Pee Wee Russell, Bud Freeman, Sid Catlett, etc.), Dick P{orter & His Orch. (with Jonah Jones, Joe Marsala, George Wetling, etc), Eddie Condon & His Windy City Seven (with Bobby Hackett, Jack Teagarden, Pee Wee Russell, Bud Freeman, etc.), Bud Freeman & His Summa Cum Laude Orch. and much more. Remastering by John R.T. Davis ensures stellar sound quality and the set has detailed notes by Sally-Ann Worsfold. (FS)

 
L.C. COOKE Abkco 5050 The Complete SAR Recordings ● CD $9.98
18 tracks, highly recommended
L. C. Cooke is Sam's younger brother and these never-before-heard recordings represent the LP (with eight additional tracks) that was supposed to be released by Sam Cooke's SAR label in January 1964. The album's release was first delayed, and then canceled completely in the wake of Sam's death and the subsequent dissolution of the company. On first listen, it's obvious that L.C. sounds more than a little like his older brother, but a closer listen reveals that L.C. has a charm and feel for a song all his own; just check out The Lover/ Put Me Down Easy/ Miss Sally , and Gonna Have a Good Time. For anyone who didn't know that L.C.'s sides exist-let alone that Sam Cooke had a singing brother-these songs will come as a revelation and a pleasant surprise. (GMC)

 
VERNON DALHART Document DOCD 1105 Puttin' On The Style ** ● CD $15.98
18 tracks, 70 mins, highly recommended
Although Dalhart is often shunned by country music collectors because of his somewhat trained voice and precise diction he is certainly an important performer as well as possibly the most prolific. Among the more than 1,800 songs he recorded between 1916 and 1939 are many fine performances including the first recordings of a number songs that have become country standards. Dalhart started his career singing light opera, coon songs and popular ditties and the first three tracks here recorded between 1916 and 1923 find him performing in this mould. In May 1924 he recorded a cover of Henry Whitter's Wreck Of The Old Southern 97 and it's success led to devote most of the rest of his career to country music which comprises the rest of this CD including The Prisoner's Song (one of his most popular songs that he recorded for 50 different labels!) plus Little Rosewood Casket/ The Boston Burglar/ Better Get Out OF My Way!/ Floyd Collins Waltz/ The Mississippi Flood/ My Blue Ridge Mountain Home/ The Alabama Flood, etc. Arrangements feature guitar, banjo, harmonica and occasional Jews harp and piano. Sound is fine and there are extensive notes but no discographical info. (FS)
VERNON DALHART: Better Get Out Of My Way!/ Can't Yo' Hear Me Callin' Caroline?/ Dardanella/ Floyd Collins Waltz/ Get Away Old Man, Get Away!/ Little Rosewood Casket/ My Blue Ridge Mountain Home/ Old Folks At Home/ Puttin' On the Style/ Razors In De Air/ She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain/ The Alabama Flood/ The Boston Burgler/ The Mississippi Flood/ The Prisoners Song/ The Wreck Of the Number Nine/ The Wreck Of the Shenandoah/ Way Out West In Kansas

 
MERCY DEE Arhoolie 369 Mercy's Troubles ** ● CD $13.98
16 tracks, very highly recommended
Mercy Dee Walton has long been a favorite of mine with his wonderful rolling barrelhouse playing, warm wistful vocal style and unique songs. What makes his songs so engaging are the wonderful original lyrics full of careful observations and brilliant witticisms - much of it based on his own experiences. This 64 minute disc is a real treasure trove of great music featuring 16 sides recorded for Chris Strachwitz in 1961 - 10 of them previously on Arhoolie or Bluesville and 6 previously unissued songs or alternates. Five of the songs are vocal and piano only and the rest feature various combinations of Sidney Maide/ hca, K.C. Douglas/ gtr and Otis Cherry/ dms. The songs include a remake of his most famous song (and R&B chart hit) One Room Country Shack, the long and semi autobiographical Mercy's Troubles, the jumping instrumental Mercy's Shuffle, the risque Red Light and more. The mood is generally slow and introspective but never dull. Sound is excellent and there is full discographical information and good liner notes by Chris Strachwitz. (FS)
MERCY DEE WALTON: After The Fight (*)/ Betty Jean (*)/ Call The Asylum (*)/ Eighth Wonder Of The World/ Five Card Hand/ Have You Ever Been Out In The Country/ I Been A Fool/ Lady Luck (*)/ Mercy's Shuffle (*)/ Mercy's Troubles/ On Room Country Shack/ Red Light/ Shady Lane (*)/ Sugar Daddy/ Troublesome Mind/ Walked Down So Many Turnrows

 
THE DEEP RIVER BOYS Acrobat ACMCD 4262 Let's Go ● CD $13.98 $9.98
28 tracks, highly recommended
The Deep River Boys were a black vocal group formed in the mid 30s by baritone singer Harry Douglass. They recorded farly extensively in the 40s and 50s doing both gospel and jivey pop material. In the 50s they toured extensively in Europe where they became very popular and recorded regularly. The notes to this collection by Opal Louis Nations are extensive but vaugue as to the date of these recordings here but I believe most of them are from the period 1946 through 1950. Highlights are six stunning acapella recorded for the obscure Pilotone label in 1945 or '46 including Get On Board Little Children/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot/ I'm Trampin' and others. On most of the other tracks they are accompanied by piano or rhythm section and tracks include Carmena Waltz Song/ I Am Bound For Sweet Canaan Land/ You Talk Too Much/ A Zoot Suit/ Cousin Jedidiah/ What Did He Say/ That's What You Need To Succeed/ Ain't Misbehavin', etc. Sound quality is generally excellent. (FS)

 
EDDIE & ERNIE Kent CDKEND 214 Lost Friends ** ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 67 min, highly recommended
This great soul-reissue label has included this disc in their new "Artistry In Soul" series, showcasing what they feel are some of the best in known & unknown greats. This is the 1st collection of this deep soul close-harmony duo, sounding a bit like Sam & Dave if Sam was Sam Cooke! Both started in gospel groups in the 50s, influenced by Cooke. Based in Phoenix & part of that city's soul scene, led by Dyke & The Blazers, Eddie Campbell & Ernie Johnson recorded there, in NY & LA as a duo (under Eddie & Ernie and The New Bloods), solo, & as singers in The Phoenix Express. All these aspects are covered here in tunes recorded 1963-72 on a variety of labels, including sides produced by Juggy Murray & Richard Gottherer, & including a number of never released tunes. The whole set is an obvious labor of love from compiler Dave Godin! (GM)

 
THE FIESTAS Ace CDCHD 382 The Oh So Fine Fiestas ** ● CD $18.98
29 tracks, 70 min., highly recommended
An expansion of the Ace compilation originally released on vinyl in 1986, this disc now contains almost every track that this pivotal group recorded for Hy Weiss's Old Town label. Spanning the years 1959 to 1965, these numbers make it clear that even though they could ably look back to the sound of doo-wop, the Fiestas were really a first wave soul group pretty much from the start. Tracks include the title tune, plus the quality ballad Our Anniversary, the jumpin' Try It One More Time, a fine version of Arthur Alexander's Anna, and even a few Coasters' styled cuts like Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon. It's all convincingly done, with most numbers on the up tempo side. Nice cover photo, slightly updated 1986 notes, and fine stereo sound on most numbers. (DH)
THE FIESTAS: All That's Good/ Anna/ Broken Heart/ Come On And Love Me/ Dollar Bill/ Foolish Dreamer/ Good News/ I Felt Good All Over/ I Gotta Have Your Lovin'/ I'm Your Slave/ It Don't Make Sense/ Last Night I Dreamed/ Look At That Girl/ Love Is Good To Me/ Mr Dillon, Mr Dillon/ Our Anniversary/ Rock-A-By Baby Don't Cry No More/ So Fine/ So Nice/ That Was Me/ The Gypsy Said/ The Hobos Prayer/ The Lawman/ The Party's Over/ The Railroad Song/ Things We Can't Forget/ Think Smart/ Try It One More Time/ You Could Be My Girlfriend

 
SLIM GAILLARD Hep 6 The Legendary McVoutie, 1946 ** ● CD $15.98
15 tracks, 70 mins, highly recommended
A collection of 15 tracks from the uncrowned king of vout - the one and only Slim Gaillard - previously issued on Hep albums and mostly taken from 40s radio shows. The basic duo of Slim on guitar and vocals with Bam Brown on bass and vocals is assisted at various times by Leo Watson on drums and vocals and Dodo Marmarosa/ piano. Other musicians appear including some madness from Harry The Hipster Gibson on Hey Stop That Dancing Up There. There is also a rare appearance from 1941 of the original Slim & Slam doing the 8 minute African Jive. Watson sings on Operatic Aria, Slim introduces all 13 soloists at the Jubilee All Stars (inc. Emmett Berry, Ray Coniff, Willie Smith & Bobby Hacket), and sings in his best Spanglish & McVouty such touching tunes as Voutoreene/ Avocado Seed Soup Symphony Pts 1 & 2/ Yep Roc Heresi/ Matzoh Balls, and others. There is also a great Chicken Rhythm from a 1946 V Disc (wait til you hear Bob Hope's McVouty introduction!). 70 minutes of the voutest with excellent sound, good notes by Alastair Robertson and full discographical details. (FS)

 
EDDIE GILES Kent CDKEND 401 Southern Soul Brothers - The Murco Recordings, 1968-69 ● CD $18.98
18 tracks, highly recommended
Yet another unsung hero of 60's Soul, Eddy Giles only cut a handful of recordings for the tiny Murco label out of Shreveport, Louisiana but they represent what's great about Southern Soul. Giles singing and guitar playing are the backbone of exceptional songs like I Got the Blues/ Losin' Boy/ While I'm Away (Baby Keep the Faith), the aching Love With a Feeling, and So Deep in Love. There's no messing about on these tracks just meat and potatoes Southern Soul. Anyone interested in great obscure soul music from Shreveport could do worse than to check out this fine collection, and also "Shreveport Southern Soul . The Murco Story" (Kent 178 - $18.98). (GMC)

 
BABS GONZALES Proper Intro 2052 Real Crazy - A Proper Introductions To Babs Gonzales ● CD $9.98 $6.98
23 tracks, 63 min, essential
BeBop's biggest cheerleader & most exuberant vocalist, the king of bop, complete with shades, goatee & beret! I first heard Babs many years ago on a Capitol Bebop compilation doing Capitolizing & Professor Bop (both here) & I was hooked! Just a glance at the titles will give you an idea what happening here - starting with his first group 3 Bips & A Bop from '47 doing Oop-Pop-A-Da/ Lop-Pow/ Dob Bla Bli & Weird Lullabye, featuring the great Tadd Dameron on piano. As a solo he went on to Prelude To A Nightmare/ Real Crazy, & a lesson on how to sing bop, You'll Be Boppin' Too. He was also very adept at putting nonsense syllables to such tunes as The Continental/ St. Louis Blues ("They're boppin' Mr. Handy's tune")/ Stomping At The Savoy, & Bird's Ornithology done as The Boss Is Back. The music matches the lyrics, with such greats as Art Pepper, Sonny Rollins, Don Redmond, Ray Nance, Wynton Kelly, Johnny Griffin & Buddy Tate. With 8 page booklet. (GM)

 
JOHN LEE HOOKER Fantasy 24706 Boogie Chillun' ● CD $16.98 $10.98
19 tracks, 77 mins, strongly recommended
Two LP set on CD (less one track for time reasons) featuring John Lee's fine solo sides recorded live at the Sugar Hill club in November, 1962. Although a far cry from the ferocity of his early solo sides John Lee sounds fine with strong vocals and solid guitar accompaniment on a selection of standards from his repertoire, his distinctive takes on blues standards and some songs that sound like they might have been made up on the spot. Includes I Just Can't Hold Much Longer/ I Was Standing By The Wayside (a particularly nice performance with a very passionate vocal)/ This World/ Driftin' And Driftin'/ I Need Some Money/ Night Time Is The Right Time/ Cruel Little Baby, etc. (FS)
JOHN LEE HOOKER: Big Legs, Tight Skirt -/ Boogie Chillun/ Boom Boom/ Bottle up & Go/ Crawlin' Kingsnake/ Dimples/ Drive Me Away/ Every Night/ Hobo Blues/ I Love You Honey/ I'm Goin' Upstairs/ I'm in the Mood/ It Serves Me Right to Suffer -/ Little Wheel/ Maudie/ No Shoes/ Solid Sender/ This Is Hip/ Want Ad Blues/ Will the Circle Be Unbroken/ You Can Lead Me Baby/ You're Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine -

 
JOE HILL LOUIS JSP JSPCD 4208 King Of The One Man Bands - Key Postwar Cuts, 1949-54 ** ● CD $22.98
Two CDs, 57 tracks, very highly recommended
Wonderful two CD set featuring tracks recorded between 1949 and 1954 by the greatest of all the blues one man bands - Memphis bluesman Joe Hill Louis. Although about half the tracks are on the previously issued CDs on Ace and Bear Family (Ace 803 - $18.98, Bear Family 15524 - $21.98) this is worth it for the tracks not on those compilations which includes his first cuts for Columbia in 1946 and his second from last recording for the tiny Memphis label Vendor in 1954. (FS)
JOE HILL LOUIS: 4th/ A' Jumpin' And A' Shufflin'/ And Beale/ Big Legged Woman/ Blue In The Morning/ Boogie In The Park/ Boogie In The Park/ Chocolate Blonde/ Cold Chills/ Cold Chills (Alt)/ Come Back Baby/ Don't Do It Again/ Don't Trust Your Best Friend/ Early In The/ Eyesight To The Blind/ Floor/ Get Up Off It/ Goin' Away Blues/ Going Down Slow/ Going Down To Louisiana/ Good Morning Little Angel/ Got Me A New Woman/ Gotta/ Gotta Go Baby/ Gotta Go Baby (Alt)/ Heartache Baby/ Highway 99/ Hydramatic Woman/ I Feel Like A Million/ I Love My Baby/ I'm A Poor Boy/ Jack Pot/ Jealous Man/ Joe Hill Boogie (1951)/ Joe Hill Boogie (1954)/ Joe's Jump/ Just Plain Tired/ Keep Away From My Baby/ Keep Your Arms Around Me Mama/ Let You Go/ Mistreat Me Woman/ Morning/ Nappy Head Woman/ On The/ Peace Of Mind/ Railroad Blues/ Ridin' Home/ Ruthie Mae/ She Comes To See Me Sometime/ She Got Me Walkin'/ She May Be/ She's Taking All My Money/ Street Walkin'/ Sweetest/ Sweetest Gal In Town/ The Way You Treat Me/ Ticket/ Tiger Man/ Train/ Walkin' Talkin' Blues/ We All Gotta Go Sometime/ Western Union Man/ Woman/ Woman I Ever Seen/ Yours (Sweetest Girl In Town)

 
MACHITO & HIS AFRO-CUBANS Proper BOX 48 Ritmo Caliente ● CD $25.98 $18.98
4 CDs, 73 tracks, 4 hours and 27 minutes, highly recommended
A wonderful and inexpensive collection of many of the recordings of the father of latin jazz (or cubop) from his peak period (1941-51). Machito (born Frank Grillo) added Afro-Cuban rhythms to African-American big bad jazz and bop to create an exciting new music that took the country by storm and whose effects are still heard today. These sides feature both classic Cuban players like Chano Pozo as well as American jazz legends such as Charlie Parker and Buddy Rich. Includes 40 page booklet with the Machito story and full discographical information. (JV)

 
THE MILLER BROTHERS B.A.C.M. 468 Vol. 1 - Ramblin' Round ● CD $14.98
30 tracks, highly recommended
The first of two CDs from this superb Western/ Western Swing band from Wichita Falls, Texas. Despite their name there was no-one in the group named Miller hough it did feature the brothers Leon (fiddle), Sam (gtr) and Nat Gibbs (bass) along with various other musicians. They first recorded in 1947 and '48 for the Delta label with a varied and lively selection of material ranging from a string band to a big band sound with horns and an equally varied range of material including Shadows On My Memories/ Shanty Town (a great version of "A Shanty In Old Shanty Town" with different words including the wonderful line "if I were as classy as Haile Selasse")/ Miller's Boogie/ Beer Barrel Polka and others. They didn't record again until 1953 when they backed Tommy Duncan on seven tracks (available on Bear Family BCD 15957 - $21.98). In 1954 they signed with the 4 Star label and recorded fairly extensively for them until the early 60s. The last 18 tracks features 4 Star recordings cut between 1954 and 1956 and apart from Leon Gibbs (who now called himself Leon Miller) I'm not sure if any of the other Gibbs brothers were involved and the rest of the musicians were certainly different. The sound was updated from the earlier group but was lively and energetic though I'm not too fond of the half a dozen novelty songs sung by the unremarkable Billy Thompson but the rest is excellent including six exciting instrumentals with fine steel guitar from Bill Jordan and fiddle work from Dale Wilson and Frakie McWhorter. The remaining vocals are either by the excellent Bill Taylor or ensemble. A splendid release with informative notes by Philip Tricker. (FS)
THE MILLER BROTHERS: Alligator Rag (Instr.)/ As You Were Standing By My Side/ Beer Barrel Polka (Instr.)/ Bluest Blues/ Broken Hearted Girl/ Denver Hop (Instr.)/ Express Polka (Instr.)/ Fiddlin' Stomp (Instr.)/ Geronimo/ Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus/ Ida Red/ Ill At Ease/ Marcheta/ Miller's Boogie (Instr.)/ My Baby Girl/ New Potato Stomp (Instr.)/ Nursery Rhyme Blues/ Ramblin' Round (Instr.)/ Rose Of Tijuana/ Rudolph Junior/ Schottische (Instr.)/ Shadows On My Memories/ Shanty Town/ That's How Long I'll Love You/ Today, Tomorrow And From Now On/ Trailways Blues/ Tulsa Baby/ Waggoner (Instr.)/ Wednesday Night Waltz (Instr.)/ You'll Regret Someday

 
LUCKY MILLINDER Rev-Ola CRBAND 7 Let It Roll Again, 1949-1955 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
29 tracks, highly recommended
Wonderful collection of swinging rhythm & blues featuring recordings of this great and important big band cut between 1949 and 1955. Includes vocals by Big John Greer, Annisteen Allen, Wynonie Harris, Melvin Moore and others. Top musicians like Lamar Wright, John Hardee, Sonny Thompson, Tyree Glenn, Sam "The Man" Taylor and others help the fun along on tracks like Moanin' The Blues/ In The Middle Of The Night/ Teardrops From My Eyes/ Baby, You've Been Wrong/ Clap Your Hands/ Backslider's Ball/ No One Else Could Be and more. Excellent sound and quality notes by Dave Penny but no discographical data. (FS)
LUCKY MILLINDER: Adam, Come And Get Your Rib/ Awful Natural/ Baby, You've Been Wrong/ Backslider's Ball/ Chew Tobacco Rag/ Clap Your Hands/ D Natural Blues/ Heavy Sugar/ I'll Never Be Free/ In The Middle Of The Night/ It's A Sad, Sad Feeling/ Let It Be/ Let It Roll Again/ Little Girl, Don't cry/ Lord Knows I Tried/ Moanin' The Blues/ Night Train/ No One Else Could Be/ Oh Babe!/ Old Spice/ Ow!/ Please Be Careful/ Ram-Bunk-Shush/ Silent George/ Teardrops From My Eyes/ The Grape Vine/ The Jumpin' Jack/ The Right Kind Of Lovin'/ Who Said Shorty Wasn't Coming Back?

 
HEATHER MYLES Hightone HCD 8035 Just Like Old Times ** ● CD $14.98
12 tracks, very highly recommended
This 1992 release was probably strongest and most promising country & western debut I've heard since Dwight Yoakam showed up. Singer/ songwriter Heather Myles first appeared on Hightone's Points West compilation, and her two contributions Rum And Rodeo/ Lovin' The Bottle (both included here) showcased a vibrant new performer who could shake up preconceptions of what contemporary country could sound like, so a full record this good was probably inevitable. Steeped in the Western swing-tinged California country sounds of Wynn Stewart, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, Myles covers old (Stonewall Jackson's Why I'm Walking) and new (Jim Lauderdale's Stay Out Of My Arms) classics with equal aplomb. But it's her writing and the sprightly arrangements on her tunes that carry Just Like Old Times. She's an ideal country performer, in that she acknowledges and adores traditional country, yet refuses to be limited by existing definitions. An impressive new voice. (JG)

 
RICKY NELSON Acrobat 7074 The Definitive Collection, 1957-1962 ● CD $24.98
4 CD, 108 tracks, very highly recommended
To the readers of this newsletter, the name Ricky Nelson should need no introduction; whether one remembers him as the younger of Ozzie and Harriet's two kids or as an early rock 'n' roll teen idol or even his later identity as a country rock artist, the name is well known to members of certain generations. This comprehensive compilation collects the A & B sides of all his U.S. and U.K. singles up to 1962, as well as all the album tracks from the seven LPs released during the same time frame. So naturally all the hits are here: I'm Walkin'/ Be-Bop Baby/ Poor Little Fool/ It's Late/ Hello Mary Louand more. But there's also cool album cuts to sample like, Boppin' the Blues/ Teenage Doll, and Your True Love. For the Ricky Nelson fan, this is truly the ultimate CD set of his early years. (GMC)
RICKY NELSON: (If I Knew I'd Find You) I'd Climb The Highest Mountain/ A Long Vacation/ A Teenager's Romance/ A Wonder Like You/ Again/ Ain't Nothing But Love/ Am I Blue/ Baby I'm Sorry/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home/ Baby You Don't Know/ Be True To Me/ Be-Bop Baby/ Believe What You Say/ Blood From A Stone/ Boppin' The Blues/ Break My Chain/ Congratulations/ Do You Know What it Means To Miss New Orleans/ Don't Leave Me/ Don't Leave Me This Way/ Down The Line/ Everlovin'/ Everybody But Me/ Excuse Me Baby/ Glory Train/ Half Breed/ Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/ Hello Mary Lou/ Here I Go Again/ Hey Pretty Baby/ History of Love/ Honey Rock/ Honeycomb/ I Bowed My Head In Shame/ I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)/ I Can't Stop Loving You/ I Got A Feeling/ I Wanna Be Loved/ I'll Make Believe/ I'll Walk Alone/ I'm All Through With You/ I'm Confessin'/ I'm Feelin' Sorry/ I'm In Love Again/ I'm Not Afraid/ I'm Walkin'/ I've Been Thinkin'/ I've Got My Eyes On You (And I Like What I See)/ If You Believe It/ If You Can't Rock Me/ It's All In The Game/ It's Late/ Just A Little Too Much/ Lonesome Town/ Lucky Star/ Mad Mad World/ Make Believe/ March With The Band Of The Lord/ Mighty Good/ Milk Cow Blues/ My Babe/ My Bucket's Got A Hole In It/ My One Desire/ Never Be Anyone Else But You/ Oh Yeah, I'm In Love/ Old Enough To Love/ One Minute To One/ One Of These Mornings/ Poor Little Fool/ Poor Loser/ Proving My Love/ Restless Kid/ Right By My Side/ Shirley Lee/ So Long/ Someday/ Stars Fell On Alabama/ Stood Up/ Stop Sneakin' Around/ Summertime/ Sure Fire Bet/ Sweeter Than You/ Teen Age Idol/ Teenage Doll/ Thank You Darling/ That Warm Summer Night/ That's All/ There Goes My baby/ There's Good Rockin' Tonight/ There's Not A Minute/ Time After Time/ Today's Teardrops/ Travelin' Man/ True Love/ Tryin' To Get To You/ Unchained Melody/ Waitin' In School/ When Your Lover Has Gone/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/ Yes Sir, That's My Baby/ You Are The Only One/ You Tear Me Up/ You'll Never Know What You're Missin'/ You're My One And Only Love/ You're So Fine/ Young Emotions/ Young World/ Your True Love

 
WEBB PIERCE Acrobat 9043 The Complete U.S. Country Hits, 1952-1962 ● CD $19.98
3 CDs, 62 tracks, 150 mins, very highly recommended
You know who had a lot of number 1 country records? Webb Pierce had a whole lot of number 1 records, and no less than 13 are featured on this collection, plus almost 40 other tracks that hit the top ten Country charts of the day. There were actually no other artists of the 1950s that had more number 1 singles. Webb Pierce had such a great voice, and so many of his songs still hit me at a gut level. Too many great tracks to mention them all, here's a few just to whet your interest. Wondering/ Back Street Affair/ That's Me Without You/ There Stands The Glass/ In The Jailhouse Now/ Why Baby Why with Red Sovine, Oh, So Many Years with Kitty Wells, Tupelo County Jail/ The Last Waltz, and so many more classics. Fantastic sound throughout and thorough lines notes. (JM)
WEBB PIERCE: (Doin' the) Lover's Leap/ A Thousand Miles Ago/ Alla My Love/ Any Old Time/ Back Street Affair/ Bye Bye Love/ Cause I Love You/ Cow Town/ Crazy Wild Desire/ Cryin' Over You/ Don't Do It Darlin'/ Don't Throw Your Life Away/ Drifting Texas Sand/ Even Tho/ Fallen Angel/ Falling Back to You/ Holiday for Love/ Honky Tonk Song/ How Do You Talk to a Baby/ I Ain't Never/ I Don't Care/ I Haven't Got the Heart/ I'll Go on Alone/ I'm Gonna Fall Out of Love with You/ I'm Letting You Go/ I'm Really Glad You Hurt Me/ I'm Tired/ I'm Walking the Dog/ If You Were Me/ In the Jailhouse Now/ Is It Wrong (For Loving You)/ It's Been So Long/ It's My Way/ Let Forgiveness In/ Little Rosa/ Love, Love, Love/ Missing You/ More and More/ No Love Have I/ Oh, So Many YearsÂ/ One Week LaterÂ/ Slowly/ Someday/ Sooner or Later/ Sparkling Brown EyesÂ/ Sweet Lips/ Take Time/ Teenage Boogie/ That Heart Belongs to Me/ That's Me Without You/ The Last Waltz/ There Stands the Glass/ There's More Pretty Girls Than One/ Tupelo County Jail/ Walking the Streets/ We'll Find a Way/ Why Baby WhyÂ/ Wondering/ Yes I Know Why/ You'll Come Back/ You're Not Mine Anymore/ Your Good for Nothing Heart

 
JOHN PRINE Raven 383 Angels From Montgomery: 4 Essential Albums, 1971-1975 ● CD $27.98
Two CDs, 49 tracks, essential
This two CD set reissues John Prine's first four albums recorded for Atlantic between 1971 and 1975. From the first song (Illegal Smile) on his first album in 1971 - the eponymous "John Prine" it was clear that a major new talent had arrived. Drawing on his background of folk and country music John crafted superb songs - unforgettable melodies wedded to lyrics about real people written in a candid, occasionally cynical, often humorous style though the humour was never cruel. He sings in a husky country flavored style that is eminently suited to his songs. The set opens with his wonderful Illegal Smile (not a song about marijuana claimed John - yeah right!) and ends on the upbeat Chuck Berry song You Never Can Tell. Along the way are such Prine composed gems as the grim Sam Stone one of the most powerful songs about a returning Vietnam vet, the old timey flavored Paradise which Bill Monroe who was from the same part of Kentucky as John thought was a traditional song he missed, the hard core countryYes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You, the silly Dear Abby, the irresitibly catchy Please Don't Bury Me and the moving Christmas In Prison but, really, there's nothing less than excellent here though his fourth album is not as compelling as the first three. Arrangements are beautifully conceived with small groups with a perfect blend of folk and country. I still recall reading Robert Hilburn's rave review of John's first album in the Los Angeles Times where he referred to John as somewhere between Bob Dylan and Hank Williams. I rushed out to get that album and played it over and over again which is what I think I'll be doing with this set. (FS)

 
LOU RAWLS Jasmine 802 The Rarest Lou Rawls - In The Beginning, 1959-1962 ● CD $18.98
2 CD, 46 tracks, very highly recommended
Lou Rawls was one of the most sophisticated R&B singers that ever lived and this collection spotlights his early recordings for Shardee, Candix, and Capitol. From the pure pop of Love, Love, Love and My Heart Belongs to You to the quasi-rock 'n' roll of In My Little Black Book and 80 Ways, Rawls gives an infectious excitement to his early singles. However, the standout tracks on Disc One are his reunion recordings with the Pilgrim Travellers from 1962, Trust Me and Please Let Me Be the First One To Know. Also included are a jukebox only EP that featured cuts from his 1962 LP of blues standards, "Black and Blue," and two complete LPs on Disc Two, "Stormy Monday" (cut with Les McCann and his band) and the album he cut with the Pilgrim Travellers, The Soul Stirring Gospel Sounds. By this time, Capitol was selling Rawls as an album artist and the care put into these recordings show at every turn. Especially compelling are the "Stormy Monday" sides: God Bless the Child/ See See Rider, and Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do simply shine with that velvety voice combined with the classy band backing. Even the Pilgrim Travellers tracks are possibly some of the smoothest gospel ever recorded, which brings this set to a natural conclusion. As a collection of Lou Rawls' beginnings as a solo artist, this is very likely the most complete collection yet available. (GMC)
SAM COOKE (WITH LOU RAWLS BACKUP VOCALIST): Bring It On Home To Me/ THE PILGRIM TRAVELERS: Did You Stop To Pray This Morning/ Didn't It Rain/ If He Holds Your Hand/ Jesus, Be A Fence Around Me/ Motherless Child/ Please Let Me Be The First One To Know/ Poor Pilgrim Of Sorrow/ Stand By Me Father/ Sweet Chariot/ That's Heaven To Me/ Trust Me/ Wade In The Water/ Walking In The Light Of The Lord/ LOU RAWLS: (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue/ 80 Ways/ Above My Head/ Everyday I Have The Blues/ How Long, How Long Blues/ In My Heart/ In My Little Black Book/ Just Thought You'D Like To Know/ Kansas City/ Kiddio/ Love, Love, Love/ My Heart Belongs To You/ Nine Pound Hammer/ Once In A Lifetime Love/ Roll 'Em Pete/ Strange Fruit/ That Lucky Old Sun/ The Biggest Lover In Town/ The Bride (La Novia)/ Walking For Miles/ When We Get Old/ 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do/ (They Call It) Stormy Monday/ God Bless The Child/ I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water/ I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town/ In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)/ Lost And Lookin'/ See See Rider/ Sweet Lover/ Willow Weep For Me/ RUSS REGAN & THE ROWDIES: Waterboy

 
HARRY RESER Yazoo 1048 Banjo Crackerjax 1922-1930 ** ● CD $15.98
14 tracks, 42 min., highly recommended
Over a dozen slices of musical fun provided by this outstanding banjo soloist. Now, you may find the idea of hot banjo somewhat laughable, but relax that skeptical sneer and lend an ear to these supremely plected pieces, any of which rival the most torrid piano ragtime of the twenties. The opening Lollypops should be enough to convince anyone, with its rapid-fire runs and seemingly impossible cross-rhythms simulating an army of hyperactive pluckers. Heebe Jeebes/ Crazy Jo' indulge in "modern" harmonies, while The Cat And The Dog/ Pickin's get down to some good old corny novelty. The pick dust must have been thick after Reser's fancy flailing on Crackerjack/ The Old Town Pump/ Fair And Warmer. Most cuts feature lilting piano accompaniment, with the banjo cutting through very clearly, and average to scratch-free sound. Make mine banjo! (MB)

 
SAM THE SHAM & THE PHARAOHS Sundazed 11219 The MGM Singles ** ● CD $16.98
28 tracks, 71 mins, highly recommended
Now this is a hell of a lot of fun. Can you dig it? And don't write Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs off as a jokey two-hit wonder band; they were a fantastic outfit with some serious players. This collection gathers up all of the band's classic MGM singles, plus rare non-album tracks and more, all taken from original masters. Garage Rock, Tex-Mex, Rhythm & Blues, frat Rock, Hoo-Doo music, call it what you want, its all here ready to make it a party. Wooly Bully/ Ju Ju Hand/ Red Hot/ Li'l Red Riding Hood/ (I'm In With) The Out Crowd/ Black Sheep/ Banned In Boston, etc. Cool packaging and solid liner notes by Scott Schinder top it all off. They sure as hell don't make 'em like Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs anymore, that's for sure! (JM)

 
THE SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET Sundazed 11218 The Mono Singles, 1968-72 ** ● CD $16.98
22 tracks, 72 mins, essential
You know what Doug Sahm and Co. do? They make you feel good, is what they do. This CD sounds fantastic and it just makes me happy listening to it. We lost a lot when we lost Doug Sahm. There are many collections for the S.D.Q. out there -- I've reviewed a few of them for you before and have never given one an "Essential" before -- so this is the type of collection that we have been waiting for. Why is it so good? Well first off, all tracks are in glorious Mono! Secondly this CD takes you for a ride through so much of American music, done so well, with big heart and Soul to spare. A lot has been made of Sahm and company's blend of Tex-Mex in their music, but what this CD truly illustrates is their mastery of many styles and blending of a wide swath of influences, from the downtown blues of Sell A Song, to the Folk Rock of Mendocino, the lonesome Psychedelic Country Soul of I Wanna Be Your Mama Again, and Lawd, I'm Just A Country Boy In This Great Big Freaky City, to the Jazz infused It Didn't Even Bring Me Down, to, yes, Tex-Mex in classics like Nuevo Laredo, and their great cover of Wasted Days and Wasted Nights. This is also "essential" because out of the 22 songs featured on this collection, 22 of them are great. On top of all that, you get the fantastic sound and production quality that the Sundazed label brings to a project. So this is a 10 out of 10 for sure, and easily the best single CD collection out there for our heroes The Sir Douglas Quintet! (JM)

 
JIMMY SPRUILL GVC 2039 SCratchin' - The Wild Jimmy Spruill Story ● CD $22.98
Two CDs, 61 tracks, very highly recommended
At last, the most comprehensive compilation yet featuring the work of the amazing North Carolina born guitarist. Jimmy Spruill was a staple of many New York blues and R&B sessions in the 50s and 60s (he claimed over 3,000!), mostly confined to the rhythm section, but when he took a solo - watch out! His high pitched intense fretwork which he called "scratchin" is a little like Ike Turner at his wildest but without the whammy bar though his playing is far from one dimensional as this collection admirably shows. His best known performance is his stunning solo on Wilbert Harrison's hit Kansas City which, of course, is here alongside work where he accompanies Tarheel Slim (his classics No. 9 Train and Wildcat Tamer), Lee Roy Little, Elmore James (he takes the solo on Strange Angels), June Bateman, The David Clowney Band (aka Dave "Baby" Cortez - he is also featured on Cortez's The Happy Organ - also featured here), Bobby Marchan, B. Brown & His Rockin' McVouts, Maxine Brown (he's on her big hit It's All In Your Mind), Buster Brown, Horace Cooper & His Band, Little Danny, Lee Dorsey (he's on Ya Ya), The Dan Dees and others. While not every track features Spruill up front there is enough of his hot guitar work to thrill any blues guitar fan and on the others his sturdy rhythm guitar work helps shore up the rhythm sections. There are also eight tracks under Spruill's own name including his masterpiece Hard Grind, the almost as great Scratchin' plus Slow Draggin'/ Scratch 'n Twist/ Country Boy and others. Sound quality is generally excellent and there are two pages of notes from Roger Dopson which can be found in an expanded version on GVC's web site. (FS)
JUNE BATEMAN WITH NOBLE 'THIN MAN' WATTS & HI: Believe Me Darling/ Go Away Mr. Blues/ Possum Belly Overalls/ CHUCK BRADFORD: You're Going to Miss Me (When I'm Gone)/ BUSTER BROWN: Fannie Mae/ Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby/ Sugar Babe/ MAXINE BROWN: All in My Mind/ Harry Let's Marry/ B. BROWN & HIS ROCKIN' MCVOUTS: Hardworking Man/ Rockin' With 'B'/ SOLOMON BURKE: Down in the Valley/ THE CHARTS: Deserie/ DAVID CLOWNEY BAND: Hoot Owl/ Shakin'/ THE COMMANDOS: The Chicken Scratch/ HORACE COOPER & BAND: The Squeeze (Part 1)/ DAVE 'BABY' CORTEZ: The Happy Organ/ LARRY DALE: Big Muddy/ THE DAN-DEES: Memphis/ LEE DORSEY: Ya Ya/ BOB GADDY: I'll Go My Way/ Till the Day I Die/ JIM & BOB HARRISON: Little School Girl/ Please Don't Hurt Me/ WILBERT HARRISON: Don't Wreck My Life/ Goodbye Kansas City/ Kansas City/ ELMORE JAMES: I'm Worried/ Strange Angels/ BOBBY LEWIS: Tossin' and Turnin'/ LEE ROY LITTLE: Your Evil Thoughts/ LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS: So Much/ LITTLE DANNY: Mind On Loving You/ BOBBY LONG: Jersey City/ The Pleasure Is All Mine/ THE CHARLIE LUCAS COMBO: Jump for Joy/ BOBBY MARCHAN: There's Something On Your Mind (Part 2)/ ROSE MARIE WITH BILL IVEY & THE SABERS: Most of All/ HAL PAIGE & THE WHALERS: After Hours Blues/ Going Back to My Hometown/ THE SHIRELLES: Dedicated to the One I Love/ JIMMY SPRUILL: Lonely Island/ Raisin' Hell/ JIMMY 'WILDMAN' SPRUILL: Country Boy/ Scratchin'/ WILD JIMMY SPRUILL: Hard Grind/ Kansas City March/ Scratch 'N' Twist/ Slow Draggin'/ THE STOREY SISTERS: Bad Motorcycle/ TARHEEL SLIM: No. 9 Train/ Wildcat Tamer/ Don't Ever Leave Me/ It's Too Late/ LYNN TAYLOR & THE PEACHETTES: Sweet Little Girl/ CHARLES WALKER: Charles Walker Slop/ Driving Home (Part 2)/ WALKIN' WILLIE & HIS ORCHESTRA: If You Just Woulda Said Goodbye/ NOBLE 'THIN MAN' WATTS & HIS RHYTHM SPARKS: Hard Times (The Slop)/ Jookin'

 
ERNEST V. STONEMAN 5-String Produtions 1 The Unsung Father Of Country Music, 1925-1934 ** ● CD $34.98
Two CD set, 46 tracks, essential
Ernest V. Stoneman was one of the best, most prolific and most popular pre war country performers but comparitively little of his output has been issued on CD so this collection is particularly welcome. 46 tracks featuring traditional ballads, breakdowns, Tin-Pan Alley songs, sentimental favorites, humorous ditties, two part skits and gospel songs recorded between 1925 and 1934. The singing is fine and includes several duets with his wife Hattie (including the delightful Mountaineer's Courtship which first appeared on Harry Smith's seminal "Anthology Of American Folk Music") and group vocals on the religious songs. There are solo songs with Ernest accompanying himself on harmonica and autoharp as well as string band sides featuring superb accompanying musicians like Earl Sweet or Bolen Frost on banjo and Kahle Brewer or Eck Dunford on fiddle. The set includes his 1925 hit version of The Titanic as well as many other songs and tunes that have become country and bluegrass standards. In addition to his prolific musical output Stoneman was prolific in other ways and fathered 23 children though only 13 lived to be adults but a number of these became musicians and as The Stoneman Family became quite popular in the 50s, 60s and 70s. One of his daughters provides the introduction to the 44 page hard cover booklet that accompanies this splendid set. Sound quality is superb and the booklet has extensive biographical notes, rare photos and memorabilia and full discographical details and a discussion of each performance. (FS)
ERNEST V. STONEMAN: A Message From Home Sweet Home/ All I Got's Gone/ All I've Got's Gone/ Are You Washed In The Blood?/ Burial Of Wild Bill, The/ Flop Eared Mule/ Goodbye, Dear Old Step Stone (1927)/ Goodbye, Dear Old Stepstone (1928)/ He Is Coming After Me/ Hop Light Ladies/ I Am Resolved/ I Know My Name Is There/ John Hardy/ Lightning Express, The/ Long Eared Mule/ Mountaineer's Courtship/ New River Train/ Nine Pound Hammer/ No More Good-byes/ Old Joe Clark/ Old Time Corn Shuckin' Part 1/ Old Time Corn Shuckin' Part 2/ Once I Had A Fortune/ Possum Trot School Exhibition Part 1/ Possum Trot School Exhibition Part 2/ Ramblin' Reckless Hobo/ Religious Critic, The/ Say, Darling, Say/ Sourwood Mountain/ Sweeping Through The Gates/ The Face That Never Returned/ The Fate Of Talmadge Osbourne/ The Old Hickory Cane/ The Orphan Girl/ The Raging Sea, How It Roars/ The Railroad Flagman's Sweetheart/ The Resurrection/ The Road To Washington/ The Spanish Merchant's Daughter/ There's A Light Lit Up In Galilee/ Titanic, The/ Too Late/ West Virginia Highway/ When The Snowflakes Fall Again/ Wreck Of The Old '97, The/ Wreck On The C&o, The

 
ROOSEVELT SYKES Document DOCD 5121 Complete Chronological Recordings Vol. 6 - 1939-41 ● CD $15.98 $10.98
The sixth volume by this great artist features 25 tracks with Sykes accompanied by legendary drummer Sid Catlett. Throughout Sykes's vocals are powerful and expressive, his piano work endlessly inventive and Catlett's playing discreet and propulsive. As always, Sykes's lyrics are interesting and imaginative and his use of word play in Concentration Blues is a real delight.
ROOSEVELT SYKES: 44 Blues/ 47th Street Jive/ Concentration Blues/ Doin' The Sally Long/ Eight Ball Blues/ Essie Mae Blues (take A)/ Essie Mae Blues (take B)/ Get Your Row Out/ I've Made A Change/ Knock Me Out/ Love Will Wear You Down/ New Mistake In Life We Will Never Make The Grade/ New Style Blues/ Papa Low/ Pistol Shootin' Blues/ Right Now/ She's Got What It Takes/ She's In My Blood/ Shoe Shiner's Moan/ Take It With A Smile/ Under Eyed Woman/ Unlucky 13 Blues/ Ups And Downs Blues/ Yellow Yam Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 707 The Co-Ed Records Story ** ● CD $18.98
30 tracks, 76 min., highly recommended
In April 1958, successful music publisher, former bandleader, saxophonist and arranger George Paxton (who died in 1969) took it on himself (at age 62) to start up a record label (Co-Ed Records) with his business manager Marvin Cane. For the next few years, Co-Ed Records would go on to have major pop and doowop hits - many included on this CD - by The Crests (Sixteen Candles, Step By Step, Trouble In Paradise, The Angels Listened In), plus other vocal group sides by The Duprees (You Belong To Me), and The Rivieras (Count Every Star, Moonlight Cocktail). Rob Finnis' excellent notes (some of the best I've read this year) details the steps taken by Paxton that resulted in music that is as fresh today as it was the day it was recorded, steps that included hiring up-and-coming songwriters (including African-Americans like Luther Dixon, Ollie Jones, Billy Dawn Smith), and recording vocal groups that were professional, featuring 'trained' lead singers like Homer Dunn (of The Rivieras), Johnny Maestro (of The Crests), Joey Vann (of The Duprees) and Willie Winfield (of The Harptones). Other highlights (often in stereo for the first time) include the 6 tracks by The Harptones, including All In My Mind (actually a solo effort by Winfield, and an answer to the Maxine Brown hit), Sheron Ivy's Believe Me (originally issued on Heritage Records with The Dreamlovers), and the novelty track Don't, Don't, Don't Drop Out by Ronnie & The Schoolmates featuring bass singer Ronnie Bright. (EL)
THE CALENDARS: I'm Gonna Laugh At You/ You're Too Fast/ THE CRESTS: 16 Candles/ Step By Step/ The Angels Listened In/ Trouble In Paradise/ THE DUPREES: Have You Heard/ Why Don't You Believe Me/ You Belong To Me/ THE HARPTONES: All In Your Mind/ Answer Me, My Love/ Foolish Me/ Rain Down Kisses/ The Last Dance/ What Will I Tell My Heart?/ SHERON IVY: Believe Me/ I Need You/ THE JOY TONES: This Love That I'm Giving You/ RALPH LONDON: Lovely, Lovely Girl/ Some Day You'll Be My Girl/ JOHNNY MAESTRO: Model Girl/ TRADE MARTIN: Joanne/ Strategy/ That Stranger Used To Be My Girl/ THE RIVIERAS: Count Every Star/ Moonlight Cocktail/ Moonlight Serenade/ Stay In My Heart/ RONNIE & THE SCHOOLMATES: Don't, Don't, Don't Drop Out/ THE VISIONS: Down In My Heart

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDTOP2 1421 Speak Easy - The RPM Records Story, Vol. 2: 1954-57 ● CD $26.98
Due early December. The second two CD set (complementing Ace CDTOP2 1406 - $26.98) documenting the Modern subsidiary RPM with 54 tracks of blues, R&B and doowop, picking up the story where the first volume ended at the end of 1953 and carrying the story through to the label's final releases in 1957. As before, wherever possible, Ace have used previously unreleased or hard-to-find alternate takes and previously un-reissued recordings. Among the many artists featured are The Meadowlarks, Earl Curry & His Orch., Lonnie "The Cat," The Chanters, The Fox (Eugene Fox with Ike Turner's band on the amazing two part The Dream), B.B. King, Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns, George Smith, Johnny Wright with Ike Turner's Orch., The Teen Queens, The Jacks, Richard Berry, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, The Jewels, Vido Musso, and lots more.

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Arhoolie 372 Country Jam Session ** ● CD $13.98
25 tracks, 77 mins, essential
Fantastic collection of informal country blues recorded in Louisiana & Mississippi between 1959 and '62 by folklorist Harry Oster and by Chris Strachwitz & Paul Oliver. 14 tracks were originally issued on Folklyric 111 in the 60s and later on Arhoolie 2018, the remaining 11 tracks are previously unissued. Many of the tracks feature the wonderful duo Butch Cage/ vocal & fiddle and Willie B. Thomas/ vocal & guitar - Cage's fiddle is wild and energetic and lacking in polish but oh so haunting. The duo often sing together and the harmonies are loose but exciting. Cage and Thomas also accompany the superb Clarence Edwards - Cage's accompaniments to Edwards' deep voice and plangent guitar is particularly effective. Edwards has recorded again in recent years with fine CDs on Red Lightnin' and Wolf. The disc also features tracks by Smokey Babe - an expressive singer and powerful guitarist - his duet with Sally Dotson on Your Dice Won't Pass is exceptional. Several tracks were recorded at the Louisiana State Pentitentiary at Angola including the great Robert Pete Williams doing an idiosyncratic version of Mississippi Heavy Water Blues and three topical songs by the very fine Otis Webster including the intense The Boss Man Blues. The most unusual track here is a version of the traditional Foxhunt performed by Ben Douglas blowing into a Coke bottle at State Metal Hospital in Jackson, La. with crowd banging sticks on wooden cylinders - strange but very effective. Absolutely beautiful music. (FS)
SMOKY BABE: Cotton Field Blues/ Going Downtown Boogie/ BUTCH CAGE & WILLIE B. THOMAS: 44 Blues/ Baby Please Don't Go/ Called For You Yesterday/ Dead And Gone/ It's The Sign Of The Judgement/ Jelly Roll/ Me & My Chauffeur/ The Piano Blues/ Who Broke The Lock/ Whoa Mule!/ SALLY DOTSON, SMOKY BABE, & HILLARY BLUNT: Your Dice Won't Pass/ BEN DOUGLAS: Foxhunt/ CLARENCE EDWARDS: Smoke-Stack Lightning/ Stack O'dollars/ Thousand Miles From Nowhere/ You Don't Love Me/ REBECCA SMITH, TOM MILLER, & RUTH MILLER: I've Got Religion/ LEON STRICKLAND, LUCIUS BRIDGES, & LESLIE AND: I Won't Be Your Low Down Dog No More/ WILLIE B. THOMAS, BUTCH CAGE, & MARTHA THOMAS: Brown Skin Woman/ OTIS WEBSTER: Boll Weevil Blues/ The Boss Man Blues/ The Farm Blues/ ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS & ROBERT GUITAR J. WELCH: Mississippi Heavy Water Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS B.A.C.M. 466 Country Music On The Cozy Label, Vol. 4 ● CD $14.98
28 tracks, strongly recommended
The fourth and final selection of sides drawn from this West Virginia label features recordings from the late 50s and 1960s. The only name that might be familiar are the Vandergrift Brothers whose music has a very appealing sound with fine harmonies and a lively backup. Bill & Ed have half a dozen fine songs with a bluegrass flavor without strictly being bluegrass. More familiar bluegrass sounds can be heard from Fred & Warren and The Carolina Mountaineers and Carl Ruth & The Harmony Boys. "The Scared Coal Miner" Dorse Lewis returns with two more fine songs about life in the coal mine. Other artists include The Echo Valley Rangers, Charlie Carroll, Hal Webb, Carl Ruth & The Harmony Boys and others. (FS)
BILL & ED & THE MUSIC MOUNTAIN MEN: I've Heard That Story Before/ Let's Harmonise/ My West Virginia Rose/ Never Mind/ When The Sun Sets In West Virginia/ Will The Curfew Ring For Me/ DALE BROOKS AND COUNTRY CARAVAN: Ambridge Boogie/ Sleepless Night/ The Sage And The Sand/ You'll Want Me Back/ CHARLIE CARROLL: A Rose To Remember/ Deep Water/ I'd Walk A Million Miles/ Too Many Tears/ THE ECHO VALLEY RANGERS: All Because Of You/ FRED & WARREN & CAROLINA MOUNTAINEERS: I Want My Darling/ Won't You Think Of Me/ POLLY JENKINS & THE MUSIC MAKERS: Double Trouble/ DORSE LEWIS 'THE SCARED COAL MINER': Big Rock In The Coal Miner's Way/ Scared Coal Miner/ JUNNIE LOU & PINE HEDGE RANCH HANDS: I'm Rich In My Heart/ THE RAG PICKERS: Bye, Bye/ CARL RUTH & THE HARMONY BOYS QUARTET: Deerfield Valley/ CARL RUTH & THE HARMONY BOYS: I'm Going Down To Dixie/ THE VANDERGRIFT BROTHERS & COUNTRY GENTLEMEN: She's Gone/ Sittin' Here A-Crying/ HAL WEBB TRIO: He Just Looked Up/ BOBBY WELLER ACC. BY THE NIGHT RIDERS: Listen, Listen To Your Heart

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Capitol 1001 Capitol Blues & Boogie - 1947-49 Recordings, Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
Due early December. First of two CDs featuring rare recordings made for the Capitol label between 1947 and 1949. Includes sides by Big Sis Andrews, Blue Lu Barker, Studs Henderson & His Band, Addie Williams, Tommy Douglas & His Orch., Marvin Johnson & His Orch., Bus Moten & His Men and more. 24 tracks in all - many on CD for the first time.
BIG RED ALTON: Let's Get Together/ BIG SIS ANDREWS & HER HUCKLE-BUSTERS: Fly, Fly, Fly/ The Huckle-Buck/ BLUE LU BARKER WITH DANNY BARKER'S ORCH.: Loan Me Your Husband/ BLUE LU BARKER WITH DANNY BARKER'S BAND: Now You're Down In The Alley/ BLUE LU BARKER WITH ORCH.: Trombone Man Blues/ GAY CROSSE & HIS GOOD HUMOR SIX: Be-Bop Blues/ Give It Up/ If You Want Me To Come Home/ SCAT MAN CROTHERS & HIS ORCH.: Have You Got The Gumption (To Make The Assumption)/ TOMMY DOUGLAS & HIS ORCH. (VCL. EVELYN TWINE): If You Don't, Why Don't Ya/ TOMMY DOUGLAS & HIS ORCH.: Tea For Tommy/ STUDS HENDERSON & HIS BAND: K.C. Boogie/ Low Down Dog/ STUDS HENDERSON & HIS ORCH.: Stud's Boogie/ AL JACKSON & HIS BAND (VCL. DICK COLE): Al's Boogie/ MARVIN JOHNSON & HIS ORCH. (VCL. JOE SWIFT): Said The Spider To The Fly/ BETTY HALL JONES: Buddy, Stay Off That Wine/ You've Got To Have What It Takes/ BUS MOTEN & HIS MEN: Gone/ On The Gravy Train/ BLUES TAYLOR: Hackensack Mama/ Unwelcome Blues/ ADDIE WILLIAMS: Maybe Someday

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Capitol 1002 Capitol Blues & Boogie - 1947-49 Recordings, Vol. 2 ● CD $16.98
More rare Capitol sides - Marvin Johnson & His Orch., Al Jackson & His Band, Scat Man Crothers, Big Red Alton, Betty Hall Jones, Walter Brown, Blue Lu Barker, Studs Henderson & His Band and more.
BIG RED ALTON: Winter Blues/ BIG SIS ANDREWS & HER BLUES BUSTERS: Easy Goin' Mama/ Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan)/ BLUE LU BARKER WITH DANNY BARKER'S ORCH.: When The Wagon Comes/ WALTER BROWN: Gonna Play With Your Woman/ Lyin' Woman Blues/ GAY CROSSE & HIS GOOD HUMOR SIX: Light Up And Relax/ SCAT MAN CROTHERS & HIS BAND: I'd Rather Be A Hummingbird/ SCAT MAN CROTHERS & HIS ORCH.: Do Something/ SCAT MAN CROTHERS WITH RIFF CHARLES & FRIENDS: Riff's Blues/ TOMMY DOUGLAS & HIS ORCH.: Hot Sauce/ Mizzou'/ STUDS HENDERSON & HIS BAND: I Hung My Head And Cried/ I'm Not Fooling/ STUDS HENDERSON & HIS ORCH.: Proposition Baby/ AL JACKSON & HIS BAND: Cloudy Weather Blues/ The Ways Of A Woman/ Long About Three/ MARVIN JOHNSON & HIS ORCH. (VCL. JOE SWIFT): Hillbilly Boogie/ BETTY HALL JONES: If I Ever Cry (You'll Never Know)/ This Joint's Too Hip For Me/ Thrill Me/ JESSE PRICE & HIS BLUES BAND: Mistreated/ What's Happening

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dust-To-Digital 37 Parchman Farm: Photographs & Field Recordings, 1947-59 ● CD $38.98
Two CD set with 44 tracks,in a 124 page hardcover book, essential
Alan Lomax's recordings made at the infamous Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman in 1947, '48 and '59 are some of the most powerful and moving recordings ever made and when some of them were first issued in the late 50s they were an eye opening experience and over 50 years later have lost little of their emotive power. Prisoners at Parchman were expected to work on the cotton farm attached to the prison which were intended as a profitable venture and not with the intention of rehabilitation and the brutal conditions under which they worked essentially echoed the worst aspects of slavery time. In order to help relieve the suffering the prisoners would sing while working - sometimes solo hollers - other times in unison as worksongs - the latter originating in Africa. In the little free time they had they would sometimes sing the blues. About three quarters of the tracks are unaccompanied worksongs or hollers from singer - many with nicknames like "Jimpson," "22,"Tangle Eye,""Dobie Red,","Bama" and others. The songs include Murderers Home/ Whoa Buck/ John Henry/ Levee Camp Hollers/ Rosie/ Berta/ Ain't Been Able To Get No More and others. The blues include singer and harmonica player Clarence Alexander, singer/ guitarist W.D. Stewart with second guitar, singer/ guitarist Leroy Campbell with second guitar and, most remarkably, singer/ guitarist John Dudley - truly magnificent performer whose repertoire is drawn from pre war bluesmen like Tommy Johnson, Henry Townsend, Jim Jackson and others but with a style all his own. It's really a shame there was no follow up on these recordingsw. Many of these tracks were reissued by Rounder in the late 1990s and early 2000s but 12 cuts previously unreleased and all newly remastered. The book includes essays by Alan Lomax, Anna Lomax Wood and Bruce Jackson as well as a transcript of an interview of prisoner Heuston Earms by Lomax and includes 77 photos - mostly of prisoners - many published here for the first time. Indispensible. (FS)
22 AND GROUP: Dollar Mamie/ It Makes A Long Time Man Feel Bad/ John Henry/ Rosie/ The Prettiest Train I Ever Saw/ 88: Whoa Buck/ Rosie (*)/ CLARENCE ALEXANDER: Disability Boogie Woogie/ Prison Blues/ BAMA: I Don't Want You Baby (*)/ I'm Going Home/ Levee Camp Hollers/ Stackalee/ DAN BARNES AND GROUP: I Don't Want No Jet Black Woman (*)/ John Old Alabama/ FLOYD BATTS: Lucky Song/ BULL, FOOTS AND DOBIE RED: Did You Hear About Louella Wallace/ BUZZARD AND GROUP: I'm Going to Memphis/ LEROY CAMPBELL AND YANCEY: Sometimes I Wonder/ BRIDGES LEE COLE: Hollers/ DOBIE RED AND GROUP: I Got A Bulldog (Well I Wonder)/ Stewball/ JOHN DUDLEY: Big Road Blues/ Cool Drink of Water Blues/ You Got a Mean Disposition/ HEUSTON EARMS: Ain't Been Able to Get Home No More (*)/ JOHN EDWARDS AND GROUP: Berta (*)/ FOOTS: Hollers/ GEORGE GOLDEN AND GROUP: Berta (*)/ JIMPSON AND GROUP: Murderer's Home/ No More My Lord/ CLYDE JONES AND GROUP: Poor Lazarus/ ED LEWIS: Levee Camp Holler / Interview/ Black Gal/ JOHNNY LEE MOORE, ED LEWIS, JAMES CARTER, AND HENRY: Tom Devil/ HENRY RATCLIFF: Look for Me In Louisiana/ TANGLE EYE: Tangle Eye's Blues/ Early In the Morning/ When I Went to Leland/ UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: The Weather Get Warm (*)/ WILLIE WASHINGTON: My Jack Don’t Drink No Water (*)/ ERVIN WEBB AND GROUP: I'm Going Home/ GROVER WELLS: Up the River (*)/ Rosie (*)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Dust-To-Digital 038 Lead Kindly Light: Pre-War Music & Photographs From The ● CD $38.98
Two CDs in 180 page hardbound book, 46 tracks, recommended
This collection was put together by husband and wife team Peter Honig and Sarah Bryan. The two CDs, drawn from Honig's collection, feature a superb collection of mostly old time country music from the 20s and 30s along with a handful of African-American blues and gospel songs. Over half the tracks have been out before but some of those tracks have superior sound quality here. Among the artists featured are Buster Carter & Preston Young, Prince Moore (lovely country blues), Banjo Joe (not Gus Cannon but Caucasian singer/ banjo player with the narrative Engineer Joe), Ernest Phipps & His Holiness Quartet (fabulous old time gospel singing), Amos Baker (a delightful cover of Bascom Lamar Lunsford's I Wish I Were A Mole In The Ground), Clayton Mc Michen with Gid Tanner and others (the two part skit Possum Hunt On Stump House Mountain), The Loveless Twins Quartet (lovely acapella gospel quartet with the set's title song), Uncle Eck Dunford & Ernest Stoneman, Rev. J.C. Burnett, Kid Williams & Bill Morgan (fine gospel duo with steel guitar and guitar), Birmingham Entertainers (actually The Kessinger Brothers), Mainer's Mountaineers, The Leake County Revelers and more. Sound quality is superb. The book is another matter - it's a selection of photographs collected by Bryan of anonymous people (and a few dogs) made in the South in the 1920s and 30s - some formal portraits, some informal shots and some featuring people working or engaging in recreation. Apart from all being fom the South I found the connection between the music and the photos pretty tenuous with no commentary to put them into any kind of perspective. Although they are interesting I found most of the photos not particularly interesting. Apart from a very brief introduction there is no information about the music on the CDs. Without the book this would be highly recommended for the music but since you'll end up paying for the book whether you want it or not I had to drop the rating. (FS)
THE ALLEN BROTHERS: Skipping and Flying/ AMOS BAKER: I Wish I Were a Mole In the Ground/ BANJO JOE: Engineer Joe/ THE BIRMINGHAM ENTERTAINERS: Johnny Bring the Jug ‘Round the Hill/ THE BLUE RIDGE CORN SHUCKERS: Old Time Corn Shuckin', Part 1/ Old Time Corn Shuckin', Part 2/ THE BLUE RIDGE HIGHBALLERS: Round Town Girls/ CHARLIE BOWMAN AND HIS BROTHERS: Gonna Raise the Ruckus Tonight/ REV. J. C. BURNETT: True Friendship/ BURNETT AND RUTTLEDGE: Blackberry Blossoms/ BUSTER CARTER AND PRESTON YOUNG: I'll Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms/ It's Hard to Love and Can't Be Loved/ THE CARTER FAMILY: Kitty Waltz/ Motherless Children/ UNCLE ECK DUNFORD AND ERNEST STONEMAN: Barney McCoy/ DYKES' MAGIC CITY TRIO: Cotton Eyed Joe/ Frankie/ THE GEORGIA YELLOW HAMMERS: Mary Don't You Weep/ THE HOME FOLK FIDDLERS: Arkansas Hoedown/ AL HOPKINS AND HIS BUCKLE BUSTERS: Roll On the Ground/ THE LEAKE COUNTY REVELERS: Been to the East, Been to the West/ Johnson Gal/ THE LEWIS BROTHERS: When Summer Comes Again/ FIDDLIN' SAM LONG OF THE OZARKS: Sandy Land/ THE LOVELESS TWINS QUARTET: Lead Kindly Light/ MAINER'S MOUNTAINEERS: Train Carry My Girl Back Home/ J. E. MAINER'S MOUNTAINEERS: Concord Rag/ MILLER'S MERRYMAKERS: Old Time Breakdown/ MISSISSIPPI BRACEY: – Stered Gal/ REV. W. M. MOSLEY: The Comforter Has Come/ Labor for the Lord/ NARMOUR & SMITH: Jake Leg Rag/ NARMOUR AND SMITH: Tequila Hop Blues/ CHARLIE PARKER AND MACK WOOLBRIGHT: Man Who Wrote the Home Sweet Home Never Was a Married Man/ ERNEST PHIPPS AND HIS HOLINESS QUARTET: I Want To Go Where Jesus Is/ PRINCE MOORE: Church Bells/ RILEY PUCKETT: Railroad Bill/ ORVILLE REED: The Telephone Girl/ THE ROANE COUNTY RAMBLERS: Callahan Rag/ Johnson City Rag/ JILSON SETTERS: Little Boy Working on the Road/ Way Up On Clinch Mountain/ JOE SMITH: Kidnapping is a Terrible Crime/ GID TANNER & THE SKILLET LICKERS: Possum Hunt on Stump House Mountain, Part 1/ Possum Hunt on Stump House Mountain, Part 2/ KID WILLIAMS AND BILL MORGAN: When He Died He Got a Home in Hell

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Jasmine 796 MGM Rockabilly Collection ● CD $18.98
Two CDs, 59 tracks, highly recommended
When rockabilly hit in the mid 50s the major labels rushed to sign new young artists performing in that style as well as encouraging long established to try their hand at the artist. One of those labels was MGM and this collection reissues two LPs that were originally issued in England in 1976 when the rockabilly revival was in full swing along with 19 bonus tracks for a whopping 59 tracks of rockabilly. The original first album was devoted mostly to two of the best rockabilly artists signed by the label - Andy Starr and Buck Griffin were both from Texas and are exceptional performers. Other young artists featured on this set include Conway Twitty, Ron Hargrove, Bennie Early and others. Many of the other artists were established country artists who sometimes are featured on more country boogie oriented titles while others hit the ground running on rockabilly and some sound a bit out of place. These include Marvin Rainwater (half a dozen really fine sides), Bob Gallion, Carson Robison (the first recorded in 1926 and is here with Rockin' And Rollin' With Grandmaw), Cecil Campbell (veteran steel guitar player with the superb Rock And Roll Fever), Jimmy Swann, Don Gibson, Arthur Smith (legendary country guitarist with a fine country boogie track), Bill Jack Wills (a Western Swing version of Good Rockin' Tonight) and others. There are also some more teen pop oriented offerings from The Berry Kids that could safely have been omitted. The eight page booklet has brief profiles of many of the performers. (FS)
CHUCK ALAIMO QUARTET: Hop In My Jalop/ THE BERRY KIDS: Go Go Go, Right Into Town/ Love Me Love/ Rootie Tootie/ You're My Teenage Baby/ THELMA BLACKMON: I Wanna Waltz/ CECIL CAMPBELL: Dixieland Rock/ The Rockin' Guitar/ Rock And Roll Fever/ CHARLEY AND JUNIOR: Cuddle Lovin' Baby/ PAUL DAVIS: Big Money/ BERNIE EARLY: Rock Doll/ Your Kisses Kill Me/ BILL FLAGG: Doin' My Time/ BOB GALLION: Baby Love Me/ My Square Dancin' Mama (She Done Learned To Rock And Roll)/ DON GIBSON: I Ain't A Studyin' You, Baby/ I Ain't Gonna Waste My Time/ BUCK GRIFFIN: Bow My Back/ Jessie Lee/ Old Bee Tree/ Stutterin' Papa/ Watch The 7.10 Roll By/ You'll Never Come Back/ RON HARGRAVE: Buttercup/ Drive In Movie/ Latch On/ DICK HYMAN: Rollin' The Boogie/ JIMMY NEWSOME: Long Gone Lonesome Blues/ MARVIN RAINWATER: Dance Me Daddy/ Gamblin' Man/ Hot 'N' Cold/ I Dig You Baby/ Mr Blues/ My Brand Of Blues/ She's Gone/ Whole Lotta Woman/ Why Did You Have To Go Leave Me?/ BOB RILEY: Midnight Line/ CARSON ROBISON: Rockin' And Rollin' With Granmaw/ DON RUBY: Rockin' Piano, Outta Tune Guitar/ FRANK SANDY: Let's Go Rock And Roll/ ARTHUR SMITH: Who Shot Willie?/ ANDY STARR: Give Me A Woman/ I Want A Go South/ No Room For Your Kind/ Old Deacon Jones/ One More Time/ Rockin' Rollin' Stone/ Round And Round/ She's A Goin' Jessie/ JIMMY SWAN: Country Cattin'/ Frost On My Roof/ CONWAY TWITTY: Long Black Train/ RUSTY WELLINGTON: Rockin' Chair On The Moon/ GARY WILLIAMS: Travelin' Blues Boy/ BILLY JACK WILLS: All She Wants To Do Is Rock/ There's Good Rockin' Tonight/ Troubles (Those Lonesome Kind)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS JSP JSPCD 77100 Mountain Frolic ** ● CD $28.98
Four CDs, 101 tracks, essential
Another wonderful collection of old time country music from JSP featuring four CDs with 101 tracks recorded between 1924 and 1927. This set is based around several collections of old timey reissues issued on 78s in the 40s and early LPs from the 50s and early 60s. Star of the show here is the superb Buell Kazee who is featured on 40 tracks recorded between 1927 and 1929 - his entire issued output. Kazee, who was a trained singer, accompanied himself on banjo and recorded seminal versions of songs like Butchers Boy/ East Virginia/ Lady Gay/ Wagoner's Lad/ The Moonshiner and others. This set also features tracks with guitar and violin accompaniment, some duets with Carson Robison and some gospel songs with Frank & James McCravy as The Blue Ridge Gospel Singers. Most of these tracks have been reissued on B.A.C.M. but it is great to have all these together in chronological order. There are also 22 tracks recorded between 1927 and 1931 by the fabulous Carolina Tar Heels. The Carolina Tarheels were a truly wonderful old time group active from around 1927 to 1932. Though there was some change in personnell most of the tracks here feature the trio of Dock Walsh/ banjo & vocal, Clarence Ashley/ guitar & vocal and Garley Foster or Gwen Foster/ guitar, harmonica & vocal. They perform a selection of traditional ballads, mountain songs, blues, religious, ragtime songs and more. Their performances are incredibly melodic and infectious and you'll find youself singing along and tapping your toes and you're sure to recognize some of the songs which have since become country standards. Their tracks include Bring Me A Leaf From the Sea/ The Bulldog Down In Sunny Tennessee/ When The Good Lord Sets You Free/ There's A Man Goin' Around Takin' names/ Roll On Boys/ Peg And Awl, etc. Although a number of these were previously reissued on Old Homestead the sound quality here is vastly superior. There are also tracks by Tar Heels members Garley Foster & Dock Walsh (as The Pine Mountain Boys) and Dock Walsh. Other artists include Nelstone's Hawaiians (a fine duo from Alabama featuring great steel guitar), Al Hopkins & His Buckle Busters (a wonderfully energetic string band who were one of the first string bands on record), the great pioneering ballad singer and collector Bascom Lamar Lunsford and others. Sound quality is generally superb and there are informative notes by Pat Harrison and full discographical data. If you love old time country music this is a must. (FS)
DR. HUMPHREY BATE AND THE POSSUM HUNTERS: Billy in the Low Ground/ Goin' Up Town/ Green Backed Dollar Bill/ THE CAROLINA NIGHT HAWKS: Governor Smith for President/ THE CAROLINA TAR HEELS: Back to Mexico/ Bring Me a Leaf from the Sea/ Bulldog Down in Sunny Tennessee/ Can't You Remember When Your Heart Was Mine?/ Good-Bye My Bonnie, Good-Bye/ Got the Farm Land Blues/ Hand in Hand We Have Walked Along Together/ Hen House Door Is Locked/ I Love My Mountain Home/ I'll Be Washed/ Lay Down Baby, Take Your Rest/ Oh, How I Hate It/ Old Grey Goose/ Peg and Awl/ Roll on, Boys/ Rude and Rambling Man/ There's a Man Goin' Around Takin' Names/ Train's Done Left Me/ Washing Mama's Dishes/ When the Good Lord Sets You Free/ Who's Gonna Kiss Your Lips, Dear Darling/ You Are a Little Too Small/ CHENOWETH'S CORNFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Hot Foot Step and Fetch It/ Last Shot Got Him/ WALTER COUCH & THE WILKS RAMBLERS: Chesapeake Bay/ DAD CROCKET: Sugar Hill/ THE CROCKETT FAMILY: Medley of Old Time Dance Tunes: Sourwood Mountain/Sally in the Garden, etc./ HUGH CROSS & RILEY PUCKETT: Gonna Raise Ruckus Tonight/ AL HOPKINS & HIS BUCKLEBUSTERS: Black Eyed Susie/ Boatin' Up Sandy/ Cluck Old Hen/ Johnson Boys/ BUELL KAZEE: Blind Man/ Butcher's Boy (The Railroad Boy)/ Cowboy Trail/ Cowboy's Farewell/ Darling Cora/ Don't Forget Me Little Darling/ Dying Soldier (Brother Green)/ East Virginia/ Election Day in Kentucky, Pt. 1/ Election Day in Kentucky, Pt. 2/ Faded Coat of Blue/ Gambling Blues/ Hobo's Last Ride/ I'm Rolling Along/ If You Love Your Mother (Meet Her in the Skies)/ In the Shadow of the Pines/ John Hardy/ Lady Gay/ Little Bessie/ Little Mohee/ Married Girl's Troubles/ Mountain Boy Makes His First Record, Pt. 1/ Mountain Boy Makes His First Record, Pt. 2/ My Mother/ Old Whisker Bill, The Moonshiner/ Orphan Girl/ Poor Boy Long Ways from Home/ Poor Little Orphan Boy/ Red Wing/ Rock Island/ Roll on John/ Roving Cowboy/ Ship That's Sailing High/ Snow Deer/ Sporting Bachelors/ Steel a Goin' Down/ Toll the Bells/ Wagoner's Lad (Loving Nancy)/ You Are False But I'll Forgive You/ You Taught Me How to Love You Now Teach Me to Forget/ BRADLEY KINCAID: Cindy/ Old Joe Clark/ BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD: Darby's Ram/ Fate of Santa Barbara/ Get Along Home Cindy/ Sherman Valley/ Speaking the Truth/ Stepstone/ Stump Speech in the 10th District/ NELSTONE'S HAWAIIANS: Adam and Eve/ Fatal Flower Garden/ Just Because/ Mobile County Blues/ North Bound Train/ Village School/ You'll Never Find a Daddy Like Me/ CHARLIE PARKER: Rabbit Chase/ RED PATTERSON'S PIEDMONT LOG ROLLERS: I'll Never Get Drunk Again/ THE PINE MOUNTAIN BOYS: Roll on, Daddy Roll On/ She Wouldn't Be Still/ GEORGE ROARK: I Ain't a Drunk/ THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN RAMBLERS: No Business of Mine/ ERNEST THOMPSON: When You're All in Down and Out/ Whistlin' Rufus/ DOCK WALSH: Bulldog Down in Sunny Tennessee

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS JSP JSPCD 77108 Rub A Little Boogie - New York Blues, 1945-1956 ** ● CD $28.98
Four CDs, 113 tracks 5 hours 2 mins, highly recommended
Terrific collection of down home New York blues. Although many of these tracks have been reissued before this is very well compiled with excellent sound and informative notes by Neil Slaven. The first disc is devoted to recordings made by the ever popular Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry between 1946 and 1955. Although they were recording more folk oriented material for the Library Of Congress and Folkways at the time the tracks here were hot electric blues recorded for the African-American market on independent labels with accompaniments by musicians like Bob Gaddy, Jack Dupree, Mickey Baker, Doc Bagby, Milt Hinton and others. The second and third discs mostly features fine but obscure artists including the enigmatic guitar & piano trio Sonny Boy & Lonnie, the outstanding singer and piano player Big Chief Ellis, singer guitarist Alonzo Scales (with Sonny & Brownie on four of his six sides), singer/ guitarist Leroy Dallas (accompanied by Big Chief Ellis & Brownie McGhee), superb singer/ guitarist Allen Bunn (aka Tarheel Slim), singer and piano player Bob Gaddy, singer and bass player Bob Harris, singer and guitarist Alec Seward (recording as Duke Bayou with Jack Dupree & Brownie McGhee), the fine and mysterious Square Walton and all the issued sides of the superb Cousin Leroy. The fourth disc is devoted to the complete recordings of North Carolina born country bluesman Ed Harris whose records cut between 1950 and 1952 were issued under the names of Carolina Slim, Lazy Slim Jim and Country Paul. Harris was a fine performer whose music not only showed the influence of his home state but also owed a strong debt to the very popular Lightnin; Hopkins. A most worthwhile collection. (FS)
DUKE BAYOU (ALEC SEWARD): Doomed/ Rub A Little Boogie/ She Can Shake It/ That's All Right With Me/ ALLEN BUNN: My Kinda Woman/ Too Much Competition/ CAROLINA SLIM: (Pour Me) One More Drink/ Ain't It Sad/ Black Cat Trail/ Black Chariot Blues/ Blues Go Away From Me/ Blues Knocking At My Door/ Carolina Boogie/ Come Back Baby/ Georgia Woman/ I'll Get By Somehow/ I'll Never Walk In Your Door/ Jivin' Woman/ Mama's Boogie/ Money Blues/ Mother Dear Mother/ One More Time/ Pleading Blues/ Rag Mama/ Shake Boogie/ Side Walk Boogie/ Since I Seen Your Smiling Face/ Slo-Freight Blues/ Sugaree/ Wine Head Baby/ Worry You Off My Mind/ Worrying Blues/ Your Picture Done Faded/ COUSIN LEROY: Catfish/ Crossroads/ Goin' Back Home/ Highway 41/ I'm Lonesome/ Up The River/ Waitin' At The Station/ Will A Matchbox Hold My Clothes/ LEROY DALLAS: Baby Please Don't Go Back To New Orleans/ Good Morning Blues/ I'm Down Now, But I Won't Be Down Always/ I'm Going Away/ Jump, Little Children, Jump/ Your Sweet Man's Blues/ BIG CHIEF ELLIS: Big Chief's Blues/ Dices, Dices (a)/ Dices, Dices (b)/ She Is Gone/ BOB GADDY: Bicycle Boogie/ Blues Has Walked In My Room/ I Believe You Got A Sidekick/ I Love My Baby/ Little Girl's Boogie/ No Help Wanted/ Operator/ Slow Down Baby/ BOB HARRIS: Baby You Say You Love Me/ Doggin' Blues/ Drinkin' Little Woman/ Friendly Advice/ Love, Love, Love/ Up And Down The Hill/ BROWNIE MCGHEE: Bluebird, Bluebird,/ Bottom Blues/ Brownie's Blues (Lordy Lord)/ Cheatin' And Lyin'/ Christina/ Daisy/ Don't Dog Your Woman/ Greyhound Bus/ I'd Love To Love You/ I'm 10,000 Years Old/ Love's A Disease/ My Confession (I Want To Thank You)/ My Fault/ Need Someone To Love Me/ When It's Love Time/ Worrying Over You/ ALONZO SCALES: Hard Luck Child/ Left My Home Blues/ My Baby Don't Allow/ My Baby Likes To Shuffle/ She's Gone/ We Just Can't Agree/ SONNY BOY & LONNIE: Big Moose Blues/ Bigheaded Woman/ I Wonder Who's Holding You/ I'll Water You Every Day/ Mama Blues/ My Baby Blues/ South West Pacific Blues/ Talking Boogie/ The Wide Boogie/ Wiggle Round Me Baby/ SONNY TERRY: Dangerous Woman(With A 45 In Her Hand)/ Doggin' My Heart Around/ Harmonica Hop/ Hoopin' And Jumpin'/ Hooray, Hooray/ I Don't Worry/ I Love You Baby/ I'm Gonna Rock Your Wig/ News For You Baby/ Ride And Roll/ Sonny Is Drinking/ The Woman Is Killing Me/ SQUARE WALTON: Bad Hangover/ Fish Tail Blues/ Gimme Your Bankroll/ Pepper head Woman

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 249 GWP-NY - TCB ** ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended
Ace acquired the New York City GWP label in 2005 (named for its owner, Gerard W. Purcell, who died in 2001), and has been soul mining, as evidenced in this worthwhile collection, which benefits from excellent sound quality, made possible by virtue of the master tapes. Recorded between 1969-71, the material here (some released, some unreleased) strikes a pleasing balance between ballads and dancers, and everything is at least pretty good. Better than that and destined to be a 'northern' hit is the strong but world-weary voice of southerner Benny Gordon on his own I've Been Down So Long, on which the singer takes complete responsibility for his own misery. Another winner not released until 2005 is Larry Banks self-penned gem Ooh It Hurts Me, arguably the best thing here, though the competition is tough and includes three superb tracks by Debbie Taylor: Let's Prove Them Wrong, Don't Let It End and Don't Nobody Mess With My My Baby, which sounds like a promise and a threat. Baltimore's The Persians shine on I Can't Take It Anymore and I Don't Know How (To Fall Out Of Love With You), as does Frankie Newsome's My Lucky Day Part 1. Betty Barney, as gritty as she is obscure, spins out You Want My Lovin' with such calculation in her voice that the answer song should have been I'm Gonna Run, but it makes for a hell of an interesting song. Other ear poppers include Milton Bennett's version of the Barbara Mason song Yes, I'm Ready, Alice Clark's Heaven's Will (Must Be Obeyed), The Devonnes' (You'd Better) Straighten Up And Fly Right, The Shaladons' Without Your Love, and a lot more. A winner. (Now if Kent will just make their booklet note font a point or two larger.) (JC)
LARRY BANKS: Ooh It Hurts Me/ BETTY BARNEY: You Want My Lovin/ JOAN BATES (AKA KAIBI): We Can Do It/ MILTON BENNETT: I'm Ready/ What's One More Lie/ ALICE CLARK: Heaven's Will (must Be Obeyed)/ THE DEVONNES: (you'd Better) Straighten Up And Fly Right/ LILLY FIELDS: Keep Your Love Warm/ BENNY GORDON: I've Been Down So Long/ BENNY GORSON: You Can't Stand Alone/ THE HESITATIONS: Gotta Find A Way/ Is This The Way To Treat A Girl (you Bet It Is)/ LITTLE ROSE LITTLE: He's What I Need/ THE MODETTES: Honey Man/ FRANKIE NEWSOME: My Lucky Day (part 1)/ BOBBY PENN: No Defense/ THE PERSIANS: I Can't Take It Any More/ I Don't Know How (to Fall Out Of Love With You)/ THE SHALADONS: Without Your Love/ DEBBIE TAYLOR: Don't Let It End/ Don't Nobody Mess With My Baby/ Let's Prove Them Wrong/ All That I Have

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDKEND 252 More Perfect Harmony - Sweet Soul Harmony, 1967-1975 ** ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 72 min., highly recommended
This ballad-heavy collection of harmony vocal group soul songs waxed between 1967-75 is the second in the series and as full of wonderful and rare music as Vol. 1 (Kent CDKEND 219) while featuring mostly different artists. This album moves between groups whose doo wop influences are prominently displayed and those whose sound would shortly morph into disco. In fact The Mylestones 1972 ballad Love Me Girl, which was produced by Johhny Otis, of all people, features a relatively gentle if annoying drum machine, an early innovation that slightly mars an otherwise solid performance. But fear not, this CD has the goods, including the opening three selections: Under The Street Lamp by Joe Bataan with Group, Yes, I'm Ready by The Hesitations, and You're Gonna Make It by The Festivals. Other highlights include Someone Else's Arms by Channel 3, the deep soul goodness of No You For Me by The Climates, Here It Comes by the always excellent The Persians, and Never Will I (Make My Baby Cry) by The Magnificent Seven. Also included are five previously unissued sides: The Magictones' Never My Love, The Determinations' That Ain't The Way, The Newcomers' Betcha' Can't Guess You, The Notations' full-length version of I'm Still Here, and The Dynamic Tints' No One Else Will Do. Good notes on all groups and songs, and even pictures of the 45 labels. (JC)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Kent CDTOP 434 Satisfaction Guaranteed - Motown Guys, 1961-1969 ● CD $21.98
24 tracks, very highly recommended
With the compilation billed as "For the Motown collector who has everything.", this set of previously unissued 60's recordings from the company's male stars has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, many of these ripped from the vaults tracks deliver tenfold. Kicking things off with Satisfaction Guaranteed, a 1968 barnburner from Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, the should-have-been hits keep on coming from Marv Johnson, Smokey & the Miracles (how the gorgeous Baby You Got the Key could have been left on the shelf is beyond me), the great Chuck Jackson (Where Did You Go, one of Holland-Dozier-Holland's productions before leaving Motown), Jimmy Ruffin, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. Naturally, a Kent collection wouldn't be complete without a couple of historically significant sides; included here are a rare non-demo vocal performance from songwriter Ivy Jo (Hunter), one of a handful of songs cut by post - Hey Baby! Bruce Channel (I Wanted To Cry), a one off from The Serenaders (Say Say Baby), and an outtake from the Four Tops' legendary 1963 Workshop Jazz LP (The Night We Called It a Day). So yeah, you could say that this CD is truly for the Motown collector who has everything, and yet it makes for great listening for the non-die hard Motown fan as well. (GMC)
JOHNNY BRISTOL: Tell Me How To Forget A True Love/ BRUCE CHANNEL: I Wanted To Cry/ THE CONTOURS: Claudia (Alternate Version)/ THE FANTASTIC FOUR: I Wanna Say I Love You/ FREDDIE FORMAN: I'm Gonna Make It To The Top/ THE FOUR TOPS: The Night We Called It A Day/ MARVIN GAYE: Mojo Hannah (Studio Version)/ THE HEADLINERS: Only On The Weekend/ THE HIT PACK: Show Me You Can Dance/ IVY JO: Just Your Love/ CHUCK JACKSON: Where Did You Go/ MARV JOHNSON: Safety Zone/ SHORTY LONG: Headin' North/ GINO PARKS: Taking Candy From A Baby/ THE QUAILS: This Ole Heart/ SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: Baby You Got The Key/ JIMMY RUFFIN: (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need/ THE SERENADERS: Say, Say, Baby/ THE SPINNERS: Hold On To Me (A Little Longer)/ EDWIN STARR: The Sound Of Love/ BOBBY TAYLOR & THE VANCOUVERS: Satisfaction Is Guaranteed/ THE TEMPTATIONS: He Who Picks A Rose (Version 1)/ JR WALKER & THE ALL STARS: My Girl Annie/ FRANK WILSON: Together 'Til The End Of Time

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day DAY3CD 072 Get A Job: The Ember Records Story ● CD $13.98
3 CDs, 60 tracks, 144 mins, highly recommended
These One Day Music collections sure do give you a lot of bang for your buck, especially when they are covering a great label like Ember, who put out a whole mess of fantastic Doo-Wop, Rhythm & Blues, and Rock & Roll records in the 1950s and early 1960s. One Day mixes things up well on these collections, so you get giant hits like Get A Job by The Silhouettes, then also Headin' For The Poorhouse, a great lesser known Rhythm & Blues smoker they did as a follow up single. The all-time Doo-Wop classics In The Still Of The Night and To the Aisle by The Five Satins, plus the wonderful I'll Be Seeing You which was a top 20 hit in 1960, but not well known nowadays. On top of all the great Vocal group recordings done for Ember, they also had many great instrumental records. You get such instro gems as Walkin' With Mr. Lee/ Jim Jam, and Tic Toc by Lee Allen, and Puddle Jumper by Davey Dee & The Mudcats. Probably my favorite tracks featured are the heavy Rhythm & Blues delivered by Cousin Leroy on I'm Lonesome and Will A Matchbox Hold My Clothes, and Billy Myles with I'm Gonna Walk and The Joker. There's a lot to love on this one, it's about 98% killer, only one or two clunky tracks away from being essential. (JM)
LEE ALLEN: Jim Jam/ Tic Toc/ Walkin' With Mr. Lee/ JO-AN BAKER & BELGINETTES: You're Someone/ THE BOPTONES: I Had A Love/ NAOMI CARY: If/ THE CHIPS: Bye Bye My Love/ What A Lie/ JUDY CLAY: Do You Think That's Right/ DAVID CLOWNEY: Soft Lights/ THE COLONAIRS: Can't Stand To Loose You/ Sandy/ THE CONCORDS: I'll Always Say Please/ WADE COOPER: Oh Me! Oh My!/ COUSIN LEROY: Highway 41/ I'm Lonesome/ Will A Matchbox Hold My Clothes/ THE DAPPER DANS: Bird Brain/ DEAN & GENE: Cross My Heart/ DEAN & JEAN: We're Gonna Get Married/ FERN DEE: Hello Mr. Dream Man/ DAVEY DEE & THE MUDCATS: Puddle Jumper/ THE EDSELS: Let's Go/ Three Precious Words/ KENNY ESQUIRE & THE STARLITES: Boom Chica Boom/ Pretty Brown Eyes/ THE FABULONS: Smoke From Your Cigarette/ THE FASHIONS: I Just Got A Letter/ THE FIVE SATINS: I'll Be Seeing You/ In The Still Of The Night/ To The Aisle/ THE FIVE SHADES: Mary Had A Little Lamb/ RUDY GREENE: Juicy Fruit/ You're The One For Me/ THE HONEYCONES: Op/ Rockin' In The Knees/ WALLY HUGHES: Convertible Car/ THE ILLUSIONS: Can't We Fall In Love/ ERNIE K. DOE: Tuff Enough/ LITTLE JERRY: Don't You Feel/ There Ain't Enough Love/ GLORIA LYNNE: Cool Daddy/ THE MARKTONES: Hold Me Close/ Talk It Over/ BILLY MYLES: I'm Gonna Walk/ The Joker/ The Price Of Your Love/ FRED PARRIS & THE SATINS: A Night To Remember/ ROGER & THE TRAVELERS: You're Daddy's Little Girl/ THE SCHOONERS: Viddly Biddly Baby/ THE SILHOUETTES: Bing Bong/ Get A Job/ Headin For The Poor House/ THE SMOOTH TONES: Dear Diary/ SONNY & JAYCEE: Mister Froggie/ You Keep On Doggin' Me/ THE STARLARKS: Fountain Of Love/ THE WONDERS: I'll Write A Book/ CHUCK WRIGHT: Love I Won't Be Your Fool Anymore/ JIMMY YOUNG: Need Your Love

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 264 Earth Angel - The Dootone/ Dooto Records Story 1954-61 ● CD $11.98
Two CDs, 40 tracks, highly recommended
L.A. entrepreneur Dootsie Williams founded the Dootone label (later changed to Dooto) in 1951 and recorded a wide range of African-American music though is best known among collector for their doo-wop recordings which is the focus of this compilation. The set opens with the label's biggest hit with the sublime ballad Earth Angel by The Penguins which topped the R&B charts in 1955 and climbed to #8 in the pop charts and is now an all time classic. Though never able to repeat that success the label released many other great doo-wop recordings featuring the cream of Los Angeles groups including Vernon Green & The Medallions who released songs ranging from great rockers, often with a car theme, like Coupe De Ville to soulful ballads like - the latter featuring the priceless line about "sweet words of pismotology and the pulpitudes of love." Although not a hit at the time the Cuff-Links lovely ballad Guided Missiles is another all time favorites. Other groups featured include The Fabulous Pearls, Dootones, Romancers, Calvanes and more. In addition this set includes two superb sides from R&B pioneer Roy Milton and two hot instrumentals from sax man Chuck Higgins. (FS)
THE CALVANES: Crazy Over You/ Don't Take Your Love/ THE CREATORS: I've Had You/ THE CUFF LINKS: Guided Missiles/ It's Too Late Now/ So Tough/ THE DOOTONES: Ay Si Si Mambo/ Strange Love Affair/ Teller Of Fortune/ The Day You Said Goodbye/ THE FABULOUS PEARLS: Jungle Bunny/ My Hearts Desire/ VERNON GREEN & THE MEDALLIONS: 59 Volvo/ WILLIE HEADEN & THE FIVE BIRDS: I Love You Bobby Sox/ Let Me Cry/ CHUCK HIGGINS: Oh Yeah!/ The Itch/ CHARLES MCCULLOUGH & THE SILKS: My Girl/ Zorro/ THE MEADOWLARKS: Boogie Woogie Teenager/ Heaven And Paradise/ I Got Tore Up/ Tear Drop Eyes/ THE MEDALLIONS: Buick '59/ Coupe De Ville Baby/ My Mary Lou/ Speedin'/ The Letter/ ROY MILTON: Cry Some Baby/ Fool's Are Getting Scarcer/ THE PENGUINS: Baby Let's Make Love/ Earth Angel/ Hey Senorita/ I Ain't Gonna Cry/ Love Will Make You Wild/ Ookey Ook/ THE PIPES: Let Me Give You Money/ THE ROMANCERS: House Cat/ Jump And Hop/ THE SOUVENIRS: Double Dealing Baby

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 265 The Chess Rockabilly Story ● CD $11.98
2 CD, 32 tracks, highly recommended
Everyone thinks of Chicago's Chess Records as being the home to Blues and R&B, but the Chess Brothers never missing an opportunity to make a dollar ended up trying to cash in on the rockabilly craze by purchasing most of these recordings from outside labels and producers. Names like Dale Hawkins, Eddie Fontaine, Rusty York, Dick Glasser, and Gene Simmons loom large in rockabilly lore and some of their best work is here. But there's some great one-shot performers here as well: Billy Barrix (Cool Off Baby), Jackie Cannon (Proof of Your Love), Bobby Sisco (Go Go Go), and Billy Miranda (Run Rose) are just a few of the goodies herein. Lovers of rockabilly will get a big kick out of these samples of the Chess Brothers' business acumen. (GMC)
BILLY BARRIX: Almost/ Cool Off Baby/ ROD BERNARD: Pardon Mr. Gordon/ THE BROTHERS: Lazy Susan/ JACKIE CANNON: Chill Bumps/ Proof Of Your Love/ BOBBY DEAN: Just Go Wild Over Rock And Roll/ LARRY DIAMOND: True Love Come My Way/ EDDIE FONTAINE: Don't Ya Know/ Nothin' Shakin', But The Leaves On The Trees/ JOHNNY FULLER: All Night Long/ DICK GLASSER: Crazy Love/ DALE HAWKINS: Baby, Baby/ Don't Treat Me This Way/ Hot Dog/ Little Pig/ My Babe/ Take My Heart/ THE JET TONES: Jet Tone Boogie/ LOU JOSIE: Breezin' Out/ Why Did You Leave Me/ BAKER KNIGHT: Hungry For Love/ JIMMY LEE AND WAYNE WALKER: Love Me/ BILLY MIRANDA: Run Rose/ MEL ROBBINS: Save It/ DEL SAINT AND THE DEVILS: Rock Yea/ THE SILVA-TONES: Roses Are Blooming/ GENE SIMMONS: Bad Boy Willie/ BOBBY SISCO: Go, Go, Go/ Tall Dark And Handsome Man/ RAY STANLEY: I Can't Wait/ RUSTY YORK: Sugaree

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day DAY2CD 266 The Aristocrat Blues Story ● CD $11.98
Two CDs, 36 tracks, highly recommended
Before there was Chess Records there was Aristocrat Records. One of many independent labels to emerge in the immediate post war era it was founded in Chicago in 1947 by Charles and Evelyn Aron along with some silent partners. Initially featuring all kinds of music it started concentrating on African-American music thanks to talent scout Sammy Goldberg who brought in several artists like Tom Archia and Andrew Tibbs who played at the African-American nightclub The Macombo Lounge run by brothers Leonard & Phil Chess. Pretty soon Leonard came in as an investor and over the next couple of years bought out his partners, brought his brother Phil in and eventually changed the name of the label to Chess. A wide variety of African-American music was issued by Aristocrat and their early star was jump blues singer Andrew Tibbs who is featured on four tracks including his hit I Feel Like Crying and his tongue in cheek tribute to the recently deceased racist governer of Mississippi Theodore Bilbo with Bilbo Is Dead. Tom Archia was a tenor sax player who accompanied Tibbs on some of his recordings and is also featured here behind vocalists Sheba Griffin and Dr. Jo Adams. Other fine jump blues artists featured include Clarence Samuels (including his very risque Lollypop Mama), Laura Rucker and Duke Jenkins' Aristocrats. The label also recorded a couple of fine vocal groups - The Five Blazes and The Dozier Boys and several gospel groups including the magnificent Famous Blue Jay Singers of Birmingham, Alabama who are featured here on one track. The label's most succesful artist was Muddy Waters who first recorded for the label in October 1947. His first release issued in March 1948 was a stiff but his second issued in June featured updated versions of two songs he had originally recorded for the Library Of Congress in 1942 and it became a big hit and Muddy quickly became the label's biggest selling artist and encouraged the label to feature other down home blues artists and there are superb tracks here from Muddy's associates Sunnyland Slim, Little Johnny Jones and Leroy Foster as well as the brilliant slide guitarist Robert Nighthawk. Muddy also provides some gorgeous slide licks on two tracks by veteran Chicago bluesman St. Louis Jimmy. A superb collection with excellent sound and informative brief notes. But why only 36 tracks? The label issued almost 200 sides! All the tracks here have been reissued one time or another but for a chance to hear some of the really obscure release on the label be sure to check out the Official release "Rare Gems Vol. 3" described previously. (FS)
TOM ARCHIA: Drinkin' Blues/ Ice Man Blues/ Cherry/ Mean And Evil Baby/ THE DOZIER BOYS: She's Gone/ THE FAMOUS BLUE JAY SINGERS OF BIRMINGHAM, A: I'm Bound For Canaan Land/ THE FIVE BLAZES & ERNIE HARPER: Chicago Boogie/ FOREST CITY JOE: A Woman On Every Street/ Memory Of Sonny Boy/ LEROY FOSTER: Locked Out Boogie/ Shady Grove Blues/ DUKE JENKINS' ARISTOCRATS: Baby I'm Sick Of You/ LITTLE JOHNNY JONES: Big Town Playboy/ Shelby County Blues/ MUDDY WATERS: I Can't Be Satisfied/ Rollin' And Tumblin' (Part 1)/ Screamin' And Cryin'/ You're Gonna Miss Me/ ROBERT NIGHTHAWK: Black Angel Blues/ Jackson Town Gal/ Six Three 0/ Annie Lee Blues/ LAURA RUCKER: Crying The Blues/ CLARENCE SAMUELS: Boogie Woogie Blues/ Lollipop Mama/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: She Ain't Nowhere/ ST. LOUIS JIMMY: Florida Hurricane/ So Nice And Kind/ SUNNYLAND SLIM: Fly Right Little Girl/ Johnson Machine Gun/ My Baby, My Baby/ FORREST SYKES: Tonky Boogie/ ANDREW TIBBS: Bilbo Is Dead/ I Feel Like Crying/ Toothless Woman Blues/ Married Man Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS One Day 271 Lonesome Road: Gems From The Vanguard Vaults ● CD $11.98
2 CDs, 40 tracks, 100 mins, highly recommended
Vanguard records were a gutsy label with good taste. They signed up The Weavers and Paul Robeson when Joe McCarthy and his comrades got them blacklisted; put out releases featuring Blues greats like Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Otis Spann and James Cotton; and were hip enough in the late 1960s to sign up radical hippie acts like Country Joe and the Fish. This collection covers the heyday of the Folk boom in the late 1950s to early '60s, so you get lots of great tracks by Joan Baez (probably the labels biggest act in the early years,) Pete Seeger with and without The Weavers, Cisco Houston with a couple gems like I Ain't Got No Home, and Talking Dust Bowl Blues,, The Rooftop singers with their giant hit version of Gus Cannon's Walk Right In, epic performances from Paul Robeson - - John Brown's Body, and Odetta - Motherless Children, Hedy West, Ed McCurdy, Peggy Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert and so on. All in all, this is a powerful selection of music from the heart of the Folk music universe. (JM)
JOAN BAEZ: Banks Of The Ohio/ Lonesome Road/ Old Blue/ Pal Of Mine/ LEON BIBB: Red Rosy Bush/ Sinner Man/ Take This Hammer/ BARBARA DANE: Little Maggie/ BOB GIBSON: This Little Light Of Mine/ RONNIE GILBERT: Come And Go With Me/ House In New Orleans/ THE GREENBRIAR BOYS: I'm Coming Back But I Don't Know When/ Stewball/ DAVID GUIDE: Another Man Done Gone/ I Love My Baby/ CISCO HOUSTON: I Ain't Got No Home/ Nine Hundred Miles/ Talking Dust Bowl Blues/ Wreck Of The Old '97/ EWAN MACCOLL: The Coalowner And The Pitman's Wife/ Poor Paddy Works On The Railway/ TOMMY MAKEM: The Whistling Gypsy/ TOM MAKEM, PAT CLANCY & PETE SEEGER: Mountain Dew/ ED MCCURDY: Frankie And Johnny/ ODETTA: He's Got The Whole World In His Hands/ Motherless Children/ Ox Driver Song/ PAUL ROBESON: John Brown's Body/ Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho/ THE ROOFTOP SINGERS: Walk Right In/ MARTHA SCHLAMME & FRANK HAMILTON: There's A Hole In My Bucket/ PEGGY SEEGER: Willy Moore/ PETE SEEGER: Heiland Laddie/ JACKIE WASHINGTON: Let Me Fly/ Soon I Will Be Done/ THE WEAVERS: Bury Me Beneath The Willow/ This Land Is Your Land/ HEDY WEST: I Had A Notion/ The Lark/ The Moon Will Be A-Bleeding

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Rhythm and Blues 030 Rhythm & Blues Chronology 1: 1940-1941 ● CD $39.98
Four CDs, 108 tracks, strongly recommended
Rhythm & Blues, as we usually think of it, emerged in the mid 40s and this is the first in a new series looking at the musical strands that came together to create the genre. This features recordings from 1940 and '41 - primarily blues and jazz along wih some gospel vocal group sound and even a bit of country. Among the many artists featured are Lionel Hampton, Leadbelly & The Golden Gate Quartet, T-Bone Walker, Adolph Hofner, The Four Clefs, Peetie Wheatstraw, Blind Boy Fuller, Earl Hines, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong & Luis Russell, Lewis Bronzeville Five, Erskine Hawkins, Jelly Roll Morton, Memphis Slim, Gene Krupa, The Ink Spots and many more. Unlike most releases on this label the notes are rather cursory and so there is no information as to how these performances might fit into the development of rhythm & blues but, if nothing else, it's pimarily an excellent collection of Afreican-American popular music from 1940 and '41. (FS)
ALBERT AMMONS & PETE JOHNSON: Sixth Avenue Express/ Walkin' The Boogie/ LOUIS ARMSTRONG & LUIS RUSSELL: You Run Your Mouth, I'll Run My Business/ COUNT BASIE: 9:20 Special/ SIDNEY BECHET: Preachin' Blues/ Rip Up The Joint/ Sidney's Blues/ BIG JOE & HIS WASHBOARD BAND: If You Take Me Back/ BIG MACEO: Worried Life Blues/ THE BLACK CATS AND THE KITTEN: I'm The Winder/ BOONE'S JUMPING JACKS: Please Be Careful/ WILL BRADLEY: Down The Road A Piece/ BIG BILL BROONZY: Key To The Highway/ Midnight Steppers/ Rockin' Chair Blues/ What Is That She Got/ When I Been Drinking/ UNA MAE CARLISLE: Blitzkrieg Baby/ Oh I'm Evil/ THE CATS AND THE FIDDLE: I'm Gonna Pull My Hair/ THE CHARIOTEERS: Wade In The Water/ CHARLIE CHRISTIAN: Topsy/ NAT KING COLE: Are You Fer It/ THE DELTA RHYTHM BOYS: Dry Bones/ Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho/ CHAMPION JACK DUPREE: Cabbage Greens No. 1/ Dupree Shake Dance/ Junker Blues/ New Low Down Dog/ DUKE ELLINGTON: Cotton Tail/ In A Mellotone/ Take The "A" Train/ THE FIVE BREEZES: My Buddy Blues/ THE FOUR CLEFS: Dig These Blues/ I Like Pie, I Like Cake/ BLIND BOY FULLER: Step It Up And Go/ Harmonica Stomp/ JAZZ GILLUM: Key To The Highway/ GOLDEN GATE JUBILEE QUARTET: The Valley Of Time/ LIL GREEN: Knockin' Myself Out/ Let's Be Friends/ Romance In The Dark/ Why Don't You Do Right/ CREOLE GEORGE GUESNON: Mississippi Town/ LIONEL HAMPTON: Bouncing At The Beacon/ Central Avenue Breakdown/ HAPPY FATS & RAYNE-BO RAMBLERS: Gran Prairie/ LEONARD HARLAN: Ride My Blues Away/ ERSKINE HAWKINS: After Hours/ Gabriel Meets The Duke/ EARL HINES: Boogie Woogie On St. Louis Blues/ JOHNNY HODGES: Going Out The Back Way/ ADOLPH HOFNER: Joe Turner Blues/ TONY HOLLINS: Crawlin' King Snake/ THE INK SPOTS: Stop Pretending/ PETE JOHNSON: Death Ray Boogie/ BUDDY JOHNSON & HIS BAND: Boogie Woogie's Mother-In-Law/ New Please Mr. Johnson/ PETE JOHNSON'S BAND: 627 Stomp/ LOUIS JORDAN: June Tenth Jamboree/ Knock Me A Kiss/ Saxa-Woogie/ You Got To Go When The Wagon Comes/ ANDY KIRK: Cuban Boogie Woogie/ 47th Jive/ GENE KRUPA: Drum Boogie/ LEADBELLY & THE GOLDEN QUARTET: Rock Island Line/ LEWIS BRONZEVILLE FIVE: Low Down Gal Blues/ Natchez Mississippi Blues/ TOMMY MCCLENNAN: Cross Cut Saw/ JAY MCSHANN: Confessin' The Blues/ Hold 'em Hootie/ Vine Street Boogie/ MEMPHIS MINNIE: Me And My Chauffeur/ MEMPHIS SLIM: Grinder Man Blues/ LUCKY MILLINDER AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Rock Me/ LUCKY MILLINDER W SISTER ROSETTA THARPE: Shout, Sister, Shout/ PHIL MOORE AND HIS COMBO: Shoo Shoo Baby/ JELLY ROLL MORTON: Shake It/ MOON MULLICAN & THE SUNSHINE BOYS: Pipeliner's Blues/ NORA AND DELLE: Keep A Knockin' (But You Can't Come In)/ ST. LOUIS JIMMY ODEN: Going Down Slow/ HOT LIPS PAGE: Evil Man's Blues/ Harlem Rhumbain' The Blues/ JEWEL PAIGE: Give It Up/ ROBERT PETWAY: Catfish Blues/ SAM PRICE AND HIS TEXAS BLUSICIANS: Oh Lawdy Mama/ SELAH JUBILEE SINGERS: I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long/ SLIM & SLAM: Ah Now/ Slim Slam Boogie/ CHARLIE SPAND: Rock And Rye/ TAMPA RED: Don't You Lie To Me/ It Hurts Me Too/ THREE SHARPS AND A FLAT: That's The Rhythm/ SKEETS TOLBERT: The Rhumba Blues/ BIG JOE TURNER: Corrine Corrina/ Doggin'The Dog/ Low Down Dirty Shame/ Rock Me, Mama/ Sun Risin' Blues/ Wee Baby Blues/ T-BONE WALKER: T-Bone Blues/ WASHBOARD SAM: Come On Back/ PEETIE WHEATSTRAW: Gangster's Blues/ SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Jivin' The Blues/ New Early In The Morning/ You Got To Step Back/ THE WRIGHT BROTHERS: Gospel Train

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Vanguard VCD2 77005 Blues With A Feeling - Newport Folk Festival ● CD $24.98 $11.98
2 CDs, 34 tracks, 121 mins, highly recommended
A wonderful collection of mostly previously unissued recordings made at the Newport Folk Festival between 1963 and '66. Attendees at these festivals had a chance to see some of the great country blues artists who had been discovered in the early 60s - many who had not performed in twenty years or more and we can share their joy in hearing Son House, Skip James, Bukka White, Fred McDowell, Reverend Robert Wilkins, Mance Lipscomb, and others. We also hear artists from a later generation who were active and popular on record like Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters along with younger white interpreters like John Hammond, "Spider" John Koerner, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and others. If you are familiar with the artists here you will recognize most of their material here but the performances gain something in their live spontenaity. Highlight for me is a wonderful, unrehearsed version of What Do You Think About Jesus where Robert Wilkins on vocal and guitar is joined by Fred & Annie Mae McDowell on vocal - truly magic - oh to have been there! Excellent sound and good notes by discs producer Mary Katherine Aldin. (FS)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Westbound CDSEWD 154 Good All Over - Rare Soul From The Westbound Vaults ● CD $18.98
23 tracks, recommended
While Motown was planning its move to the West Coast, Westbound was quietly becoming Detroit's premier R&B label of the early 70's. This collection contains hard-to-find and previously unissued sides from Westbound's best; the best known names to non-hard-core R&B collectors are probably the Detroit Emeralds and Denise LaSalle, but that's shouldn't deter more casual fans from digging the likes of Unique Blend, Fantastic Four (Motown refugees that the label did little with), Motivations, A. C. Tilmon, and Houston Outlaws. As a companion CD to the recent Westbound "Detroit Northern Soul" (Kent 332 $18.98), this collection makes an excellent primer on Detroit's post-Motown music scene. (GMC)
BOB & HAROLD: You Can't Take This Love For You From Me/ THE FANTASTIC FOUR: I Believe In Miracles (I Believe In You)/ I'm Falling In Love (I Feel Good All Over)/ If You Need Me Call Me (And I'll Come Running)/ THE HOUSTON OUTLAWS: What Am I Gonna Do/ EMANUEL LASKEY: More Love (Where This Came From)/ THE MAGICTONES: I'll Make It Up To You/ I've Changed/ My Dreams Have Got The Best Of Me/ Trying Real Hard (To Make The Grade)/ THE MOTIVATIONS: I Love You/ I'm Loving You You're Leaving Me/ DAMON SHAWN: Admit Your Love Is Gone/ I'm Wishing/ THE SUPERLATIVES: I Don't Know How (To Say I Love You)/ A.C. TILMON: Girl You Thrill Me/ I Love To Dream/ Tender Moments/ Rosetta Stone/ That's All I Got/ UNIQUE BLEND: Does He Treat You Better/ Mommy And Daddy/ Old Fashioned Woman

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Yazoo 2047 Times Ain't Like They Used To Be, Vol. 3 ** ● CD $15.98
23 tracks,70 mins, very highly recommended
Fantastic collection of early rural music featuring recordings from the 20s and early 30s drawing on the black and white traditions. Although all the blues tracks are available elsewhere (mostly Document, of course) the sound quality here on such rare and magnificent performances like Jelly Jaw Short's Snake Doctor Blues, Charlie Patton's Mean Black Cat and Skip James' monumental I'm So Glad is stunning - they have never sounded better. There are other great blues and black gospel performances from Blind Willie Johnson, Son House, the spooky sounding Jelly Roll Anderson and others. Few of the country performances are available elsewhere and among the highlights are Frank Hutchison's Worried Blues, The Carlisle Brothers and the provocative Sal's Got A Meatskin, the beautiful Sleepy Desert from Wilmer watts & His Lonely Eagles with some lovely slide guitar, glorious sacred Harp singing from the Fa Sol La Singers on I'll Stay On The Right Road Now plus tracks from Ashley's Melody Men, The East Texas Serenaders, Luke Highnight & His Ozark Strutters and more. (FS) NOTE: There are five more volumes in this series - all superb!
ALLISON'S SACRED HARP SINGERS: Sweet Rivers/ JELLY ROLL ANDERSON: Good Time Blues/ ASHLEY'S MELODY MEN: Bath House Blues/ CAP, ANDY, AND FLIP: I'm Taking My Audition To Sing Up In The Sky/ THE CARLISLE BROTHERS: Sal Got A Meatskin/ FIDDLING JOHN CARSON & HIS VIRGINIA REELERS: Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over/ THE EAST TEXAS SERENADERS: Acorn Stomp/ SLEEPY JOHN ESTES: Streetcar Blues/ FA SOL LA SINGERS: I'll Stay On The Right Road Now/ THE FRUIT JAR GUZZLERS: Steel Driving Man/ OSCAR HARPER'S TEXAS STRING BAND: Sally Johnson/ LUKE HIGHNIGHT & HIS OZARK STRUTTERS: Fort Smith Breakdown/ SON HOUSE: Walking Blue/ FRANK HUTCHISON: Worried Blues/ SKIP JAMES: I'm So Glad/ BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON: I Know His Blood Can Make Me Whole/ BUSTER JOHNSON & JAMES COLE'S WASHBOARD BAND: Undertaker Blues/ UNCLE DAVE MACON & HIS FRUIT JAR DRINKERS: Rock About My Sara Jane/ CHARLIE PATTON: Mean Black Cat/ JELLY JAW SHORT: Snake Doctor Blues/ LOWE STOKES: Billy In The Lowground/ WILMER WATTS & HIS LONELY EAGLES: Sleepy Desert/ THE WILLIAMSON BROTHERS & CURRY: Gonna Die With My Hammer In My Hand

 
JUNIOR WELLS Delmark 6628 Southside Blues Jam ● CD $14.98
15 tracks, 73 min., recommended
Expanded and remastered version of Delmark 628, Junior's second album for the label with seven bonus cuts (33 extra minutes!). While not as strong as his first "Hoodoo Man Blues" (expanded edition Delmark 6612 - $14.98) it's still a fine set with Junior accompanied by an all star line up with Buddy Guy and Louis Myers on guitars, Otis Spann/ piano, Earnest Johnson/ bass and Fred Below/ drums - this was Otis's last studio session. It seems like not a whole lot of thought went into the arrangements and Buddy Guy's guitar playing is very restrained - perhaps too restrained which is not something you can usually say about Buddy - and the overall sound is a bit thin and flabby and some of the songs go on for too long. For his part, Jr. plays some fine harp and sings up a storm, even if he is occasionally tempted into overdoing the James Brown squeals. Songs on the original album included I Could Have Had Religion/ Lend Me Your Love the topical Blues For Mayor Daley and more including Buddy Guy doing the vocal honors on Trouble Don't Last. Bonus cuts include Little Walter's It's Too Late Brother plus Love My Baby/ Rock Me/ Got To Play The Blues and more - interestingly many of the bonus cuts only feature the guitar of Louis Mayers and the sound is more cohesive. Booklet has original notes by Michael Cuscuna and new notes by Bob Koester. (FS)

 
JOSH WHITE Document DOCD 5194 Complete Recorded Works, 1929-40; Vol 1 ● CD $15.98 $11.98
26 tracks, 78 mins, essential
The first of three discs presenting all the recordings made between 1929 and 1940 by this brilliant performer. Although he later became known as a suave night club folk performer his early recordings are brilliant examples of East Coast country blues. His voice was always a smooth one but one with great flexibility and he spiced up his vocals with fragments of scat singing and moaning. His guitar playing was a joy - varied, supple and flowing and always apprpriate. Both Buddy Moss and Blind Boy Fuller acknowledge him as an influence. This disc starts with two delightful instrumentals from 1929 by the white country band The Carver Boys with Josh accompanying harmonica player Warner Carverand guitarist Bob Carver. The remaining tracks are from 1932 and '33 and with the excption of two tracks with a fine unknown piano player they are all solo. They include such performances as the menacing Little Brother (his knife - or is it?), some self advertising in The Greenville Sheik, the beautiful Blood Red River and more including half a dozen spirituals. With the exception of a couple of tracks the sound is excellent and there are informative, though all too brief, notes by Dave Moore. (FS)

 

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