R&B, Soul, Doo-Wop - The Chaperals -> The Clovers

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RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL & DOO-WOP
The Chaperals -> The Clovers

THE CHAPERALS
THE CHARADES
BOBBY CHARLES
RAY CHARLES
CHARLIE & RAY
CHARM
THE CHARTS
ELLIOT CHAVERS
THE CHECKERS
THE CHESSMEN
THE CHI-LITES
THE CHORDS
SAVANNAH CHURCHILL
DEE CLARK
THE CLASSICS
OTIS CLAY
THE CLEFTONES
THE CLICKETTES
HENRY CLEMENT
THE CLOVERS

THE CHAPERALS Bear Family BCD 15573 Another Show ● CD $21.98

German doo-wop group sings in English. 1991

THE CHARADES Collectables 5728 Please Be My Love Tonight ● CD $11.98

19 tracks, 46 min., recommended
Growing up in California's Central Valley in the late 50's, the original members of this solid vocal group first recorded in 1962 according to the liner notes and had their greatest success with the title tune here, a fine 50's style ballad. Their recorded repertoire ranged from straight doo-wop to early soul stylings and even took in a few surf titles. The search for that elusive hit no doubt necessitated such flexibility. Featured numbers, in addition to Please Be My Love Tonight, include Turn Him Down, Delano Soul Beat, Surf & Stomp, Close to Me, Treasure of Love, Women, Promise Me Everything, Endless Love, Shake Shout & Soul, and Open Up Your Heart. Interesting transitional music, informative liner notes, a nice cover photo of the group, and excellent sound quality. (DH)

BOBBY CHARLES Stony Plain 1203 Wish You Were Here Right Now ● CD $15.98

12 tracks, 43 min., recommended
A loose and, to some degree, spontaneous program of latter day swamp pop, recorded in 1984, 1992, and 1993 by the man probably best known for scoring a hit with See You Later Alligator back in 1956. Do note, however, that Robert Charles Guidry is a songwriter of considerable reputation as well, having written or co-written the above named track, plus Walkin' to New Orleans and The Jealous Kind, all three of which are reprised here. Other numbers include the delightful Promises, Promises (The Truth Will Set You Free), Not Ready Yet, I Remember When, Peanut, and the title cut. Guest artists include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Fats Domino. A musical portrait of a worthwhile artist as a middle-aged man, one clearly still capable of a solid and bluesy reflection on life's adventures. (DH)

BOBBY CHARLES Stony Plain 1240 Secrets Of The Heart ● CD $15.98

RAY CHARLES Atlantic (Germany) 73523 The Genius After Hours ● CD $11.98

8 tracks, 39 mins, highly recommended
Reissue of Atlantic 1369 from 1961 with original Leonard Feather liner notes. By 1960, Ray had left Atlantic for ABC, who were releasing Ray's jazz sides on the Impulse subsidiary. Atlantic dug into their vaults for these great 1956 jazz recordings. Most of these were done with his band during the sessions that also produced Doodlin' and Rockhouse. The tunes with the full band feature Fathead Newman on tenor sax and arrangements by Quincy Jones, with 2 recorded just with his rhythm section. Also included are 3 tunes from a trio date featuring the great jazz bassist Oscar Pettiford, and these especially swing. Title song + Ain't Misbehavin'/ Dawn Ray/ The Man I Love/ Joy Ride , etc. (GM)

RAY CHARLES Atlantic (Germany) 73524 The Genius Sings The Blues ● CD $11.98

12 tracks, 34 mins, essential
Straight reissue of Atlantic 8052 from 1961 in a handsome digipack format including insert with original liner notes. Only a few of the tracks are straight 12 bar blues but it's all full of blues spirit and suffused with Ray's incredible gospel soul. Every track is a gem including the fantastic The Right Time with great complementary vocal work from the Raelettes, his wonderful hard driving treatment of Hank Snow's country classic I'm Moving On, the incredibly intense I Believe To My Soul, a beautiful solo vocal & piano treatment of Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues (renamed Some Day Baby with Ray listed as composer) but it's all wonderful. Magnificent from start to finish. (FS)

RAY CHARLES Atlantic (Germany) 73525 Hallelujah I Love Her So ● CD $11.98

14 tracks, 43 mins, essential
Another straight reissue of one of Ray's classic Atlantic albums - this time Atlantic 8006 from 1962. Fourteen tracks - every one of them a gem mostly drawn from his earlier Atlantic sessions (1953 - 1955) and including a number of his early hits including #1s I've Got A Woman and Drown In My Own Tears. Four tracks are from a May 1953 session with a great band of studio musicians featuring Sam Taylor on tenor and Mickey Baker on guitar which include two of my all time favorites - a great version of Lowell Fulson's Sinner's Paryer and the slow blues Losing Hand with truly sublime guitar by Baker. The other sessions are with Ray's own larger Orchestra. If you don't already ahve these tracks they are a must have. (FS)

RAY CHARLES Atlantic (Germany) 80765 At Newport ● CD $11.98

Another classic Ray Charles album reissued. This time featuring his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958 with his great band and The Raelettes. Four of the tracks are R&B (The Right Time/ Talkin' About You, etc) and the other four are funky jazz (In A Little Spanish Town/ Hot Rod, etc)

RAY CHARLES Classics 5050 1950-1952 ● CD $14.98

RAY CHARLES Night Train 7154 Unreleased ● CD $10.98

19 track collection of previously unissued alternate takes from Ray's Swingtime sessions.
RAY CHARLES: A Sentimental Blues (take 1)/ A Sentimental Blues (take 3)/ Ain't That Fine (false Start)/ Ain't That Fine (take 1)/ All To Myself Alone (extended Version)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (incomplete Take)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (take 1)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 4)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 5)/ Honey Honey (false Start)/ Honey Honey (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 3)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 1)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 2)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (false Start)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (incomplete Take)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 1)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 4)

RAY CHARLES Rhino 72813 The Genius Hits The Road ● CD $12.98

Reissue of 1960 ABC/ Paramount album featuring his #1 smash hit Georgia On My Mind. CD reissue includes seven bonus cuts from the same era.

RAY CHARLES Rhino 72814 Genius Plus Soul=Jazz/ My Kind Of Jazz ● CD $12.98

Two LPs on one CD at a budget price. The 1961 "Genius+Soul=Jazz" for ABC/ Paramount features 10 big band cuts with members of the Count Basie Band and various studio musicians and includes the #1 R&B hit One Mint Julep. "My Kind Of Jazz" was a 1970 album of proto-acid-jazz instrumentals recorded for Ray's own label Tangeine.

RAY CHARLES Rhino 72844 Sweet & Sour Tears ● CD $12.98

Reissue of ABC Paramount 480 from 1964 with seven bonus songs. A thematic album with all the songs dealing with loss or heartbreak including Cry/ Teardrops From My Eyes/ My Heart Cries For You/ Tired Of My Tears, etc

RAY CHARLES Rhino 72859 Genius & Soul - The 50th Anniversary Collection ● CD $62.98

5 CD box set featuring 102 tracks drawn from 13 labels.

RAY CHARLES Rhino 75759 Anthology ● CD $18.98

20 classics - the same titles and versions as the Rhino Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 LP's, which reissue 26 ABC-Paramount recordings in all. CD contains Hallelujah I Love Her So, which is not on either album.

RAY CHARLES Rhino-Atlantic 74731 Pure Genius-The Complete Atlantic Recordings, 1951-1959 ● CD $139.98

7 CDs, 1 DVD, beyond essential
Here's what you want to ask Santa for, or if you want to be known as a great Santa, give out a few of these. Packed in a box that looks like an old phonograph, complete with a price sticker from Wallich's Music City, is everything Ray did in his best years, the Atlantic years. Get rid of all the old compilations you've got - here's the real deal. The first six discs have EVERYTHING Ray put out. Even if you have the R&B box, there's some R&B sides not on that, including the original 45 rpm version of Carrying That Load from '58, also both the mono & stereo versions (2 different takes!) of What'd I Say. Then of course there's the jazz sides including the two LPs he made with MJQ vibist Milt Jackson - guess which expression came from their LP Soul Brothers?, along with Ray's piano jazz sides & even the whole LP "Fathead - Ray Charles Presents David Newman", which has Ray's band including Ray on piano. And there's the Pop LPs. And of course the live LPs that were only available on Rhino Handmade. And it gets better! The seventh CD is all unreleased, though some has popped up on bootlegs. The first part has a '53 rehearsal session with Ray & Ahmet Ertegun going over tunes they may record, which includes some great Ray piano, early versions of Losing Hand & even a version of It Should've Been Me with Ahmet talking the lyrics! Then there's takes 1-7 of (Night Time Is)The Right Time & take 1 of Tell Me How Do You Feel from the 10/28/58 recording session. Finally there's Ray on vocals & Wurlitzer piano taping for Quincy Jones his arranging suggestions for "The Genius Of Ray Charles" LP. And it gets even better! The final disc is a DVD with an entire TV broadcast of the never before heard (or seen) 1960 Newport Jazz Festival that shows the band in between Atlantic & ABC/Tangerine - the full band on 9 tunes including Drown In My Own Tears/ I Believe To My Soul & What'd I Say (just watch the faces of The Raelettes, especially Margie Hendrix). And as a closer, there's a current interview with Ahmet Ertegun about Ray. And while listening you can read the 80 page hard-cover book with full info on all the sessions & discs, & even the liner notes of all of Ray's Atlantic LPs. (GM)

CHARLIE & RAY Collectables 5539 I Love You Madly ● CD $13.98

16 tracks, 39 min., good The title tune here is the closest that this duo ever came to a bonafide hit, nonetheless, their mastery of the up tempo, chalypso, and ballad tempos popular in the last half of the 1950's is more than evident is this overdue collection of their material for Al Silver's Herald Records. The program includes the title tune, plus the previously unreleased Tag Along, Certainly Baby, Dearest One, You're To Blame, The Closest Thing to an Angel, Guess I'm Through with Love, and a second, slightly slower version of I Love You Madly. Though the possibilities for harmony are limited with just two voices, these two won the weekly amateur night contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater five times in a row. They must have been doing something right. The sound quality here is acceptable, and, something of a surprise for the budget-minded Collectables label, there are liner notes. (DH)

CHARM Clifton 1005 It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday ● CD $15.98

Fans of 50's R&B and rock 'n roll are notorious for their love of the specific recorded performance rather than for the song or the tune itself, and I'm afraid I'm no exception. So, when I first listened to this 20 cut disc recorded in 1983, I was quick to dismiss it as amateurs trying to imitate the masters. After all, most of the tracks here are rerecordings of 50's classics like One Mint Julep, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and Sixty Minute Man. Fortunately, I left it in my CD player out of laziness and replayed enough to learn the error of my ways. These five guys, who won the United In Group Harmony Association's "Rookie Of The Year" award in 1984, are well worth the high praise heaped upon them by that award and by the liner notes here. Though they don't have quite as good a bass, they really are in the same league as contemporary groups like the Persuasions. In addition to the tracks listed above, the a cappella gems available here include standards such as Ebb Tide, Misty, and Feelings, as well a particularly fine version of the traditional gospel number, Brighter Day. Well worth your time and money. Good sound, enthusiastic notes, and two pictures of Charm. (DH)

THE CHARTS Collectables 5029 The Charts Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98

Now on compact disc. A fine Harlem doo-wop quintet who recorded for Bobby Robinson's Everlast label in 1957 and who scored big with their hit Desiree included here along with Why Do You Cry/ I Told You So/ You're The Reason/ Baby Be Mine, etc.

ELLIOT CHAVERS Rescue 103 Vintage ● CD $15.98

Excellent collection of (mostly instrumental) R&B recorded in the 60s featuring fine tenor saxist Elliot Chavers (aka Elliot Shavers) who has recently returned to performing. The cover says "all tracks previously unissued" which I think means unissued on CD as most of these tracks seem to be drawn from singles recorded for various small L.A. labels between 1961 and '67 including Chavers' own Blaun label. Either way if you like instrumental R&B along the lines of King Curtis or Booker T & The MGs this should be right down your alley. Booklet has brief liner notes by Steve Propes and some great vintage photos.

THE CHECKERS Ace CDCHD 1047 Checkmate - The Complete King Recordings, 1952-1955 ● CD $18.98

THE CHECKERS: Can't Find My Sadie/ Don't Stop Dan (take 1)/ Don't Stop, Dan/ Flame In My Heart/ Friend In Need (take 5)/ Friend In Need (take 6)/ Ghost Of My Baby/ House With No Windows/ House With No Windows (take 1)/ I Promise You/ I Wanna Know/ I Wasn't Thinking, I Was Drinking/ Let Me Come Back/ Love Wasn't There/ Mama's Daughter/ My Prayer Tonight/ Night's Curtains/ Oh, Oh, Oh Baby/ Over The Rainbow/ Trying To Hold My Gal/ White Cliffs Of Dover/ Without A Song/ You Never Had It So Good/ You Never Had It So Good (take 1)/ You've Been Fooling Around/ You've Been Fooling Around (take 1)

THE CHECKERS Dipper 201 21 Vocal Group Cuts From The 1950s ● CD $17.98

21 tracks, 54 min., essential
The Checkers are surely one of the most underrated of the 50's vocal groups. Formed when the Dominoes underwent their first major personnel shift in early 1952, the Checkers roster included former Dominoes bass Bill Brown and former Dominoes second tenor Charles White. Their ballad and jump performances, recorded between 1952 and 1954, rank among the most powerful in the pantheon of rhythm and blues harmony. The program here includes both sides of all ten early 50's Checkers' sides, plus Heaven Only Knows, performed by a 1958 version of the group. Among the earlier gems are Flame in My Heart, Night's Curtains, Ghost of My Baby, White Cliffs of Dover, the hilarious answer to Sixty Minute Man, Don't Stop Dan, Mama's Daughter, and Trying to Hold My Gal. Terrific music, impressive sound quality, a cover photo of the group, and short but solid liner notes. Simply not a disc to miss. (DH)

THE CHESSMEN Relic 7019 All Nite Long ● CD $13.98

The (Manhattan) Chessmen quintet was formed in the early 60's and has built quite a formidable reputation in clubs and on radio around N.Y. and New Jersey. This CD reissue of their 1966 Relic album (LP 106 plus two cuts) features James Myers, lead; Bill Ramirez, first tenor; Ted Ziffer, second tenor; Tommy Reyes, baritone; and Art Crank, bass. Although the group performs mostly material of their own, they also rearrange the scores of others to suit their own needs. Set includes pleasing recreations of Little Anthony's Two Kinds Of People/ All Night Long/ Let Me Come Back/ Dance. A jumble of mono and stereo mixes, 22 songs in all. Fine sleeve notes and stereo production by Eddie Gries. (OLN)
THE CHESSMEN: A Teardrop Fell From My Eye/ All Nights Long/ Dance/ Dance Gypsy/ Don't Have To Shop Around/ For All We Know/ For Sentimental Reasons/ Heavenly Father/ I Apologize/ I Want To Dance/ I'm The One/ Is Everybody Happy?/ Let Me Come Back/ Love Forgot/ Love Is What The World Is Made Of/ Sandy/ So In Love/ Stars Fall/ That's My Desire/ There Goes My Baby/ Two Kinds Of People/ Ways Of Romance/ When We Were/ You Know My Heart Is Yours

THE CHI-LITES Kent CDKEND 911 The Best Of The Chi-Lites ● CD $18.98

The most extensive Chi-Lites collection ever. 19 tunes from 1969's Give It Away to 1976's You Don't Have To Go , running over 74 minutes long. Most tunes co-written by Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin (they'd started out by writing Love Makes A Woman ). All the biggies are here and sound great, including Have You Seen Her?/ (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People/ Homely Girl/ Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was/ A Letter To Myself/ Stoned Out Of My Mind , etc. (GM)

THE CHORDS Cat CCD 7000 The Best Of The Chords ● CD $18.98

22 tracks, 55 min., recommended
Best known for their original, era-defining, 1954 recording of Sh-Boom, the Chords continued to record similar, mostly uptempo numbers for the remainder of the 50's. And though they never again scored that elusive hit, as this comprehensive disc proves, their subsequent output is as solid as was that first success. Featured numbers here include the aforementioned hit, plus Cross Over the Bridge, Zippity Zum, Bless You (For Being an Angel), A Girl to Love, Pretty Wild, Don't Be Mad at My Heart, two versions of Lu-Lu, She Was Love, and Don't Run Away. And production values are up to snuff as well, with fine sound quality, impressive notes, and a nice vintage cover picture of the group. (DH)
THE CHORDS: A Girl To Love/ Bless You For Being An Angel/ Blue Moon/ Cross Over The Bridge/ Don't Be Mad At My Heart Could It Be/ Don't Run Away/ Heartbeat/ I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/ Little Maiden/ Love Oh Love/ Lover, Lover, Lover/ Lu-Lu (Master)/ Lu-Lu (Show Version)/ More, More, More/ Pretty Wild (Take 25 Master)/ Pretty Wild (Take 27 & 28)/ Sh-Boom/ She Was Love/ Short Skirts Hold Me Baby/ Zippity Zum

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL Dipper 214 The Queen Of R&B And Her Groups ● CD $17.98

27 tracks, 74 min, highly recommended
For some reason, pre & early doo-wop vocalizing has always grabbed me. In '46, Churchill managed to get a #1 hit with I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You) for Manor, with backing by The Four Tunes. Over the next decade she would go back to this style with backing by The Tunes, from 46-49 with Manor plus a rare one-off for Columbia in '48 (The Things You Do To Me), then over to Arco in '49 & 50 (some of the '50 sides with backing by The Striders) & RCA in '51 & '52. Other one-off backing groups include The Five Kings (Let's Call A Spade A Spade), The Ray Charles Singers, & The King Odom Four. Caution - this is recorded from very rare 78s & some tracks have a lot of surface noise. (GM)

DEE CLARK Collectables 5760 Golden Classics ● CD $11.98

19 tracks, 49 min., recommended An interesting take on the career of Arkansas' own Delecta Clark. The program opens with three of his best known Falcon/ Vee-Jay numbers - Raindrops/ Hey Little Girl, and Nobody But You. But the remainder of the play list is taken from his later days with the Constellation label, between 1963 and 1966. Among those fine featured soul numbers are Crossfire Time/ I'm Going Home/ That's My Girl /Warm Summer Breezes/ I Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool/ T.C.B./ It's Impossible/ Hot Potato, and Ole Fashun Love. Clark's last hurrah in many ways, but solid music nonetheless. And both sound quality and liner notes (by Bill Dahl) are excellent here. (DH)

THE CLASSICS Cla 101 Till Then ● CD $18.98

OTIS CLAY Bullseye Blues 9513 Soul Man: Live In Japan ● CD $15.98

1983 concert by this sought-after deep soul man. Recorded with his own band of Hi Records vets and others, these 8 extended soul jams (10 on the original 2-LP issue) are highlighted by a tribute to his late friend O.V. Wright (A Nickel & A Nail) & a 13 minute medley of Al Green's Love & Happiness with Soul Man. Plus Precious Precious/ Love Don't Love Nobody/ Hard Workin' Man, etc.

OTIS CLAY Bullseye Blues 9520 I'll Treat You Right ● CD $15.98

Since Otis Clay parted company with gospel back in the early 60's, he never really strayed far from his roots. His voice, sounding rather like a cross between O.V. Wright and Albert King, can bend and grease the notes with the best soul statesmen. This 10-tune collection, cut a while back in Memphis, features none other than Little Jimmy King on lead guitar and soul-kids Don Bryant and Percy Wiggins on backing vocals. Particular faves include the righteous Children Gone Astray and Gonna Take My Heart's Advice - a soulman's talk with his conscience. Tight and right support from The Memphis Horns and Hi rhythm section. (OLN)

OTIS CLAY Bullseye Blues 9590 This Time Around ● CD $15.98

New album of all new material from legendary Southern soulster produced by Willie Mitchell.

OTIS CLAY MMS 5157 You Are My Life ● CD $15.98

10 tracks, 43 min., recommended Since the liner notes appear to be from another album, dating the material -- probably late '80s, and probably a CD issue of a Waylo LP -- becomes a task for the ears. Some of these cuts sound about as deep as soul seems to get these days, namely the Billy Always-penned Two Wrongs (Don't Make A Right) and Feeling Single, Seeing Double, but some suffer from a bit too much production. And the budget apparently didn't include a real live drummer, which is too bad. But generally, producer Willie Mitchell does very little to attempt to "update" Clay's sound. And that's a good thing. (JC)

THE CLEFTONES Collectables 8806 For Collectors Only ● CD $24.98

Recorded between 1955-62 for Gee Records (with a few Roulette sides thrown in), this 40 cut compilation has about every Cleftones song anyone could want, with the notable exception of their first single You Baby You. The majority of the material is rockin', including their two hits This Little Girl Of Mine/ Heart And Soul, but ballads like I Was Dreaming/ She's Gone/ You're Driving Me Mad are inserted for contrast. And the sweet'n'slow Please Say You Want Me with Pat Span singing lead is one such praiseworthy insert. The alternate version of Can't We Be Sweethearts is quite similar to the released version; the alternate of Neki Honey is slower and less interesting than its sister release. Honey Bun/ Slippin' And Slidin' and the Coaster-ish Cool It Fool are all issued here for the first time, though only the first is up to snuff. Heed the album title. (JC)
THE CLEFTONES: 10 Pairs of Shoes/ After the Dance/ Again/ Beginners At Love/ Can't We Be Sweethearts/ Can't We Be Sweethearts (alternate version)/ Cool It Fool (unreleased)/ Cruzin' Casanova/ Do You/ Earth Angel/ For Sentimental Reasons/ Happy Memories/ Heart &Soul/ Heavenly Father/ Honey Bun (unreleased)/ How Do You Feel?/ I Like Your Style of Making Love/ I Was Dreaming/ Just Like You &Me/ Little Girl of Mine/ Lover Boy/ Neki Hokey/ Neki Hokey (alternate version)/ Please Say You Want Me/ Red Sails In The Sunset/ See You Next Year/ Shadows On The Very Last Row/ She's Gone/ She's So Fine/ Since We Fell In Love/ Slippin' &Slidin' (unreleased)/ String Around My Heart/ The Glory of Love/ There She Goes/ Time Is Running Out On Our Love/ Trudy/ Why You Do Me Like You Do/ You &I Can Climb/ You Baby You/ You're Driving Me Mad

THE CLEFTONES Rhino 70951 The Best Of The Cleftones ● CD $15.98

18 track CD featuring all their classic original recordings from original master tapes - Heart And Soul/ Little Girl Of Mine/ For Sentimental Reasons/ You baby You, etc.
THE CLEFTONES: Beginners at Love/ Can't We Be Sweethearts/ For Sentimental Reasons/ Happy Memories/ Heart and Soul/ How Do You Feel/ I Like Your Style of Making Love/ Little Girl of Mine/ Lover Boy/ Lover Come Back To Me/ Neki Hokey/ Please Say You Want Me/ See You Next Year/ She's So Fine/ String Around My Heart/ Why You Do Me Like You Do/ You Baby You/ You're Driving Me Mad

HENRY CLEMENT Flyright FLYCD 52 Big Chief Takawaka ● CD $16.98

18 tracks, 68 min., recommended. Clement first recorded for J.D. Miller's Feature label back in 1954, but these recordings from '86 and '91 show he's still making some great music. Whether he's into his swamp doctor thing on Hey La Ba/ Big Chief Takawaka and gets the Wild Magnolias just-got-to-Mardi Gras rhythm going, or doing a James Brown thing on What's Up, Clement plays it with style and grace. Good time music from a good time musician. Great informative liner notes from Opal Nations. (JC)

THE CLICKETTES & OTHERS Ace CDCHD 1095 The Clickettes Meet The Fashions ● CD $18.98

Great collection of doo-wop and girl group sounds featuring all the recordings made for Dice and Guyden between 1958 and 1960 (including two previously unissued) by The Clickettes - one of the finest female doo-wop groups of the era featuring the lead vocals of Barbara Jean English. Because of legal compilcations the group had to change its name and in 1961 became The Fashions and performed in the then current "girl group" sound and this CD includes 8 of those sides. Roudning out the set are Dice tracks by The Teen-Clefs and The Avalons. Includes 12 page illustrated booklet with extensive notes by Mick Patrick.

THE CLICKETTES Dice 83 The Very Best Of The Clickettes $18.98

18 track collection of sides from the late 50s/ early 60s by female group - Lover's Prayer/ There Goes Sputnik/ Why Oh Why/ Grateful/ Jive Time Turkey/ Teenager's First Love/ You Broke Our Hearts/ Hiding My Tears With A Smile/ Warm, Soft & Lovely, etc.

THE CLOVERS Classics 5115 1950-1953 ● CD $14.98

The first 23 sides by this superb group featuring their first two sides for Rainbow in 1950 and their early Atlantic sides including their early hits.
THE CLOVERS: Comin' On/ Crawlin'/ Don't You Know I Love You/ Down In The Alley/ Fool, Fool, Fool/ Good Lovin'/ Here Goes A Fool/ Hey Miss Fannie/ I Confess/ I Played The Fool/ I've Got My Eyes On You/ In The Middle Of The Night/ Little Mama/ Lovey Dovey/ Needless/ One Mint Julep/ Skylark/ The Feeling Is So Good/ Ting-A-Ling/ When You Come Back To Me/ Wonder Where My Baby's Gone/ Yes Sir! That's My Baby/ Yes, It's You

THE CLOVERS Collectables 6218 The Clovers/ Dance Party ● CD $13.98

Two classic Atlantic LPs on one CD - 26 songs including Lovey Dovey/ Ting-A-Ling/ Hey Miss Fanny/ Middle Of the Night/ Little Mama/ Here Goes A Fool/ Devil Or Angel/ All About You/ So Young/ Nip Sip/ In The Morning Time/ Fool Fool Fool, etc.

THE CLOVERS Pacific 627 Greatest Hits ● CD $17.98

The Clovers were one of the finest R&B vocal groups of the 50s and they were also the most succesful with 21 hits in the R&B charts. This 29 track collection features all their hits, their rare first single for Rainbow and a bunch of other goodies. Includes Devil Or Angel/ Good Lovin'/ One Mint Julep/ Lovey Dovey/ Crawklin'/ Don't You Know I Love You/ Needless/ Nip Sip/ Yes, It's You/ Fool Fool Fool/ Little Mama/ Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash/ I Played The Fool/ I've Got My Eyes On YOu/ Yes Sir, That's My baby, etc. Good sound, bare bones packaging.

THE CLOVERS Pacific 628 Rarities, Vol. #1 ● CD $17.98

22 tracks, 53 mins, recommended
Fine collection of some of the more obscure sides waxed by this great vocal group. It includes their first sidews recorded for Rainbow in 1950, recordings on Poplar and Winley, a couple of solo sides by group members withe backup by the rest of the group along with lesser known Atlantic and United Artists tracks. A few tracks find them performing in a Vegas lounge pop style but most of it is fine doo wop. Includes Yes Sir, That's My baby/ Little Mama Don't Leave Me/ Bottomless Pit/ The Good Old Summertime/ What Is This Thing Called Love/ Wrapped Up In A Dream/ They're Rockin' Down the Street/ I Need You Now and more. Fine sound but no notes though CD has cool cover shot. (FS)

THE CLOVERS Pacific 629 Rarities, Vol. #2 ● CD $17.98

23 tracks, 56 mins, recommended
The second volume of Clovers rarities is a fine collection of their 60s recordings - often one offs for labels like Stenton, Porwin, Brunswick, Grand Prix, Lana and other labels. Although personnel had changed they still had a fine soulful sound on songs like Please Mr Sun/ The Bossa Nova (My Heart Said)/ It's All The Game/ the Kiockapoo/ Out There/ Poor Boy/ For Days and others including remakes of some of their early hits like LOve Love Love/ Love Potion #9 and Devil Or Angel. (FS)

THE CLOVERS Proper Intro 2029 Ting-A-Ling $9.98

Inexpensive 18 track introduction to the recordings of this superb R&B vocal group recorded between 1950 and 1953 including their rare first single for Rainbow and ten top 10 R&B hits. Includes When You Come Came Back To Me/ Don't You Know I Love You/ Needless/ Middle Of The Night/ One Mint Julep. I Played The Fool/ Crawlin'/ Hey Miss Fannie/ Here Goes A Fool and more.

THE CLOVERS Rev-Ola 146 Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash - Their Greatest Hits ● CD $15.98

28 tracks, 72 min., highly recommended
Between 1951 and 1956 The Clovers had 20 singles hit Billboard's R&B chart, 19 made it to the Top 10, three to number 1, making them more commercially successful than even The Drifters during the same period. And except for Love, Love, Love, it's all here and more, making this excellent overview of one of the most influential black vocal groups of the early doo wop days hard to pass up. Songs include the great ballad Here Goes A Fool, the jumping The Feeling Is So Good, Hey Doll Baby, Fool Fool Fool, One Mint Julep, Nip Sip, Down In The Alley, I've Got My Eyes On You and plenty more. (JC)

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THE CHAPERALS	Bear Family BCD 15573	Another Show	● CD $21.98
German doo-wop group sings in English. 1991

THE CHARADES	Collectables 5728	Please Be My Love Tonight	● CD $11.98
19 tracks, 46 min., recommended Growing up in California's Central Valley in the late 50's, the original members of this solid vocal group first recorded in 1962 according to the liner notes and had their greatest success with the title tune here, a fine 50's style ballad. Their recorded repertoire ranged from straight doo-wop to early soul stylings and even took in a few surf titles. The search for that elusive hit no doubt necessitated such flexibility. Featured numbers, in addition to Please Be My Love Tonight, include Turn Him Down, Delano Soul Beat, Surf & Stomp, Close to Me, Treasure of Love, Women, Promise Me Everything, Endless Love, Shake Shout & Soul, and Open Up Your Heart. Interesting transitional music, informative liner notes, a nice cover photo of the group, and excellent sound quality. (DH)

BOBBY CHARLES	Stony Plain 1203	Wish You Were Here Right Now	● CD $15.98
12 tracks, 43 min., recommended A loose and, to some degree, spontaneous program of latter day swamp pop, recorded in 1984, 1992, and 1993 by the man probably best known for scoring a hit with See You Later Alligator back in 1956. Do note, however, that Robert Charles Guidry is a songwriter of considerable reputation as well, having written or co-written the above named track, plus Walkin' to New Orleans and The Jealous Kind, all three of which are reprised here. Other numbers include the delightful Promises, Promises (The Truth Will Set You Free), Not Ready Yet, I Remember When, Peanut, and the title cut. Guest artists include Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Fats Domino. A musical portrait of a worthwhile artist as a middle-aged man, one clearly still capable of a solid and bluesy reflection on life's adventures. (DH)

BOBBY CHARLES	Stony Plain 1240	Secrets Of The Heart	● CD $15.98

RAY CHARLES	Atlantic (Germany) 73523	The Genius After Hours	● CD $11.98
8 tracks, 39 mins, highly recommended Reissue of Atlantic 1369 from 1961 with original Leonard Feather liner notes. By 1960, Ray had left Atlantic for ABC, who were releasing Ray's jazz sides on the Impulse subsidiary. Atlantic dug into their vaults for these great 1956 jazz recordings. Most of these were done with his band during the sessions that also produced Doodlin' and Rockhouse. The tunes with the full band feature Fathead Newman on tenor sax and arrangements by Quincy Jones, with 2 recorded just with his rhythm section. Also included are 3 tunes from a trio date featuring the great jazz bassist Oscar Pettiford, and these especially swing. Title song + Ain't Misbehavin'/ Dawn Ray/ The Man I Love/ Joy Ride , etc. (GM)

RAY CHARLES	Atlantic (Germany) 73524	The Genius Sings The Blues	● CD $11.98
12 tracks, 34 mins, essential Straight reissue of Atlantic 8052 from 1961 in a handsome digipack format including insert with original liner notes. Only a few of the tracks are straight 12 bar blues but it's all full of blues spirit and suffused with Ray's incredible gospel soul. Every track is a gem including the fantastic The Right Time with great complementary vocal work from the Raelettes, his wonderful hard driving treatment of Hank Snow's country classic I'm Moving On, the incredibly intense I Believe To My Soul, a beautiful solo vocal & piano treatment of Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues (renamed Some Day Baby with Ray listed as composer) but it's all wonderful. Magnificent from start to finish. (FS)

RAY CHARLES	Atlantic (Germany) 73525	Hallelujah I Love Her So	● CD $11.98
14 tracks, 43 mins, essential Another straight reissue of one of Ray's classic Atlantic albums - this time Atlantic 8006 from 1962. Fourteen tracks - every one of them a gem mostly drawn from his earlier Atlantic sessions (1953 - 1955) and including a number of his early hits including #1s I've Got A Woman and Drown In My Own Tears. Four tracks are from a May 1953 session with a great band of studio musicians featuring Sam Taylor on tenor and Mickey Baker on guitar which include two of my all time favorites - a great version of Lowell Fulson's Sinner's Paryer and the slow blues Losing Hand with truly sublime guitar by Baker. The other sessions are with Ray's own larger Orchestra. If you don't already ahve these tracks they are a must have. (FS)

RAY CHARLES	Atlantic (Germany) 80765	At Newport	● CD $11.98
Another classic Ray Charles album reissued. This time featuring his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958 with his great band and The Raelettes. Four of the tracks are R&B (The Right Time/ Talkin' About You, etc) and the other four are funky jazz (In A Little Spanish Town/ Hot Rod, etc)

RAY CHARLES	Night Train 7154	Unreleased	● CD $10.98
19 track collection of previously unissued alternate takes from Ray's Swingtime sessions. RAY CHARLES: A Sentimental Blues (take 1)/ A Sentimental Blues (take 3)/ Ain't That Fine (false Start)/ Ain't That Fine (take 1)/ All To Myself Alone (extended Version)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (incomplete Take)/ Baby Won't You Please Come Home (take 1)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 4)/ Blues Before Sunrise (take 5)/ Honey Honey (false Start)/ Honey Honey (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 1)/ I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (take 3)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 1)/ I'm Glad For Your Sake (take 2)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (false Start)/ Jack, She's On The Ball (incomplete Take)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 1)/ Sitting On Top Of The World (take 4)

RAY CHARLES	Rhino 72813	The Genius Hits The Road	● CD $12.98
Reissue of 1960 ABC/ Paramount album featuring his #1 smash hit Georgia On My Mind. CD reissue includes seven bonus cuts from the same era.

RAY CHARLES	Rhino 72814	Genius Plus Soul=Jazz/ My Kind Of Jazz	● CD $12.98
Two LPs on one CD at a budget price. The 1961 "Genius+Soul=Jazz" for ABC/ Paramount features 10 big band cuts with members of the Count Basie Band and various studio musicians and includes the #1 R&B hit One Mint Julep. "My Kind Of Jazz" was a 1970 album of proto-acid-jazz instrumentals recorded for Ray's own label Tangeine.

RAY CHARLES	Rhino 72844	Sweet & Sour Tears	● CD $12.98
Reissue of ABC Paramount 480 from 1964 with seven bonus songs. A thematic album with all the songs dealing with loss or heartbreak including Cry/ Teardrops From My Eyes/ My Heart Cries For You/ Tired Of My Tears, etc

RAY CHARLES	Rhino 72859	Genius & Soul - The 50th Anniversary Collection	● CD $62.98
5 CD box set featuring 102 tracks drawn from 13 labels.

RAY CHARLES	Rhino 75759	Anthology	● CD $18.98
20 classics - the same titles and versions as the Rhino Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2 LP's, which reissue 26 ABC-Paramount recordings in all. CD contains Hallelujah I Love Her So, which is not on either album.

RAY CHARLES	Rhino-Atlantic 74731	Pure Genius-The Complete Atlantic Recordings, 1951-1959	● CD $139.98
7 CDs, 1 DVD, beyond essential Here's what you want to ask Santa for, or if you want to be known as a great Santa, give out a few of these. Packed in a box that looks like an old phonograph, complete with a price sticker from Wallich's Music City, is everything Ray did in his best years, the Atlantic years. Get rid of all the old compilations you've got - here's the real deal. The first six discs have EVERYTHING Ray put out. Even if you have the R&B box, there's some R&B sides not on that, including the original 45 rpm version of Carrying That Load from '58, also both the mono & stereo versions (2 different takes!) of What'd I Say. Then of course there's the jazz sides including the two LPs he made with MJQ vibist Milt Jackson - guess which expression came from their LP Soul Brothers?, along with Ray's piano jazz sides & even the whole LP "Fathead - Ray Charles Presents David Newman", which has Ray's band including Ray on piano. And there's the Pop LPs. And of course the live LPs that were only available on Rhino Handmade. And it gets better! The seventh CD is all unreleased, though some has popped up on bootlegs. The first part has a '53 rehearsal session with Ray & Ahmet Ertegun going over tunes they may record, which includes some great Ray piano, early versions of Losing Hand & even a version of It Should've Been Me with Ahmet talking the lyrics! Then there's takes 1-7 of (Night Time Is)The Right Time & take 1 of Tell Me How Do You Feel from the 10/28/58 recording session. Finally there's Ray on vocals & Wurlitzer piano taping for Quincy Jones his arranging suggestions for "The Genius Of Ray Charles" LP. And it gets even better! The final disc is a DVD with an entire TV broadcast of the never before heard (or seen) 1960 Newport Jazz Festival that shows the band in between Atlantic & ABC/Tangerine - the full band on 9 tunes including Drown In My Own Tears/ I Believe To My Soul & What'd I Say (just watch the faces of The Raelettes, especially Margie Hendrix). And as a closer, there's a current interview with Ahmet Ertegun about Ray. And while listening you can read the 80 page hard-cover book with full info on all the sessions & discs, & even the liner notes of all of Ray's Atlantic LPs. (GM)

CHARLIE & RAY	Collectables 5539	I Love You Madly	● CD $13.98
16 tracks, 39 min., good The title tune here is the closest that this duo ever came to a bonafide hit, nonetheless, their mastery of the up tempo, chalypso, and ballad tempos popular in the last half of the 1950's is more than evident is this overdue collection of their material for Al Silver's Herald Records. The program includes the title tune, plus the previously unreleased Tag Along, Certainly Baby, Dearest One, You're To Blame, The Closest Thing to an Angel, Guess I'm Through with Love, and a second, slightly slower version of I Love You Madly. Though the possibilities for harmony are limited with just two voices, these two won the weekly amateur night contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater five times in a row. They must have been doing something right. The sound quality here is acceptable, and, something of a surprise for the budget-minded Collectables label, there are liner notes. (DH)

CHARM	Clifton 1005	It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday	● CD $15.98
Fans of 50's R&B and rock 'n roll are notorious for their love of the specific recorded performance rather than for the song or the tune itself, and I'm afraid I'm no exception. So, when I first listened to this 20 cut disc recorded in 1983, I was quick to dismiss it as amateurs trying to imitate the masters. After all, most of the tracks here are rerecordings of 50's classics like One Mint Julep, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and Sixty Minute Man. Fortunately, I left it in my CD player out of laziness and replayed enough to learn the error of my ways. These five guys, who won the United In Group Harmony Association's "Rookie Of The Year" award in 1984, are well worth the high praise heaped upon them by that award and by the liner notes here. Though they don't have quite as good a bass, they really are in the same league as contemporary groups like the Persuasions. In addition to the tracks listed above, the a cappella gems available here include standards such as Ebb Tide, Misty, and Feelings, as well a particularly fine version of the traditional gospel number, Brighter Day. Well worth your time and money. Good sound, enthusiastic notes, and two pictures of Charm. (DH)

THE CHARTS	Collectables 5029	The Charts Greatest Hits	● CD $11.98
Now on compact disc. A fine Harlem doo-wop quintet who recorded for Bobby Robinson's Everlast label in 1957 and who scored big with their hit Desiree included here along with Why Do You Cry/ I Told You So/ You're The Reason/ Baby Be Mine, etc.

ELLIOT CHAVERS	Rescue 103	Vintage	● CD $15.98
Excellent collection of (mostly instrumental) R&B recorded in the 60s featuring fine tenor saxist Elliot Chavers (aka Elliot Shavers) who has recently returned to performing. The cover says "all tracks previously unissued" which I think means unissued on CD as most of these tracks seem to be drawn from singles recorded for various small L.A. labels between 1961 and '67 including Chavers' own Blaun label. Either way if you like instrumental R&B along the lines of King Curtis or Booker T & The MGs this should be right down your alley. Booklet has brief liner notes by Steve Propes and some great vintage photos.

THE CHECKERS	Ace CDCHD 1047	Checkmate - The Complete King Recordings, 1952-1955	● CD $18.98
THE CHECKERS: Can't Find My Sadie/ Don't Stop Dan (take 1)/ Don't Stop, Dan/ Flame In My Heart/ Friend In Need (take 5)/ Friend In Need (take 6)/ Ghost Of My Baby/ House With No Windows/ House With No Windows (take 1)/ I Promise You/ I Wanna Know/ I Wasn't Thinking, I Was Drinking/ Let Me Come Back/ Love Wasn't There/ Mama's Daughter/ My Prayer Tonight/ Night's Curtains/ Oh, Oh, Oh Baby/ Over The Rainbow/ Trying To Hold My Gal/ White Cliffs Of Dover/ Without A Song/ You Never Had It So Good/ You Never Had It So Good (take 1)/ You've Been Fooling Around/ You've Been Fooling Around (take 1)

THE CHECKERS	Dipper 201	21 Vocal Group Cuts From The 1950s	● CD $17.98
21 tracks, 54 min., essential The Checkers are surely one of the most underrated of the 50's vocal groups. Formed when the Dominoes underwent their first major personnel shift in early 1952, the Checkers roster included former Dominoes bass Bill Brown and former Dominoes second tenor Charles White. Their ballad and jump performances, recorded between 1952 and 1954, rank among the most powerful in the pantheon of rhythm and blues harmony. The program here includes both sides of all ten early 50's Checkers' sides, plus Heaven Only Knows, performed by a 1958 version of the group. Among the earlier gems are Flame in My Heart, Night's Curtains, Ghost of My Baby, White Cliffs of Dover, the hilarious answer to Sixty Minute Man, Don't Stop Dan, Mama's Daughter, and Trying to Hold My Gal. Terrific music, impressive sound quality, a cover photo of the group, and short but solid liner notes. Simply not a disc to miss. (DH)

THE CHESSMEN	Relic 7019	All Nite Long	● CD $13.98
The (Manhattan) Chessmen quintet was formed in the early 60's and has built quite a formidable reputation in clubs and on radio around N.Y. and New Jersey. This CD reissue of their 1966 Relic album (LP 106 plus two cuts) features James Myers, lead; Bill Ramirez, first tenor; Ted Ziffer, second tenor; Tommy Reyes, baritone; and Art Crank, bass. Although the group performs mostly material of their own, they also rearrange the scores of others to suit their own needs. Set includes pleasing recreations of Little Anthony's Two Kinds Of People/ All Night Long/ Let Me Come Back/ Dance. A jumble of mono and stereo mixes, 22 songs in all. Fine sleeve notes and stereo production by Eddie Gries. (OLN) THE CHESSMEN: A Teardrop Fell From My Eye/ All Nights Long/ Dance/ Dance Gypsy/ Don't Have To Shop Around/ For All We Know/ For Sentimental Reasons/ Heavenly Father/ I Apologize/ I Want To Dance/ I'm The One/ Is Everybody Happy?/ Let Me Come Back/ Love Forgot/ Love Is What The World Is Made Of/ Sandy/ So In Love/ Stars Fall/ That's My Desire/ There Goes My Baby/ Two Kinds Of People/ Ways Of Romance/ When We Were/ You Know My Heart Is Yours

THE CHI-LITES	Kent CDKEND 911	The Best Of The Chi-Lites	● CD $18.98
The most extensive Chi-Lites collection ever. 19 tunes from 1969's Give It Away to 1976's You Don't Have To Go , running over 74 minutes long. Most tunes co-written by Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin (they'd started out by writing Love Makes A Woman ). All the biggies are here and sound great, including Have You Seen Her?/ (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People/ Homely Girl/ Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was/ A Letter To Myself/ Stoned Out Of My Mind , etc. (GM)

THE CHORDS	Cat CCD 7000	The Best Of The Chords	● CD $18.98
22 tracks, 55 min., recommended Best known for their original, era-defining, 1954 recording of Sh-Boom, the Chords continued to record similar, mostly uptempo numbers for the remainder of the 50's. And though they never again scored that elusive hit, as this comprehensive disc proves, their subsequent output is as solid as was that first success. Featured numbers here include the aforementioned hit, plus Cross Over the Bridge, Zippity Zum, Bless You (For Being an Angel), A Girl to Love, Pretty Wild, Don't Be Mad at My Heart, two versions of Lu-Lu, She Was Love, and Don't Run Away. And production values are up to snuff as well, with fine sound quality, impressive notes, and a nice vintage cover picture of the group. (DH) THE CHORDS: A Girl To Love/ Bless You For Being An Angel/ Blue Moon/ Cross Over The Bridge/ Don't Be Mad At My Heart Could It Be/ Don't Run Away/ Heartbeat/ I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/ Little Maiden/ Love Oh Love/ Lover, Lover, Lover/ Lu-Lu (Master)/ Lu-Lu (Show Version)/ More, More, More/ Pretty Wild (Take 25 Master)/ Pretty Wild (Take 27 & 28)/ Sh-Boom/ She Was Love/ Short Skirts Hold Me Baby/ Zippity Zum

SAVANNAH CHURCHILL	Dipper 214	The Queen Of R&B And Her Groups	● CD $17.98
27 tracks, 74 min, highly recommended For some reason, pre & early doo-wop vocalizing has always grabbed me. In '46, Churchill managed to get a #1 hit with I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You) for Manor, with backing by The Four Tunes. Over the next decade she would go back to this style with backing by The Tunes, from 46-49 with Manor plus a rare one-off for Columbia in '48 (The Things You Do To Me), then over to Arco in '49 & 50 (some of the '50 sides with backing by The Striders) & RCA in '51 & '52. Other one-off backing groups include The Five Kings (Let's Call A Spade A Spade), The Ray Charles Singers, & The King Odom Four. Caution - this is recorded from very rare 78s & some tracks have a lot of surface noise. (GM)

DEE CLARK	Collectables 5760	Golden Classics	● CD $11.98
19 tracks, 49 min., recommended An interesting take on the career of Arkansas' own Delecta Clark. The program opens with three of his best known Falcon/ Vee-Jay numbers - Raindrops/ Hey Little Girl, and Nobody But You. But the remainder of the play list is taken from his later days with the Constellation label, between 1963 and 1966. Among those fine featured soul numbers are Crossfire Time/ I'm Going Home/ That's My Girl /Warm Summer Breezes/ I Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool/ T.C.B./ It's Impossible/ Hot Potato, and Ole Fashun Love. Clark's last hurrah in many ways, but solid music nonetheless. And both sound quality and liner notes (by Bill Dahl) are excellent here. (DH)

OTIS CLAY	Bullseye Blues 9513	Soul Man: Live In Japan	● CD $15.98
1983 concert by this sought-after deep soul man. Recorded with his own band of Hi Records vets and others, these 8 extended soul jams (10 on the original 2-LP issue) are highlighted by a tribute to his late friend O.V. Wright (A Nickel & A Nail) & a 13 minute medley of Al Green's Love & Happiness with Soul Man. Plus Precious Precious/ Love Don't Love Nobody/ Hard Workin' Man, etc.

OTIS CLAY	Bullseye Blues 9520	I'll Treat You Right	● CD $15.98
Since Otis Clay parted company with gospel back in the early 60's, he never really strayed far from his roots. His voice, sounding rather like a cross between O.V. Wright and Albert King, can bend and grease the notes with the best soul statesmen. This 10-tune collection, cut a while back in Memphis, features none other than Little Jimmy King on lead guitar and soul-kids Don Bryant and Percy Wiggins on backing vocals. Particular faves include the righteous Children Gone Astray and Gonna Take My Heart's Advice - a soulman's talk with his conscience. Tight and right support from The Memphis Horns and Hi rhythm section. (OLN)

OTIS CLAY	Bullseye Blues 9590	This Time Around	● CD $15.98
New album of all new material from legendary Southern soulster produced by Willie Mitchell.

OTIS CLAY	MMS 5157	You Are My Life	● CD $15.98
10 tracks, 43 min., recommended Since the liner notes appear to be from another album, dating the material -- probably late '80s, and probably a CD issue of a Waylo LP -- becomes a task for the ears. Some of these cuts sound about as deep as soul seems to get these days, namely the Billy Always-penned Two Wrongs (Don't Make A Right) and Feeling Single, Seeing Double, but some suffer from a bit too much production. And the budget apparently didn't include a real live drummer, which is too bad. But generally, producer Willie Mitchell does very little to attempt to "update" Clay's sound. And that's a good thing. (JC)