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RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL & DOO-WOP

Clyde McPhatter -> The Mystics

CLYDE MCPHATTER
JAY MCSHANN
JACK MCVEA/ RABON TARRANT
THE MEDALLIONS
THE MELLO KINGS
THE MEMPHIS HORNS
THE METALLICS/ STEREOS
THE METERS
MICKEY & SYLVIA
THE MIDNIGHTERS
THE MILLER SISTERS
GARNETT MIMMS
BOBBY MITCHELL
MCKINLEY MITCHELL
WILLIE MITCHELL
BOBBY MITCHELL & THE TOPPERS
THE MONOTONES
THE MOONGLOWS
RUDY RAY MOORE
THE MOROCCOS
ELLA MAE MORSE
FRANK MOTLEY
MICKEY MURRAY
THE MYSTICS

 

CLYDE MCPHATTER Atlantic 82314 Deep Sea Ball ● CD $13.98
Clyde was born in Durham, N.C. in 1932 and died of a heart attack in 1972. Vocally inspired by Rebert Harris of The Soul Stirrers, McPhatter became one of the finest high tenor soul-soloists of the 50's. Starting as a choir boy, he graduated to lead of the Mt. Lebanon Gospel singers, who allegedly back Clyde on his first and finest Drifters recording - Lucille (1953), omitted from this collection as are many of his masterpieces like The Way I Feel/ Warm Your Heart/ Everyone's Laughing. The criterion here is that if it charted it must be his best, which is utter nonsense. In 1953, after three years with The Dominoes, Clyde recorded with The Thrasher Bros. Gospel Group until joining the army in '54. During his service he was persuaded to sing solo, both with and without a reconstituted set of Drifters. The CD covers the 1955-'59 period and embraces all but one of his charted sides. Standouts include Rock & Cry/ Without Love/ Deep Sea Ball/ Come What May/ Lovey Dovey/ A Lover's Question/ Long, Lonely Nights - 19 songs in all. Issued as part of the ongoing Remasters series, with great pics and scanty book-notes. (OLN)

 
CLYDE MCPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS Collectables 6226 Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters/ Rockin' ' Driftin' ● CD $13.98
Two LPs on one CD.

 
CLYDE MCPHATTER Plaza 60783 The Latest & The Greatest ● CD $17.98
32 sides recorded by Clyde between 1959 and '62 including some of his biggest hits of the period - Ta Ta/ I Ain't Giving Up Nothing/ These Foolish Things/ How Many Times/ This Is Not Goodbye/ High School Social/ Let's Try Again/ Everything's Gonna Be Alright, etc.
CLYDE MCPHATTER: Everybody Loves A Winner/ Everything's Gonna Be Alright/ Happiness/ Happy Good Times/ Hey Love/ High School Social/ How Many Times/ I Ain't Giving Up Nothing/ I Never Knew/ I Told Myself A Lie/ I Wanna Be The Only One/ I'll Stop Anything I'm Doing/ I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday/ Let's Try Again/ Little Bitty Pretty One/ Lover Please/ Stop/ Such A Night/ Ta Ta/ Take A Step/ The Bells/ The Best Man Cried/ These Foolish Things/ Think Me A Kiss/ This Is Not Goodbye/ Tomorrow Is A Comin'/ Twice As Nice/ What Am I Living For/ When The Right Time Comes Along/ Who's Worried Now/ Whole Heap Of Love/ You're For Me

 
JAY MCSHANN Stony Plain 1254 Still Jumpin' The Blues ● CD $15.98
11 tracks, 64 mins, recommended
The Kansas City legend still jumps the blues at 83 on vocals and piano accompanied by Duke Robillard and his band and featuring a guest appearance by Maria Muldaur on a couple of songs. The material is a mix of blues, jazz and pop tunes, mostly standards, all performed with style and class - Goin' To Chicago/ Sunny Side Of the Street/ Come On Over To My House/ Say Forward, I'll March/ She's Got It and others. Also includes a 17 minute interview with some fascinating reminiscences about his early years, Charlie Parker and more. (FS)

 
JACK MCVEA/ RABON TARRANT Blue Moon 6031 Complete Recordings, Vol. 1 : 1944-1945 ● CD $17.98
First of four volumes devoted to all the early recordings (except a few that have never been found) of fine West Coast jazz saxist and R&B pioneer Jack McVea often in the company of drummer/ vocalist Rabon Tarrant. This volume features 20 tracks recorded in 1944 and '45 for Rhythm, Melodisc and Apollo - the latter were recently reissued on Delmark. In addition to Trarant's fine bluesy vocals there are also less intersting vocals by Betty Roche and Arthur Duncan. Among the fine musicians on these sessions are Buster Bailey, Ram Ramirez, Cappy OliverTeddy Bucker, Gene Phillips and others.

 
JACK MCVEA/ RABON TARRANT Blue Moon 6032 Complete Recordings, Vol. 2 : 1945-1946 ● CD $17.98
The second volume features another 20 tracks starting with three more Apollo sides from 1945 and starting on his extensive Black & White repertoire with recordings from late 1945 and early 1946. Most of this is hard driving R&B and the fine vocals of Rabon Tarrant are prominently featured - this set also includes two sides recorded by Tarrant with Luck Thompson & His All Stars.

 
JACK MCVEA/ RABON TARRANT Blue Moon 6033 Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 : 1946-1947 ● CD $17.98
The third volume features 20 more Black & White sides recorded in 1946 and early '47 and includes Jack's most famous recording - the delightful novelty Open The Door, Richard which was a #2 R&B hit (his only hit) and supposedly sold over a million copies and inspired a host of covers.

 
JACK MCVEA/ RABON TARRANT Blue Moon 6034 Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 : 1947-1952 ● CD $17.98
This set features 16 sides recorded by McVea & His Orchestra for Black & White and Exclusive in 1947 and also includes two sides from 1950 by McVea's trumpeter Sammy Yates with vocals by Arthur Duncan and two sides from 1952 by Charlie Whitfield & his Orchestra with a vocal by Rabon Tarrant.

 
THE MEDALLIONS Ace CDCHD 536 Speedin' ● CD $18.98
25 tracks, 67 min., recommended
Ace continues its exploration of the Dootone/Dooto label with this comprehensive look at another solid Los Angeles-based vocal group. Led by Vernon Green and given to changing group personnel with nearly every recording session, the Medallions had a bluesy sound and are perhaps best known for their ballads, The Letter from 1954 and Magic Mountain from 1959. But, as the program here demonstrates, they were equally adept at jump tunes, particularly those that employed car metaphors. Highlights include Dance and Swing, Push Button Automobile, Dear Darling, Edna, '59 Volvo, Buick '59, I Want a Love, For Better or For Worse, The Telegram, and Shedding Tears for You. A top quality reissue job, with excellent cover art, informative notes, and several vintage photos. (DH)
THE MEDALLIONS: '59 Volvo/ A Lover's Prayer/ Behind The Door/ Buick '59/ Coupe De Ville Baby/ Dance And Swing/ Dear Darling/ Did You Have Fun?/ Don't Shoot Baby/ Edna/ For Better Or For Worse/ Give Me The Right/ I Want A Love/ I Wonder, Wonder, Wonder/ I'm In Love With You/ Magic Mountain/ My Mary Lou/ Push Button Automobile/ Rocket Ship/ Shedding Tears For You/ Speedin'/ The Letter/ The Telegram/ Ticket To Love/ Unseen

 
THE MELLO KINGS Collectables 5020 Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98
The Mellokings were five teenage white guys from Mt. Vernon, N.Y. who recorded for Al Silver's Herald label and enjoyed a certain degree of success with a song called Tonite Tonite issued in the spring of 1957. This CD contains all their Herald output. The quintet sings well in a smooth sweet-sounding way, but too often drifts into commercially trite material. Notable songs Baby Tell Me/ 'Til There Were None/ Tonite Tonite are all featured here.

THE METALLICS/ THE STEREOS Cub 8085 The Metallics Meet The Stereos ● CD $18.98
24 tracks, 57 mins, recommended 24 tracks, mostly from the early 60s, from two fine groups. The Metallics were an obscure but excellent group from Los Angeles who recorded 8 sides in 1962 - all of them here. They feature the powerful lead vocals of John "J.D." Wright who does some expressive falsetto work. The Stereos had a longer career, originally recording as The Buckeyes whose four sides from the late 50s are featured here. They changed their name to The Stereos and had a big hit (their only one) in 1961 with the foot stomping I Really Love You. There are several others in similar vein as well as some fine soulful ballads. (FS)
THE BUCKEYES: Beggin' You Please/ By Only You/ Dottie Baby/ Since I Fell For You/ THE METALLICS: Drop By/ Get Lost/ I'll Conquer the World/ In the Middle of the Night/ It Hurts Me/ Itchy Twitchy Too/ Let Me Love You/ Need Your Love/ THE STEREOS: A Love For Only You/ Do You Love Me/ Echo In My Heart/ Good News/ I Really Love You/ Mumbling Word/ Please Come Back To Me/ Sweet Pea's In Love/ Sweet Water/ The Big Knock/ Tic Tac Toe/ Unless You Mean It

 
THE METERS Mardi Gras MG 1029 Best Of The Meters - Real New Orleans Funk ● CD $17.98
12 tracks, 36 min., essential
The Meters' Josie material--and the Warner Bros. stuff too, for that matter--has been conspicuously absent from record stores despite the surging reissue market. This disc, brief though it is, offers a fair sample of the early material (1969-72), including Look-Ka Py Py, Hey Pocky A-Way, Mardi Gras Mambo, Cissy Strut, Sophisticated Cissy, and more, taken from the original master recordings. Leo Nocentelli, Art Neville, George Porter, Jr., and Joseph Modeliste were the world's greatest funk band. It's just that simple. So how about someone reissuing all their early sides? (JC)

 
THE METERS Sundazed 6211 Zony Mash ● CD $14.98
13 track collection of rarities and 45 rpm sides recorded for Josie in the late 60s/ early 70s - title tune + The Look Of Love/ Stretch Your Rubber Band/ (The World Isa A Bit Under The Weather) Doodle-Oop/ sasy Lady/ Groovy Lady/ Funky Meters Soul, etc.

 
MICKEY & SYLVIA Bear Family BCD 15438 Love Is Strange ● CD $41.98
Another spectacular production from Bear Family - double CD set featuring all this duos' Rainbow, Groove and RCA recordings cut between 1955 and 1965 - 60 tracks in all. It includes several alternate takes and some dozen unissued songs! Their material ranged from bluesy stuff, like their biggest hit Love Is Strange and other fine songs Rock & Stroll Room/ Baby You're So Fine/ Going Home/ Where Is My Honey, etc., to awful schmaltzy pop like Mommy Out De Light/ Love Lesson, etc. Still, being on CD you can always skip over the schlock to get to the cream! Sound, of course, is immaculate and set comes with 56 page booklet with extensive notes by Norbert Hess, full discographical information and lots of great photos including some atmospheric studio photos and a couple of color shots of the duo live on stage! (FS)

 
MICKEY & SYLVIA Collectables 5833 Love Is Strange ● CD $13.98
18 track collection of Rainbow, Groove, Vik and RCA sides from this talented duo including the smash title song plus Where Is My Honey/ Rise Sally Rise/ Walkin' In The Rain/ There Oughta Be A Law/ Bewildered/ This Is My Story/ Love Is A Treasure/ Oh Yeah! Uh-Huh, etc.

 
THE MIDNIGHTERS Famous Groove 971007 Ring A Ling ● CD $18.98
28 hard driving sides and bluesy ballads by this superb group led by Hank Ballard including a few hits and lots of great lesser known sides - Annie's Aunt Fanny/ Ow Wow Ooo Wee/ Sexy Ways/ Crazy Lovin'/ Look A Here/ Don't Say Your Last Goodbye/ That Woman/ Ashamed Of Myself/ Henry's Got Flat Feet/ Whatsoever You Do/ Switchie Witchie Titchie/ Early One Morning/ It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)/ Ooh Bah Baby/ Come On And get It/ That House On The Hill, etc. Watch out for hot guitar by Cal Green on some cuts.

 

THE MIGHTY HANNIBAL Norton 290 Hannibalism! ● CD $14.98
28 tracks, highly recommended
Retrospective of this fine and original R&B artist featuring recordings from 1958 through 1972 recorded for numerous labels. Originally recording as Jimmy Shaw (his real name), he subsequently recorded as Hannibal, Mighty Hannibal and King Hannibal and hit the charts two all time classics - the intense soul ballad Hymn No. 5 (1966) - a plea from a soldier in the trenches in Vietnam and the anti drug scorcher The Truth Shall Make You Free (1972). Although nothing else quite reached that standard there is lots of fine R&B and soul in a variety of styles with hot bands. Hannibal was a very active figure on the L.A. and New York music scene, as a musician and as a pimp, and he knew everybody. The 24 page extensively illustrated booklet is by Hannibal himself and is full of interesting and frequently hilarious stories about people like Larry Williams, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Ray Charles, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Taylor and many other great characters he ran across. Even if the music wasn't as good it is the booklet alone is worth the price! (FS)

 
THE MILLER SISTERS Famous Groove 971021 Please Mr. Disc Jockey ● CD $17.98
30 tracks from mid/late 50s by New York group - Please Mr. Disc Jockey/ Guess Who/ I Cried All Night/ Sugar Candy/ The New Hully Gully/ The Flip Skip/ How Am I To Know/ Tell Him, etc.

 
GARNETT MIMMS BGO CD 268 Cry Baby/ Warm & Soulful ● CD $18.98
Two LPs on one CD - 26 tracks in all - Cry Baby/ Until You Were Gone/ So Close/ Baby Don't You Weep/ Cry To Me/ Wanting You/ I'll Take Good Care Of You/ It Won't Hurt (Half As Much)/ Thinkin'/ More Than A Miracle/ One Girl/ It's Just A Metter Of Time/ Look Away, etc.

 
GARNET MIMMS & THE ENCHANTERS Collectables 5248 Cry Baby ● CD $11.98
Garnet was born in Ashland, W. VA. in 1937. During the 50's he sang lead and recorded with The Gainors. In 1962 he formed The Enchanters (Sam Bell, Chas Boyer, and Zola Pearnell). Garnet signed with U.A. in '63, and was assigned to producer/ songwriter Jerry Ragovoy with whom he cut his most lasting soul anthems or secular hymns. But The Enchanters only backed Mimms on three tunes (they were replaced by The Drinkard Singers), one of which, the Drifters-like A Quiet Place is gathered here. Although the scant book-notes were lifted from U.A. LP 3305 (1963), only five of its twelve songs are included. Soul classics Cry Baby/ I'll Take Good Care Of You/ One Girl/ For Your Precious Love/ Baby, Don't You Weep will lift the soul. Little duplication with Charly LP 1121. Average sound quality - essential deep soul. (OLN)

 
BOBBY MITCHELL Bear Family BCD 15961 I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday ● CD $69.98
Two CD set featuring all 47 tracks recorded by this outstanding New Orleans singer and piano player for Imperial, Sho-Biz, Ron and Rip between 1953 and 1964. 12x12 20 page book with extensive notes, rare photos and discography.

 
BOBBY MITCHELL & THE TOPPERS Bayou 1006 New Orleans Doo-Wop ● CD $17.98
31 track collection of this fine New Orleans artist. All these tracks are also on the Bear Family two CD set issued some years ago.

 
MCKINLEY MITCHELL Waldoxy WCD 7410 The Complete Malaco Collection ● CD $16.98
16 track collection.

 
WILLIE MITCHELL Rollercoaster RCCD 3009 Walkin' With Willie ● CD $19.98
29 tracks, 70 min., recommended
Something of a disc with a split personality: tracks one through thirteen feature the advertised Willie Mitchell combo with the Four Kings vocal group from Memphis, but tracks fourteen through twenty-nine include six unadvertised artists, all from the Swan/Lawn group of labels headquartered in Philadelphia. Part one includes the vocals Tell It to Me Baby, Walking at Your Will, Rag Mop, and I Want You for Myself, plus the instrumentals, The Crawl and Bongo Beat. Part two features I Dig Rock 'n' Roll by Earl Wade, formerly of the Cadillacs vocal group, P. S. I Love You and I Cried by Lee Andrews, Bump Te Bump by Big Buddy Lucas, Take It Baby and In Paradise by the Showmen, This Would Be My Prayer by Larry Clinton, and two numbers by unknown artists. All of the Philly cuts are from the early to mid-60's. An interesting program over all; sound quality and liner notes are are solid. (DH)

 
THE MONOTONES Collectables 5427 Who Wrote The Book Of Love? ● CD $13.98
A straight reissue of the solid Murray Hill LP of the same name issued a few years back, newly remastered by Rhino for Collectables. The material here is worthy of a retrospective, with a nice mix of jumps and ballads, including two unreleased numbers, plus four alternate takes. Specific titles include The Book of Love/ Dreams/ Soft Shadows/ You Never Loved Me and the awkwardly titled What Would You Do If There Wasn't Any Rock & Roll. A total of 14 tracks, clean sound, and decent liner notes taken (xeroxed?) directly from the original LP issue. Good stuff. (DH)

 
THE MOONGLOWS Dipper 211 Vol. 1 : 1954-1956 ● CD $17.98
26 tracks Shoo Doo Be Doo (My Lovin' baby)/ So All Alone/ Most Of All/ Doubtful/ New Gal/ Starlite/ Slow Down/ In My Diary/ let's Go/ We Go Together/ When I'm With You/ Kiss Me Baby/ Over And Over Again (two takes), etc.

 
THE MOONGLOWS Dipper 215 Vol. 2 : 1956-1959 ● CD $17.98
25 tracks including I Knew From The Start/ I'll Stop Wanting You (LP version)/ Love Is A River/ Blue Velvet/ I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over/ What Are You Going To Do/ Too Late/ Don't Be Afraid To Love/ Soda Pop/ Sweeter Than Words/ Ten Commandments Of Love/ Twelve Months Of The Year/ Unemployment, etc.

   
THE MOONGLOWS Relic 7042 On Stage - Featuring Bobby Lester ● CD $13.98
THE MOONGLOWS: 10 Commandments Of Love/ Hey Santa Claus/ In My Diary/ Just A Lonely Christmas/ Love Is A River/ Most Of All/ Please Send Me Someone To Love/ Secret Love/ See Saw/ Sincerely/ The Beating Of My Heart/ We Go Together/ When I'm With You/ Whistle My Love

 
THE MOONGLOWS/ THE FLAMINGOS UGGH Records 501 Their First Recordings ● CD $17.98
THE FLAMINGOS: Blues In A Letter/ Carried Away/ Cross Over The Bridge/ Golden Teardrops/ Hurry Home Baby/ If I Can't Have You/ Jump Children/ Kill it/ Listen To My Plea/ Plan For Love/ September Song/ Someday, Someway/ That's My Desire/ You Ain't Ready/ THE MOONGLOWS: 219 Train/ Baby Please/ Fine, Fine Girl/ Hey Santa Clau/ I Was Wrong/ I've Been Your Dog/ Just A Lonely Christmas/ Just Can't Tell No Lies/ My Gal/ My Love/ Ooh Rockin' Daddy/ Real Gone Mam/ Secret Love/ Whistle My Love

 
RUDY RAY MOORE Norton CED 276 Hully Gully Fever ● CD $14.98
28 tracks,73 min, recommended
Long before he was Dolomite & The King Of the Party Records, Rudy Ray Moore was a dancer called Prince Dumarr in the 40s, then a singer with such monikers as The Harlem Hillbilly, The Prince Of The Blues, Mr. Wiggles, The Turban Headed Man, and of course the World's Handsomest Man! These fine sides of Black Rock'n'Roll from the 50s & 60s, were released on a variety of large & small labels, from Federal to Vermont, even one, My Soul, as the lead singer of The Seniors! The 24 page liner notes consists of a long rambling autobiography by the man, with lots of rare pics, but no real discography. Includes his original version of I'm Mad With You, later covered by Moon Mullican, tunes that sound like Little Richard (Robie Dobbie), his buddies Bobby Marchan & Huey Smith, whom he toured with (Hully Gully Fever & The Flu Bug Too, covers of The Drifter's Whatcha Gonna Do, Muddy Waters' Don't Go No Farther, Faye Adams' Hurts Me To My Heart, & tunes with such fine titles as Ring-A-Ling Dong/ Scotch Fever/ Rally In the Valley, ending with a couple live tunes, with a medley of Bring It On Home To Me & I'm In Love Again, using the spoken parts to Marchan's There Is Something On Your Mind.(GM)

 
THE MOROCCOS & OTHER GREAT GROUPS Delmark 761 Bang Goes My Heart ● CD $14.98
Chicago doo-wop recorded for the United label between 1953 and 1955 featuring The Moroccos, Answers, Sheppards & Pastels. Includes 12 previously unissued sides and notes by expert Bob Pruter.

 
ELLA MAE MORSE Bear Family BCD 16117 Barrelhouse, Boogie & Blues ● CD $119.98
5 CD box set with book featuring all her Capitol recordings.

 
ELLA MAE MORSE Collectables 2732 The Very Best Of Ella Mae Morse ● CD $14.98
21 tracks, 61 mins, highly recommended Available some years ago as Capitol 95288. Morse cuts scads of singles for Capitol between 1951-57, giving that label its first gold single with Cow Cow Boogie, included here. She combines country, pop, and R&B influences into a pleasing conglomeration that sounds plenty like rock and roll some of the time. Includes Mr. Five By Five/ Get On Board Little Children/ No Love, No Nothin'/ Tess's Torch Song / Captain Kidd/ Buzz Me/ The House Of Blue Lights/ Tennessee Saturday Night/ Oakie Boogie/ 40 Cups Of Coffee and others. (FS)

 
FRANK MOTLEY Collectables 5305 Dual Trumpeter ● CD $11.98

 
FRANK MOTLEY & HIS MOTLEY CREW DC 0400 Honkin' At Midnight ● CD $18.98
30 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended
Excellent collection of hot R&B and some soul featuring band led by trumpeter Frank Motley and recorded between the early 50s and mid 60s. Apart from singer and pianist Curley Bridges most of the band members are unknowns but if you like solid sax honking, blaring trumpets and hard driving rhythm sections you won't be disappointed. The material is evenly divided between vocals and instrumentals and includes originals and covers. Bridges is a fine vocalist and his sides include a supercharged version of Hound Dog, a soulful cover of Ray Charles' Night Time Is The Right Time, the Louisiana flavored Try Rock 'n' Roll and others. There are also several vocals from the excellent Jackie Shane. Motley had a lengthy and interesting career starting in the 40s and extending into the 70s so it's a shame there are no notes. Still this is a worthwhile and entertaining collection. (FS)

 
MICKEY MURRAY Collectables 6023 Shout Bamalama - The Very best Of Mickey Murray ● CD $13.98
18 sides recorded for Shelby Singleton's SSS label in the late 60s by fine Southern soulster Murray including his only hit the title song written by Otis Redding. Also includes Try To Hide From Love/ Are You Ready/ How Many Breaks Can One Heart take/ Sticky Sue/ Mama's Got the Wagon, etc.

 
THE MYSTICS Collectables 5043 16 Golden Classics ● CD $11.98
16 tracks by this white vocal quintet who recorded for Laurie '59 thru '61. The group's sugary pop style resembles a mixture of The Belmonts with The Elegants. However, with all this said, their pleasing interpretations of White Cliffs of Dover and A Sunday Kind Of Love, coupled with standouts Darling I Know Now and Adam And Eve make this 16-cut set a worthwhile purchase. Includes hit song Hushabye. No sleeve notes. Great remastering. (OLN)

 

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