"RURAL BLUES" - Volume 1 & 2

Great blues from the deep EMI music vaults! These two rare albums were originally released on vinyl in the 70's. Tracks 1 to 14 are taken from Rural Blues Volume One: Goin' Up The Country previously released by Liberty on LP as LBL 83213E.
Tracks 15 to 28 are taken from Rural Blues Volume Two: Saturday Night Function previously released by Liberty on LP as LBL 83214E.

trax:
1. Take It Easy - Nathaniel Terry 2. Forgive Me - Manny Nichols 3. Avenue Breakdown - Country Jim 4. Disgusted - Lil' Jackson Son 5. West Coast Blues - Thunder N' Lightnin' 6. Howling Wolf Blues - Lightnin' Hopkins 7. Nobody Knows - Snooks Eaglin 8. I Don'T Know Why - Nathaniel Terry 9. Worried Life - Manny Nichols 10. Phillipine Blues - Country Jim 11. Thrill Me Baby - Lil' Jackson Son 12. Can'T Do Like You Used To - Thunder N' Lightnin' 13. Can'T Get That Woman Off My Mind - Lightnin' Hopkins 14. By The Water - Snooks Eaglin 15. When The Saints Go Marching In - Papa Lightfoot 16. Travelin' Mood - Snooks Eaglin 17. I Ain'T For It - Boogie Bill Webb 18. Country Bred (Nobody Loves Me) - Clifton Chenier 19. A Man Is Crying - Slim Harpo 20. Cold In The Evening - J.D. Edwards 21. Paper In My Shoe - Boozoo Chavis 22. Wine Woman Wiskey - Papa Lightfoot 23. See See Rider - Snooks Eaglin 24. Love Me Mama - Boogie Bill Webb 25. Just A Lonely Boy - Clifton Chenier 26. Something Inside Me - Slim Harpo 27. Crying - J.D. Edwards 28. Boozoo Stomp - Boozoo Chavis
...served by Gyro1966...

"URBAN BLUES" - Vol. 1 & 2

Great compilation from the vast EMI vaults pairing two rare albums from the 70's that collected 50's rocking' R&B!The descriptive phrase Urban Blues was first used in the early part of the 20th century to differentiate between the more uptown sentiments pervasive to the style and the cruder, more rural stylings of country-blues artists. This term was later used in the 1940s to describe a type of sophisticated blues written about the vagaries of city life, its lyrics alternately dealing with romantic strife and the innumerable good times to be easily obtained in an urban area. Always city-derived, the music is earmarked by a pronounced uptown emphasis, embracing everything from jump blues to jazz-influenced stylings to smooth, supper-club-style vocals. ~ Cub Koda

trax:
1. Don'T Lie To Me - Fats Domino 2. Mother Fuyer - Dirty Red 3. Vida Lee - T-Bone Walker 4. Too Many Drivers - Smiley Lewis 5. Sweet Old Chicago - Roosevelt Sykes 6. Story To Tell - Big Joe Turner 7. Empty Life - Mercy Dee 8. Rose Mary - Fats Domino 9. You Done Me Wrong - Dirty Red 10. I Get So Weary - T-Bone Walker 11. Tee-Nah-Nah - Smiley Lewis 12. You Can'T Be Lucky All The Time - Roosevelt Skyes 13. Battle Of The Blues (Part 1) - Big Joe Turner & Wynonie Harris 14. Danger Zone - Mercy Dee
15. Help Me - Fats Domino 16. I'Ve Got Eyes For You - Fats Domino 17. Stay Away - Fats Domino 18. Slide Me Down - Smiley Lewis 19. It'S So Peaceful - Smiley Lewis 20. Abc'S Parts 1 & 2 - Smilin' Joe 21. Shake Shake Baby - Archibald 22. Soon As I Go Home - Archibald 23. Goin' Back To The Country - Little Sony 24. I'm Thankful - Fats Mathews 25. Lucille - Joe Turner & Fats Domino 26. Travelin' Mood - Wee Willie Wayne 27. Chicken Shack Boogie - Amos Milburn
...served by Gyro1966...

PERCY MAYFIELD "Blues Laureate" The RCA Years

When Percy Mayfield's contract as composer and performer with Ray Charles -- a business association that lasted seven long years -- because of disagreements with Brother Ray's manager Joe Adams, Mayfield cut an album for Brunswick in 1968, and then signed with Andy Stroud -- husband and manager of Nina Simone -- at RCA. The albums Mayfield cut for the label in 1970 and 1971 (Percy Mayfield Sings, Percy Mayfield, Weakness Is a Thing Called Man, and Blues and Then Some) were excellent. Mayfield's writing and voice were in great shape, and he was surrounded by both crack and sympathetic studio talent on these sides -- Eric Gale, Chuck Rainey, Pretty Purdie, Snooky Young, and Richard Tee to name a few -- as well as full horn sections and female backing vocalists. While it would have been great to get these albums in their entirety on a double-disc, Australia's excellent Raven imprint has compiled 25 tracks from them for Blues Laureate: The RCA Years. The bottom line is that this material is fantastic. It may be of a particular period, but it's timeless. Whether it's one of the funky sides like "You Wear Your Hair Too Long," or the shuffling, funky soul-blues of "Live Today Like the Day Before," the Chicago blues ballad "The Highway Is Like a Woman," the deep, mournful soul of "Weakness Is a Thing Called Man," or the audacious street corner, trash-talking poetry of "The Devil Made Me Do It" (not a novelty song), the result is the same. These tunes reflect the changes the blues were going through, but were anchored by the solid, deeply focused vision of a singer and songwriter who understood the trends; unfortunately, not all the people at his record companies always did.(by Thom Jurek, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 Yes, You'll Play 02 Live Today Like The Day Before 03 Highway Is Like A Woman 04 Painful Party 05 You Wear Your Hair Too Long 06 To Live The Past 07 My Friend 08 A Lying Woman (Not Trustworthy) 09 To Claim It's Love 10 My Error 11 The Country 12 Weakness Is A Thing Called Man 13 California Blues 14 Hand In Hand With Another Man 15 Brotherhood Week 16 I Hope You Get The Message 17 The Flirt 18 Getting You Off My Mind 19 I've Got A Secret 20 Sign On The Dotted Line 21 You Lied To Me For Your Last Time 22 Right On Young Americans 23 Contact Me (When You Find Her) 24 The Lover And The Married Woman 25 The Devil Made Me Do It
...served by Gyro1966...

TONY OWENS "I Got Soul" Classic 60's and 70's Soul From New Orleans

Incredible work from a singer we know almost nothing about – but who steps out beautifully in this overstuffed set! Tony Owens is a name that we've only seen once or twice on some rare singles that have passed through our hands – and honestly, we'd never dreamed that he'd made so many recordings, or that they'd all be this great! As part of their project to open up the farthest corners of the American scene of years back, the folks at the Grapevine label have brought most of Tony's classic work back to life for this set – stretching back to the mid 60s, and running up through the late 70s – and featuring an assortment of New Orleans soul tracks cut for labels that include Soul Sound, Soulin, Listening Post, Buddah, Island, and Sansu! As with other Grapevine CDs – such as their Johnny Moore or Phillip Mitchell collections – the work is augmented by a history of the artist, and the tracks themselves have been beautifully remastered for a really cohesive sound. The set features 22 tracks in all – including 4 previously unissued numbers. (Dusty Groove)

trax:
01 I Got Soul 02 This Heart Can't Break No More 03 I'll Be There 04 Wishing, Waiting, Hoping 05 I'm A Fool For Lovin' You 06 I Need, I Need Your Love 07 This Is My Prayer 08 Confessin' A Feeling 09 Got'a Get My Baby Back Home 10 I Can't Lose (Part 1) 11 I Can't Lose (Part 2) 12 I Can Hear Music 13 (When You're Wrong) You Got To Pay The Price 14 One Man's Woman, Another Man's Wife 15 Loneliness Still Follows Me 16 All That Matters 17 I Don't Want Nobody But My Baby 18 The Letter That Broke My Heart 19 Do What You Wanna Do 20 Woman I Got To Leave You 21 Thank You 22 Love Is (The Thing We Feel)
...served by Gyro1966...

"LEGENDARY LEADS OF RHYTHM & BLUES" Vol. 1 - Crossover Sounds, 1960-1964

This compilation traces the progression from the 50's R&B style to the early 60's birth of soul sound. Some call it "birth of soul" or "post doo-wop" or "crossover" . The progression from 50's doo-wop to early 60's R&B involves a shift in emphasis from a "vocal group" concept to that of a "soloist" or featured lead singer, and so the concept of our "Legendary Leads of R&B" series. (from the liner notes)

trax:
1. Rope Of Sand - Cornell Gunter 2. Good Enough - Bobby Guy (Howard Guyton) 3. Living Dream - Lenny Miles 4. Here I Stand - Joel Scott (Joe Jones) 5. Breaking Hearts - Varetta Dillard 6. Jealous Heart - Pookie Hudson 7. Run-Run Senorita - Ray Pollard 8. I've Got A Date - Barbara English 9. Once Again - Nate Nelson 10. Mr. Fix- It - Jimmy Jones 11. Camera - Jimmy Beaumont 12. Stay With Me - Ed Townsend 13. Fly By Night - Varetta Dillard 14. Queen Bee - Jimmey Breedlove 15. Until - Billy Barnes 16. I Want To Be Near You - Johnny Woodson 17. Donna's Gone - Lenny Miles 18. Donkey Walk - Big Dee Irwin 19. To Belong - Jimmy Breedlove 20. Shoo Fly - Barbara English 21. Second Best - Tony Williams 22. Please Send Me Someone To Love - Jimmy Beaumont 23. Sing Me A Song - Johnny Woodson 24. Unchained Melody - Tony Middleton
...served by Gyro1966...

"Jukebox Swing" Classic West Coast R&B from SWINGTIME LABEL

CLASSIC BLUES and R&B FROM: Downbeat/ Swingtime/ Supreme/ Exclusive/ Excelsior group of labels. HARD TO FIND RECORDINGS OF WEST COAST GIANTS!trax:
disc 1
1. B-Sharp You'll See - Charles Brown w/Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers 2. Drippers Boogie Part 1 - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers 3. Take Out The Squeal - Earl Jackson w/Johnny Otis Band 4. Tate's A jumpin' - Buddy Tate 5. Saturday Night Fish Fry - Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies 6. I'll Do Anything But Work - Ray Charles 7. Baby You're Still A Square - Percy Mayfield 8. You're Driving Me Crazy - Vic Dickenson 9. Ee-Bobaliba - Teddy Bunn Group 10. Gonna Have My Fun - Jimmy McCracklin
disc 2
1. Big Baritone 2 - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers 2. No Name Boogie - Jay McShann 3. Crazy 'Bout Your Cooking - Johnny Otis Band 4. Johnny'S Boogie - Charles Brown w/Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers 5. Carlos - Jack McVea 6. Juke Box Boogie Woogie Chick - Snookum Russell 7. Fish House Boogie - Sylvestor Mike 8. Willie And The Cool Cat - Big Jay McNeeley 9. Fat Man Blues - Clifford Blivens 10. I'm A Lovin' Man - Earl Brown w/The Red Callender Combo 11. Mean Poor Gal - Fletcher Smith & orchestra
disc 3
1. Bobby Sox Blues - Charles Brown w/Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers 2. I Cover The Waterfront - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers 3. Be Bop Baby Blues - Johnny Otis Band 4. Fightin' Mama Blue - Jack McVea 5. Mixed Fruit - Steve Miller's Four Barons 6. St. Louis Blues - Vic Dickenson 7. June-Teenth Jamboree - Fatso Bently 8. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City - Frantic Faye Thomas 9. Christopher Columbus - King Perry 10. Dr. Duke's Boogie - Duke Henderson & His Orchestra
disc 4
1. Let'S Have A Ball - Ray Charles 2. Little Willie - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers 3. Green Gin - Ernie Andrews 4. Geronimo - Jay McShann 5. Juke Box Lil - Charles Brown w/Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers 6. Fat Meat & Greens - Lloyd Glenn w/Edgar Hayes Stardusters 7. Voot Nay On The Vot Nay - The Basin Street Boys 8. O Baby Please - Earl Williams 9. Need It Bad - Buddy Banks 10. Vine Street Breakdown - Buddy Tate
...served by Gyro1966...

RUFUS THOMAS "Do The Funky Somethin'" (Best Of)

The Best of Rufus Thomas: Do the Funky Somethin' is an overdue, career-spanning collection of Thomas' best material, centering around his Stax hits from the '60s and early '70s. The whole "dog" series of novelty dance songs from 1963-1964 is here, as well as the hit "Jump Back" and a clutch of Stax singles that weren't hits but became pretty well-known anyway, like "Sister's Got a Boyfriend" and "Sophisticated Sissy." There are also the early-'70s funk-dance hits "Do the Funky Chicken," "(Do The) Push and Pull," "The Breakdown," and "Do the Funky Penguin," a couple of '60s duets with his daughter Carla, and his 1953 blues single "Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog)," the first hit on Sun Records. A few other compilations have gone into specific phases of his career in greater depth, but this is certainly the best overview of a man who offered some of the funkiest and funniest Memphis soul around. (by Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide)

trax:
1. Bear Cat (Answer To Hound Dog) - Rufus Thomas 2. Cause I Love You - Carla & Rufus 3. I Didn't Believe - Carla & Rufus 4. The Dog - Rufus Thomas 5. Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas 6. Can Your Monkey Do The Dog - Rufus Thomas 7. Somebody Stole My Dog - Rufus Thomas 8. That's Really Some Good - Carla & Rufus 9. Jump Back - Rufus Thomas 10. Little Sally Walker - Rufus Thomas 11. The World Is Round - Rufus Thomas 12. Sister's Got A Boyfriend - Rufus Thomas 13. Sophisticated - Rufus Thomas 14. The Memphis Train - Rufus Thomas 15. Do The Funky Chicken - Rufus Thomas 16. Do The Push & Pull, Part 1 - Rufus Thomas 17. The Breakdown, Part 1 - Rufus Thomas 18. Do The Penguin, Part 1 - Rufus Thomas 19. Do The Funky Somethin' - Godchildren Of Soul w/Rufus Thomas
...served by Gyro1966...

TYRONE DAVIS "Turn Back The Hands Of Time" 1970

If the only great song on Tyrone Davis' second album, Turn Back the Hands of Time, was its impeccable title track, it still would have been a noteworthy record in the history of uptown Chicago soul and early-'70s soul -- it's simply that good of a song. Fortunately, it's the tip of the iceberg on this terrific album that ranks among the finest soul records of its era. In a way, the single is a little misleading, since it is such a silky smooth, seductive tune that it gives the impression that everything on the album will be the same, and it's not. Yes, the album has more than its fair share of strings, backing vocals, horns, and even harpsichords (showcased on "If It's Love You're After"), but that doesn't mean this is so smooth that it becomes glossy and slick. Instead, it's luxurious, and Davis is able to deepen it with his nuanced, soulful interpretations; he's even given a chance to try bluesy funk with "Undying Love" and does a great slow ballad with "I Keep Coming Back." What's impressive about the record is not just that Davis is able to handle everything from those slow-burners to the soul-pop, sounding convincing in each setting, but that producer Willie Henderson has crafted utterly appropriate, intoxicating, and unique productions for each song. And those songs are all very, very strong. There's no filler here, just terrific songwriting from the pens of Jack Daniels/Johnny Moore, Eugene Record/Carl Davis, and Cash McCall, among others. There were other singles pulled from Turn Back the Hands of Time that scaled the charts -- "Is It Something You've Got?" and "I'll Be Right Here," both R&B Top Ten hits, plus "Let Me Back In" -- but album tracks like "All the Waiting Is Not in Vain," the Impressions-styled "Just Because of You," and the great, great, funky "Love Bones" are strong as well. There's not a weak moment here (and there shouldn't be, considering that the whole thing clocks in at under 30 minutes), just great early-'70s soul. It's a forgotten gem. (by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 Turn Back The Hands Of Time 02 The Waiting Was Not In Vain 03 Let Me Back In 04 Love Bones 05 I'll Be Right Here 06 Something You Got 07 Undying Love 08 Just Because Of You 09 If It's Love That You're After 10 I Keep Coming Back
...served by Gyro1966...

TYRONE DAVIS "Can I Change My Mind" 1969

The debut album from Tyrone Davis – a supreme achievement for the Chicago soul scene of the late 60s, and a record with a sound that would set the standard for years to come! Tyrone had been bumping around as a blusier singer before this set – but here, working with arrangements by Don Myrick and Willie Henderson, he gets a sound that's sweet and soaring – taking a rough-spirited soul, and recasting it in a sweeter sound for the 70s. Tyrone's not lapsing into bluesy cliches here, and instead keeps things wonderfully soulful by hitting a loping groove that picks up his beat and gives the songs a nice lilt. You can hear this to best effect on the title track "Can I Change My Mind", but all tracks are great – including "She's Looking Good", "Call On Me", "Open The Door To Your Heart", and "Have You Ever Wondered Why?". (Dusty Groove)After launching his career as a blues singer, Tyrone Davis helped usher in a new era for Chicago soul with his Dakar debut, Can I Change My Mind, teaming with arrangers Don Myrick and Willie Henderson to create a collection of lilting, effervescent R&B grooves sweeter than sugar. Although entries like "Knock on Wood," "Slip Away," and "Call on Me" are rooted in the earthy, rough-edged traditions of Memphis soul, Can I Change My Mind is strikingly urbane: with its loping rhythm, squiggly guitar licks, and buoyant horns, the smash title cut embodies the album in microcosm, but even the sad songs soar, lifted by the sheer vibrancy of the arrangements. And while you can pull the boy out of the blues, you can't pull the blues out of the boy -- Davis' poignant vocals wring genuine emotion from the lyrics but deftly avoid theatricality at every turn. (by Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 She's Lookin' Good 02 Knock On Wood 03 Have You Ever Wondered Why? 04 Slip Away 05 Good Times 06 Can I Change My Mind 07 Open The Door To Your Heart 08 Call On Me 09 Just The One I've Been Looking For 10 You Can't Keep A Good Man Down 11 A Woman Needs To Be Loved
...served by Gyro1966...

LAURA LEE "That's How It Is" Chess Years

Laura Lee broke with her gospel roots in 1966 to wax a string of gritty, tough-talking country soul gems for Chess. Her recordings are very prized, and the best of them are included here. Soul music doesn't get any truer or deeper than this. (Christine Ohlman, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 Are You Doing Me Wrong 02 Need To Belong 03 Dirty Man (A_K_A Dirty Old Man) 04 As Long As I Got You 05 That's How It Is (Alternate Mix) 06 She Will Break Your Heart 07 It's All Wrong But It's All Right 08 It's How You Make It Good 09 A Man With Some Backbone 10 Love More Than Pride 11 Wanted_ Lover, No Experience Necessary 12 Hang It Up 13 It's Mighty Hard 14 It Ain't What You Do (But How You Do It) 15 Uptight, Good Man (Alternate Mix)
...served by Gyro1966...

LITTLE ANN "Deep Shadows"

Brilliant soul from the Detroit underground of the late 60s – a full set of work by vocalist Little Ann, issued here for the first time ever! You might recognize Ann's name from her appearance on a few of the Ace/Kent Records issues of material by Detroit producer Dave Hamilton over the years – and the work here all comes from those classic collaborations with Hamilton – trapped on tape for many years, always contemplated as a possible Little Ann album – but only issued in full by the funky folks at Timmion Records! The groove here is as offbeat as some of Dave's other great work – not nearly as tight, or uptight, as Motown music – and instead, done with a sly undercurrent of darkness on most numbers, even the mellower ones – almost that earliest mix of Detroit styles that you get on pre-fame singles from Westbound Records artists. Ann's vocals are nice and lean, and slide right into the mix with ease – heartfelt enough to grab us right away, yet without any obvious cliches as well. Late 60's recordings.(Dusty Groove)

trax:
01 Deep Shadows 02 Possession 03 Who Are You Trying to Fool 04 Sweep It Out In the Shed 05 What Should I Do 06 I Got to Have You 07 Lean Lanky Daddy 08 The Smile on Your Face 09 Who Are You Trying to Fool - Instru 10 Going Down A One Way Street
...served by Gyro1966...

Snooky PRYOR & And The Country Blues "The Today Recordings" 1972

Without selling many records, Snooky Pryor’s honky-tonkin’ Harmonica Blues helped put the Chicago sound on the map during the late ’40s and ’50s. Still going strong, he’s finally received the recognition he’s always deserved. His sound is a solid example of how Country Blues were urbanized. - 
By Nick Dedina.Only recently has Snooky Pryor finally begun to receive full credit for the mammoth role he played in shaping the amplified Chicago blues harp sound during the postwar era. He’s long claimed he was the first harpist to run his sound through a public address system around the Windy City — and since nobody’s around to refute the claim at this point, we’ll have to accept it! James Edward Pryor was playing harmonica at the age of eight in Mississippi. The two Sonny Boys were influential to Pryor’s emerging style, as he played around the Delta. He hit Chicago for the first time in 1940, later serving in the Army at nearby Fort Sheridan. Playing his harp through powerful Army PA systems gave Pryor the idea to acquire his own portable rig once he left the service. Armed with a primitive amp, he dazzled the folks on Maxwell Street in late 1945 with his massively amplified harp. Pryor made some groundbreaking 78s during the immediate postwar Chicago blues era. Teaming with guitarist Moody Jones, he waxed “Telephone Blues” and “Boogie” for Planet Records in 1948, encoring the next year with “Boogy Fool”/”Raisin’ Sand” for JOB with Jones on bass and guitarist Baby Face Leroy Foster in support. Pryor made more classic sides for JOB (1952-1953), Parrot (1953), and Vee-Jay (“Someone to Love Me”/”Judgment Day”) in 1956, but commercial success never materialized. He wound down his blues-playing in the early ’60s, finally chucking it all and moving to downstate Ullin, IL, in 1967. For a long while, Pryor’s whereabouts were unknown. But the 1987 Blind Pig album Snooky, produced by guitarist Steve Freund, announced to the world that the veteran harpist was alive and well, his chops still honed. A pair of solid discs for Antone’s, Too Cool to Move and In This Mess Up to My Chest, followed. Pryor stayed busy until his death in 2006.

Personnel:
Snooky Pryor- Vocal, Harmonica; Homesick James- lead llide Guitar; Dave Myers- Bass; Mighty Joe Young- Rhythm Guitar; Fred Below- Drums;

trax:
01 Miss Mattie Mae 02 Stop Teasing Me 03 Mr Charlie's Mules 04 Mighty Long Time 05 Can I Be Your Friend 06 Break It On Down 07 Dirty News 08 Wrapped In Sin 09 Time Waits On No One 10 Call The Doctor
...served by Gyro1966...

THE JAMES COTTON BAND "100% Cotton" 1974

At his high-energy 1970s peak as a bandleader, James Cotton was a bouncing, sweaty, whirling dervish of a bluesman, roaring his vocals and all but sucking the reeds right out of his defenseless little harmonicas with his prodigious lung power. Due to throat problems, Cotton's vocals are no longer what they used to be, but he remains a masterful instrumentalist.
Cotton had some gargantuan shoes to fill when he stepped into Little Walter's slot as Muddy Waters' harp ace in 1954, but for the next dozen years, the young Mississippian filled the integral role beside Chicago's blues king with power and precision. Of course, Cotton had prepared for such a career move for a long time, having learned how to wail on harp from none other than Sonny Boy Williamson himself. (Bill Dahl)
The ebullient, roly-poly Chicago harp wizard was at his zenith in 1974, when this cooking album was issued on Buddah. Matt "Guitar" Murphy matched Cotton note for zealous note back then, leading to fireworks aplenty on the non-stop "Boogie Thing," a driving "How Long Can a Fool Go Wrong," and the fastest "Rocket 88" you'll ever take a spin in. (Bill Dahl, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 Boogie Thing 02 One More Mile 03 All Walks Of Life 04 Creeper Creeps Again 05 Rocket 88 06 How Long Can A Fool Go Wrong 07 I Don't Know 08 Burner 09 'Fatuation 10 Fever
...served by Gyro1966...

PLAY MY JUKE BOX "East Coast Blues"

Bruce Bastin's English Flyright label -- only one of the magnificent tributaries of his Interstate Music Company -- has consistently demonstrated a union of fine scholarship and great music. This collection of mostly little-known East Coast blues artists is no exception. There are seven tracks of singer/guitarists, four harp/guitar duets, four piano/guitar pairings, two guitar duos, and one arresting cut featuring three harps plus vocal. Artists such as Skoodle-Dum-Doo & Sheffield, Boy Green, Robert Lee Westmoreland, Marilyn Scott, and Sonny Jones serve up a startling reminder of all the amazing talent that has gone unrecognized over the years. (Larry Hoffman, AMG)

trax:
1. Play My Jukebox - Boy Green 2. Some Rainy Day - Curley Weaver 3. I Got What My Daddy Likes - Marilyn Scott 4. West Kinney Street Blues - Skoodle-Dum-Do & Sheffield 5. Harlem Woman - Hank Kilroy
6. Awful Shame - Hank Kilroy 7. Tampa Blues - Skoodle-Dum-Do & Sheffield 8. I Love That Woman - Guitar Shorty 9. Dices Dices - Big Chief Ellis 10. One O'Clock Boogie - Julius King 11. Hello Central Please Give E 209 - Robert Lee Westmoreland 12. Good Looking Woman Blues - Robert Lee Westmoreland 13. Broom Street Blues - Skoodle-Dum-Do & Sheffield 14. Humming Bird Blues - Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly 15. Leaving Home Blues - Sunny Jones 16. Don'T Want Pretty Women - Sunny Jones 17. Better Get Ready - Elder R. Wilson & Family 18. I'Ve Been Dreaming - Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly 19. The Jinx Is On Me - Gabriel Brown 20. Gas Station Blues - Skoodle-Dum-Do & Sheffield 21. A & B Blues - Boy Green 22. Too Much Competition - Tarheel Slim
...served by Gyro1966...

BLU LU, WEE BEA & BABY DEE "Don't You Feel My Leg" (Apollo Recordings)

Subtitled "Apollo's Lady Blues Singers," this Delmark CD has nine numbers (three previously unissued) by Blue Lu Barker, five from Wea Bea Booze and four by Baby Dee. Barker was rather limited but ironically was easily the best-known singer of the three. She is assisted on some cuts (all outfitted by Danny Barker lyrics) by trumpeter Shad Collins and either Teddy McRae or Jerry Jerome on tenor and is at her best on the remake of her hit "Don't You Feel My Leg." Wea Bea Booze (joined by a quartet that includes tenorman George Kelly and organist Larry Johnson) and Baby Dee (backed by an unidentified but talented sextet) were actually stronger vocalists despite being long-forgotten, and are the main reasons to acquire this fine early R&B/jump music set. ~ Scott Yanow

Apollo's lady blues singers w. Danny Barker's Sextet, George Kelly, Larry Johnson, Panama Francis, Bill Campbell.
Personnel includes: Blu Lu Barker, Wee Be Booze, Baby Dee (vocals); George Kelly (tenor saxophone); Larry Johnson (organ); Panama Francis (drums); Danny Barker's Sextette, The Bill Campbell Band.
Personnel: Blue Lu Barker (vocals); Baby Dee (vocals); Wee Bea Booze (vocals, guitar); Danny Barker (guitar); George Kelly, Jerry Jerome, Teddy McRae (tenor saxophone); Shad Collins (trumpet); Norman Lester, Bill Campbell (piano); Panama Francis (drums).
Liner Note Author: Tamarind Free Jones.

trax:
1. Buy Me Some Juice - Blu Lu Barker 2. Where's Joe - Blu Lu Barker 3. Lyin' In Jail - Blu Lu Barker 4. Easy Riding Blues - Wee Bea Booze 5. I Just Ain't Feelin' Right - Wee Bea Booze 6. Feel It - Baby Dee 7. I Want To See My Daddy - Baby Dee 8. Don't You Feel My Leg - Blu Lu Barker 9. That Made Him Mad - Blu Lu Barker 10. I Feel Like Layin In Another Woman's Husband's Arms - Blu Lu Barker 11. Don't Tell Me Nothin' 'bout My Man - Wee Bea Booze 12. I'm Gonna Put You Down - Wee Bea Booze 13. I Just Ain't Feelin Right - Wee Bea Booze 14. Look What Baby's Got For You - Baby Dee 15. Baby Dee Blues - Baby Dee 16. Buy Me Some Juice(Alt) - Blu Lu Barker 17. You Gotta Show It To Me Baby - Blu Lu Barker 18. There Was A L'il Mouse - Blu Lu Barker
...served by Gyro1966...

SHY GUY DOUGLAS "Stone Doin' Alright"

The late Nashville TN based blues singer and harmonica player Thomas “Shy Guy” Douglas had a rather long and continuous career in the local music scene, making records for Excello, Bullet and MCA back in the day. He was one of Nashville’s greatest Bluesmen (some figure he was the Greatest in the Down Home genre). In the 1940s, he frequented the city’s Bijou Theater, a black-oriented venue located on Fourth Avenue that had earlier hosted performers such as Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters. Red Wortham discovered him in 1947 and recorded him first in 1950. If you love early Frank Frost orJimmy Reed, Shy Guy’s lazy-beat tunes and fine acoustic harp will appeal to you. His vocals are laid back and cool on “Stone Doin’ Alright and his tune “Haulin’” is a rural blues harp masterpiece, while “Miss Iola” is simple perfection, and proof that Shy Guy Douglas should be far, far better known. (AMG)

trax:
01 Monkey Doin' Woman 02 What's This I Hear 03 Let's Rock and Roll 04 My Little Baby 05 Shy [take 2, inst.] 06 Miss Ilola 07 Evening Soul [inst.] 08 Don't Leave Me Girl 09 Haulin' [inst.] 10 Stone Doin' Alright [take 1] 11 Midnight Soul [take 4, inst.] 12 Shy Guy's Back in Town (Hip Shakin' Mama) 13 Detroit Arrow 14 Work with Her 15 Raid on Cedar Street 16 I Should Have Known 17 Yankee Doodle 18 Harvest Moon (Bring Her Back to Me) 19 Shy [take 1, inst.] 20 Stone Doin' Alright [take 2] 21 Midnight Soul [take 1, inst.]
...served by Gyro1966...

JIMMY MCCRACKLIN "High On Blues" (Stax Recordings)

Great Soul-Blues From Stax with The Hi Records House Band!The best soul band that ever existed was the house band at Hi records in Memphis. God knows I love Booker T and the boys at Stax, and there's enough Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section recordings on my shelf to start a damn store, but, for my money, Willie Mitchell's guys at Hi were the daddies. This record, along with 'Al Green Gets Next To You', is perhaps the finest example of that band's work. This was released on Stax, but make no mistake, this is the Hi rhythm section. (Fat Henry, Amazon)

trax:
01 Double Dealing 02 Just Got To Know 03 Stay Away From That Monkey 04 Yesterday Is Gone 05 Would Man Be Satisfied 06 Like My Mama 07 I Finally Got You 08 You're The One 09 The Love Money Can't Buy 10 Think 11 I Got Somebody 12 Girl Stealer
...served by Gyro1966...

THE VALENTINOS "Do It Right"

THE VALENTINOS...The Cleveland,Ohio-based family R&B group, consisting of 2009 Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer BOBBY WOMACK and his four brothers,CECIL WOMACK,FRIENDLY WOMACK (yes, that's his real first name), the late HARRY WOMACK (of "Harry Hippie" fame), and CURTIS WOMACK, once rivaled another Cleveland-based group, THE O'JAYS, in local popularity.But, as the lyrics of one of their hit songs, "It's All Over Now", stated : "The tables turned". THE O'JAYS went on to become R&B superstars, while THE VALENTINOS, sadly, fell into undeserved obscurity. Today, THE VALENTINOS are barely remembered ,save for a few hard-core 60's R&B fans , such as myself , and many fans of the popular "Northern Soul" music scene across the pond in England , where they are revered as one of the best. You may not remember THE VALENTINOS, but you have , for sure ,heard their songs,if not by them, then almost certainly by the many COVER VERSIONS of their hits recorded by other artists over the years.
Case in point : Their hit , "IT'S ALL OVER NOW" was covered , and made a bigger hit by THE ROLLING STONES. Their biggest hit , the 2 million - selling "LOOKING FOR A LOVE", was covered by THE J GEILS BAND , and also later by BOBBY himself as a solo artist. Their 1973 hit , I CAN UNDERSTAND IT , was covered by NEW BIRTH. Fellow RRHOFamer SOLOMON BURKE covered their hit, "EVERYBODY WANTS TO FALL IN LOVE". the WICKED one, WILSON PICKETT, covered their hit ,"I FOUND A TRUE LOVE",
Pretty INFLUENTIAL for a group you've never heard of , right ?
Even their name "THE VALENTINOS", was STOLEN by a popular rock group in Australia,until BOBBY and his brothers threatened to sue.THE VALENTINOS started in the 1950's as kids singing in their father's church in Cleveland ,in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods as THE WOMACK BROTHERS, singing gospel. While on tour with the successful gospel group THE SOUL STIRRERS, that group's lead singer , SAM COOKE , took a liking to the young group, and signed them to his SAR RECORDS label. Thus began a series of R&B hits , such as the ones mentioned above.(They also recorded for CHESS RECORDS in the mid 60's, and the JUBILEE Label in the early 70's). All of these songs , and lots more are available in this comprensive multi-label "Greatest Hits " collection. If you're a Valentinos fan, a Bobby or Cecil Womack fan,or just like great 60's R&B, This collection is a MUST! Highly recommended!! (Amazon)

trax:
01 Darling, Darling, Darling 02 Everybody Wants To Fall In Love 03 Baby, Lots Of Luck 04 Lookin' For A Love 05 I've Got Love For You 06 I've Got A Girl 07 Tired Of Living In The Country 08 It's All Over Now 09 I Found A True Love 10 What About Me 11 Do It Right 12 I'm Gonna Forget About You 13 Let's Get Together 14 I've Come A Long Way 15 See Me Through 16 Sweeter Than The Day Before 17 Baby Girl 18 A Lonesome Man 19 Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray 20 Yield Not To Temptation 21 Somewhere There's A God 22 I Can Understand It
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"THE KRC STORY"

This very obscure and short lived label was an offshoot of Atlantic Records, and stood for "Cent Recording Company."Fine collection of R&B recorded in 1957 and 1958 for Lloyd Price's short lived KRC label - most of their output. 12 of the tracks are by Lloyd himself including his wonderful Just Because which was licensed to ABC-Paramount and became a big hit. Though recorded in New York many of his sides have a New Orleans feel reminiscent of his great early 50s Specialty sides. The other artists are also excellent - Stella Johnson, vocal group The King Bees, hot rocker Eddy Seacrest and Little Jimmie Merritt. (Roots & Rhythm)

trax:
1. Just Because - Lloyd Price 2. Why - Lloyd Price 3. The Chicken And The Bop - Lloyd Price 4. Lonely - Lloyd Price 5. Can't You Understand - The King Bees 6. Lovely Love - The King Bees 7. Georgianna - Lloyd Price 8. Hello Little Girl - Lloyd Price 9. Please Tell Me So - Stella Johnson 10. Yeah Baby - Stella Johnson 11. How Many Times - Lloyd Price 12. To Love And Be Loved - Lloyd Price 13. Such A Mess - Lloyd Price 14. No Limit To Love - Lloyd Price 15. Shakin With A Flavor - Eddie Seacrest 16. Down By The River - Eddie Seacrest 18. Gonna Let You Come Back Home - Lloyd Price 19. Down By The River - Lloyd Price 20. Fancy Free - Little Jimmie Merritt 21. Honky Tonk Angel - Little Jimmie Merritt
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DOCTOR ROSS "The Harmonica Boss" (Fortune Label Recordings)

A wild, chaotic sessions, featuring the title cut, "Good Things Come to My Remind," and the original version of "Cat Squirrel." Here are the rare Fortune Label Recordings!Isaiah "Doc" Ross was a throwback to a bygone era; a true one-man band, he played harmonica, acoustic guitar, bass drum and high-hat simultaneously, creating a mighty racket harking back to the itinerant country-blues players wandering the Delta region during the earlier years of the 20th century. Born Charles Isaiah Ross on October 21, 1925 in Tunica, Mississippi, he took early inspiration from the music of Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller and Sonny Boy Williamson I; primarily a harpist — hence his nickname "The Harmonica Boss" — he only added the other instruments in his arsenal in order to play a USO show while a member of the army during World War II. (The "Doc" moniker was acquired because he carried his harmonicas in a doctor's bag.) Upon his release from the military, Ross settled in Memphis, where he became a popular club fixture as well as the host of his own radio show on station WDIA; during his club residency he was witness to a number of brutal murders, however, and swore off appearances in such venues during the later years of his life. During the early 1950s, Ross recorded his first sides — among them "Chicago Breakdown" — for labels including Sun and Chess; in 1954 he settled in Flint, Michigan, where he went to work as a janitor for General Motors, a position he held until retiring. In 1965 he cut his first full-length LP, Call the Doctor, and that same year mounted his first European tour; as the years passed Ross performed live with decreasing frequency, however, and was infamous for backing out of shows to catch his beloved Detroit Tigers on television. Upon winning a Grammy for his 1981 album Rare Blues, he experienced a career resurgence, and played festival dates to great acclaim prior to his death on May 28, 1993. (AMG)

trax:
01 Cat Squirrel 02 Biscuit Baking Woman 03 Miss Ledora Blues 04 I Am Not Dead 05 Mean Old World 06 Industrial Blues 07 I'd Rather Be An Old Woman's Baby 08 Good Things Come To My Mind 09 Baby Stop Crying 10 My Black Name Ringing 11 Going Away Baby 12 General Motor Blues 13 Industrial Boogie 14 Thirty-Two-Twenty 15 New York Breakdown 16 Call The Doctor 17 Numbers Blues 18 Cannon Ball 19 The Sunnyland 20 Sugar Mama 21 San Francisco Breakdown 22 Boogie Disease
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J.J. JACKSON "But It's Alright"

Soul belter J.J. Jackson is best known for his 1967 smash, "But It's Alright," but he has some fine singles and a couple of excellent albums as well, and 1967's But It's Alright on the Calla label is one of them. Kicking off with the infectious title track, the record alternates between flat-out rockers like "I Dig Girls," "Come See Me (I'm Your Man)" (which was written by Jackson, covered by the Pretty Things, and then reclaimed powerfully here), and "Boogaloo Baby," midtempo groovers like "You've Got Me Dizzy" and "The Stones That I Throw," and ballads like "Try Me" and a righteous "A Change Is Gonna Come." Jackson's live-wire voice and boundless energy put the songs across and the band kicks up quite a storm as well. The only times Jackson stumbles are when he takes on Lou Rawls' "Love Is a Hurting Thing" and loses the battle and on the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," which is a boring instrumental version. Otherwise, the record is a bit of a lost gem. (Tim Sendra, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 But It's Allright 02 Try Me 03 That Ain't Right 04 You've Got Me Dizzy 05 A Change Is Gonna Come 06 I Dig Girls 07 Come And See Me (I'm Your Man) 08 The Stones That I Throw 09 Give Me Back The Love 10 Ain't Too Proud To Beg 11 Love Is A Hurting Thing 12 Boogaloo Baby 13 Let It Out
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"SAXOPHONY!" Jubilee Honkers & Shouters

trax:
1. Easy Rockin' - Freddie Kohlman Orchestra 2. Flashlight - Jimmy Wright 3. Jim The Him (Tk 1) - Jimmy Wright 4. Jim The Him (Tk 7) - Jimmy Wright 5. Move Over - Jimmy Wright 6. 2:20 Am - Jimmy Wright 7. Blowin' Awhile - Rene Hall Sextette 8. Rene's Boogie - Rene Hall Sextette 9. Blue Creek Hop - Rene Hall Sextette 10. Chitlin Switch - Rene Hall Sextette 11. Downbeat - Rene Hall Sextette 12. Jubilee Jump - Rene Hall Sextette 13. Jesse's Blues - Jesse Powell 14. Turnpike - Jesse Powell 15. Sopping Molasses - Jesse Powell 16. Whooping Blues - Buddy Lucas 17. Pea Lily - Buddy Lucas 18. One Taste Calls For Another - Buddy Lucas 19. Give It Up - Buddy Lucas 20. Undecided - Buddy Lucas 21. Big Bertha - Buddy Lucas
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"THE BAYOU RECORDS STORY"

Hard rockin 50's jump, jive and boogie!!!Bayou Records - This little remembered label was founded in the spring of 1953 by record producer Franklin Kort, who recently was with the Recorded In Hollywood label. Noted West Coast session man Red Callender had the first two releases for the new label - "The Honey Jump" parts one and two on #001 and backed up Duke Upshaw on vocals on "Soldier's Blues" and "In The Meantime". Famous blues personality Mercy Dee recorded "Please Understand" and "Anything In This World" for Bayou #003 and sax man Joe Houston performed "Sabre Jet" and "Moody" for #004. Clarence Samuels recorded "Lowtop Inn" on #010 in mid 1953, but by the late summer of that year it was apparent that Bayou Records would not survive on its own, and so was absorbed into Lew Chudd's Imperial label.

trax:
1. The Honey Jump - Pt.1 - Red Callender & The Sextet 2. The Honey Jump - Pt. 2 - Red Callender & The Sextet 3. Soldier's Blues - Duke Upshaw w/Red Callender 4. In The Meantime - Duke Upshaw w/Red Callender 5. Anything In This World - Mercy Dee 6. Please Understand - Mercy Dee 7. Sabre Jet - Joe Houston 8. Moody - Joe Houston 9. Country Gal - Dave Bartholemew 10. Snatchin' Back - Dave Bartholemew 11. Gather Round - Jimmy Gil 12. North Wind - Jimmy Gil 13. Mean And Evil - L.C. Williams 14. My Darkest Hours - L.C. Williams 15. Low Top Inn - Clarence Samuels 16. Drunk Or Sober - Clarence Samuels 17. Dragnet - Jesse Allen 18. Take It Easy - Jesse Allen 19. Pigtails - Joe Houston 20. Chillin' - Joe Houston 21. Crepe On Your Door - Mercy Dee 22. Happy Bachelor - Mercy Dee 23. Hometown Jamboree - Big Jay McNeely 24. Teenage Hop - Big Jay McNeely 25. Blues Jumped The Rabbit - Big Joe Turner 26. The Sun Is Shining - Big Joe Turner 27. I'm Thankful - Fats Matthews 28. Goin' Down - Fats Matthews 29. Landslide - Joe Houston 30. Scramble - Joe Houston 31. Catastrophe - Big Jay McNeely 32. Calamity - Big Jay McNeely
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"YOU THRILL MY SOUL" - Female & Girl Group Sides From The Early Stax Sessions

You Thrill My Soul features early female and girl group recordings originally released on Stax Records. Only Carla Thomas emerged from these artists as a hit maker, but unfortunately "for casual fans" none of them are included. Wendy Rene (the Drapels) warbles like Frankie Lymon on a few non-sellers. Deanie Parker, who later hit somewhat as a songwriter, not a singer, does a few tracks. Barbara Stephens, a talented singer, never busted a grape and vanished after these early efforts bricked. The Tonettes, comprised of Oscar Toney Jr.'s three sisters, held on a bit longer as the Charmels but with little success. For a costly CD, there's not a hit among its 24 tracks, but there are enough interesting selections to appease the most ardent soul music lover, including some early Chips Morman stuff, who left Stax before the serious cooking began.(AMG)

trax:
1. Same Thing - Carla Thomas 2. Here it Comes Again - Carla Thomas 3. I Can't Stay - Carla Thomas 4. Heavenly Angel - The Tonettes 5. Stolen Angel - The Tonettes 6. Unhand That Man - The Tonettes 7. Gone for Good - Wendy Rene 8. The Same Guy - Wendy Rene 9. Love at First Sight - Wendy Rene 10. If She Should Ever Break Your Heart - Barbara Stephens 11. Heartbreaker - Deanie Parker 12. Ask Him - Deanie Parker 13. Love is Like a Flower - Barbara Stephens 14. Just One Touch - Deanie Parker 15. Ain't Enough Hours in the Day - Carla Thomas 16. Gosh I'm Lucky - Carla Thomas 17. He Hasn't Failed Me Yet - Wendy Rene 18. Crying All By Myself - Wendy Rene 19. Last Love - Wendy Rene 20. Crowded Park - Wendy Rene 21. Can't Stay Away - Wendy Rene 22. Tell Me - The Tonettes 23. Come to Me - The Tonettes 24. Do Boys Keep Diaries - Carla Thomas
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LEE MOSES "Time & Place"

Possibly one of the most intense vocal recordings ever made. Lee is battling 'hellhounds', being chased by demons; he works through it all in a gospel soul blues rock mix. This is raw tight and very intense music. Recorded in '71, and augmented with singles recorded in the 60's through the 70's. Propelled by a tight rhythm section he screams, whoops, and hollers his way to deliverance. Fans of James Carr, Otis Clay, and Wilson Pickett should enjoy this CLASSIC. (Amazon)trax:
01 My Adorable One 02 Diana (From N.Y.C.) 03 Reach Out I'll Be there 04 Day Tripper 05 Bad Girl (Part 1) 06 Bad Girl (Part 2) 07 I'm Sad About It 08 How Much Longer (Must I Wait) 09 If Loving You Is A Crime (I'll Always Be Guilty) 10 Never In My Life 11 Time And Place (Single Version) 12 I Can't Take No Chances 13 Time And Place (Album Version) 14 Got That Will 15 What You Don't Want Me To Be 16 California Dreaming 17 Every Boy And Girl 18 Hey Joe 19 Free At Last 20 Would You Give Up Everything 21 Adorable One 22 The Dark End Of The Street 23 She's A Bad Girl
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JUKE BOY BONNER "Legacy Of The Blues"

Juke Boy Bonner remains one of the great hidden treasures of the blues. He was a one-man band who had serious lyrical concerns in all of his blues, creating stark and moving poetry out of the simplest of forms. Working in a Jimmy Reed style of guitar boogie patterns and blowing an expressive neck-rack harmonica, he never saw much in the way of fame or fortune, but every single session produced music of considerable worth. Add this solo session, produced by Chris Strachwitz for Sonet's Legacy of the Blues series, to the list of essential albums to put into your shopping cart, as it's the blues at its most personal and moving. In tracks like "I'm a Bluesman," "Problems All Around," "Tired of the Greyhound Bus," and "Funny Money," you'll hear a bluesman laying his heart on the line for the music -- something that should happen every time the "record" button goes on, but rarely does. (Cub Koda, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 I`m A Bluesman 02 Problems All Around 03 Trying To Get Ahead 04 If You Don`t Want To Get Mistreated 05 Lonesome Ride Back 06 Funny Money 07 I_m Lonely Too 08 Real Good Woman. 09 Come To Me 10 Yammin`the Blues 11 Better Place To Go 12 Tired Of The Greyhound Bus
Files in .m4a!
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JUNIOR WELLS "You're Tuff Enough" (The Blue Rock Studio Recordings)

Another period of the veteran Chicago harp man's career that awaits CD documentation -- and one of the most exciting. Wells's late-'60s output for Bright Star and Mercury's Blue Rock subsidiary frequently found him mining funky James Brown grooves (with a bluesy base, of course) to great effect -- "Up in Heah" and his national smash "You're Tuff Enough" are marvelous examples of his refusal to bend to purists' wishes (though there's a glorious version of Bobby Bland's blues-soaked "You're the One" that benefits handily from Sammy Lawhorn's delicate guitar work). (Bill Dahl, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 You're Tuff Enough 02 It's All Soul 03 Gonna Cramp Your Style 04 Where Did I Go Wrong 05 That'll Hold Me 06 Sweet Darling Think It Over 07 Up In Heah 08 You're The One 09 You Ought To Quit That 10 Messing With The Kid 11 The Hippies Are Trying 12 Junior's Groove 13 Girl You Lit My Fire 14 It's A Man Down There 15 I'm Your Gravy Train 16 Leave My Woman Alone 17 I Can't Stand No Signifying 18 I Just Wanna Groove 19 You Better Watch Yourself 20 What Is That You Got 21 Another Mule Kicking In Your Stall 22 Party Power
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MARY JANE HOOPER "Psychedelphia"

Sorely overlooked by everyone (save for major soul and funk fans) who enjoys soul music, the city of New Orleans was relegated to the backseat by their soul brethren in Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Nashville, somewhat unjustly. With the recent movement to unearth funk classics and rare vinyl, this wrong has been slowly corrected, most recently with Funky Delicacies' reissue of Sena Fletcher's finest performances. Recording under the guise of Mary Jane Hooper, this collection of singles recorded for Scram Records includes her most well-known hit "Psychedelphia" and is reason alone for beat junkies to consider purchasing this compilation. But there are several other hidden treasures among the pile as well; "I've Got Reasons" and "You've Got What I Want" are but two that could give "Psychedelphia" a run for its money, and Fletcher's version of "Harper Valley PTA" is a beautifully haunting take on the classic song. (Rob Theakston, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 I've Got Reasons 02 Don't Change Nothin' 03 You've Got What I Want 04 I Feel A Hurt 05 Remember When 06 I'm In A Loving Groove 07 I've Got What You Need 08 How Long 09 Harper Valley P.T.A. 10 That's How Strong Love Is 11 Psychedelphia 12 Let My Past Go 13 Teach Me 14 Stolen Moments (with Richie Matta)
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SHAKEY JAKE "Good Times" The Vocal & Harmonica Blues Of - 1960

Personnel includes: Shakey Jake, Jack McDuff, Bill Jennings. Recorded in May, 1960. Personnel: Shakey Jake Harris (vocals, harmonica); Bill Jennings (guitar); Jack McDuff (organ). Liner Note Author: Frank Driggs. Recording information: Englewood Cliffs, NJ (05/11/1960); Nj (05/11/1960). Chicago harpist Shakey Jake Harris journeyed all the way to New Jersey to make his debut album in 1960. It was a huge stylistic departure for Harris -- he was paired with jazz mainstays Brother Jack McDuff on simmering Hammond organ and blues-tinged guitarist Bill Jennings. The trio located some succulent common ground even without a drummer, Harris keeping his mouth organ phrasing succinct and laying out when his more accomplished session mates catch fire. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide

trax:
01 Worried Blues 02 My Foolish Heart 03 Sunset Blues 04 You Spoiled Your Baby 05 Tear Drops 06 Just Shakey 07 Jake's Blues 08 Still Your Fool 09 Keep A-Loving Me Baby 10 Call Me When You Need Me 11 Huffin' And Puffin' 12 Good Times
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SUNNYLAND SLIM & FRIENDS "The Cobra & J.O.B. Recordings: Sunnyland Special"

Muddy Waters made his first recordings as the guest of pianist Sunnyland Slim, who played the deep Delta blues and the post-war urban swing styles with equal aplomb but never enjoyed the kind of long-term relationship with any of the many little Chicago labels he recorded for that Muddy had with Chess. Consequently, his important early post-war recordings are scattered all over the place, and the new Westside (UK) compilation, Sunnyland Special: The Cobra & J.O.B. Recordings 1949–56 (WESA 910) brings some of his most influential sides together on a single CD.
Along with the early band recordings of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, J.B. Lenoir, Snooky Pryor and Little Walter with the Aces, Sunnyland — backed by friends like Robert Jr. Lockwood, Floyd Jones and his cousin Moody Jones, J.T. Brown and John Brim — set the pace for the new sound of the urban blues with J.O.B. 78s like "Down Home Child"/"Sunnyland Special" and "Mary Lee"/"Leaving Your Town" (1951). He provided crucial backing for Floyd Jones on "Big World"/"Dark Road" (1951) and "Skinny Mama"/"On the Road Again" (1953), and for Robert Jr. Lockwood on "Aw Aw Baby"/"Sweet Woman from Maine" (1955).
All of these obscure historical recordings are present here, along with "That Woman"/"Four Day Bounce" from 1954 and the magnificent "Highway 61"/"It’s You Baby" produced by Willie Dixon for Cobra in 1956. There are also alternate takes and unissued cuts, including Lockwood’s "Dust My Broom" and "Pearly B" from 1951, Sunnyland’s "City of New Orleans" (1952), "When I Was Young," "Bassology" and "Worried About My Baby" (1953), and an apocryphal cut from 1956 with Jimmy Rogers. This CD is a real treasure trove of seminal modern Chicago blues featuring the late Sunnyland Slim, one of the greatest American musicians who ever lived. (John Sinclair, Blues & Roots)
This Cd is way out of print and sells for $600 on Amazon!

trax:
1. When I Was Young - Sunnyland Slim 2. Bassology - Sunnyland Slim 3.Worried About My Baby - Sunnyland Slim 4. Down Home Child - Sunnyland Slim 5. Sunnyland Special - Sunnyland Slim 6. Mary Lee - Sunnyland Trio 7. Leaving Your Town - Sunnyland Trio 8. Shake It Baby - Sunnyland Slim & His Boys 9. Woman Trouble (AKA Overnite) - Sunnyland Slim & His Boys 10. That Woman - Sunnyland Slim 11. Four Day Bounce - Sunnyland Slim & His Playboys 12. Highway 61 (Master) - Sunnyland Slim & His Playboys 13. It's You Baby - Sunnyland Slim 14. Blues - Sunnyland Slim 15. Highway 61 (Alternate Take 1) - Sunnyland Slim 16. Highway 61 (Alternate Take 2) - Sunnyland Slim 17. Highway 61 (Alternate Take 3) - Sunnyland Slim 18. Big World - Sunnyland Slim [Jimmy Rogers, vcl.] 19. Dark Road - Floyd Jones 20. I Lost A Good Woman - Floyd Jones 21. Skinny Mama - Floyd Jones & His Trio 22. Rising Wind - Floyd Jones & His Trio 23. On The Road Again - Floyd Jones & His Trio 24. Please Somebody - Floyd Jones & His Trio 25. Aw Aw Baby - Robert Lockwood, Jr. 26. Sweet Woman From Maine - Robert Lockwood, Jr. 27. Dust My Broom - Robert Lockwood, Jr. 28. Pearly B - Robert Lockwood, Jr. 29. Dust My Broom (Alternate Take) - Robert Lockwood, Jr.
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"California Cool Club Blues" The Ultimate Chill Out

This excellent 27-song compilation brings together an assortment of the finest swingin' pre-rock-&-roll R&B from the fertile Hollywood club scene of the late 1940s and early '50s. Among the legends featured on this collection are Nat King Cole, Charles Brown, and Johnny Moore.Another fascinating collection of half-century old nuggets from the indefatigable doyen of selection compilers, Roy Carr. This one, subtitled "The Ultimate Chill-Out" documents West Coast Blues and R & B. Carr, in a characteristically informative liner note, traces the phenomenon to the rapid expansion of the US defense industry, and points out that one of this compilation's standout tracks, Cecil Gant's charmingly laconic "I Wonder" was responsible for kick-starting the commercial viability of the genre by selling over a million copies in 1945.

trax:
1. A New Shade Of Blue - Johnny Moore & The Three Blazers (Featuring Lee Barnes) 2. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You - Nat King Cole Trio 3. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand - Ray Charles 4. Fine Brown Frame - Nellie Lutcher 5. I Wonder - Private Cecil Gant 6. I Almost Lost My Mind - Ivory Joe Hunter 7. Please Send Me Someone To Love - Percy Mayfield 8. Straighten Up And Fly Right - Nat King Cole 9. The Jumpin' Jack - Johnny Moore & The Three Blazers featuring Billy Valentine 10. Central Ave Blues - Pee Wee Crayton 11. Midnight on Central Ave - Private Cecil Gant 12. L.A. Blues - Johnny Moore & The Three Blazers featuring Billy Valentine 13. Let's Rock A While - Amos Milburn (Featuring Maxwell Davis) 14. Driftin' Blues - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers Featuring Charles Brown 15. Double Crossing Blues - Johnny Otis Orchestra featuring Little Esther, Mel Walker 16. Black Night - Charles Brown 17. Chica Boo - Lloyd Glenn 18. For You My Love - Nellie Lutcher & Nat King Cole 19. Tired Broke and Busted - Floyd Dixon 20. I'm A Night Owl - Lowell Fulson 21. If That's The Way You Feel - Billy Eckstine 22. Slim's Jam - Slim Gaillard featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Jack McVea 23. This Is Always - Earl Coleman (Featuring Charlie Parker, Erroll Garner) 24. Don't Cry Baby - Mabel Scott (Featuring Charles Brown) 25. Popsicle - Maxwell Davis 26. Life Is Too Short - T-Bone Walker 27. Blues for the Night Owls - Sonny Thompson
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"SISTER FUNK" - Vol. 2

A full five years in the making, the follow up to the hugely popular first volume finally sees the light of day, bearing with it the fruits of compiler Ian Wrights inexhaustible quest to unearth some of the worlds toughest, most elusive and undeniably funky female 45s. The spectrum of sounds covered on this album reflects a broad range of styles, from the heavy funk of Keisa Browns Dance Man to the dancefloor jazz of Barbara Trents Heartbreak Hotel, from the discofied soul of Florence Trapp to the crossover stylings of Barbara Mason. As ever, the selections range from the ridiculously obscure to the frustratingly impossible to find which is not to say this is music to stroke your goatee to - if anyone's still sitting down after putting this record on we will send Big Ella round to sort em out. (Amazon)trax:
1. You're Doing It With Her - Rhetta Hughes 2. Love Addict - The Bees & The Honey 3. Sweet Sweet Baby - Dolly Gilmore 4. What I Did In The Street - Barbara King 5. Follow The Wind - Coletta Woodson 6. Watch The Dog - Sandy Gaye 7. The Queen - Big Ella 8. Baby Your A Jive Cat - Sheila Wilkerson 9. A Woman Was Made For A Man - Richi Corbin Trio w/Barbara Trent 10. Heartbreak Hotel - Barbara Trent 11. Take Me Baby - Althea Spencer 12. It's Not Too Late - Cheryl Johnson 13. I Don't Want Your Love - Barbara Howard 14. Wha Cha Need - Leon Mitchison & The Eastex Freeway Band 15. If You Want Your Man - Cheryl Dorsey 16. Muddy Waters - The Fabulettes 17. The Dance Man - Keisa Brown 18. You Better Stop It - Barbara Mason 19. Since I Was A Little Girl - The Hard Drivers w/Vivian Lee 20. Love Came Into My Life - Florence Trapp
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"SISTER FUNK" - Vol. 1

Another great funk reissue from BBE. Compiled by Ian Wright, this release is a flawless collection of female funk singers, largely from the mid-60s to mid-70s. For those "in the know" - the record collectors, djs, the "Big Daddy" readers, and insanely voracious afficienados who populate the funk scene - I need only list the names involved. For the rest of us, who need a regular dose of heavy funk but who can't or don't take the time to track down the 45's, only a few of the following women will be familiar. But they're all worth hearing. Check this for a roll-call: Ruth Brown, Monica Chaffeur, Joyce Dunn, Shirley Vaughan, Ann Robinson, Pearl Dowell, Barbara Lynn, Deloris Ealy, Mary Love, Inell Young, Marie "Queenie" Lyons, Viola Wills, Dorothy Black, The Trinikas, Gloria Williams, Anna Raye, Dolores Ealy and The Kenyattas with Jimmy Liggins Guitar and Orchestra, Barbara and Gwen, The Aristocrats, and Big Ella. Phew! Some 'spotters will notice the odd sample or two, lifted by far less creative types, but we really need only concern ourselves with how vibrant and vital this music is. BBE subtitle it "the real sound of the undergound soul sister", and paraphrasing Ruth Brown, it's a stone groovy thing. (Amazon)

trax:
01. Ann Robinson - You did it 02. Anna Raye - Anna's Thing 03. Barbara and Gwen - Right on 04. Barbara Lynn - I'm a Good Woman 05. Delores Ealy & The Kenyattas - Too Hot To Hold 06. Deloris Ealy - It's About Time I Made a Change 07. Dorothy Black - Miracle Man 08. Delores Ealy & the Kenyettas - Honey Dripper 09. Gloria Williams - Sister Funk 10. Inell Young - What do You See in Her 11. Joyce Dunn - A New Change of Address 12. Marie "Queenie" Lyons - See and don't See 13. Mary Love - Born to Live with Heartache 14. Monica - Chaffeur 15. Pearl Dowell - Good Things 16. Ruth Brown - You're a Stone Groovy Thing 17. Shirley Vaughn - Escape 18. The Aristocrats - Don't Go 19. The Trinikas - Remember Me 20. Viola Wills - Sweetback
...served by Gyro1966...

BILL BRANDON "On The Rainbow Road" (The Muscle Shoals & Birmingham Sessions)

Incredible southern soul work from Bill Brandon -- a wealth of rare singles from the years before his better-known album on Prelude -- all handled by landmark producers Sam Dees, Spooner Oldham, and Quin Ivy! With help like that in the studio, you can imagine that these singles are just about as perfect as can be -- classic southern deep soul, completely without gimmicks or cliche, at a level that few of Bill's contemporaries were ever able to match! Brandon's got an especially wonderful way with a mellow tune -- and most of the best numbers here step around gently on the bottom, letting Bill's vocals dominate strongly, often with the kind of heartbreaking quality you might expect from east coast harmony soul -- but definitely tinged with enough styles to showcase their Alabama roots. CD features a whopping 24 tracks in all -- originally issued on the Quinvy, South Camp, Moonsong, and Piedmont labels. - Dusty Groove (http://www.dustygroove.com/)

trax:
01 Self Preservation 02 Full Grown Lovin' Man 03 Rainbow Road 04 (You've Got That) Something Wonderful 05 Strangest Feeling 06 Since I Fell For You 07 Little By Little 08 All I Need Is You 09 When You Get What You Want 10 Stop This Merry-Go-Round 11 I'm A Believer Now 12 Johnnie Mae Wright 13 Whatever I Am, I'm Yours 14 I Am Free Of Your Love 15 (Take Another Little) Piece Of My Heart 16 It's All Wrong, It's All Right 17 Doing Right Don't Wrong Nobody 18 Let's Make Our New Love Something Special 19 Let Me Be Your Full Time Groover 20 The Streets Got My Lady (Edit) 21 Tag, Tag 22 Good Guys Don't Always Win 23 Let's Get It Back Together Again 24 I'll Be Your Puppet
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THE BUDDY LUCAS ALL-STARS "Shake Rock Rattle And Roll"

Rocking sounds from a big sax swinger!!!From the late 1940s onwards, Buddy Lucas was a much-in-demand session saxophonist on the East Coast, who also recorded quite a few vocal sides. Like Big Al Sears, Warren Luckey, Willis Jackson and various other New York saxophonists, he played his part in the growth of rhythm and blues, without garnering much acclaim. Read more about Buddy Lucas here:
http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/buddy_lucas.htm

trax:
01 Stand Up 02 Sky Rocket 03 Sound Off 04 Let's Go 05 Move Over 06 Round Robin 07 Jump The Gun 08 Blazing Home 09 Wow! 10 Stampede 11 Take It Easy 12 Time Out 13 Starfire 14 Shufflin' Along 15 Mambo Blues 16 Low Man 17 Wailin' Away 18 All Gone.
...served by Gyro1966...

CHRIS KENNER "32 Greatest Hits From New Orleans"

Chris Kenner was a fairly unknown New Orleans R&B singer in the 1960s. Three of his songs are remembered, however. "I Like It Like That, Pt. 1" reached number two on the pop charts in 1961, "Something You Got" was a hit when Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown covered it in 1965, and "Land of 1,000 Dances" became a huge hit for Wilson Pickett in 1966 and Cannibal & the Headhunters turned it into a garage band anthem. (Bill Dahl, All Music Guide)Chris Kenner wrote a number of enduring New Orleans R&B classics, although subsequent cover versions eclipsed all but "I Like It Like That," his Grammy-nominated greatest hit in 1961. Kenner co-wrote "Sick and Tired" with Fats Domino and charted with it in 1957 on Imperial, but Domino's version blew it out of the water. Signing with Joe Babashak's Instant label, Kenner's "I Like It Like That," "Land of 1000 Dances," and "Something You Got" sported Allen Toussaint's rolling piano behind Kenner's raw vocals. (Tom Sendra, All Music Guide)

trax:
01 I Like It Like That, pt.1 02 You Can't Beat Uncle Sam 03 Land Of 1,000 Dances 04 Don't Let Her Pin That Charge On Me 05 Nothing Will Keep Me From You 05 06 Grandma's House 07 Sick And Tired 08 Don't Make No Noise 09 Get On This Train 10 A Very True Story 11 I Have News For You 12 Something You Got 13 You Will Be Mine 14 Johnny Little 15 I'm The Greatest 16 Let Me Show You How To Twist 17 Packing Up 18 She Can Dance 19 That's My Girl 20 The Life Of My Baby 21 Shoo-Rah 22 Wind The Clock 23 They Took My Money 24 Fumigate Funky Broadway 25 Right Kind Of Girl 26 Life Is A Struggle 27 Rocket To The Moon 28 Go Through Life 29 Stretch My Hand To You 30 Memories Of A King pt. 1 31 Memories Of A King pt. 2 32 I Like It Like That pt. 2
...served by Gyro1966...

"STILL STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY"

'Featuring Screamin' R&B Saxmen, Broadway Be-Bop, Uptown Do-Wop, Big City Blues Belters, Sepia Sinatras & Sophisticated Ladies'. Compilation of original recordings from 1944-1953. (From The Liner Notes)Originally released as a mail order only cassette (and limited edition vinyl) by NME, Stompin' At The Savoy is acknowledged as being instrumental in helping to spark the UK jazz-danced movement in the early Eighties: mixing everything from doo-wap to be-bop and all points between. This greatly expanded edition brings the music on CD for the first time.

trax:
1. Stompin’ At The Savoy - Erroll Garner 2. Mambo Boogie - Johnny Otis Orchestra 3. My Brown Frame Baby - H-Bomb Ferguson 4. We’re Gonna Rock, We’re Gonna Roll - Wild Bill Moore 5. Milk Shake Stand - The Three Barons 6. And The Angels Swing - Stan Getz (aka The Be Bop Boys) 7. Howlin’ Winds - Big Joe Turner 8. Brown Gold - Art Pepper 9. Romance Without Finance - Tiny Grimes & Charlie Parker 10. Cupid’s Boogie - Little Esther w/Mel Walker & Johnny Otis 11. I Ain’t Mad At You! - Gatemouth Brown 12. All Night Long - Johnny Otis Show 13. Spinal - Fats Navarro & Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis 14. Ornithology - Babs Gonzales 15. The Birdland Story - Eddie Jefferson 16. Barbados - Miles Davis & Charlie Parker 17. The Jam Man - Slim Gaillard & Bam Brown 18. Sweet Man - Miss Rhapsody & Slam Stewart 19. Rock Me To Sleep - Helen Humes 20. Write Me A Letter - The Ravens 21. Now’s The Time - Charlie Parker 22. The Hucklebuck - Paul Williams 23. Turkey Hop - The Johnny Otis Show feat The Robins
...served by Gyro1966...

"GOIN' DOWN TO ELI'S" - THE COBRA & ABCO RHYTHM & BLUES ANTHOLOGY 1956-1958

This is an amazing collection of recordings from the late 50s recorded and released by the legendary short-lived labels Cobra and Abco. Equally famous and infamous were the two men behind the scenes of these labels, Willie Dixon (who played, produced and wrote the lion's share of material covered by the label's artists) and their colorful owner, Eli Toscano (whose mysterious death shortly after the labels folded is still the subject of legendary speculation).
The majority of musicians represented on this set were, for the most part, seasoned players including Sunnyland Slim (his Cobra version of "Highway 61" is quite literally a steamroller ride of Muddy Waters' "Rollin' `n Tumblin'" fueled by earthshaking harmonica work recklessly delivered by Walter Horton), (Walter) Shakey Horton ("Have a Good Time"), Guitar Shorty, Lee Jackson, Little Willie Foster, Memphis Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson ("moonlighting" from Chess Records) and the great rock `n roll R&B singer, Harold Burrage.
For fans of electric Chicago postwar blues, this set is absolutely essential! (Rhythm & News)

trax:
1. Highway 61 - Sunnyland Slim 2. Have A Good Time - Shakey Horton - 3. Just Wailing - Louie Meyers & The Aces 4. You Eat Too Much - Harold Burrage 5. Killer Diller - Betty Everett 6. Irma Lee - Guitar Shorty 7. Screaming And Crying - Morris Pejoe 8. Row Your Boat - Charles Clark & Willie Dixon Band 9. Steady Rollin´ Man - Sonny Boy Williamson 10. Can This Be Mine - Freddie Hall 11. When I Find My Baby - Arbee Stidham 12. I Don´t Care Who Knows - Harold Burrage 13. Fishin´ In My Pond - Lee Jackson 14. Crying The Blues - Little Willie Foster 15. I Wonder What´s The Matter - Memphis Slim 16. Bluesy - Louie Meyers & The Aces 17. Messed Up - Harold Burrage 18. My Life Depends On You - Betty Everett 19. It´s You Baby - Sunnyland Slim 20. You Don´t Treat Me Right - Guitar Shorty 21. Changing Love - Clarence Jolly 22. Maybe Blues - Morris Pejoe 23. Take Your Hand Out Of My Pocket - Sonny Boy Williamson 24. Meet Me Halfway - Arbee Stidham 25. Ain´t Gonna Cry - Betty Everett 26. Little Girl - Little Willie Foster 27. Need My Baby - Shakey Horton 28. I´ll Just Be Walkin´ - Lee Jackson 29. Hidden Charms - Charles Clark & Willie Dixon Band 30. Best Gal I Ever Had - Memphis Slim 31. Eli Toscano Blues - Unknown
...served by Gyro1966...