"Gumbo Stew" - New Orleans R&B From Afo Records

The short-lived AFO record label was begun by former Specialty Records A&R man Harold Battiste and 4 of his musician friends --among them, Alvin"Red" Tyler--who thought it was about time for a black-owned label in New Orleans.

In the early '60s, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Harold Battiste (who had done some A&R for Specialty) formed the New Orleans-based AFO label with the intention of giving local artists a fairer deal via a Black-owned company. Only one true hit resulted, Barbara George's "I Know" (included here), but some solid New Orleans R&B was recorded during its brief time in operation. This is the first of three compilations of AFO material, including a couple of obscure performances by the young Dr. John, sides by second-tier Crescent City artists like Eddie Bo and Alvin Robinson, and several names known only to record collectors. Most of it's from the early '60s, although a few from the late '60s (when Battiste was a successful arranger on the West Coast) also sneak in. This disc isn't up to the level of the classics you'll find on the best vintage New Orleans R&B anthologies, but if you're the kind who plans your vacations around New Orleans music festivals, you won't be disappointed by what's on offer here. ~ Richie Unterberger

trax:
1. Olde Wine - Afo Executives 2. I Know - Barbara George 3. Mojo Hannah - Tami Lynn 4. Things Have Changed - Prince La La 5. Tee Na Na Na Na Nay - Eddie Bo 6. My Key Don't Fit - Dr. John & Ronnie Baron 7. Mary - The Tick Tocks 8. All For One - Willie Tee 9. Private Eye - Wallace Johnson 10. The Pot - Dr. John 11. Keep On Lovin' You - Pistol 12. Time Has Expired - Charles Carson 13. I'll Make A Bet - Nookie Boy 14. True Love - Robbie Lee 15. I Found Out - Willie Tee 16. Is It Too Late - The Tick Tocks 17. Tell Me The Truth - The Turquinettes 18. Tuned In, Turned On - Alvin Robinson 19. Give Her Up - Melvin Lastie And Harold Battiste With Cornell Dupree 20. Ignant - Cornell Dupree 21. Empty Talk - Alvin Robinson 22. I Shall Not Be Moved - The Pastor