EXCELLO RECORDS Vol 2 - Southern Rhythm & Rock

Unlike Stax, and other venerable labels with star-studded rosters whose catalogs have been excavated recently, Excello Records boasts no names more familiar than Slim Harpo or Lightnin' Slim. But what these two collections of electric blues, R&B, and rockabilly from 1954 to 1966 can offer is a deep, satisfying dip into the muddy Southern waters of rock & roll's birth. Most of the Louisiana natives (including both blues-busting Slims) on Vol. 1 (Sound of the Swamp) serve up a gritty, impolite guitar-based response to the smooth New Orleans piano pop of folks like Fats Domino. Vol. 2 (Southern Rhythm & Rock) tracks the diverse stream of cosmopolitan R&B and vocal-group soul that issued from Excello's Nashville branch, music distinguished from Vol. 1 by relatively polished performances and ingenious songwriting. Vol. 2 is the more immediate pleasure, but both discs promise an ideal antidote for those who find today's chart fare heartless and contrived. GRADE A (Ira Robbins, Trouser Press) (This collection is now out of print)

trax:
1. Little Darlin' - The Gladiolas 2. My Mumblin' Baby - Rudy Green 3. It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day) - Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers 4. Stealin' Sugar - Ray Batts 5. Quit My Drinkin' - Robert Garrett 6. Rollin' Stone - The Marigolds 7. My Next Door Neighbor - Jerry McCain & His Upstarts 8. Baby, Let's Play House - Arthur Gunter 9. Now That She's Gone - The King Crooners 10. Calling All Cows - The Blues Rockers 11. Miss You So - Lillian Offitt 12. I'm Out - The Surf Riders 13. Oh, Julie - The Crescendos 14. Fine Young Girl - Hooks Coleman 15. Mama Doll - Roy Teo 16. Trying To Please - Jerry McCain & His Upstarts 17. Long Gone - Shy Guy Douglas 18. You Know, Baby? - The Melloaires
...served by Gyro1966...