"Super Rare Electric Blues"

Blues fans need to check this out. For once the ad copy is correct--this is packed with some pretty rare blues sides. But many are from the 1950's era, with the rest from the 60's which is just fine. The period sound is pretty good/good throughout. Remember many of these sides were recorded by small labels on a shoestring budget. The discs slip inside a billfold-style cardboard package. Inside there's a one page essay on the music by James Austin, and a list of song titles, performers, labels, and year recorded. The only photos are one each of Wild Jimmy Spruill and Lafayette Thomas (both personal favorites), so you'll have to do some digging if you want to know more about some of these artists. But many are basically unknown performers, so we're out of luck as far as any good information goes. This set focuses mainly on 45 RPM singles pressed on small labels because they're so powerful and exciting sounding, as opposed to a full LP. A number of these performers did record albums but focusing on singles strips the music down to the essential blues. And don't worry--the electric guitar is front and center throughout this set…

...In a nutshell this is the real deal. This is the down and dirty sounding electric blues from a few well known performers and mostly lesser/unknown singer/guitarists. Among the more well known performers are Juke Boy Bonner, Lafayette "Thing" Thomas (hear his "The Thing"), Guitar Shorty, Ike Turner, Buddy Guy (a great track from 1959), Lonnie Brooks, Earl Hooker, and Homesick James. But it's a pretty good bet that many blues fans will be unfamiliar with most of the songs by these artists.
But what to say about the unknown performers like Icky Renrut (who's actually Ike Turner), Flash Terry, Sly Williams, The Egyptians, Little Miss Janice, Guitar Tommy Moore, Prince Charles, The Poor Boys, and all the others? Suffice to say that they deliver some of the hottest, smokin', visceral blues sides equal to the well known artists here. Just listen to "Squeezing" by Piano Slim, from 1969. Or "I Ain't Botherin' Nobody", by Guitar Tommy Moore, from 1960. Or "Party Stomp", by The Egyptians, from 1960. I could go on but why? These sides are, by and large, upbeat electric blues (but listen to "Scarred Knees" by Little Miss Janice, from 1961 for a great slower blues with good vocals. Or listen to the slow blues workout on "Blues For The Brothers", by Johny Jones & The King Casuals, from 1968-whoah!), that also includes a few dirty sax solos here and there.
Needless to say Rock Beat Records has scored another great compilation with this set. There multi-disc set of surf music and period radio commercials ("Surf Nuggets") is equally awesome for great guitar work full of that reverb/twangin' sound. But long time blues fans (like me) will revel in the rare tracks here--virtually everyone well worth a second (and on and on) listening. This is something that can sit on your blues shelf next to other good blues compilations. If you're a deep blues fan get this sooner rather than later. Hopefully Rock Beat will issue another set of rare blues like this one in the near future. (Stuart Jefferson, Blues World)

trax disc 1:
1. Ho Ho - Icky Renrut 2. Hard Grind - Wild Jimmy Spruill 3. Rock With Me Baby - Juke Boy Bonner 4. The Thing (Featuring Al Price Orchestra) - Lafayette "Thing" Thomas 5. She's My Baby - Flash Terry 6. I Believe In A Woman - Sly Williams 7. Squeezing - Piano Slim 8. I Ain't Botherin' Nobody - Guitar Tommy Moore 9. Behind The Sun - The Rocking Brothers 10. Ways Of A Man - Guitar Shorty 11. Weekly Blues - Lafayette "Thing" Thomas 12. One Nighter Blues (Featuring Pete "Guitar" Lewis) - Johnny Otis 13. I`m Leaving You - Bob Reed & His Band 14. In The Wee Wee Hours - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers 15. Let's Go Smitty (Featuring Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - Floyd Dixon 16. Brick - Johnny Morrisette 17. Cubano Jump - Ike Turner 18. Lafayette`s A-Coming - Lafayette Thomas 19. Party Stomp - The Egyptians 20. You Don't Love Me - Willie Cobbs 21. Congo Mombo - The Stompers 22. Scarred Knees - Little Miss Janice 23. Walkin' - Charlie Lucas Combo 24. Blues for the brothers - Johnny Jones & The King Casuals 25. Changing Times - Cliff Driver & His Drivers
trax disc 2:
1. Tricky - Gus Jinkins & Orchestra 2. Boogie Children - John Fred & His Playboy Band 3. You Sure Can't Do - Buddy Guy And His Band 4. Did You Ever Love Somebody(That Didn't Love You) - G 'Davy' Crockett 5. Midnight In The Barrel House (Featuring Pete "Guitar" Lewis) - Johnny Otis 6. Boot Hill - Sly Williams 7. This Is The End - Buddy Guy & His Band 8. All Last Night - George Smith 9. Your Car Machine - Guitar Tommy Moore 10. Cockroach Run - Lafayette Thomas 11. St. Louis Sunset Twist - Benny Sharp & His Orchestra 12. Mr. Hot Shot - Lonnie Brooks 13. Come On Home - Prince Charles 14. I've Got The Blues So Bad - Henry Artis & The Nitehawks 15. Since My Baby Hit The Numbers (Featuring Jimmy Spruill Orchestra) - Guitar Crusher 16. Wild Moments - Earl Hooker 17. Jack Rabbit - Jimmy Thomas 18. High Sailing - Claude & The Hightones 19. Midnight Hours (Featuring Champion Jack Dupree & Mickey Baker) - Larry Dale 20. Washboard - The Poor Boys 21. Tarzan - Artie Wilson 22. Set A Date - Homesick James 23. Pleadin' Mercy Baby - Jimmy Mullins 24. Nothing But Love - Bobo Jenkins 25. Endless Sleep - Jimmy Witherspoon
...served by Gyro1966...