"Ace Story" Vol. 4

This fourth entry in chronicling the story of Johnny Vincent's Jackson, Mississippi based Ace Records by the British company that has (legally) used the company logo to become one of the world's largest reissue companies is another fine one. Loaded with 16 tracks of New Orleans styled dynamite from the label's early days,..
...this compilation kicks off with Johnny Angel's "Teenage Wedding," a perfect example of the crossover sound that Vincent often sought on his releases. Angel, a White Cajun singer, is backed by Huey "Piano" Smith and his band, with the end result being a typical 1950s insert the names of hit songs in the lyrics rocker propelled by a driving Crescent City beat. Soul singer Joe Tex started his early career with Ace and he's represented by one of his most uncharacteristic tracks, "Charlie Brown Got Expelled," an answer record to the Coasters' hit, "Charlie Brown" and a later effort, "Yum Yum Yum." More of the Crescent City alumni saw single releases on the label and are collected here with "Happy Sax" and "Walk On" by saxman Alvin Tyler, "I Wanna Know Why" by Roland Cooke, "Tee-Na-Na" by Dicky Williams and Eddie Bo's "I'll Keep On Trying" being the notable tracks here. And of course, the ever present Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns are here with two selections, "Scald Dog" and "Free, Single And Disengaged." Selections from Jesse Allen, Joe & Ann, Floyd Brown, Albert Scott and Frankie Lee Sims (his "Walkin' With Frankie" which, inexplicably, got the 50 something Texas bluesman a shot on American Bandstand back then) round out the compilation. No hits aboard, but a great cross section of music, making this a worthy entry in the series. - Review by Cub Koda

trax:
1 Teenage Wedding - Johnny Angel 2 Tee-Na-Na - Dicky Williams 3 Walk On - Alvin ''Red'' Tyler I Wanna Know Why - Roland Cook 5 Wherever You May Be - Joe & Ann Free, Single And Disengaged - Huey Smith & His Clowns 7 Goodbye Blues - Jesse Allen 8 Charlie Brown Got Expelled - Joe Tex & His X Class Mates 9 Scald-Dog - Huey Smith 10 Happy Sax aka Stinky - Alvin ''Red'' Tyler 11 Can I Have A Word - Floyd Brown 12 Can't Let You Go, I Love You So - Albert Scott 13 Yum, Yum, Yum - Joe Tex 14 Mother's Advice - Joe Tex 15 I'll Keep On Trying - Eddie Bo 16 Walking With Frankie - Frankie Lee Sims 17 I Got The Blues For You - Al Collins & Orchestra You Can't Stop Her - Bobby Marchan & The Clowns 19 I Think You Jivin' Me - Huey & Jerry 20 Those Lonely, Lonely Nights - Earl King 1 My Love Is Here To Stay - Sammy Myers with The King Mose Royal Rockers 22 Aw! Who - Bat Carroll 23 Well-O Well-O Well-O Baby - Earl King 24 Don't You Know Yockomo - Huey ''Piano'' Smith & His Clowns
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