Rhythm’n’Bluesin’ On The Bayou
BOP CAT STOMP
ACE
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Volume 21 of this laudable series of classic Louisiana recordings from
the 50s and early 60s, the seventh to feature R&B and to the
considerable credit of compiler Ian Saddler there is no drop-off in
quality. No less than 28 tracks, principally from the archives of
producers and label bosses Eddie Shuler and JD Miller, and some big
names and unreleased material, will pique the interest of both
ardent collectors and casual buyers.
Big names include Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Sidney and Cookie And
The Cupcakes, who went on to have hits in their own right, but their
aural equals include Sticks Herman, Big Walter Price and Prince
Charles (not that one).
Material varies from swamp-pop to zydeco, from straight R&B to
proto rock’n’roll, and
there are some real
gems here, like track
11, Mary Mary by
Blues Boy Palmer,
Shake It Up (All Night
Long) by Thaddeus
Declouet and I Hear
Someone Call my
Name by Charles
Perrywell And
His Fairlanes.Southern Bred Vol.2
GIVE ME ONE MORE SHOT
KOKO-MOJO
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Hot on the heels of Volume One comes another must-have collection
of mainly up-tempo blues, all from artists from Mississippi.
Sourced mainly from the Trumpet label, big name acts include
Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson, Ike Turner and JB Lenoir,
though many had to wait until they got to Chicago to find fame.
Most would now be classed as Blues Boppers, and sound as fresh
and vibrant as the day they were cut.
Both BB King and Little Milton made their recorded debuts with
Trumpet, and any compilation that includes Jimmy Reed, Howling
Wolf and Eddie Clearwater is worth close attention. Not only them,
but Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker and Big Joe Williams are also
included. My cup runneth over.
There are due to be five CDs in this series, and if the follow-ups
come close to the collection, start ordering now.
Compiler and
sleeve note writer
Mark Armstrong
deserves credit for
both his taste in
roots music, and his
detailed research
which includes artist
information
and photos.Dion DiMucci
RUBY BABY/
DONNA THE PRIMA DONNA
ACE
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Two LPs from Dion in 1963 released
on CD for the first time. These were
the first recordings after Dion’s split
from US independent label Laurie to
move to US major Columbia, and it
put him back on both singles and
album charts. Material varies from
supper club standards like You
Made Me Love You to doo-wop
revivals on numbers made famous
by the likes of The Clovers and The
Cleftones. As always, Dion was and
remains one of the best voices in
the business, whether singing
ballads or rockers.Dickie Doo And The Don’ts
MADISON AND TEEN SCENE
JASMINE
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That odd, attention-grabbing name
came about to hide the identities of
Gerry Granahan and Dave Alldred,
who were both signed to other
labels. This Roger Dopson-curated
product pairs their two albums,
comprising mainly instrumental
dance numbers, but the real deal
is the inclusion of their five hit
singles, among them the novelty
Click-Clack, the vampire-themed Flip
Top Box, and Wild Party, which
boasts some great lyrics. It improved
its wildness when it crossed the
Atlantic, and became Wild, Wild
Party on the London label.Various Artists
AMERICA’S GREATEST HITS 1951
ACROBAT
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A whopping four-CD boxset
celebrating America’s Greatest Hits
from 1951, a year before the first UK
best-selling record chart.
Since we slavishly followed US
tastes at the time, these were the
likely best-sellers in Britain, too.
Stars include Patti Page, Guy
Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone
and Frankie Laine, and among the
100-plus tracks are perennials like
Mockin’ Bird Hill, Jezebel and Blue
Velvet. Includes every number that
entered Billboard trade magazine’s
Top 15 chart, and, as such, is a
valuable historical document.Various Artists
ANOTHER BANANA SPLIT PLEASE
BEAR FAMILY
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A summer-themed compilation with
all 33 tracks celebrating the warmest
season. It opens with the highly
appropriate Here Comes Summer by
Jerry Keller, and includes hits like
Summertime Blues and Itsy Bitsy
Teenie-Weenie Yellow Polka Dot
Bikini. Some selections seem
wayward. Why have Andy Williams’
version of Love Letters In The Sand
rather than Pat Boone’s? Surely One
Summer Night by The Danleers is
superior to The Diamonds cover? But
it’s great that VR’s own Vince Eager’s
version of Soda Pop Pop is included
rather than Tommy Sands’ original.CD Album Reviews