"Baby Ain’t That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974" by CLARENCE "Frogman" HENRY (April 2015 Ace Records Limited Edition CD Compilation – Nick Robbins Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...It Went To My Head..."

Sometimes it's the artists you think of as lightweights that surprise you the most. And Louisiana's Clarence "Frogman" Henry is a case in point.

His earlier sides on Argo have been done on the "Ain’t Got No Home – Original Chess Masters" CD from 1994 (see review) - this British reissue CD (a limited edition of 1,500 copies) gives us almost all of his post-period decade (1964 to 1974) and for lovers of New Orleans R'n'B will be a big draw. Amidst the 28-cuts are nine Previously Unreleased, Rarities from a long out-of-print 1999 British CD on Edsel and the remainder make up American single-sides on Parrot, Dial and American Pla-boy. Here are the details for this fabulous CD...

UK released Monday 27 April 2015 – "Baby Ain’t That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974" by CLARENCE "Frogman" HENRY on Ace Records CDLUX 016 (Barcode 029667071628) is a LIMITED EDITION CD of 1500 and pans out as follows (70:59 minutes):

1. Ain’t Got No Home (1964 USA 7" single on Parrot 10822, A – a re-recording of his 1956 hit on Argo)

2. The Glory Of Love (Previously Unreleased cover of The Monotones hit)

3. Savin’ My Love For You (Previously Unreleased)

4. Think It Over (1966 USA 7” single on Parrot PAR 45-309, B-side of “Cajun Honey”)

5. Baby Ain’t That Love (1964 USA 7” single on Parrot 10822, B-side of “Ain’t Got No Home”)

6. You Made Me Love You (Previously Unreleased)

7. Looking Back (Previously Unreleased)

8. Cajun Honey [aka Lovin' Cajun Style] (1966 USA 7” single on Parrot PAR 45-309, A)

9. Cheatin' Traces (first appeared on the May 1999 UK CD compilation “I Like That Alligator, Baby: The Crazy Cajun Recordings” on Edsel EDCD 605)

10. You've Got A Lot To Learn (Previously Unreleased)

11. Sea Cruise (as per 9 – Frankie Ford cover)

12. Long Lost And Worried (Previously Unreleased)

13. You Darling You (Previously Unreleased)

14. I Can’t Take Another Heartache (as per 9)

15. Heartaches By The Number (Previously Unreleased)

16. Hummin' A Heartache (1967 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4057, A)

17. That’s When I Guessed (1968 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4072, B-side to “Shake Your Money Maker”)

18. This Time (1967 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4057, B-side to “Hummin’ A Heartache”)

19. Shake Your Money Maker (1968 USA 7” single on Dial 45-4072, A)

20. It Went To My Head (as per 9)

21. We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight (1974 USA 7” single on America Pla-Boy AP-1986, A)

22. You Can Have Her (1974 USA 7” single on American Pla-boy AP-1990, A)

23. Mathilda (as per 9)

24. Rock Down In My Shoe (as per 9)

25. In The Jailhouse Now (1974 USA 7” single on American Pla-boy 1986, B)

26. A Certain Girl (as per 9)

27. Hurt Control (Backing Track) (Previously Unreleased)

28. Sock-A-Dilly Alabam (as per 9)

Tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 27 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Collectors will notice that three Parrot 45s are conspicuous by their absence but the liner notes explain they weren’t available for license; they are 1964’s “Have You Ever Been Lonely” b/w “Little Green Frog” on Parrot 45-PAR 45004 and “I Told My Pillow” b/w “Can’t Hide My Tears” on Parrot 45-PAR 45009 and 1965’s “I Might As Well” b/w “Tore Up Over You” on Parrot 45-PAR 45015.

The 12-page booklet pictures label repros of American Dial, Parrot and American Pla-Boy 45s as well as rare UK issues on London along with some colour photos, trade adverts and UK tour reviews with Canon & Ball. The TONY ROUNCE liner notes are typically brilliant – a feast of factoids and heart – his enthusiasm for what he clearly knows is an underappreciated groover is palatable. And once again NICK ROBBINS does a blasting job on the remasters – fabulous sound throughout even on the slightly rougher cuts that turned up on the 1999 Edsel compilation “I Like That Alligator, Baby: The Crazy Cajun Recordings”.

It opens with a rather excellent remake of his 1956 Argo Records smash “Ain’t Got No Home” which is followed by a lovely keyboard rolling version of The Monotones Vocal Group classic “The Glory Of Love” (the first of nine Previously Unreleased cuts). The audio is fantastic on his cover of Huey Meaux’s R’n’B stroller “Think It Over” (originally a B-side for Jimmy Donley on Chess 1843). Rounce is right to highlight how good the New Orleans flavoured B-side “This Time” is (written by Chip Moman). The funky “Shake Your Money Maker” is a wicked Sixties neck-jerker with the Fats Domino sounding stroller “That’s When I Guessed” as its flipside. The dancefloor boogie continues with “It Went To Your Head” which sounds like John Lee Hooker guitar meets Fats Domino piano with a dollop of Soulful Funk thrown in – shockingly good.

The Jimmie Rogers classic “In The Jailhouse Now” is excellent. In fact the 1974 American Pla-Boy cuts sound like Fats Domino again only with an updated backing track and on tunes like “We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight” Henry just about pulls it off. Far better is the more Soulful Clarence Carter keyboard Soul-Funk of “You Can Have Her” originally a 1961 hit for Roy Hamilton. Even towards the end the pleasant surprises keep coming at you – Dave Edmunds may indeed have nicked his entire Seventies sound from Henry’s slinky version of Ernie K Doe’s “A Certain Girl” – very cool indeed. “Mathilda” is lovely too.

This CDLUX Series has produced some properly beautiful and thoroughly tasty releases for artists that a major label wouldn’t touch with a bargepole - compilations that are aimed at both the head and the heart. Both lovers of New Orleans R'n'B and Soul will have to own it. Ace Records do it again – a Reissue Of The Year 2015 - dig in folks while stocks last...

PS: Titles in this Ace Records Series so far are (each is a Limited Edition of 1500):

1. Detroit Rock 'n' Roll Began Here! – THE ROYALTONES (Ace Records CDLUX 001)

2. The Satintones Sing! The Complete Tamla And Motown Singles Plus – THE SATINTONES (Ace CDLUX 002)

3. Just A Little Bit: Federal's Queens Of New Breed R&B – TINY TOPSY & LULA REED (Ace CDLUX 003)

4. Exotic Guitars From The Clovis Vaults (Norman Petty Masters) – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 004)

5. Bandera Doo Wop – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 005)

6. Outer Space, Hot Rods & Superheroes – THE MARKETTS (Ace Records CDLUX 006)

7. Big Sixties Frat Party!!! – SANDY NELSON (Ace Records CDLUX 007)

8. A-Ooga!!! Stamp & Shake With The Routers – THE ROUTERS (Ace Records CDLUX 008)

9. We're The Soul Girls! The Complete Volt Recordings – JEANNE AND THE DARLINGS and THE CHARMELS (Ace Records CDLUX 009)

10. Mannish Boys: The Stax, Volt & Truth Recordings 1969-1974 – THE NEWCOMERS (Ace Records CDLUX 010) [See REVIEW]

11. Classic Innocents: The Reprise, Decca, Warner Bros and A&M Recordings...Plus More – THE INNOCENTS (Ace Records CDLUX 011)

12. Sweet Sweetheart: The American Studios Sessions And More – CARLA THOMAS (Ace Records CDLUX 012)

13. Long-Lost Honkers & Twangers: Unreleased 60s Gems From The Ventures, Fireballs, Rondels, Titans and Reveliers And Many Other Instrumental Rarities – VARIOUS ARTISTS (Ace Records CDLUX 013)

14. A Scene In-Between 1965-1967 – THE STAINED GLASS (Ace CDLUX 014)

15. Hurricane Force! Rare & Unissued – JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES (Ace Records CDLUX 015 [2-disc set with 20 Unreleased])

16. Baby Ain't That Love: Texas & Tennessee Sessions 1964-1974 – CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY (Ace CDLUX 016)