BIG MAMA THORNTON - "The Complete Vanguard Recordings" – Two Albums "Jail" and "Sassy Mama!" both from 1975 on Vanguard Records, One Live, One Studio, With A Third Previously Unreleased Album From The Same Sessions - Guests Featuring Cornell Dupree, Paul Griffin, George "Harmonica" Smith, Jimmy Johnson, Buddy Lucas and more (2000 UK Ace/Vanguard Masters 3CD Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00004S81Y&asins=B00004S81Y&linkId=01c8fcf58100896a01fac5ed0c3ddcf7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Rock Me Baby..."

Elvis made "Hound Dog" famous in 1956 (a US No. 1) and Janis Joplin blew the audience away at California's 'Monterey Pop Festival' in June 1967 singing a gut-wrenching version of "Ball And Chain". The originator of both of these loaded tunes was Blues Shouter (and occasional drummer) BIG MAMA THORNTON - born Willie Mae Thornton in Montgormery, Alabama in 1926 – one of seven children. She was the first to record Leiber & Stoller's wonderful "Hound Dog" in 1952 and penned "Ball And Chain" which Janis would put on the 1968 "Cheap Thrills" album by Big Brother and The Holding Company in all its near 10-minute Bluesy glory. 

So by the time she made this trio of albums (one live - two studio sets – the third a stunning unreleased LP) – she was already a 49-year old veteran riding the wave of yet another Blues Revival. But that’s not to say that the goods aren’t here – they are. If anything – her age and experience exude out of these recordings - sounding not unlike Etta James on a good day backed by a crack-band complimenting her guttural Blues (the studio sessions featured Texan guitar wizard Cornell Dupree). Here are the 'snooping-round-the-door' details...

UK released April 2000 (reissued in 2013) – "The Complete Vanguard Recordings" by BIG MAMA THORNTON on Ace/Vanguard Masters 3VCD 175 (Barcode 015707017527) is a 3CD set and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - "Jail" (36:34 minutes):

1. Little Red Rooster

2. Ball And Chain 

3. Jail

4. Hound Dog [Side 2]

5. Rock Me Baby

6. Sheriff O.E. & Me 

7. Oh Happy Man 

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Jail" – released 1975 in the USA on Vanguard VSD 79351 (No UK release). Recorded live at two venues - The Monroe State Prison in Washington and Oregon State Reformatory, Eugene in Oregon. 

BIG MAMA THORNTON – Vocals

J.D. NICHOLS – Piano

GEORGE "Harmonica" SMITH – Harmonica

BEE HOUSTON and STEVE WACHSMAN – Guitars 

BILL PORTER – Tenor Saxophone 

BRUCE SIEVERSON – Bass

TODD NELSON - Drums

Disc 2 - "Sassy Mama!" (35:35 minutes):

1. Rolling Stone

2. Lost City 

3. Mr. Cool

4. Big Mama's New Love

5. Private Number 

6. Sassy Mama 

7. Everybody's Happy (But Me)

Tracks 1 to 7 are the album "Sassy Mama!" – released 1975 in the USA on Vanguard VSD 79354 (no UK release). Studio album. 

BIG MAMA THORNTON – Vocals

CORNELL DUPREE – Guitar 

RONNIE MILLER - Guitar on "Big Mama's New Love" only

PAUL GRIFFIN – Keyboards 

BUDDY LUCAS – Tenor Sax 

WILBUR BASCOMB – Bass 

JIMMY JOHNSON – Drums 

Disc 3 - "Big Mama Swings" - (46:08 minutes):

1. Good-Bye Baby 

2. Gonna Leave You

3. Mixed Up Feeling 

4. Special 

5. Going Fishing 

6. Big Mama Swings

7. Happy Me 

Tracks 1 to 7 are a PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED studio album with the following line-up

BIG MAMA THORNTON – Vocals

CORNELL DUPREE – Guitar 

PAUL GRIFFIN – Keyboards

ERNIE HAYES – Piano  

BUDDY LUCAS – Tenor Sax 

WILBUR BASCOMB – Bass 

JIMMY JOHNSON – Drums 

The booklet is a fairly basic 12-page affair (for a 3CD set) with album credits and new liner notes on her career and the recordings by noted writer ED WARD. JEFF ZARAYA has carried out the 20-bit remasters from original tapes using the DCS 900 –and the audio is great – both on the live set and on the polished studio sets. There are three black and white photos of Thornton live and smiling – and even a snap of Janis Joplin in full concert flow (Thornton mentions her in the intro to "Ball And Chain" – Joplin’s loss only recent in the memory). 

The live set opens with an enthusiastic crowd losing their interned marbles to "Little Red Rooster" – a tune where the band gets to stretch out and find their feet – solos from Bill Porter on Saxophone and George Smith on Harmonica. The 7:14 minutes of "Ball And Chain" slows everything down but ups the intensity while "Hound Dog" proves to be a crowd-pleaser. But better is the solo-filled Slow Blues of "Rock Me Baby" where all three lead musicians get their spots and slaughter it (her voice is great on this one – salacious and Bluesy in a way that only a big woman shouter can be). The law-breaking story in "Sheriff O.E. & Me" allows her to tell a tale of wrongful arrest that naturally tickles the audience. She ends the gig on a hand-clapping version of "Oh Happy Day" – sounding like a hoarse Mavis Staples backed up by a Harmonica. 

She opens the very cool studio set with a cover of the Muddy Waters 'I wish I was a catfish' song "Rolling Stone" where she pines for men in a way that's real and not preening for the sake of it. Paul Griffin gives it some wonderful Booker T type organ on the slinky and sexy "Mr. Cool" – jabbing away at his keyboard as she draws out the 7:45 minutes – only to be joined for the second half by Cornell Dupree doing his best B.B. King/Albert King fretboard impressions. Ronnie Miller makes his Guitar known on the Piano Funky Blues of "Big Mama's New Love" (sounds fab too). Things gets Bluesy Mellow with "Private Number" where the operator won't give Big Mama her man's phone number so that she can get monogamous peace of mind (fab Sax solo from Buddy Lucas). Back to Funk-Blues with the hugely likeable "Sassy Mama" - the kind of tune that's going to turn up on a Kent-Soul CD compilation real soon. Proceedings end with the 'blue as I can be' Jeannie Evan’s cover "Everybody's Happy (But Me)" – the Piano and Sax doing battle in left and right speaker coolsville. 

I had expected the unreleased "Big Mama Swings" studio album to be filler – but if anything – it’s probably the strongest set of the three! Superbly produced by ED BLAND and mostly featuring the same band as "Sassy Mama!" with slight alterations – it's that album Part 2 – only better. "Big Mama Swings" opens strongly with the shuffling barroom boogie of "Good-Bye Baby" but then lurches into some fireworks - a nine-minute slow Blues called "Gonna Leave You". Both Ernie Hayes (Piano) and Buddy Lucas (Saxophone) add so much to her whining vocals – later joined by the fluid fretwork of Cornell Dupree on Guitar (stunning track). 

More emotional Funk Blues with "Mixed Up Feeling" because her baby won’t love her 'that way' and she can't find his door in the alleyway (nice Sax work and guitar licks) - while "Special" could be Etta James on Chess circa 1974 – updated and Funky but still anchored in that 60ts R&B sound. We go full-on Catfish Bluesy with the superb "Going Fishing" – 7:21 minutes of slow rolling piano and 'since I've been left behind' lyrics (she wants to know who's tugging on his line now). Hearing both the stepper-boogie "Big Mama Swings" and the killer Blues of "Happy Me" – it's a real wonder as to why this excellent album wasn’t released? At least it's available through this Ace/Vanguard Masters Reissue...

Willie Mae Thornton would have made the History books with "Hound Dog" and "Ball and Chain" alone – but how good is it to know that she had more Blues/Soul/Funk in her in the mid Seventies. Almost last of the big shouters – she passed away in July 1984 aged 58 – and this 3CD set does her legacy proud...

"Dancin' And Twistin'" by HANK BALLARD And THE MIDNIGHTERS – Tracks from 1959 to 1969 on Federal and King Records (October 2000 UK Ace Records CD Compilation with Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00004Y32G&asins=B00004Y32G&linkId=74682d3a34acc7a38ee7d1b59335b752&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"…Mary Is Doin' It! 

So Is Sue! 

It's Twistin' Time!"

Now here's a sweetie CD covering Ballard's stay at King and Federal from 1958 to 1969 concentrating on his dance-craze string of American 45's. Here are the hip-swivelling details…

UK released October 2000 – "Dancin'’ And Twistin'" by HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS on Ace Records CHDCD 779 (Barcode 029667177924) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (65:40 minutes):

HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS

1. The Twist (1959, King 5171, A)

THE MIDNIGHTERS

2. Rock And Roll Wedding (1955, Federal 12240, A)

3. Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More) (1955, Federal 12224, A)

4. E Basta Cosi (1957, Federal 12293, A)

5. Rock, Granny, Roll (1956, Federal 12260, A)

HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS

6. The Coffee Grind (1960, King 5312, A)

7. Finger Poppin' Time (1960, King 5341, A)

8. Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go ((1960, King 5400, A)

9. The Hoochi Coochi Coo (1960, King 5430, A)

10. The Continental Walk (1961, King 5491, A)

11. Let's Go Again (Where We Went Last Night) (1961, King 5459, A)

12. The Float (1961, King 5510, A)

13. The Switch-A-Roo (1961, King 5510, B)

14. Keep On Dancing (1961, King 5535, A)

15. It's Twistin’ Time (1962, King 5601, A)

16. Good Twistin' Tonight (1962, King 5635, A)

17. Do You Know How To Twist? (1962, King 5593, A)

HANK BALLARD

18. That Low Down Move (1963, King 5719, A)

19. (I'm Going Back To) The House On The Hill (1963, King 5719, A)

20. Poppin' The Whip (1965, King 5996, A)

21. Sleep And Slide (1965, King 6018, A)

22. Dance Till It Hurtcha (1967, King 6092, A)

23. Funky Soul Train (1967, King 6131, A)

24. Butter Your Popcorn (1969, King 6244, A)

Compiled by JOHN BROVEN and PAUL HARRIS – Harris' liner notes in the 12-page booklet are peppered with label repros - pictures of Federal 12224 ("Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More)", Federal 12240 ("Rock And Roll Wedding"), Federal 12260 ("Rock, Granny, Roll"), King 5593 ("Do You Know How To Twist"), the British 45 for his iconic hit "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's GO” on Parlophone 45-R 4707 and a few others. 

The back page has sheet music to "Finger Poppin' Time" (in colour), a photo of the band having a laugh as they do 'The Twist' live, trade adverts for King Records and even a rare 45 picture sleeve that gives typed instructions as to "How To Do The Continental Walk". It's a fun read as you can imagine and all of it complimented by DUNCAN COWELL Remasters from original analogue master tapes.

The audio quality on stuff like "Rock And Roll Wedding" is fantastic ("…there was a boy named Rock and a girl named Roll…") - the same for "The Coffee Grind" with the drums bashing away as the girls sing, "They did the Susie Q!" after each verse.

I've always dug the upbeat dancer "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" while the faster pace of "The Switch-A-Roo" sounds like a hit and it was (it went to Number 3 on the American R&B charts). Of his solo Hank Ballard sides, he sounds closest to James Brown on "That Low Down Move" and "Poppin' The Whip" while "Funky Soul Train" has a great Stereo remaster complete with brass fills in-between the driving beat. "It's Twistin' Time" is probably the best of his dance craze themed songs ("Mary is doing it…so is Sue…") and again it's here in great sound quality.

Not all genius of course, but the good stuff is great and with that top drawer audio – a must buy for fans…

"The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (1993 US Epic/Legacy 3CD 78-Track Long Box Set of Vic Anesini Remasters with Twenty Tracks Previously Unreleased) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00000287T&asins=B00000287T&linkId=c443b675049354933592f078b2e41b56&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Peas, Beans and Gravy..."

One of the earliest Box Sets from a major label to document old-time Forties and Fifties Blues and R’n’B – Epic/Legacy’s “The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957” is a 3CD long box from the Summer of 1993. And with its 78-tracks (20 of which are previously unreleased) and truly fabulous VIC ANESINI remasters – it still packs an American baseball-bat of a wallop in 2021 (and it looks good too). Here are the Poontang, Ring Ding Doo and Rock The Joint details…

USA released July 1993 – "The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Epic/Okeh/Legacy E3K 48912 (Barcode 07464489122) is a 3CD Long Box Set of Remasters and it breaks down as follows: 

Disc 1 (69:37 minutes):

1. Rock The Joint – CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (September 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

2. That’s Right! – CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (September 1949, Previously Unreleased Alternate Version)

3. Chicken Shack Boogie – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

4. No Wine, No Women – MR. GOOGLE EYES with BILLY FORD & HIS MUSICAL V-8’s (October 1949, Okeh 6820, A)

5. Red Hit – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949, Okeh/Columbia recording)

6. Rough And Rocky Road - MR. GOOGLE EYES with BILLY FORD & HIS MUSICAL V-8’s (October 1949, Okeh 6820, B)

7. Hot Dog - CHRIS POWELL & THE FIVE BLUE FLAMES (April 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

8. Fine Like Wine – THE FIVE SCAMPS (February 1949 Okeh/Columbia recording)

9. CHI (Chicago) – JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued)

10. Lyin’ Girl Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (May 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording)

11. Gotta Find My Baby – THE RAVENS (October 1950 Okeh/Columbia recording)

12. Let’s Jump Tonight – CHUCK WILLIS (January 1951, Okeh 6805)

13. I Want A Lavender Cadillac – MAURICE KING & HIS WOLVERINES with BEA BAKER (April 1951, Okeh 6800)

14. If You Ever Had The Blues – EARL WILLIAMS (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

15. Catch ‘Em Young, Treat ‘Em Rough, Tell ‘Em Nothin’ – THE BILL DAVIS TRIO (May 1951, Okeh 6808)

16. Weekday Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

17. My Run Around Baby – IRLTON FRENCH with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6816)

18. Stuttering Blues – THE FIVE SCAMPS (March 1951, Previously Unissued)

19. She Did Me Wrong – LEROY JOHNSON (May 1951, Previously Unissued)

20. Honey I Don’t Want You – THE RAVENS (March 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording)

21. Work Baby Work – LARRY DARNELL (November 1951, Okeh 6848)

22. Camp Meeting – PINNOCHIO JAMES (October 1951, Okeh 6881)

23. Come On Daddy (Let’s Go Play Tonight) – PEARL TRAYLOR with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6822, A)

24. I Feel So Good – MAURICE KING & HIS WOLVERINES with RUBY JACKSON (Vocals) (April 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued)

25. Three Ball Sam (The Pawn Shop Man) - PEARL TRAYLOR with CHUCK THOMAS & HIS ALL STARS (May 1951, Okeh 6822, B)

26. Brother’s Blues – LITTLE BROTHER BROWN (September 1951, Previously Unissued)

Tracks 9, 18, 19, 24 and 26 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Disc 2 (69:18 minutes):

1. Hey Bartender Give That Man A Drink - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (August 1951 Okeh/Columbia recording – Previously Unissued Alternate Take)

2. Goof Boogie – LITTLE BROTHER BROWN (September 1951 recording, Previously Unissued)

3. I Rule My House – CHUCK WILLIS (May 1951, Okeh 6810)

4. Pinnochio’s Blues – PINNOCHIO JAMES (October 1951 recording, Previously Unissued)

5. I’ll Be Sittin’, I’ll Be Rockin’ – LARRY DARNELL (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6954)

6. It’s Been A Long Time – ANNIE LAURIE (April 1952 recording, Okeh 6873)

7. Jump Back Honey – HADDA BROOKS (August 1952 recording, Okeh 6924)

8. Got So Much Trouble – TITUS TURNER (April 1952 recording, Okeh 6883)

9. Gas Happy Mama – THE ROYALS (May 1952 recording, Previously Unissued)

10. My Story – CHUCK WILLIS with THE ROYALS (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6905)

11. Gabbin’ Blues – BIG MAYBELLE (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6931)

12. The Moondog – THE TRENIERS (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6937)

13. Stop Talkin’ And Start Walkin’ – ANNIE LAURIE (August 1952 recording, Okeh 6933)

14. Dig This Menu Please! – RED RODNEY SEXTET (May 1952 recording, Okeh 6899)

15. It Ain’t Nothing Happening – PAUL GAYTEN (November 1952, Okeh 6972)

16. You Broke My Heart – CHUCK WILLIS (November 1952 recording, Previously Unissued)

17. Poontang – THE TRENIERS (October 1952 recording, Okeh 6937)

18. Brook’s Boogie – HADDA BROOKS (December 1952 recording, Okeh 6939)

19. Jimmy Mule – BIG MAYBELLE (May 1953 recording, Okeh 6998)

20. Livin’ In Misery – TITUS TURNER (February 1953, Okeh 6961)

21. Voodoo Blues - JUMPIN’ JOE WILLIAMS with RED SAUNDERS & HIS ORCHESTRA (January 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

22. Bring The Money In – THE BILL DAVIS TRIO (January 1953 recording, Okeh 7201)

23. You The Kind Of Women – SAMMY COTTON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7014)

24. I’m In The Mood For You – ANNIE LAURIE (December 1953 recording, Okeh 7025)

25. Make Up Your Mind – CHUCK WILLIS (September 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

26. Cow Cow Blues – PAUL GAYTEN (May 1953 recording, Okeh 6982)

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, 21 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Disc 3 (66:43 minutes):

1. But Officer! – CLIFF “KING” SOLOMON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7010)

2. Give Me One More Drink – SAMMY COTTON (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7014)

3. Leave It To Me – ANNIE LAURIE (December 1953 recording, Previously Unissued)

4. Square Dance Boogie - CLIFF “KING” SOLOMON with ERNESTINE ANDERSON (Vocals) (September 1953 recording, Okeh 7022)

5. Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash – BIG JOHN & THE BUZZARDS (August 1954, Okeh 7045)

6. One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show – BIG MAYBELLE (September 1954 recording, Okeh 7060)

7. My Lonely Room – TITUS TURNER (January 1954 recording, Okeh 7027)

8. Uh Oh (Get Out Of The Car) – THE TRENIERS (November 1954 recording, Okeh 7050)

9. Creole Alley – PAUL GAYTEN featuring LEE ALLEN (November 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

10. Give Me Your Love – LARRY DARNELL (April 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

11. Bad, Bad Women – THE SHUFFLERS (May 1954 recording, Previously Unissued)

12. I’m Getting’ Long All Right – BIG MAYBELLE (March 1954 recording, Okeh 7042)

13. Oop Shoop – BIG JOHN & THE BUZZARDS (August 1954 recording, Okeh 7045)

14. Jump Ted! – THE SHUFFLERS (May 1954 recording, Previously Unreleased)

15. Ocean Of Tears – BIG MAYBELLE (March 1955 recording, Previously Unreleased)

16. Ring Ding Doo – CHUCK WILLIS (July 1955 recording, Okeh 7062)

17. Little Demon – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7072)

18. I Put A Spell On You – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7072)

19. Bacon fat – ANDREW WILLIAMS (Mr. Rhythm) (November 1956, Epic/Okeh 9196)

20. The Last Meal – HURRICANE HARRY (October 1956 recording, Okeh 7074)

21. Let’s Do The Slop – LITTLE JOE & THE THRILLERS (October 1956 recording, Okeh 7073)

22. Where You Been – LLOYD FATMAN (September 1956 recording, Okeh 7073)

23. Miss Mushmouth – LLOYD FATMAN (September 1956, Okeh 7083)

24. Wyatt Earp – THE MARQUEES (featuring Marvin Gaye and Bo Diddley on Guitar) (September 1957 recording, Previously Unissued Alternate Version)

25. Billy’s Heartache – BILLY STEWART (with Bo Diddley on Guitar) (September 1957 recording, Previously unissued Alternate Version)

26. Yellow Coat – SCREAMIN’ JAY HAWKINS (February 1957 recording, from the 1958 USA LP “At Home With Screamin’ Jaw Hawkins” on Epic/Okeh LN 3488)

Tracks 3, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 24 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Although the booklet is box set long and pretty in some places (full length Michael Ochs photos of The Ravens, Annie Laurie, Earl Williams and The Treniers) – at 34-pages it feels way too slight for such a fantastic sounding release. Even the entries for each track only tell you when the song was recorded (which I’ve listed above) – but not when the 78” or 7” was released (a tad lazy really). But there are some nice photos as I say and witty/informational liner notes from JAMES MARSHALL (aka “The Hound, WFMU, New Jersey) on each artist. But all of that pales into the background against the awesome sound – Archival and Digital Remastering by VIC ANESINI and WARREN WEBERG. Anesini has a long list of prestigious credits to his name – The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Presley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Hall & Oates and The Jayhawks to name but a few. The audio here is truly fabulous. Listening to something like “Hot Dog” on Disc 1 is amazing – bass, vocals, the shuffle of the high-hat and the rolling piano – all clear as a bell. Bit of a wow frankly…

The Five Scamps give us “Hello Jack…just got back…” on their amped-up version of Amos Milburn’s 1949 monster hit “Chicken Shack Boogie”. Drinking kicks in with the wonderfully titled Mr. Google Eyes. Even on something like “Lyin’ Gal Blues” – the saxophone solo is electrifying when it hits the speakers (“…men are just like streetcars, I can catch one any day…”). Amazing vocals kick in The Ravens (first of the bird groups) in the form of Jimmy Ricks – wonderful audio quality. 

Disc 2 has some great club shakers – tunes like “I’ll Be Sittin, I’ll Be Rockin’” with that wicked Joe Turner Atlantic Records vibe – party music (and fabulous audio given its vintage). Groove to the saxophone dancer “Dig The Menu Please!” with its 25 cents run down of grub that turns our Rodney on – “Peas, beans and gravy are the kind of food I crave…for a big pot of dumplings I’d be anyone’s slave!” And although it’s presented here in lesser sound quality - Paul Gayten’s “It Ain’t Nothing Happening” is still a great bopper with an irresistible jiving back beat tail-ended by some wild sax. 

In “But Officer!” on Disc 3 Cliff “King” Soloman says, “I keep telling you- that is my real name!” but the copper is having none of it. “That was a straight line!” he reasons but I’m not sure he isn’t going to jail for being in the wrong part of town. Sassy blues with big brassy breaks comes in the shape of Annie Laurie whose “Leave It To Me” is one of the Previously Unreleased gems on offer. Just as cool is the lesser-heard Big John & The Buzzards deep-voiced version of “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash” where out hero pleads, “I told her she could have all my gold…but she said…this is ain’t no circus and I don’t need no clown!” The obscure Big John Otherbody is the lead singer with the deep as an ocean tone – and it’s a genuine rarity worth having. Another gem is “Uh Oh…” by The Treniers where you get to hear in-studio chatter before Take 6 blasts in – cool! Takes 10 and 11 of Billy Stewart’s “Billy’s Heartache” go all Salsa to not much effect - but far better is the shouting colours song “Yellow Coat” by the ‘baby don’t quit it’ Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – a witty and loony way to finish a box set that is a lot more fun that it looks - all dolled up in gold lettering. 

You can still get this set for fewer than fifteen quid – and with its hidden treasures and that fantastic remastered sound – is one you should seek out like a Ring Ding Doo…

"Nothing But Good: 1952-1962" by HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS – Thirteen Albums Worth on Federal and King Records, Single-Only and EP Sides, Collaborations with Little Willie John and Seventeen Exclusive Previously Unreleased Tracks (January 2009 GERMAN Bear Family 5CD Remastered 150-Track LP-Sized Box Set with Hardback Book of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B001NLZR08&asins=B001NLZR08&linkId=20784f00cda9b3e519bea75798d9a875&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"...Finger Poppin' Time..."

Bear Family Records of Germany owns a reputation most reissue labels would probably nobble baby-seal-loving Aunty Flo of the Peace Corps with a lump mallet to obtain. But every now and then, and even by their lofty standards, they stomp on that sucker so damn good that you're left reeling. 

For sure "Nothing But Good: 1952-1962" by Hank Ballard and The Midnighters isn't cheap (nor should it be) and it's not for the faint-hearted or lowly of wallet. But this LP-Sized Box Set and its sumptuous Hardback Book is the total Rhythm and Blues business (with occasional Doo Wops, Twists and Soul Shuffles thrown into the genre mix). 

Across five jam-packed CDs (check out those eye-watering total playing times) you get 150 tracks offering the listener a huge 13 US albums in full and of course all those Federal and King US 45s, Extended Play EPs and even some straggler tracks on a Little Willie John LP. And I count as many as Seventeen Previously Unissued Tracks making their digital debut here. There is much to discuss, fuss and muss over, so in the words of the great twisting entertainer himself - "Let's go, let's go, let's go..."

Released 20 January 2009 in Germany - "Nothing But Good - 1952-1962" by HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS on Bear Family BCD 16795 EK (Barcode 4000127167958) is a 5CD Remastered 150-Track LP-Sized Box Set (Seventeen Tracks Previously Unissued) with a Hardback Book that plays out as follows: 

CD1 (81:49 minutes, 32 Tracks)

CD2 (72:25 minutes, 27 Tracks)

CD3 (78:28 minutes, 30 Tracks) 

CD4 (81:49 minutes, 30 Tracks)

CD5 (81:06 minutes, 31 Tracks)

Bear Family have used the usual crew of R&B good-people DOUG POMEROY did the Disc Transfers, Bear Family's RICHARD WEIZE Produced the Box Set and did Tape Research alongside Tape Comparisons by DAVE BOOTH and BILL DAHL with Mastering by the mighty JURGEN CRASSER – the man who did the mucho-praised "Blowing The Fuse" 1945 to 1960 year-by-year CD series. The 86-page LP-Sized Hardback Book is likely to make even the most die-hard fan gasp – beautiful full-colour plates of Hank in-between album cover shoots, pages of all those King and Federal US 45s, the colour covers of so many LPs peppering the BILL DAHL and RICHARD WEIZE Discography. It’s stunning both visually and audibly. 

This box Set will also allow fans to sequence all of the albums, Extended Plays and Singles from the period (plus subsequent compilations) as follows:

THE MIDNIGHTERS Albums (all MONO):

1. "Their Greatest Hits" (1954 US 8-Track 10" LP on Federal 295-90)

2. "Their Greatest Hits" (1956 US 12-Track 12" LP on Federal 541 - further reissued twice as Hank Ballard and The Midnighters - see list below)

3. "Volume Two" (1958 US 12-Track 12" LP on King 581) - Lady reclining smoking a cigarette sleeve - see below

HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS Albums (all MONO): 

1. "Their Greatest Juke Box Hits" (1956 US 12-Track LP on King 541, 1st Reissue with HB by Jukebox Sleeve)

2. "Greatest Juke Box Hits" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 541, 2nd Reissue with HB Holding Titles In His Hands)

3. "Singin' And Swingin'" (1959 US 14-Track LP on King 618)

4. "Volume Two" (1960s US 12-Track LP on King 581) - Hank Ballard and The Midnighters 'Vivid Sound' sleeve

5. "The One And Only" (1960 US 12-Track LP on King 674)

6. "Mr. Rhythm & Blues" (1960 US 12-Track LP on King 700 - Reissued in 1975 in the USA as "Finger Poppin' Time" on Power Pak PO-276)

7. "Spotlight On Hank Ballard" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 740) 

8. "Let's Go Again" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 748)

9. "Dance Along" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 759) 

10. "The Twistin' Fools" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 781)

11. "Jumpin" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 793)

12. "Hank Ballard's Biggest Hits" (1963 US 12-Track LP on King 867)

13. "Glad, Sad, Shout, Sweet Fast, Slow, New and Blue Songs" (1965 US 12-Track LP on King 927)

Beginning with 1952's "Get It" when he began his career in the Vocal Group The Royals (charted in January 1953) on Federal Records – both as The Midnighters and then Hank Ballard and The Midnighters – Detroit, Michigan's finest placed a further twenty singles on the American Billboard R&B Charts – three of which went all the way to No. 1 - "Work With Me Annie" on Federal 12169 and "Annie Had A Baby" on Federal 12195 (both in 1954) and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" in 1960. 

He and his band of R&B pirates were (along with Chubby Checker) also heavily involved in one of the dance crazes of the 60s – The Twist (that 45-single went to No. 6 on King 5171 in 1960). His last big chart showing in 1961 would be the title of this box set "Nothing But Good" on King 6196, which made No. 15. Ballard would trouble the R&B charts for the last time with The Dapps in 1968, but that's outside the purview of this Box Set. They are all here though - "The Switch-A-Roo", "The Hoochi Coochi Coo", "Finger Poppin' Time" and loads more to bop too. I also love those vocal group moments in the early years like "Tell Them" from 1954. 

A simple Best Of would suffice for most, and with regard to stretching further, I've reviewed the excellent October 2000 UK CD compilation by Ace Records called "Dancin' And Twistin'" that covers the full gamut from 1955 to 1969 – tapping into 45s on Federal and King that didn't chart as well. 

But this is the Rolls Royce of treatments and his fun-music legacy deserved nothing less. Ballard issued a US 45 in October 1953 on Federal 12150, the A-side being called "Hello Miss Fine". Well, if you can afford "Nothing But Good: 1952-1962", say hello to 'Mister Excellence' and then some...

"The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" by THE CADETS and THE JACKS [and ROCKATEERS] (1995 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters Covering 1955 to 1958 on Modern and RPM Records) – see also Volume 1 from 1994 "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B00NED95TW&asins=B00NED95TW&linkId=0061fb4ca8224304480e8a6f1c505bce&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

<iframe style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B000007ZO9&asins=B000007ZO9&linkId=58652e11394e31a06a113ff6dc3938d6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"…Fine Lookin' Baby…"

Volume 1 in the story of the intertwining American Vocal Groups THE CADETS and THE JACKS is "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - a September 1994 25-track CD on Ace CDCHD 523 (Barcode 029667153423). 

Well here comes Volume 2 concentrating on THE JACKS side of things. UK released May 1995 - "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" on Ace CDCHD 535 (Barcode 029667153522) has more detailed liner notes by noted Rhythm 'n' Blues expert JIM DAWSON and superlative remastered sound from original analogue master tapes (68:25 minutes).

THE CADETS released 14 singles on Modern and THE JACKS managed 7 on their subsidiary label RPM (the same group using a different name) as well as an ultra-rare one-off by THE ROCKATEERS on M.J.C. Records. But each of these intertwined R'n'B Vocal Group incarnations charted big just once. THE JACKS got there first in July 1955 with "Why Don't You Write Me?" on RPM Records 428 (rose to Number 3) while THE CADETS made it with the novelty hit "Stranded In The Jungle" on Modern 944 in July 1956 (rose to Number 4). "Stranded In The Jungle" was in itself a cover of a JAYHAWKS song on Flash Records 109 that made Number 9 in July 1956.

Using both CDs - here is a discography for each group and their American singles:

[7/1] = Track number 7 on Volume 1 while [7/2] = Track 7 on Volume 2 etc...

THE CADETS

1. Don't Be Angry [7/1] b/w I Cried  [7/2] (Modern 956, April 1955)

2. Rollin' Stone [6/1] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 960, June 1955)

3. I Cried [7/2] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 963, July 1955)

4. Annie Met Henry [5/1] b/w So Will I [24/2] (Modern 969, 1955)

5. Do You Wanna Rock [4/2] b/w If It Is Wrong [15/2] (Modern 971, November 1955)

6. Heartbreak Hotel [18/1] b/w Church Bells May Ring [15/1] (Modern 985, February 1956)

7. Stranded In The Jungle [1/1] b/w I Want You [19/2] (Modern 994, June 1956)

8. I Got Loaded [22/1] b/w Dancin' Dan [22/2] (Modern 1000, September 1956)

9. I'll Be Spinning [23/1] b/w Fools Rush In [3/1] (Modern 1006, Nov 1956)

10. Love Bandit [13/1] b/w Heaven Help Me [3/2] (Modern 1012, December 1956)

11. Wiggle Waggle Woo [12/2] b/w You Belong To Me [20/2] (Modern 1017, 1957)

12. Pretty Evey [10/1] b/w Rum, Jamaica Rum [20/1] (Modern 1019, May 1957, credited as Aaron Collins & The Cadets)

13. Hands Across The Table [8/1] b/w Love Can Do Most Anything [11/1] (Modern 1024, August 1957 credited as Will Jones & The Cadets)

14. Ring Chimes [17/1] b/w Baby Ya Know [12/1] (Modern 1026, December 1957)

THE JACKS

1. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w Smack Dab In The Middle [9/1] (RPM 428, April 1955) - this was withdrawn for...

2. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w My Darling [25/2] (RPM 428, July 1955)

3. I'm Confessin' [13/2] b/w Since My Baby's Been Gone [2/2] (July 1955, RPM 433)

4. This Empty Heart [23/2] b/w My Clumsy Heart [4/1] (November 1955, RPM 444)

5. How Soon [6/2] b/w So Wrong [11/2] (January 1956, RPM 454)

6. Why Did I Fall In Love? [18/2] b/w Sugar Baby [24/1] (April 1956, RPM 458)

7. Dream A Little Longer [9/2] b/w Let's Make Up [14/2] (July 1957, RPM 467)

THE ROCKATEERS

1. They Turned The Party Out Down At Bessie's House [8/2] b/w My Reckless Heart [17/2] (1958, M.J.C Records 501)

Volume 2 has 1 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED OUTTAKE - a version of "Dream A Little Longer". As with Volume 1 - the much-revered LITTLE WALTER DE VENNE researched and compiled the set and the hugely informative 12-page booklet by JIM DAWSON gives a virtual track-by-track history - even reproducing tiny Cashbox Adverts in between the text. But the big news is the stunning audio quality. The greatly missed 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES mastered the tracks initially for the 1987 LP "The Cadets Meet The Jacks" - whilst this set CD reissue boasts 1995 Post Production work done by DAVID YOUNG at Sound Mastering in London. The sonic clarity is fabulous - clear, full of life, great presence and sounding like they were recorded yesterday and not a half-a-century ago.

Aaron Collins and Will "Dub" Jones handled the leads on The Cadets sides while Tenor Willie Davis fronted The Jacks with the other three integral parts of the group being - Ted Taylor (Tenor), Glendon Kingsby (who left to pursue Gospel) and Lloyd McCraw (Baritone).

Vocal Group fans will love the CD inclusion of the ultra-rare ROCKATEERS single which was essentially a private press on M.J.C. (stands for group members McCraw, Jones and Collins) - it's listed at $2000 + (if you can find a copy) and to my knowledge is first time on CD here. I love the piano-driven "Fine Lookin' Baby" and finger-clicking "Let's Make Up" reminds me of THE CUES. What is also noticeable about THE JACKS material is that it's more Crooner Doo Wop than the rocking sides of THE CADETS - lovely stuff like "I'm Confessin'" and "Dream A Little Longer".

Ted Taylor enjoyed a great solo career - both Collins and Davis would join The Flairs in 1961 while Betty and Rosie Collins (his sisters) recorded as The Teen Queens. Will "Dub" Jones would later be with The Coasters as their Bass Vocalist - staying with them for over 10 years.

Great stuff and just as good as Volume 1...