"Rock & Roll" by JOE TURNER. A Review Of His Stunning 1956 Atlantic Album Now Remastered Onto CD In 2012 As Part Of The Japanese "Atlantic 1000:Best R&B Collection" Series.

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Can be Found In My E-BOOK

"BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM & BLUES and ROCK & ROLL

Exceptional CD Remasters"

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"...Give Me One More Kiss...Hold It A Long Long Time..." 

"Rock & Roll" by JOE TURNER 

(2012 Japan-Only CD Remaster - Part of the “Atlantic 1000: Best R&B Collection” Series)

Since October 2012 going through to August 2014 and beyond - Warner Brothers Music Japan has been engaged in a massive reissue campaign covering all the labels under the Atlantic Records umbrella - it's called the "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" series. The 1000 refers to the Yen price - most are about 950 yen and at current exchange rates averages about 8 to 10 dollars or 5 to 6 pounds - with P&P - they can cost as little as 8 to 10 pounds per disc - which is cheap for quality like this. 

The genres covered are Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Funk, Fusion, Disco, Gospel and some Jazz. Others labels featured are STAX, ELEKTRA and CURTOM as well as tiny Atlantic subsidiaries like Cat. Each release is in a jewel case - the artwork is repro’d in the booklet - there's an Obi strip around the outside and the CD label itself usually mimics the original vinyl album design. The big news however is not just the breath of the titles issued - but that all are 2012 to 2014 DSD remasters from the original tapes. And that's where this wonderful CD reissue for Joe Turner comes in…

1. Shake, Rattle & Roll

2. Flip, Flop & Fly

3. Feeling Happy 

4. Well All Right 

5. The Chicken And The Hawk 

6. Boogie Woogie Country Girl 

7. Honey Rush

8. Corrine Corrina [Side 2]

9. Midnight Special Train

10. Hide And Seek

11. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop

12. Crawdad Hole

13. Sweet Sixteen

14. Chains Of Love

Released 7 November 2012 on Warner Brothers WPCR-27563 (Barcode 4943674126477) - "Joe Turner - Rock & Roll" is an exact repro of his famous 1957 14-track MONO album on Atlantic 8005 (total playing time 38:05 minutes). Page 1 of the 12-page booklet repros the front sleeve while the last page is the rear with all the recording details. In between you get a Japanese essay and the lyrics in English and naught else. The label (like the other 2) is Green. But the big news is the sound...

I've already reviewed Bear Family's superb "Rocks" CD by Joe Turner - and these remasters equal them. The sound quality is truly fantastic here - very clean - the stunning piano playing of PETE JOHNSON jumping out of every track. As for the LP - it's mostly a collection of rocking hit singles and their B-sides stretching back as far as 1951 and 1952 - gems like "The Chicken And The Hawk", "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (with its saucy lyrics not sanitized by Bill Haley's version), "Crawdad Hole" and so on. The hits just keep on coming - "Sweet Sixteen", "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" and the cool "Flip, Flop & Fly" (lyrics from it title this review). The only downer is that the last track "Chains Of Love" (his first 7" single for Atlantic back in 1951) is clearly from a badly corrupted tape or vinyl. But outside of that - fans of Fifties R'n'B will have to own it - "Corrine Corrina" sounding this good has to be heard to be believed.

Big Joe Turner and his superlative Atlantic sides - are GOD in our house - and this fabulous sounding remaster does him rocking proud…

PS: Here are some of the Blues and R'n'B titles available in this series so far:

1. LaVern Baker [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - LaVERN BAKER

2. The Wildest Guitar (1959) - MICKEY BAKER

3. Ruth Brown [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - RUTH BROWN

4. Late Date With Ruth Brown (1958) - RUTH BROWN

5. Yes Indeed! (1960) - RAY CHARLES

6. The Coasters (1958) - THE COASTERS

7. The Clovers (1956) - THE CLOVERS

8. Dance Party (1959) - THE CLOVERS

9. Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963) - JOHN LEE HOOKER

10. Have Tenor Saxophone Will Blow (1959) - KING CURTIS

11. Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1956) - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS

12 The Boss Of The Blues (1956 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

13. Joe Turner [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

14. Big Joe Rides Again (1959 Stereo) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

15. T-Bone Blues (1959 - includes 4 Bonus Tracks) - T-BONE WALKER

16. The King Of The Stroll (1958) - CHUCK WILLIS

A list of all 250 + titles in the series are on my Blog Site if you want a deeper look.

Google "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" and you’ll find it…

"The Boss Of The Blues" by JOE TURNER (November 2012 Warner Brothers 'Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection' Series CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD   

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Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"...Yes! Yes!..." 

Since October 2012 going right through to February 2014 and beyond - Warner Brothers Music Japan has been engaged in a massive reissue campaign covering all the labels under the Atlantic Records umbrella. It's called the "Atlantic 1000: R&B Best Collection" series. The 1000 in the title refers to the Yen price - most are about 950 yen and at current exchange rates - that averages about 8 to 10 dollars or 5 to 6 pounds - with P&P - they can cost as little as 8 to 10 pounds per disc - which is cheap for quality like this - and unheard of for Japanese imports.

The genres covered are Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Soul, Funk, Fusion, Gospel and some Jazz. Others labels featured are STAX, ELEKTRA and CURTOM as well as tiny Atlantic subsiduaries like Cat. Each release is in a jewel case - the artwork is reproed in the booklet - there's an Obi strip around the outside and the CD label itself usually mimics the original vinyl album design. The big news however is not just the breath of the titles issued - but that all are 2012 to 2014 DSD REMASTERS from the original tapes. Some of these titles were re-issued by Rhino in the early Nineties but many haven't been issued at all.

And that's where this wonderful JOE TURNER CD reissue comes in...

Released 7 November 2012 on Warner Brothers WPCR-27563 (Barcode 4943674126651) - "The Boss Of The Blues" by BIG JOE TURNER is an exact repro of his famous 1956 10-track MONO album on Atlantic 1234 (total playing time 44:22 minutes). 

1. Cherry Red [Side 1]

2. Roll ‘Em Pete

3. I Want A Little Girl

4. Low Down Dog 

5. Wee Baby Blues 

6. You’re Driving Me Crazy [Side 2] 

7. How Long Blues 

8. Morning Glories 

9. St. Louis Blues

10. Piney Brown Blues 

The front cover of the 12-page booklet repros the front sleeve while the last page is the rear with all the recording details. In between is a Japanese essay and the lyrics in English and naught else. But the big news is the sound...

The Remaster is truly fantastic - very clean and full of aural presence - the stunning piano-playing of Pete Johnson jumping out of every track. I've already reviewed Bear Family's superb "Rocks" CD by Joe Turner - and these remasters equal them. As for the LP - this is the kind of album you take to a desert island - grab when the house is burning down. Stuff like the 1940's big-band swing feel "Roll `Em Pete" and "You're Driving Me Crazy" have graced so many period movies. Their joy is infectious - even my teenage kids dig it. And although it's called 'Kansas City Jazz' on the rear sleeve - musically its really more Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues than Jazz. And by the time you get to the album finisher "Piney Brown Blues" you've a big grin on your face.

Big Joe Turner and his Atlantic sides have been a solid blast in our house for decades and this lovely CD reissue does him proud. A bargain indeed that deserves better exposure...

PS: Here are some of the Blues and R'n'B titles available in this series so far:

1. LaVern Baker [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - LaVERN BAKER

2. The Wildest Guitar (1959) - MICKEY BAKER

3. Ruth Brown [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957) - RUTH BROWN

4. Late DateWith... (1958) - RUTH BROWN

5. Yes Indeed! (1960) - RAY CHARLES

6. The Coasters (1958) - THE COASTERS

7. The Clovers (1956) - THE CLOVERS

8. Dance Party (1959) - THE CLOVERS

9. Don't Turn Me From Your Door (1963) - JOHN LEE HOOKER

10. Have Tenor Saxophone Will Blow (1959) - KING CURTIS

11. Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1956) - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS

12 The Boss Of The Blues (1956 Mono) - JOE TURNER

13. Joe Turner [aka "Rock & Roll"] (1957 Mono) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

14. Big Joe Rides Again (1959 Stereo) - JOE TURNER [see REVIEW]

15. T-Bone Blues (1959 - includes 4 Bonus Tracks) - T-BONE WALKER

16. The King Of The Stroll (1958) - CHUCK WILLIS

A list of over 200 titles in the series are on my blog site (wouldn't fit into the comment section)

“The Platinum Collection” by JOE TURNER. A Review of the 2007 Rhino CD Compilation.

“…Monday Washing On The Line…I See Yours Right Next To Mine…”

Europe's "The Platinum Collection" is one of a large number of collections issued in 2007 to celebrate the label's 60th Anniversary - and Big Joe Turner deserves his place in that list of excellence. It consists of 21 mostly rocking Fifties Rhythm' n' Blues tracks - a huge number of which charted between 1951 and 1959. It's issued at a budget price and has that great Rhino remastered sound throughout.

At budget price, the inlay isn't detailed, and there's a few gems on here that are off the beaten track when it comes to hits sets for the lovely Big Joe - so here's a song-by-song breakdown (58:33 minutes):

All tracks (except 16) are USA 7" singles:
1. Shake, Rattle And Roll - 1954 on Atlantic 1026 [A]
2. Flip, Flop And Fly - 1955 on Atlantic 1053 [A]
3. Honey Hush - 1953 on Atlantic 1001 [A]
4. Well All Right - 1954 on Atlantic 1040 [A]
5. Hide And Seek - 1955 on Atlantic 1069 [A]
6. Morning, Noon And Night - 1956 on Atlantic 1080 [B-side to 7]
7. The Chicken and The Hawk (Up, Up And Away) - 1956 on Atlantic 1080 [A]
8. Corrine Corrina - 1956 on Atlantic 1088 [A]
9. Boogie Woogie Country Girl - 1956 on Atlantic 1088 [B-side to 8]
10. Midnight Special Train - 1957 on Atlantic 1122 [A]
11. Rock A While - 1956 on Atlantic 1100 [B-side to 12]
12. Lipstick, Powder And Paint - 1956 on Atlantic 1100 [A]
13. Midnight Cannonball - 1955 on Atlantic 1069 [B-side to 5]
14. The Chill Is On - 1951 on Atlantic 45-949 [A]
15. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop - 1953 on Atlantic 1016 [B-side to 17]
16. You're Driving Me Crazy - 1956 USA LP "Boss Of The Blues" on Atlantic 1234
17. TV Mama - 1953 on Atlantic 1016 [A]
18. Tomorrow Night - 1959 on Atlantic 2044 [A]
19. Don't You Cry - 1952 on Atlantic 45-970 [A]
20. Sweet Sixteen - 1952 on Atlantic 45-960 [A]
21. Chains Of Love - 1951 on Atlantic 45-939 [A his debut single for Atlantic]

"TV Mama" features Elmore James on trademark slide guitar and it's said that Fats Domino is the one tinkling away on the ivories in the background. Both "Corrine Corrina" and "Lipstick, Powder And Paint: feature backing vocals from the girl group The Cookies, while Van "Piano Man" Walls puts in lovely keyboard flourishes on "Boogie Woogie Country Girl".

"Teen-age Letter" has witty and sharp lyrics that are the equal of Chuck Berry's finest, while "Morning, Noon And Night" features the wicked brass of The Blues Kings - as well as racy words that will put a naughty smile on your face. "Tomorrow Night" is a cover of LaVern Baker's 1955 Atlantic hit, while "You're Driving Me Crazy" is not a track you see on most JT compilations and it's a gem - almost like WWII swing in places - the brass uplifting like Glenn Miller. In fact there's not a duffer on here anywhere...

Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, The Clovers, The Coasters - they were all sensational Fifties acts for Atlantic, but my heart has always been with "Big" Joe Turner. My son - who is 18 and has Autism - has played this man's wonderfully uplifting R 'n' B since he was 5 - driving us near crazy with it sometimes - and yet in truth - I never tire of him or his music. Cracking tunes, huge voice, big personality, witty and clever lyrics - everything about Big Joe Turner's Atlantic sides is magic.

Sold for four pounds retail and even less online - this compilation is a steal at twenty times that price - and something you need in your life.

Dig in and enjoy and I envy you the journey.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker (see REVIEW), Archie Bell & The Drells (see REVIEW), Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), The Clovers (see REVIEW), Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas and Betty Wright

“The Platinum Collection” by THE CLOVERS (2007 Warner/Rhino CD Compilation - Reissue of "Down In The Alley- The Best Of..." from 1991 plus extra track) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...One Mint Julep...Was The Cause Of It All..." 

The UK and Europe-only CD reissue "The Platinum Collection" by THE CLOVERS is essentially Rhino's American 21-Track CD compilation "Down In The Alley – The Best Of The Clovers" from 1991 - but with one more song added on to it at the end - "I Played The Fool".

The new 2007-issued 22-track running order is shuffled around a bit for sure and it comes with different/lesser artwork too. But it still has that great Rhino Remastered sound of old - and at budget price (under four quid from most retailers) - costs a fraction of the now deleted and pricey 1991 original. The compromise is losing the decent booklet - but little else.

Part of a large number of collections issued in 2007 to celebrate the label’s 60th Anniversary - "The Platinum Collection" consists of 22 Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues 78" and 7" singles by Atlantic's first R&B superstar Vocal Group - the much loved CLOVERS. A huge number of these tracks charted big time on the US R&B charts between 1951 and 1957.

Being a cheapo reissue the new reissue inlay on Warner/Rhino 8122-79995-6 (Barcode 081227999568) is merely a gatefold slip of paper with barely any details - so here’s a track-by-track breakdown of all those cool American R&B 45s on this new 2007 variant (61:15 minutes):

1. One Mint Julep – 1951 on Atlantic 963 [A]

2. Good Lovin' – 1953 on Atlantic 1000 [A]

3. Ting-A-Ling – 1951 on Atlantic 969 [A]

4. Lovey Dovey – 1954 on Atlantic 1022 [A]

5. Down In The Alley – 1957 on Atlantic 1152 [B-side to "There's No Tomorrow"]

6. Fool, Fool, Fool – 1951 on Atlantic 944 [A]

7. Don't You Know I Love You – 1951 on Atlantic 934 A, debut single]

8. Wonder Where My Baby's Gone – 1951 on Atlantic 969 [B-side to "Ting-A-Ling"]

9. Crawlin’ – 1953 on Atlantic 989 [B-side to "Yes It's You"]

10. Hey, Miss Fannie – 1952 on Atlantic 977 [B-side to "I Played The Fool"]

11. Middle Of The Night – 1951 on Atlantic 963 [B-side to "One Mint Julep"]

12. I've Got My Eyes On You – 1954 on Atlantic 1035 [B-side to "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash"]

13. I Confess – 1954 on Atlantic 1046 [A]

14. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash – 1954 on Atlantic 1035 [A]

15. Little Mama – 1953 on Atlantic 1022 [B-side to "Lovey Dovey"]

16. Nip Sip – 1955 on Atlantic 1073 [A]

17. Devil Or Angel – 1956 on Atlantic 1083 [A]

18. Blue Velvet – 1955 on Atlantic 1052 [A]

19. In The Morning Time – 1955 on Atlantic 1060 [B-side to "Love Bug"]

20. Love Bug – 1955 on Atlantic 1060 [A]

21. If I Could Be Loved By You – 1955 on Atlantic 1073 [B-side to "Nip Sip"]

22. I Played The Fool – 1952 on Atlantic 977 [A]

The 5-piece Washington DC vocal group had two great leads in John "Buddy" Bailey and later Billy Mitchell and were backed up with killer fun songs from Rudolph "Rudy" Toombs, Jesse Stone and even the label’s founder Ahmet Ertegun (often credited with his name spelt backwards as Nugetre). They could handle jump and ballads with ease and scored a No.1 with their debut single "Don't You Know I Love You" released in June 1951 - pretty much dominating that decade thereafter (the liner notes mentions their biggest hit "Love Potion No.9" from 1959, but it isn’t on here because it was on United Artists). Their success allowed the fledgling Atlantic label top class signings like Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker and the wonderful Big Joe Turner – and of course paved the way for so much astonishing music to come.

Highlights include the classic too-many-drinks song "One Mint Julep", the 'gotta have all your' demands of "Good Lovin'" and the dancing penicillin that is "Love Bug" – they’re all R&B wonders that would make any heart go 'bippety bam'. In fact listening to these half-century old boppers, strollers and smoochers - it’s hard not to be grinning from ear-to-ear with admiration at their timeless brilliance. They really are 'so' good…

A fantastic listen then, and at a retail price that is laughable, it’s a great place to start your Atlantic Rhythm 'n' Blues journey – and God do I envy you that!

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: LaVern Baker (see REVIEW), Archie Bell & The Drells (see REVIEW), Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown (see REVIEW), Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner (see REVIEW) and Betty Wright

"Down In The Alley – The Best Of The Clovers " – 1991 Track List:

1. One Mint Julep

2. Good Lovin'

3. Don't You Know I Love You

4. Wonder Where My Baby's Gone

5. Ting A Ling

6. Crawlin'

7. Hey Miss Fannie

8. Lovey Dovey

9. Middle Of The Night

10. Fool Fool Fool

11. I've Got My Eyes On You

12. I Confess

13. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash

14. Little Mama

15. Down In The Alley

16. Nip Slip

17. Devil Or Angel

18. Blue Velvet

19. In The Morning Time

20. Love Bug

21. If I Could Be Loved By You

“The Platinum Collection” by LaVERN BAKER. A Review of the 2007 CD Compilation.

”…Mercy Mercy…Pudding And Pie…You’ve Got Something That Money Can’t Buy…”

Born Delores Williams in Chicago in 1929, LaVern Baker was one of Atlantic's first true superstars. Possessed of the most gloriously fun voice, she was big, bold, sassy and sexy - a sort of Mae West of Rhythm 'n' Blues. Armed with top session players that included King Curtis, floor-filling songs with catchy lyrics and an image that was pure knock-out, her irresistible popularity crossed over from the race music charts into the popular, which along with the wonderful Joe Turner practically put the fledgling Atlantic label on the map - and of course led to so much more in the years that followed.

This European 20-track budget-priced 2007 "Platinum Collection" is an exact rerun of Rhino's 1993 US compilation "Soul On Fire" minus the detailed booklet, but still with that great re-mastered sound.

The songs stretch from 1953's "Soul On Fire" through to an obscure album track "You Said" from the 1963 LP "See See Rider". Many of the early singles "Tweedlee Dee" (lyrics above), "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" and "My Happiness Forever" feature The Gliders as her backing group, "How Often" is a duet with Ben E. King, while "I Waited Too Long" is an early Neil Sedaka song.

As you play this uplifting compilation of both fast and slow rhythm 'n' blues, you understand why her loss in 1997 at only 67 was greeted with such sorrow by the industry and music lovers alike - at least she lived to be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991.

At a retail price of only four pounds (even cheaper online), "Platinum Collection" is a great way into her magical Atlantic recordings - it's a well of riches people, it really is. If there's a God in Heaven, she's there on a Saturday night at the local blues bar - Pina Colada in hand, hair immaculate, foot tapping - boogieing to LaVern Baker doing "Jim Dandy".

Recommended - big time.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter, The Clovers, Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner and Betty Wright