"Rockin' The Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1954 to 1957 45-singles on Groove Records of the USA Including 15 Previously Unreleased Tracks – Featured Artists Include George Benson, Roy Gaines, Beverly Wright, Clayton Love, Sonny Brooks, The Du Droppers, Frank Brunson, Zilla Mays, Maymie Watts, Paul Williams, Johnny Bird Orchestra, Buddy Lucas, The Avalons, The Four Students who later became The Cues and more – Featuring Session Musicians include Budd Johnson, Sam 'The Man' Taylor, King Curtis, Jimmy Brown, Band Leader Jesse Stone and more (February 2016 GERMANY Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 215 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)

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"...Shout, Holler & Scream..."

If you'll forgive the nasally challenged agricultural pun - obscure doesn't always mean manure. 

An ill-fated and commercially unsuccessful label identity begun in February 1954 as a vehicle for RCA Victor - Groove Records of the USA was devoted exclusively to the Rhythm & Blues market of big-shouters, vocal group crooners and gravel-voiced belters trying to entice cash out of the newly emerging youth and teen markets. Legendary keyboard roller Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) saw his first album appear on Groove in 1956. They also signed a then budding talent in the 11-year Jazz guitarist George Benson (he's featured on this CD with two Previously Unissued sides recorded in April 1954) and even persuaded the legendary 30s and 40s band-leader and all-round front man hero Louis Jordan to come on board at one point. 

But their big moment came with the huge hit "Love Is Strange" from Mickey & Sylvia - an R&B chart-topper in 1957 where the November 1956-issued Groove 4G-0175 also dented the Pop lists by peaking at No. 11 (that famous hit is allocated to another CD compilation Bear have issued around Groove - see also my separate review for "Groovin' The Blues" on Bear Family BCD 17411). RCA would eventually wrap up the Groove Records label by the year's end of 1957 due to lack of other successes. 

Collectors will know that Groove was touched upon in the 80s and 90s by largely vinyl-reissuing companies, but this time we get the mighty Bear Family of West Germany giving it a professional stab - those good old reissue bricklayers laying on a trowl-like 35-slices of Rhythm 'n' Blues and Rock 'n' Roll onto one jam-packed CD clocking in at an eye-watering total playing time of just over 87-minutes (15 are Previously Unissued). 

Amidst the recording sessions that all took place in New York, the top quality players contain some great names - McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Ernest Hayes and Freddie Johnson on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor, Budd Johnson and John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Four Students on Backing Vocals (all four guys Ollie Jones, Abel DeCosta, Edward 'Eddie' Barnes and Winfield Scott would become The Cues, amuch loved Vocal Group on Capitol). Others include Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and the mighty King Curtis on Sax - while the quite giant that was Jesse Stone was Band Leader on several occasions. There's a lot of Big Foot Mammas, Humpty Dumpty types and Alabama Sues to get through, so onto the details...

Released February 2016 in Germany - "Rockin' The Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17412 (Barcode 5397102174124) is a 35-Track CD Compilation of Groove Records tracks between 1954 and 1957 (Fifteen Previously Unissued) that plays out as follows (87:06 minutes):

1. Charmaine - FRANK BRUNSON (November 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0173, A-side - for B-side "I Believe In You", see Track 26 - both feature Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

2. Mattie Bee - EMMETT HOBSON (October 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0124, A-side - see also Track 24 for B-side "Where Is Joe?")

3. Right Now - ZILLA MAYS (November 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-127, B-side to "Come Back To Me")

4. Big Foot Mama - PAUL WILLIAMS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1954 recording featuring Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Lead Tenor Saxophone with McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar and Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and Vocals)

5. Hoodoo - ROY GAINES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1956 recording featuring King Curtis on Tenor Sax)

6. Shout, Holler & Scream - GEORGE BENSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1954 recording featuring Wally Richardson on Guitar with Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

7. Blackboard Rock – BEVERLY WRIGHT (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, March 1956 recording featuring John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Students on Backing Vocals)

8. Bye Bye Baby – CLAYTON LOVE ORCHESTRA (August 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0162, A-side)

9. Champ Ale - SONNY BROOKS (July 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0027, A-side - features Johnny Moore on Guitar/Band Leader)

10. The Last Laugh Will Be On You - JOHNNY BIRD ORCHESTRA with Mr. Blue on Lead Vocals (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0155, B-side to "22 Minutes" - for A-side see Track 21)

11. Run A' Long - LIL McKENZIE with The Four Students (August 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0113, A-side)

12. I'm Trapped - BUDDY LUCAS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, October 1953 recording featuring Wally Richardson on Guitar)

13. She's Mine - BIG CONNIE (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1956 recording)

14. Break It Up - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (May 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0105, B-side of "Love Ya Like Crazy" - for A-side see Track 27)

15. Quicksand - MAYMIE WATTS (March 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0103, A-side – featuring The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

16. My Head Goes Round - OSCAR BLACK (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, August 1956 recording featuring Little Willie John on Bass)

17. Good-Bye Little Girl - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (November 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0128, A-side)

18. The Thrill Is Gone - LITTLE TOMMY BROWN (March 1956, Groove 4G-0143, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone, Ernest Hayes on Piano and The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

19. Grab That Thing And Run - SAM 'Highpockets' HENDERSON and His Jumpers (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1954 Instrumental recording featuring Ernie Freeman on Piano, Bud Shank on Saxophone with Shorty Rogers on Trombone/Band Leader)

20. I Gotta Know - BEATRICE READING (February 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0004, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Al Williams on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Saxophone with Jesse Stone as Band Leader)

21. 22 Minutes - JOHNNY BIRD ORCHESTRA with Lillian Childs on Lead Vocals (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0155, A-side - for B-side "The Last Laugh Will Be On You" with Mr. Blue on Lead Vocals see Track 10)

22. That's All I Need - THE DU-DROPPERS (from the 1955 US 4-Track EP "Tops In Rhythm & Blues" on Groove G EP EGA-5, Track 1, Side 1 - featuring Ernest Hayes on Piano with Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

23. Doo Ba Dee – MAYMIE WATTS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, March 1955 recording featuring The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

24. Where Is Joe? – EMMETT HOBSON (October 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0124, B-side of "Mattie Bee" - see also Track 2 for A-side)

25. Shake Till I'm Shook - BEVERLY WRIGHT (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0153, A-side - featuring John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Students on Backing Vocals)

26. I Believe In You - FRANK BRUNSON (November 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0173, B-side of "Charmaine" for A-side see Track 1 - both feature Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

27. Love Ya Like Crazy - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (May 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0105, A-side - for B-side "Break It Up" see Track 14)

28. Alabama Sue - ROY GAINES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1956 recording featuring King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone)

29. Oh! Sweetness - THE AVALONS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, January 1956 recording featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar with King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone and Jesse Stone as Band Leader)

30. Since You Went Away - ZILLA MAYS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, October 1955 recording featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Ernest Hayes on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone with The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

31. Crime Doesn't Pay - THE CORONETS (September 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0114, B-side of "I Love You More")

32. Women Are The Root Of All Evil - PAUL WILLIAMS (April 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0014, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Freddie Johnson on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone with Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and Backing Vocals)

33. A Little Boy's Dream - GEORGE BENSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Track 6)

34. Humpty Dumpty - PAUL WILLIAMS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Track 32)

35. Wheel Of Time - MAYMIE WATTS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Tracks 15 and 23)

Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 19, 23, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34 and 35 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED (15 in total)

A 62-page feature-packed booklet sits attached to the inner card digipak – the legendary R&B historian and chronicler BILL DAHL pouring on the deep-level info on many names few will know. Dahl breaks it down Artist-by-Artist – biogs on people like Zilla Mays, Frank Brunson and Roy 'Guitar' Gaines alongside bands like The Coronets, The Avalons and probably the label's most famous group - The Du Droppers. It's a typically classy affair from Bear Family and the MARCUS HEUMANN Remasters are clear and kicking. A delight to look at, hold and listen too. 

Much of the unreleased stuff stayed in the can for fairly obvious reasons – both the George Benson cuts contain embarrassingly strained vocals from the young lad badly trying to sound older and failing. But then you get a fabulous dancing instrumental in the shape of "Grab That Thing And Run" from Sam 'Highpockets' Henderson which would set any dancefloor alight then or now. That's followed by the fun and sexy "I Gotta Know" where a blossoming 18 year-old Beatrice Reading wants Mama to explain why all the boys are whistling when she walks by – are their intentions pure like the ice-cream Sundays they keep promising they'll give her if she stops being an angel come next Saturday night. "Love Ya Like Crazy” is a great shuffler from Chris Powell – our poor boy walking in circles – and without her loving – he's gonna blow his stack. 

Lillian Childs gets her lead vocal moment on "22 Minutes" – the Johnny Bird Orchestra bouncing away in the background as she explains that it's only a short journey to her baby's fine hugging and kissing. The Discography doesn't know who the backing vocal group is behind Lillian Childs, but those bop-do-wop vocal punches sure sounds like Ollie Jones of The Four Students who would later become The Cues – a vocal joy in my books. Maymie Watts gives us her best lusty Ruth Brown as she bends her saucy words on "Doo Ba Dee" – happy as she can be because she is in love – Budd Johnson on the Saxophone stamping home the shuffle. Another great bopper is Beverly Wright telling us she's gonna nab herself a he-man that will shed her weary Blues and make her "Shake Till I'm Shook" (good on you girl). 

And on the fun goes – and there's a lot of it too. Beautifully presented, stomping audio, unusual titles that deserve their day in the sun. And while you can hear why Groove Records didn't do it chart-wise (not enough killer hooks like their rivals in Aladdin, Chess, Atlantic and Specialty) - "Rockin' The Groove" does what it says on the digital tin. Give it a whirl and smile at the glorious cover artwork...

"The Ballads Of The Platters" by THE PLATTERS – US Federal and Mercury Record Label 45-Single and LP Hits Between 1955 and 1961 (March 2013 GERMAN Bear Family 33-Track CD Compilation of Jurgen Crasser 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)

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"...The Magic Touch..."

The Doo Wop and Vocal Group Tradition had few genuine superstars and even fewer who crossed over into the Pop arena. 

But manager and songwriter Buck Ram's carefully honed and beautifully produced Vocal Group THE PLATTERS (with the sweetest pipes in Tony Williams and Zola Taylor out front) were both, and across its huge near ninety-minute playing time, this gorgeous sounding Bear Family CD shows why they were so big, back in the smooching day. 

After a short stint with Federal Records between 1953 and 1955 (despite being non-charters, two of those sides are featured here - the A&B of their rare debut 45-single "I'll Cry When You're Gone") - The Platters hit the ground running and charted a huge 21 tracks between 1955 and 1967 on the American R&B singles lists - four of which went to Number One (same for any other territories around the world too). 

This 2013 set sticks to the Federal and Mercury Recordings and so begins in 1953 and ends with 1961's "I'll Never Smile Again" (doesn't include the four they charted on Musicor between 1966 and 1967). So, there's a lot of smoke getting in people's eyes, twilight times, my prayers and great pretenders to get through, so let's have at the Four Guys and Their One Dish...

Released in Germany 26 March 2013 - "The Ballads Of The Platters" by THE PLATTERS on Bear Family BCD 17326 AR (Barcode 5391523910095) is a 33-Track CD Compilation of Federal and Mercury Recordings Remasters that plays out as follows (89:44 minutes): 

1. Smokes Gets In Your Eyes - November 1958, US 45-single on Mercury 71383, A-side) - No. 3 R&B

2. Only You (And You Alone) - June 1955, US 45-single on Mercury 70633, A-side) - No. 1 R&B

3. I'll Cry When You're Gone - 1953, US 45-single on Federal 12164, A-side) 

4. I Need You All The Time - 1953, US 45-single on Federal 12164, B-side to "I'll Cry When You're Gone")

5. Tell The World - July 1954, US 45-single on Federal 12188, B-side of "Love All Night" - Reissued December 1955 on Federal 12250

6. Why Should I  - 1956 US Debut LP "The Platters" on Mercury MG 20146

7. The Great Pretender - November 1955 US 45-single on Mercury 70753, A-side - No. 1 R&B

8. I'm Just A Dancing Partner - November 1955 US 45-single on Mercury 70753, B-side of "The Great Pretender" 

9. (You've Got) The Magic Touch - February 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70819, A-side - No. 4 R&B

10. Winner Takes All - February 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70819, B-side of "(You've Got) The Magic Touch"

11. My Prayer - June 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70893, A-side - No. 1 R&B

12. Heaven On Earth - June 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70893, B-side of "My Prayer" - No. 13 R&B 

13. You'll Never, Never Know - August 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70948, A-side - No. 9 R&B

14. It Isn't Right - August 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 70948, A-side - No. 10 R&B

15. On My Word Of Honor - November 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 71011, A-side - No. 7 R&B

16. One In A Million - November 1956 US 45-single on Mercury 71011, A-side - No. 7 R&B

17. I'm Sorry - January 1957 US 45-single on Mercury 71032, A-side - No. 15 R&B

18. Glory Of Love - 1956 US Debut LP "The Platters" on Mercury MG 20146 in Mono

19. Remember When - 1956 US Debut LP "The Platters" on Mercury MG 20146 in Mono

20. In The Still Of Night - 1956 US Second LP "Volume Two" on Mercury MG 20216 in Mono 

21. My Dream - June 1958 US 45-single on Mercury 71320, B-side to "My Old Flame" - No. 7 R&B

22. Only Because - August 1957 US 45-single on Mercury 71184, A-side - also 1960 US LP "Encores!" on Mercury/Wing MGW 12112 

23. The Mystery Of You - 1960 US LP "Encores!" on Mercury/Wing MGW 12112 - 1960 US LP "Encores!" on Mercury/Wing MGW 12112

24. Helpless - December 1957 US 45-single on Mercury 71246, A-side - also 1960 US LP "Encores!" on Mercury/Wing MGW 12112

25. Twilight Time (LP Version) - 1960s US LP "The Flying Platters Around The World" on Mercury SR 60043 in Stereo 

26. You're Making A Mistake - June 1958 US 45-single on Mercury 71320, B-side of "My Old Flame" 

27. I Wish - August 1958 US 45-single on Mercury 71353, A-side 

28. No Matter What You Are - November 1958 US 45-single on Mercury 71383, A-side - No. 3 R&B

29. Enchanted - March 1959 US 45-single on Mercury 71427, A-side - No. 9 R&B

30. My Secret - November 1959 US 45-single on Mercury 71538, A-side 

31. Harbor Lights - 1960 US LP "Reflections" on Mercury SR 60160 in Stereo 

32. To Each His Own - October 1960 US 45-single on Mercury 71697, A-side 

33. I'll Never Smile Again - July 1961 US 45-single on Mercury 71847, A-side

The 36-page booklet is attached to the inside of the fetching gatefold card digipak - the world's premier archivist on R&B and Vocal Groups BILL DAHL providing Page 3 to 27 - a detailed history of this most famous of groups. 'The Mercury Discography' is put together by other famous names associated with the genres - WALTER DeVENNE, (Bear Family's) RICHARD WEIZE and LAURENCE ZWISOHN. In-between Dahl's classy storytelling there are black and white photos of our five-piece heroes holding all manner of awards including the 'Cash Box' award for sales of "The Great Pretender" in 1958. Not surprisingly the most recognisable element of The Platters - Tony Williams and his gorgeous Nat King Cole velvet sets of pipes - gets a publicity shot on Page 5 while the classic line-up smile for us on Page 11 - Herb Reed (Bass Vocals), Tony Williams (Lead Tenor Vocals), Zola Taylor (Lead Female Vocals), David Lynch (Tenor Vocals) and Paul Robi (Baritone Vocals). 

But the big news is that all tracks are the JURGEN CRASSER Remasters that turned on Bear Family's sumptuous 9CD LP-Sized Box Set "Four Platters And One Lovely Dish" in February 1994 (Bear Family BCD 15741 II - Barcode 4000127157416). These are beautifully clear and clean and I can't stress enough how it adds to the enjoyment of the listen. I know some will complain that at their not insubstantial prices, Bear really should have included the single mix everyone knows for "Twilight Time" and not the Stereo LP cut, and you can get all this stuff on a Universal Best Of CD for probably six quid or something (with a gatefold slip of paper as an inlay). But if you want the best, especially in the cause of exceptional audio, then reach for The Platters here first.

Even after all these decades, the sheer romance of this music hits home – Tony whooping up a tearful storm as you bath in the yesteryear innocence of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "The Great Pretender" and "You'll Never, Never Know". All that MONO is clear as a whistle too, so re-discoveries like "You're Making A Mistake" and "Glory Of Love" feel like eavesdropping on a different time and different place. The two early sides show why Tony made such a difference – his voice was pretty – comforting like buttered toast and scones – and you can hear the improvement by the time we reach the zenith years of 1955 and 1956 – that signature feel they got. 

"Only You (And You Alone)" has been covered by so many artists you might require a foolscap jotter to name them all, but here is the place to understand why they made so many hungry hearts smile and swoon... 

PS: in this Bear Family "Ballads" Series of CD Reissues - see also CHARLIE RICH 

"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)

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"...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...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Want To Have You Near...But You're So Far Away..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. And like its Volume 9 predecessor – Volume 10 has a huge 34 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 87:38 minutes! Let's march (not walk) 'Down The Aisle Of Love'...and have a 'Rama Lama Ding Dong' (if you know what I mean)...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17288 AR (Barcode 4000127172884) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:38 minutes):

1. 16 Candles – THE CRESTS (Coed 506, A)

2. Lama Rama Ding Dong (aka Rama Lama Ding Dong) – THE EDSELS (Dub 2843, A)

3. For Your Precious Love – JERRY BUTLER and THE IMPRESSIONS (Vee-Jay 280/Falcon 1013/Abner 1013, A)

4. I Wonder Why – DION & THE BELMONTS (Laurie 3013, A)

5. Tears On My Pillow – LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (End 1027, A)

6. So Fine – THE FIESTAS (Old Town 1062, A)

7. One Summer Night – THE DANLEERS (Amp 3 2115/Mercury 71322, A)

8. Stormy Weather – THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 290, A)

9. I Love You So – THE CHANTELS (End 1020, A)

10. Trickle, Trickle – THE VIDEOS (Casino 102, A)

11. This Is The Nite – THE VALIANTS (Keen 34044, A)

12. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart – THE COASTERS (Atco 6116, A)

13. Drip Drop – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 1187, A)

14. Ten Commandments Of Love – HARVEY and THE MOONGLOWS (chess 1705, A)

15. Little Star – THE ELEGANTS (Apt 25005, A)

16. Pretty Girls Everywhere – EUGENE CHURCH and THE FELLOWS (Class 235, A)

17. You Cheated – THE SHIELDS (Tender 513/Dot 15805, A)

18. Western Movies – THE OLYMPICS (Demon 1508, A)

19. Try Me (I Need You) – JAMES BROWN and THE FAMOUS FLAMES (Federal 12337, A)

20. There's A Moon Out Tonight – THE CAPRIS (Planet 1010/Old Town 1094, A)

21. Lovers Never Say Goodbye – THE FLAMINGOS (End 1035, A)

22. No, No, No – THE CHANTERS (DeLuxe 6177, A)

23. So Far Away – THE PASTELS (Argo 5314, A)

24. Heart's Desire – THE AVALONS (Unart 2007, A)

25. Down The Aisle Of Love – THE QUIN-TONES (Red Top 108/Hunt 321, A)

26. Since I Don't Have You – THE SKYLINERS (Calico 103, A)

27. Try The Impossible – LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS with The Panco Villa Orchestra (United Artists 123, A)

28. I'm So Young – THE STUDENTS (Arranged and Conducted by Jimmy Coe) (Note 10012/Checker 902, A)

29. Here I Stand – WADE FLEMONS and THE NEWCOMERS (Vee-Jay 295, A)

30. Teardrops On Your Letter – HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS (King 5171, A)

31. Zoom Zoom Zoom – THE COLLEGIANS (Winley 224, A)

32. The Things I Love – THE FIDELITY’S (Baton 252, A)

33. I Met Him On A Sunday (Ronde-Ronde) – THE SHIRELLES (Tiara 6112/Decca 30588, A)

34. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh – THE KODOKS featuring Pearl McKinnon (Fury 1015, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 81 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are a few cool trade adverts from 1958 peppering the text (The Collegians on Winley and The Students on Checker) and three of those rare American 45 labels are pictured (Casino, Keen and Checker). The CD repros the rare "One Summer Night" by The Danleers and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin and Billy Vera have been involved in the research while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

1958 continued on from 1957 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that both Volume 9 for 1957 and this Volume 10 set for 1958 are the compilation jewels in the crown for the entire "Street Corner Symphonies" run of 15 titles.

We open with blushing teenage romance - the gorgeous "16 Candles" by The Crests where Lead Singer Johnny Maestro croons his way into millions of American hearts (real name John Mastrangelo). The first bopper "Lama Rama Ding Dong" by The Edsels has great audio – very clean. We then enter the realms of musical magnificence and genre history – the Soulful vocals of Jerry Butler and The Impressions doing the immortal "For Your Precious Love" where the song blurs the lines between Vocal Group Music and early Soul – what a tune and its still moving to. Another reviewer is claiming that this is a wrong version to the May 1958 take on Vee-Jay - but I can't hear a difference between this and the Rhino box set inclusion (which is the 1958 Mono original). Maybe the initial mistake has been spotted and its been replaced? Back to fun with the brilliant "I Wonder Why" by Dion & The Belmonts – a fabulous slice of New York Street Corner bopping magic. Smooch-city returns with everyone's favourite balladeer – Little Anthony – telling us that "...love is not a gadget...love is not a toy..." in the American Graffiti atmospheric "Tears On My Pillow". There is a tender sweetness to "So Fine" by The Fiestas – an Old Town classic that sounds gorgeous here. Romance returns with "One Summer Night" by The Danleers – the kind of tune where you can just see the cars cruising the strip as the boys look out longingly at the girls they can’t reach.

While the Chantels is good - genuine magic hits your lugs with the impossibly rare "Trickle, Trickle" by The Videos who contained future members of Shep & The Limelites. It’s more bopping R 'n' B than Vocal Group but what a winner it is (the rare Casino 102 American 45 is reproduced on Page 26 of the booklet – the song was covered and charted by Manhattan Transfer in 1980). Genius inclusion and wicked unknown vocalists ahoy with "This Is The Nite" by The Valiants - where Lead Singer Billy Jones (aka Billy Spicer) does his best Clyde McPhatter impression and more than pulls it off (fabulous stuff). The audio leaps forward with "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" by The Coasters – it features two superb Leads – the deep as an ocean Bass of Will 'Dub' Jones (formerly with The Cadets and The Jacks) and Lean Tenor Cornel Gunter (ex The Flairs). It's craftily followed by a tune every Drifters fan adores – "Drip Drop" - bopping R 'n' B sung by Bobby Kendricks – a dead ringer for Clyde McPhatter's vocal style.

Romance returns in different paces – the sombre talking lurch of "Ten Commandments Of Love" by Harvey and The Moonglows and the very Dion & The Belmont sounding "Little Star" by The Elegants. After all that pleading it's time for fun as Eugene Church tells us that no matter where he looks (roads, beaches or parks) there's "Pretty Girls Everywhere" (I feel for the poor guy). Beautiful and rare – "You Cheated" by The Shields features Frankie Ervin on Lead Vocals and is a gem on this CD collectors will love having. The witty and catchy "Western Movies" by The Olympics sung by Walter Ward and resplendent with gunshots and Wild West references sounds like a Lieber/Stoller classic but was written by two lesser-known talents - Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith. It was a smash in June 1958 and has turned up on compilations ever since. We don't normally associate James Brown with the genre but his "Try Me" pleading vocal and the song's roots in Vocal Group classics warrants a tasty inclusion here. A duo of classics follow – "There's A Moon Out Tonight" by The Capris and the truly beautiful Flamingos End label gem "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" - dripping with atmosphere and romance, both are beloved by collectors.

Time to pick up the pace with a bopper "No, No, No" - where a very young sounding sets of lads The Chanters don’t want to be "kissed anymore" by girls but then say "yes, yes, yes" immediately after their denial (the poor dears are confused). Genius inclusion comes with the gobsmacking beauty of "So Far Away" by The Pastels where Lead Vocalist Di Fosco Ervin, Jr. combines his pleading with a wonderful almost operatic set of female backing vocalists. The result is this October 1958 masterpiece on Argo 5314 – the kind of massively evocative song that would stop you in your tracks if it sailed out of a radio. More smoochers are provided by Hank Ballard, The Fidelity’s and the lesser-known Wade Flemons - with the whole shebang ending on a bopper – the innocent sounding "Oh Gee, Oh Gosh" where cute Pearl McKinnon sounds not unlike Frankie Lymon backed by a rocking Teenagers. To sum up – I have to say playing this compilation has been a joy. Evocative, moving and damn it – fun.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Look Of Love..." 

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here is The Book Of Love, Baby Oh Baby, Dedicated To The One I Love...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17287 AR (Barcode 4000127172877) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:23 minutes):

1. Get A Job – THE SILHOUETTES (Junior 391, A)

2. Maybe – THE CHANTELS (End E-1005, A)

3. Little Darlin’ – THE GLADIOLAS (Excello 2101, A)

4. To The Aisle – THE FIVE SATINS (Ember 1019, A)

5. Searchin’ – THE COASTERS (Atco 6087, A)

6. Florence – PARAGONS (Winley 215, A)

7. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE “5” ROYALES (King 5098, A)

8. Book Of Love – THE MONOTONES (Argo 5290, A)

9. Long Lonely Nights – LEE ANDREWS and The Hearts (Chess 1665, A)

10. Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES with Reggie Obrecht Orchestra (Atlantic 45-1144, A)

11. Been So Long – THE PASTELS (Mascot M-123, A and Argo 5287, A)

12. Whispering Bells – THE DEL VIKINGS featuring Krips Johnson (Fee Bee FB-214, A)

13. Baby Oh Baby – THE SHELLS (Johnson 104, A)

14. Everyone’s Laughing – THE SPANIELS with Al Smith’s Orchestra (Vee Jay VJ 246, A)

15. Silhouettes – THE RAYS (Cameo 117, A)

16. Tell Me Why – NORMAN FOX and The Rob-Roys (Back Beat 501, A)

17. Why Do You Have To Go – THE DELLS (Vee Jay VJ 236, A)

18. Lover Boy – THE CLEFTONES (Gee G-1048, A)

19. Deserie – THE CHARTS (Everlast 5001, A)

20. My Girlfriend – THE CADILLACS (Josie 820, A)

21. Could This Be Magic – THE DUBS (Gone 5011, A)

22. Walking Along – THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1034, A)

23. Little Bitty Pretty One – BOBBY DAY and The Satellites (Class 211, A)

24. Tonite, Tonite – MELLO-KINGS (Herald H-502, A)

25. Peanuts – LITTLE JOE & THE THRILLERS (Leroy Kirkland Orchestra) (Okeh 4-7088, A)

26. Don’t Say Goodnight – THE VALENTINES (Rama RR-228, A)

27. Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am The Japanese Sandman) – THE CELLOS (Apollo 510, A)

28. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby – THE TUNE WEAVERS (with Frank Paul’s Orchestra) (Checker 872, A)

29. Dance With Me – THE EL TORROS (Duke 175, A)

30. Can I Come Over Tonight – THE VELOURS (Sammy Lowe Orchestra) (Onyx 512, A)

31. Buzz-Buzz-Buzz – HOLLYWOOD FLAMES (Ebb 119, A)

32. So Strange – THE JESTERS (with David Clowney’s Band) (Winley 218, A)

33. Congratulations – THE TURBANS (Herald H-510, A)

34. Four O’Clock In The Morning – STANLEY MITCHELL and The Tornados (Chess 1649, A)

The 80-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 79 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1957 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Ebb, Atlantic, Chess, Winley). The CD repros the rare "Four O’Clock In The Morning" by Stanley Mitchell and The Tornados (a rare and beautiful outing for Chess with Vocal group material) and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here...

1957 continued on from 1956 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that Volume 9 for 1957 is the compilation jewel in the crown for the entire “Street Corner Symphonies” run of 15 titles.

While the “dip, dip, dip…” opening of “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes has always been a topical and fun tune ("if there is any work for me!") – Vocal group magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Maybe" by The Chantels (on End Records). Arlene Smith’s extraordinary vocals shine on this love song that made No. 2 on the American Billboard R&B charts in early 1958. The same applies to The Dubs and their sneakily lovely "Could This Be Magic" where Richard Blandon’s Lead Tenor soars as he croons about “having your love” (a No. 23 hit for the Harlem group on Billboard’s Pop charts in August 1957). But I could happily live without hearing the awful castanets of “Little Darlin’” ever again (by anyone) – better is the genuinely touching wedding favourite “To The Aisle” by The Five Satins (“each step draws you closer…”).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "on my merry way" song "Walking Along" by The Solitaires while Bobby Day does his Thurston Harris impression on “Little Bitty Pretty One” (top audio quality too). Lieber & Stoller’s incredible wit and knack with a hooky melody comes screaming through the decades with The Coasters doing “Searchin’” where our hero tells us “Sam Spade and Bulldog Drummond…ain’t got nuthin’ on me…” The drums come loud and clear inbetween the vocal gymnastics for The Monotones on their classic “Book Of Love”. Chess puts in a rare Vocal Group nugget with Lee Andrews pines “what’s left for me to face…” on “Long Lonely Nights”. The boppin’ “Mr. Lee” has always been a great party tune but then you’re hit with one of the genres masterpieces – the so sweet “Been So Long” by The Pastels on Mascot (reissued on Argo in 1958). It’s a listed $300.00 rarity on the original label and you can easily hear why - gorgeous.

The soft-shoe-shuffle of “Whispering Bells” by The Del Vikings is another superb dancer. Two rarities follow in the shape of The Shells and The Spaniels – the first a romantic smoocher – the other a sort of mid-tempo Salsa pleader. “Why Do You Have To Go” is typically classy of The Dells – a group that have continued for near 50 years after the event. We go all Mad Men cool with the slick bopper “Lover Boy” from The Cleftones about a “run around boy” who steals girls (“brother better beware…”).  And on it goes to the obscure but brilliant “Four O’Clock In The Morning” by Stanley Mitchell – a rare outing on Chess for the genre – piano and drums slowly working the “so worried” lyrics and Clyde McPhatter soundalike vocals. Fab…

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...