"Slim Harpo Rocks" by SLIM HARPO. A Review Of The 2011 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…I'm A King Bee…Buzzin' 'Round Your Hive…"

Saying that Slim Harpo 'rocks' is probably pushing it a tad – but that doesn’t stop this CD compilation from being another winner in a series that is fast becoming definitive. There’s a lot on here - so let’s the details out of the way first…

Released November 2011, Bear Family BCD 17129 AR breaks down as follows (75:41 minutes):

1. Wild About My Baby (1960 recording 1st issued on a 1978 USA 45 on Blues Unlimited 2015, A-side)
2. I Got Love If You Want It (1957 USA 45 on Excello 2113, B-side)
3. I'm A King Bee (1957 USA 45 on Excello 2113, A-side)
4. You'll Be Sorry One Day (1959 USA 45 on Excello 2162, B-side)
5. That Ain't Your Business (1957 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
6. Buzz Me Babe (1960 USA 45 on Excello 2171, A-side)
7. My Little Queen Bee (Got A Brand New King) (1964 USA 45 on Excello 2246, A-side)
8. I’m Waiting On You Baby (1964 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
9. Something Inside Me (1961 recording 1st issued in 1969 on a US LP called "Rural Blues Vol.2 – Saturday Night Function" on Imperial 94001)
10. Bobby-Sox Baby (from Slim Harpo's 1961 USA LP "Raining In My Heart" on Excello LP 8003)
11. I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis) (1964 USA 45 on Excello 2246, B-side)
12. Yeah Yeah Baby (1960 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
13. Shake Your Hips (1966 USA 45 on Excello 2278, B-side)
14. Harpo's Blues (1965 USA 45 on Excello 2265, B-side)
15. Don't Start Cryin’ Now (1961 USA 45 on Excello 2194, B-side)
16. Boogie Chillun (1964 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
17. Baby, Scratch My Back (1965 USA 45 on Excello 2273, A-side)
18. Buzzin' [Instrumental] (1963 USA 45 on Excello 2239, A-side)
19. Hey Little Lee (1968 USA LP called "Tip On In" on Excello LPS-8008)
20. The Music's Hot (1970 USA LP called "Slim Harpo Knew The Blues" on Excello LPS-8013)
21. Wondering And Worryin' (1958 USA 45 on Excello 2138, A-side)
22. Late Last Night (1959 recording 1st issued on the 1996 CD compilation "The Scratch – Rare And Unissued, Volume 1" on AV/Excello CD 3015)
23. That's Alright (aka "You'll Be Sorry One Day") (1959 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
24. That's Alright Baby (aka "Don't Start Cryin' Now") (1960 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
25. Cigarettes (1959 alternate version 1st issued on a 1986 UK LP called "Baton Rouge Blues – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 42" on Flyright 607)
26. Buzz Me Babe (1959 recording 1st issued in 1993 on a UK CD called "I'm A King Bee" on Ace CDCHD 510)
27. I'm A King Bee (1957 alternate recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
28. You Ain't Never Had To Cry (1959 recording 1st issued in 1976 on the UK LP called "Blues Hangover – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 4" on Flyright 520)
29. I Got Love If You Want It (1957 recording 1st issued in 1980 on the UK LP called "Got Love If You Want It – The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 20" on Flyright 558)
30. Wondering And Worryin' (1957 recording 1st issued on the 1996 CD compilation "The Scratch – Rare And Unissued, Volume 1" on AV/Excello CD 3015)
31. Rainin' In My Heart (1961 USA 45 on Excello 2194, A-side)

[Note: As you can see from the track list above - there were many unreleased recordings put out on reissue vinyl albums by revered labels like Flyright, Imperial and England’s Ace Records – many of which (not all) are featured here on CD for the first time. Most songs however are Excello Recordings from 1957 to 1970 – American 7" singles and key album tracks.]

"Slim Harpo Rocks" comes in Bear's now standard packaging for this series – a 3-way foldout card digipak containing a detachable oversized booklet inside (32 pages for this issue). Pages 5 to 18 feature an in-depth essay on James Moore (his real name) by noted writer and musicologist JEFF HANNUSCH and Pages 19 to 29 have a full Discography on all 31 recordings by archivist BILL MILLAR. The text is peppered with trade adverts, black and white and colour photos of the great man with his guitar in hand and harmonica in mouth - as well as lovely repros of 3 rare album sleeves. It’s the usual classy act from Bear. And then of course is the great sound courtesy of JURGEN CRASSER. I’ve raved about his work before (see my TAG for him and reviews for the astonishing "Blowing The Fuse" series (16 compilations) and the "Sweet Soul Music" series (10 discs). It's old Blues and R'n'B for sure, but it sounds great - full of atmosphere, echo and life.

Second only to Jimmy Reed, Slim was the most successful Blues and R'n'B artist on the Excello label and a product of JAY MILLER'S legendary studio in Crawley, Louisiana. One of Slim's most famous and beloved songs "I'm A King Bee" defined his witty languid style for decades (lyrics above) – yet as his debut single - it never charted. "King Bee" would later however take on a life of its own – to a point where like Elmore James who found a riff and stuck with it – Slim would repeat the style again and again (both the CD and the inlay beneath the see-through tray picture the 7" of "I'm A King Bee" on Excello 2113). Slim pumped out more soundalikes for years (both Muddy Waters and The Rolling Stones covered it).

Highlights include "I Got Love If You Want It" (another signature hit for him) and the rockin' harmonica-driven of "That Ain't Your Business" where sauciness is always close to the surface ("…when I pulled down the shade…and turned out the light…"). The huge drum sound of "Buzz Me Babe" is irresistible foot-tapping stuff – in fact – there’s a great fun vibe about so many of the songs on here. "I'm Waiting On You Baby" first turned up on an Ace CD in 1993 and it's a "did me wrong girl" bopper – misery with a beat. "Shake Your Hips" was famously covered by the Stones on their 1972 2LP masterpiece "Exile On Main St." – it shuffles along like his cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillun". But best of all is the slinky "Baby, Scratch My Back" which I've been featuring on R'n'B compilations for years in the shop shuffle – it now sounds just HUGE. And it all ends on the lovely "Rainin' In My Heart" - a winner from 1961.

Niggles - it’s a shame there isn’t more from the later years – the track "Hey, Little Lee" is from his 1968 LP "Tip On In" and the recording quality is fantastic – chugging along like a cool Sixties R'n'B tune should. "The Music's Hot" from the 1970 LP "Slim Harpo Knows The Blues" is the same – sounding tremendous – and both in STEREO. The song "Tip On In" is excellent too - but again a no-show when there was room. But still, it's a great listen overall and makes you ache for more...as a good compilation should.

The incomparable Bear Family folks – class and quality - they may cost you – but the best always does.

I’m off now to review the Chuck Berry set and hide the bills from the missus…and convince her that the recession is not my fault all in 'her' mind...

SLIM HARPO USA LPs referenced in the Bear Family discography:

"Slim Harpo Sings Raining in My Heart"
USA 1961 LP on Excello LP 8003 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Rainin’ In My Heart [31]
2. Blues Hangover
3. Bobby-Sox Baby [10]
4. I Got Love If You Want It [2]
5. Snoopin’ Around
6. Buzz Me Baby [6]

Side 2:
1. I’m A King Bee [3]
2. What A Dream
3. Don’t Start Cryin’ Now [15]
4. Moody Blues
5. My Home Is A Prison
6. Dream Girl

"Baby Scratch My Back"
USA 1966 on Excello LP 8005 [Mono]

Side 1:
1. Shake Your Hips [13]
2. Midnight Blues
3. Harpo’s Blues [14]
4. Buzzin’ [18]
5. My Little Queen Bee [7]
6. I Love The Life (I’m Livin’)

Side 2:
1. Baby, Scratch My Back [17]
2. I’m Gonna Miss You (Like The Devil)
3. Rainin’ In My Heart
4. Wonderin’ Blues
5. We’re Two Of A Kind
6. I Need Money [11]

"Tip On In"
USA 1968 LP on Excello LPS-8008 [Stereo]
Hey Little Lee [19]


"Slim Harpo Knew The Blues"
USA 1970 LP on Excello LPS-8013 [Stereo]
The Music’s Hot [20]

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW}
2. Pat Boone
3. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]
4. The Cadillacs
5. Eddie Cochran
6. Bobby Darin
7. Fats Domino
8. Connie Francis
9. Don Gibson
10. Glen Glenn
11. Bill Haley
12. Roy Hall
13. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]
14. Dale Hawkins
15. Ronnie Hawkins
16. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
17. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]
18. Sonny James
19. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
20. Sleepy LaBeef
21. Brenda Lee
22. Jerry Lee Lewis
23. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
24. Little Richard
25. Bob Luman
26. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
27. Carl Mann
28. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
29. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
30. Ricky Nelson
31. Carl Perkins
32. Roy Orbison
33. Lloyd Price
34. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
35. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]
36. Jack Scott
37. Shirley & Lee
38. The Treniers
39. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]
40. Conway Twitty
41. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
42. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Johnny Rocks” by JOHNNY BURNETTE. A Review Of The 2008 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…C'mon Little Baby…Let’s Tear That Dancefloor Up…"

As you can see from the list at the bottom of this review, in 2011 Bear Family’s “Rocks” series is by now fairly extensive and still growing (Big Joe Turner was added in March 2011). This is one of those titles – and it’s a jewel in the crown of this definitive series.

Issued September 2008, "Johnny Rocks” is on Bear Family BCD 16992 AR and features 36-recordings from 1958 to 1960 (76:05 minutes). Like all titles in this series it’s housed in a 3-way foldout card digipak which holds a detachable 44-page oversized booklet in the centre. The CD itself and see-through tray beneath it picture his “Tear It Up” Coral 45 from 1956 (a nice touch – lyrics above) while the detailed and affectionate liner notes are by noted musicologist COLIN ESCOTT. There are lots of black and white photos, tape boxes pictured, and a full discography for the set by RUSS WAPENSKY and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE on Pages 33 to 40. There’s even a lovely colour reproduction of the Alan Freed "Rock Rock Rock!" film poster from 1956 on Page 14 – it name-checked Johnny’s band because the movie featured . It’s a typically great job done.

1. The Train Kept A-Rollin'
2. Tear It Up
3. Oh Baby Babe
4. All by Myself
5. Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
6. Honey Hush
7. Lonesome Tears in My Eyes
8. Please Don't Leave Me
9. Rock Therapy
10. Rock Billy Boogie
11. Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)
12. Sweet Love on My Mind
13. Your Baby Blue Eyes
14. If You Want It Enough
15. Butterfingers
16. Eager Beaver Baby
17. Warm Love
18. Come on Baby
19. Boppin' Rosalie
20. My Little Baby Came Rockin'
21. Do Baby Do
22. Lizzy Dee
23. My Honey
24. Rock Away Baby
25. Sweet Baby Doll
26. Boppin' Rock
27. Kiss Me
28. We're Gonna Rock It
29. Me and the Bear
30. Little Girl (Aka Kiss Me Sweet)
31. Crazy Legs
32. Mule Boy
33. Bertha Lou
34. You Gotta Get Ready
35. Wampus Cat
36. Cincinnati Fireball

Some artists in the Rock 'n' Roll period engender extraordinarily loyalty and affection – Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent and Little Richard of course – why – because they were the real deal. Memphis-born Johnny Burnette and his storming band are the same. You ‘re only 3 or 4 tunes into this superb CD and it’s easy to hear why – this guy rocked. It was a smart move on the part of Bear to include almost all of his most famous platter – the incendiary debut album “Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N Roll Trio”. It was issued as an 11-track 10” LP in the UK (a hugely sought-after vinyl rarity) while the booklet quite properly references the 12-track US original on Coral. It encapsulates why Rock 'n' Roll so grabbed the kids by the scruff of the neck – exciting, dangerous and terrifying to their parents. “The Train Kept A-Rollin’” is typical of his Rock 'n' Roll output – slap bass, frantic guitar, ragged vocals at one-hundred miles an hour with intermittent shouts - while “Tear It Up” is pure Rockabilly genius (lyrics above). So good…

Musically it breaks down like this - 9 of the 12 tracks on his December 1956 US debut LP – the explosive “Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N Roll Trio” are on here - with a further 6 from the 12-track “Tear It Up” compilation from 1969 issued in the UK on Coral CP 10 which mopped up the rare American Coral single sides. Tracks 18 to 24 are roughly Imperial and Freedom label US 45’s - while 26 to 36 are “Demo Recordings” from varying dates all of which appeared for the first time on the 9CD Bear Family Box Set “The Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Memphis To Hollywood” in 2003. The lone track from his 2nd album proper – 1961’s “Dreamin’” is “Cincinnati Fireball” - while there are some other tracks from posthumous compilations like “Tear It Up” on Solid Smoke SS 8001 in 1978 (USA) and “Johnny Burnette Rock ‘N” Roll” in 1983 on Skyline 1254 (USA).

The remasters are done by one of Bear’s top engineers – JURGEN CRASSER. I’ve raved about this guy’s work before – the 16 Volumes of the "Blowing The Fuse" series (1945 to 1960) and the 10 Volume of the "Sweet Soul Music" series (1961 to 1970). It’s the same here – warm, full of life, rockin' – just great sound quality.

To sum up – as a one-stop for this man’s great music, “Johnny Rocks” is all you need. I’m gonna save up now for their “Train Kept A-Rollin’” Box set.

Wonderful stuff and warmly recommended.

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]
36. Conway Twitty
37. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
38. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

"Rocks" by BIG JOE TURNER (March 2011 Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - 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   

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…The Sun Comes Shining Through…"

Bear Family’s "Rocks" series now numbers in excess of 40 titles released since their Wanda Jackson starter in 2002, but this new 2011 addition given over to the frankly beautiful BIG JOE TURNER is liable to quicken even the most hardened collector’s pulse. His Fifties Atlantic R'n'B sides are the stuff of legend, but have always suffered from 'acceptable to good' sound quality when fans have longed for more. Well, at last, this peach finally delivers. The sound quality here is FABULOUS - far better than anything put out in the last 25 years of CD reissues. "Rocks" will leave fans reeling - and the 52-page booklet is a typical BF joy to behold.

There’s a lot to get through, so lets get down to the nitty gritty – "Rocks" by BIG JOE TURNER was released Monday 28 March 2011 on Bear Family BCD 17215 AR (Barcode 4000127172150) and breaks down as follows (70:35 minutes):

1. Jump For Joy (Atlantic 1184, A-side, May 1958)
2. Well, All Right (Atlantic 1040, A-side, September 1954)
3. Flip, Flop And Fly (Atlantic 1053, A-side, February 1955)
4. Love Roller Coaster (Atlantic 1146, A-side, August 1957)
5. Honey Hush (Atlantic 1001, A-side, September 1953)
6. I Need A Girl (Atlantic 1155, A-side, 1957)
7. Lipstick, Powder And Paint (Atlantic 1100, A-side, August 1956)
8. TV Mama [featuring Elmore James on Guitar] (Atlantic 1016, A-side, January 1954)
9. Hide And Seek (Atlantic 1069, A-side, August 1955)
10. Adam Bit The Apple (Freedom F-1531, B-side, March 1950)
11. My Gal’s A Jockey (National 4002, A-side, July 1946)
12. Feelin’ Happy (Federal 1540, A-side, January 1951)
13. Jumpin’ Tonight (Imperial 5090, B-side, June 1950)
14. Shake, Rattle And Roll (Atlantic 1026, A-side, May 1954)
15. Boogie Woogie Country Girl (Atlantic 1088, B-side, April 1956)
16. Teen-Age Letter (Atlantic 1167, A-side, 1957)
17. Corrine Corrina (Atlantic 1088, A-side, April 1956)
18. Midnight Cannonball (Atlantic 1069, B-side, August 1955)
19. Bump Miss Susie (Atlantic 949, B-side, December 1951)
20. Crawdad Hole (Atlantic 1001, B-side, September 1953)
21. Morning, Noon And Night (Atlantic 1069, B-side, December 1955)
22. Rock A While (Atlantic 1100, B-side, August 1956)
23. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop (Atlantic 1016, B-side, January 1954)
24. The Chicken And The Hawk (Up, Up And Away (Atlantic 1069, A-side, December 1955)
25. Roll ‘Em Pete (Vocalion 4607, A-side, January 1939)
26. Rebecca (Decca 11001, B-side, December 1944)
27. Around The Clock Blues, Part 1 (Stag 508, A-side, December 1947)
28. Around The Clock Blues, Part 2 (Stag 508, B-side, December 1947)
[NOTE: the above list is laid out as follows: Title, Label, Catalogue Number (mostly 7” singles), Side and Release Date. Tracks 10 to 13 and 25 to 28 are 78”s. A full Discography referencing this CD is in the ‘comment’ section attached to this review]

The 3-way foldout card digipak houses an oversized 52-page booklet, a themed CD featuring a repro of the rare Freedom 78” from 1950 and even pictures a 50’s collector’s card. The booklet is beautiful – published and unpublished photographs, loads of trade adverts, tour posters, an album sleeve and a very detailed track-by-track discography. Page 41 carries a colour photo of BILL DAHL with Big Joe and 2 others – I mention this because Dahl wrote the superlative and knowledgeable liner notes and they ooze affection and classy writing. There’s even a little Joe Turner 'face' logo at the end of each page – talk about attention to detail! But the real deal is in the SOUND…

I’ve raved about JURGEN CRASSER and his superlative remastering of old recordings before - the 10 Volumes of the “Sweet Soul Music” series (1961 to 1970) and the 16 volumes of the “Blowing The Fuse” series (1945 to 1960). I’ve reviewed all but 3 and have been consistently wowed by the sound quality he gets – but he’s outdone himself here. The clarity off the Atlantic tracks especially is wonderful – alive, warm and rocking out of your speakers with an energy that belies their 50-year age.

There are niggles though with regard to track choice and how some of the other inclusions sound; tracks 10 to 13 and 25 to 28 (as noted above) are older recordings taken off 78’s and they do sound rough. I can understand their inclusion on sheer rarity basis, but I would have preferred more of the rare single B-sides on Atlantic. Also – why only 28 tracks and 70 minutes? Some of these “Rocks” discs have 34 tracks with 82-minutes and more of playing time? I also can’t say I needed the original 1938 Vocalion take of “Roll ‘Em Pete” when I could have had the much better remake on 1956’s “Boss Of The Blues” Atlantic LP – an absolute joy to listen too – but not on here…

Still – these are minor points – and detract from what has been for me a blast to listen to. I can’t be rational about Joe Turner – I’ve loved his great music for decades and my son plays him to distraction – yet I never tire of it.

To sum up – you can buy the same material cheaper of course, but if you want the real deal, then paying that bit extra for this import will pay dividends. This is a very definite jewel in the crown of Bear’s “Rocks” series – and that’s really saying something.

As Big Joe Turner belts out "Shake, Rattle And Roll" and the band boogies behind him and my feet tap maniacally to that irresistible beat, I’m reminded of its lyrics “…The sun comes shining through…”

Amen to that baby!

***************************************************************************

"BIG" JOE TURNER Discography referencing the 28-track Bear Family CD “Rocks”
Released in Germany March 2011 on Bear Family BCD 17215 AR
Track Identifier [19] = Track 19, [2] = Track 2 etc
Discography is in release date order

78”s:
Vocalion 4607 (January 1939) – Roll ‘Em Pete [25] b/w Goin’ Away Blues
[Credited to Joe Turner and Pete Johnson]

Decca 11001 (December 1944) – It’s The Same Old Story b/w Rebecca [[26]
[Credited to Big Joe Turner and Pete Johnson Trio]

National 4002 (July 1946) – My Gal’s A Jockey [11] b/w I Got Love For Sale
(Reissued in 1950 as National 9106)

Stag 508 (December 1947) – Around The Clock Blues, Part 1 [27] b/w Around The Clock Blues, Part 2 [28]
[Credited as Big Vernon – featured Pete Johnson on Piano]

Freedom F 1531 (February 1950) – Still In The Dark b/w Adam Bit The Apple [10]

Imperial 5090 (June 1950) – Story To Tell b/w Jumpin’ Tonight [13]
(“Jumpin’ Tonight” was reissued under the title “Midnight Rockin’” on Colony 108 (78”) in 1952)

Federal 1540 (January 1951) – Feelin’ Happy [12] b/w (After A While) You’ll Be Sorry

78” and 45’s:
Atlantic 939 (May 1951) – Chains Of Love b/w After My Laughter Came Tears
Atlantic 949 (December 1951) – The Chill Is On b/w Bump Miss Susie [19]
Atlantic 960 (April 1952) – Sweet Sixteen b/w I’ll Never Stop Loving You
Atlantic 970 (July 1952) – Don’t You Cry b/w Poor Lover’s Blues
Atlantic 982 (1953) – Still In Love b/w Baby I Still Want You
Atlantic 1001 (September 1953) – Honey Hush [5] b/w Crawdad Hole [20]
[Note: re “Honey Hush” – see also re-recorded version on Atlantic 2044]
Atlantic 1016 (January 1954) – TV Mama [8] b/w Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]
Atlantic 1026 (April 1954) – Shake, Rattle And Roll [14] b/w You Know I Love You
Atlantic 1040 (October 1954) – Well, All Right [2] b/w Married Woman
Atlantic 1053 (February 1955) – Flip, Flop And Fly [3] b/w Ti-Ri-Lee
Atlantic 1069 (August 1955) – Hide And Seek [9] b/w Midnight Cannonball [18]
Atlantic 1080 (December 1955) – The Chicken And The Hawk (Up, Up And Away) [24] b/w Morning, Noon And Night [21]
Atlantic 1088 (April 1956) – Corrine Corrina [17] b/w Boogie Woogie Country Girl [15]
Atlantic 1100 (August 1956) – Lipstick, Powder And Paint [7] b/w Rock A While [22]
Atlantic 1122 (December 1956) – Midnight Special Train b/w Feeling Happy
Atlantic 1131 (March 1957) – Red Sails In The Sunset b/w After A While
Atlantic 1146 (August 1957) – Love Roller Coaster [4] b/w A World Of Trouble
Atlantic 1155 (1957) – I Need A Girl [6] b/w Trouble In Mind
Atlantic 1167 (1957) Teen-Age Letter [16] b/w Wee Baby Blues
Atlantic 1184 (May 1958) – Jump For Joy [1] b/w Blues In The Night

45”s:
Atlantic 2034 (1959) – Got You On My Mind b/w Love, Oh Careless Love
Atlantic 2044 (1959) - Tomorrow Night b/w Honey Hush
[Note: “Honey Hush” here is a re-recording - original 1953 cut is the A of Atlantic 1001]
Atlantic 2054 (1960) – Chains Of Love b/w My Little Honey Dripper
Atlantic 2072 (1960) – My Reason For Living b/w Sweet Sue

7” EXTENDED PLAYS:
1. “Joe Turner Sings”, Atlantic EP 536 (1955)
Side 1: Honey Hush [5] / Sweet Sixteen
Side 2: Chains Of Love / TV Mama [8]

2. “Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 565 (1956)
Side 1: Shake Rattle And Roll [14] / Flip, Flop And Fly [3]
Side 2: In The Evening, When The Sun Goes Down

3. “Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 586 (1957)
Side 1: Corrine Corrina [17] / The Chicken And The Hawk… [24]
Side 2: Feeling Happy [12] / Hide And Seek [9]

4. “Rock With Joe Turner”, Atlantic EP 606 (1958)
Side 1: Boogie Woogie Country Girl [15] / The Chicken And The Hawk… [24]
Side 2: Midnight Special / Crawdad Hole [20]

ALBUMS:

1. “Joe Turner” [aka “Rock & Roll”], Atlantic 8005 (1957)
Side 1:
1. Shake, Rattle And Roll [14]
2. Flip, Flop And Fly [3]
3. Feeling Happy [12]
4. Honey Hush [5]
5. Well, All Right [2]
6. The Chicken And The Hawk [24]
7. Honey Hush [5]
Side 2:
1. Corrine, Corrina [17]
2. Midnight Special Train
3. Hide And Seek [9]
4. Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]
5. Crawdad Hole [20]
6. Sweet Sixteen
7. Chains Of Love

2. “Rockin’ The Blues”, Atlantic 8023 (1958)
Side 1:
1. We’re Gonna Jump For Joy [1]
2. Teen Age Letter [16]
3. Love Roller Coaster [4]
4. Lipstick Powder And Paint [7]
5. Morning Noon And Night [21]
6. I Need A Girl [6]
7. Red Sails In The Sunset
Side 2:
1. Blues In The Night
2. After A While
3. World Of Trouble
4. Trouble In Mind
5. TV Mama [8]
6. You Know I Love You
7. Still In Love

3. “Big Joe Is Here”, Atlantic 8033 (1960)
Bump Miss Susie [19]

4. “The Best Of”, Atlantic 8081 (1963)
Oke-She-Moke-She-Pop [23]

“Charlie Rocks” by CHARLIE RICH. A Review Of The 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Fast Talkin'…Slow Walkin'…Good Lookin'…"

Released June 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16513 AR, "Charlie Rocks" offers up 31 slices of the Silver Fox’s varying styles – Rock ‘n’ Roll, Blues, R’n’B, Crooner and even Sixties Pop. It covers 1958 to 1966 on Sun Records, Phillips International, Groove, Smash, Phillips and Mercury - and at a 74:34 minutes doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Charlie Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (40-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the USA 45” for “Big Boss Man" – his fantastic cover of Jimmy Reed’s blues standard - complete with its 1965 Groove Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 28 by HANK DAVIS with a Discography for all 31 tracks from Page 29 to 36 by COLIN ESCOTT, HANK DAVIS, MARTIN HAWKINS and Bear Family’s owner RICHARD WEIZE. It’s peppered with several full colour plates of Rich from a previously unreleased photo session and many of his American 45’s are pictured throughout the Discography - a typically top job done by Bear.

The remastered sound is by MARCUS HEUMANN and given the difference sources and years – it’s uniformly superb - even on the unreleased rough ‘n’ ready Sun sides. By the time you get to the Sixties stuff (recorded in good studios with top musicians), the sound quality is rocking.

CONTENT:
1. Whirlwind (Undubbed Version)
2. Everything I Do Is Wrong
3. Philadelphia Baby
4. Big Man
5. Rebound
6. That's Rich
7. Lonely Weekends (Master Take)
8. Break Up
9. Midnite Blues
10. Little Woman Friend Of Mine
11. Goodbye Mary Ann (Take 3)
12. You Made A Hit
13. Red Man
14. Donna Lee
15. Popcorn Polly
16. Gentle As A Lamb
17. Charlie's Boogie
18. Stop Thief
19. Right Behind You Baby
20. Lonely Weekends (Undubbed Alternate Take)
21. Yes Ma'am
22. Big Man (Undubbed Alternate Take)
23. Big Boss Man
24. The Ways Of A Woman In Love
25. Mohair Sam
26. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
27. Just A Little Bit Of Time
28. It Ain't Gonna Be That Way
29. That's My Way
30. Just A Little Bit Of You
31. So Long

Tracks 1, 6, 10, 12 and 14 through to 21 are all from the 1998 4CD Bear Family box set “Lonely Weekend – The Sun Years 1958-1962” and were previously unreleased at the time.

Tracks 8, 11, 13 and 22 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED and exclusive to this set.

All the other tracks are singles or album sides on the labels mentioned above.

His huge hit “Lonely Weekend” is on here twice – the master is track 7, while track 20 is a previously unreleased Undubbed Alternate Take. “Midnite Blues”, “The Ways Of A Woman In Love” and “Mohair Sam” (lyrics above) epitomise his Sixties cool – like Roy Orbison at his sly best – great vocals, clever lyrics and an instantly catchy tune every time. There’s a few tracks off his two superb albums for Smash Records in 1965 and 1966 – “The Many News Sides Of…” and “The Best Years” which will make you want more and talk of forgotten genius {“It Ain’t Gonna Be That Way”). The “If you keep your hands clean, you won’t those bloodhounds on your trail…” lyrics of “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Waters” has a great piano rocking feel as it chugs along – the kind of bluesy tune Presley might have tackled on his superb “Elvis Is Back” album from 1960. Speaking of which…

Looking at the booklet and listening to the CD, you’re struck by three things (1) Charlie Rich was a handsome son of a bitch, (2) like Presley and Orbison, he had a voice to die for and could sing anything and (3) a whopping 24 of these 31 cuts are his own compositions, So he looked good, sounded awesome and wrote his own tunes. So why wasn’t he huge?

He would of course enjoy global success in the early Seventies with “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” which galvanized his ‘Silver Fox’ crooner image. But this disc gives us his preceding rocking years and it’s an absolute eye-opener as to his talent and great way with a song…

I’m so glad I bought this CD - another cracker from those nice archiving people in Germany.

Recommended big time...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

"Wanda Rocks" by WANDA JACKSON. A Review Of The 2002 Bear Family CD Compilation.

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   

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

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

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

"…Start Getting' With It Baby…You’re Acting Like A Square To Me…"

Released December 2002 on Bear Family BCD 16631 AR - "Wanda Rocks" by WANDA JACKSON offers up 35 slices of Wanda's sexy Rockabilly and Rock 'n' Roll – and not surprisingly it's a peach. "Rocks" covers 1956 to 1963 on the Capitol label and at a crammed 79:58 minutes - doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (48-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 45” for "Fujiyama Mama" – a big hit for her in 1957 - complete with its Capitol Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 5 to 26 by noted musicologist COLIN ESCOTT with a Discography for all 35 tracks from Page 35 to 42 by ROSS WAPENSKY and Bear Family’s owner RICHARD WEIZE. Photos of Wanda with admirers GENE VINCENT, ELVIS PRESLEY and Producer KEN NELSON pepper the rest of the booklet – as well as in-studio-recording snaps with Country stars MERLE HAGGARD and HANK THOMPSON (provides an Intro on Page 2). There are black and white publicity shots, trade adverts and sheet music - and all of it rounded off on the last few pages with full track-listings for two of their extensive Box Sets on her – "Right Or Wrong" (4CDs) and "Tears Will Be The Chaser For Your Wine" (8CDs). A typically top job done by Bear Family - as befits their reissue legend.

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER. Crasser handled the stunning "Blowing The Fuse" series from 1945 to 1960 (I've reviewed all 16 volumes) and the "Sweet Soul Music" series from 1961 to 1975 (all 15 volumes reviewed too). Alive, clean and full of well-recorded Capitol Records class - the sound is wonderful.

Tracks from her big albums are featured as follows:

1. "Wanda Jackson", 1957 Mono LP on Capitol T-1041 (7, 8, 9, 10)

2. "Rockin' With Wanda", 1958 Mono LP on Capitol T-1384 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12)

3. "There's A Party Goin' On", 1961 Stereo LP on Capitol ST-1511 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25).

4. "Right Or Wrong", 1961 Stereo LP on Capitol ST-1596 (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)

5. "Wonderful Wanda", 1962 Stereo LP on Capitol ST-1776 (32)

6. "Two Sides Of Wanda", 1964 Stereo LP on Capitol ST-2030 (34, 35)

The 3 remaining tracks are "Riot In Cell Block No. 9" and "Funnel Of Love" (tracks 20 and 21) that first appeared as unreleased tracks on Bear's "Right Or Wrong" 4CD box set of 1993 - while her own "You Bug Me Bad" (track 33) was a 7" single on Capitol F 4833 in 1962.

Musically – Wanda Jackson came across like a female Gene Vincent – like Elvis' mischievous little sister – and her less-than wholesome image beloved her to Rock 'n' Rollers everywhere. Not for Wanda to be standing on the porch of her mid Fifties suburban home with an apron around her bluster dress waving at hubby as he comes home from work with a pipe in his mouth – Wanda was all big hair, big chest and big lips – Wanda was in the hotel bar with the boys in the band - downing whiskeys and socking any local in the jaw who got fresh. “Cool Love” (lyrics above) give a good indication of her attitude that virtually set up a template for decades to come as to how women ‘rocked’.

Being Capitol, her band consisted of top session men - Buck Owens and Roy Clark on guitar, 'Skeets' McDonald on Bass with Merrill Moore and 'Big' Al Downing on Piano. And when she got her Country-tinged croaky voice behind great material like “Money Honey” and “Let’s Have A Party” - she made it her own. On Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally” she sings “…let’s have some fun tonight…” like she meant it. As the years moved on and styles changed, she did too (but with her trademark rockin’ vibe still in tow). The superb “Fallin’” is so early Sixties Presley, while “Tongue Tied” is great fun as well as boppin’ like the old days (and in handsome Stereo).

Like a force of nature, like life itself, just looking at a photo of the ballsy Wanda Jackson makes me smile. And this little cracker from those nice reissue people in Germany – does her legacy proud.

And it’s such good fun too...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW]

2. Pat Boone

3. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]

4. The Cadillacs [see REVIEW]

5. Eddie Cochran

6. Bobby Darin

7. Fats Domino

8. Connie Francis

9. Don Gibson

10. Glen Glenn

11. Bill Haley

12. Roy Hall

13. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]

14. Dale Hawkins

15. Ronnie Hawkins

16. Screamin' Jay Hawkins [see REVIEW]

17. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]

18. Sonny James

19. Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids [see REVIEW]

20. Sleepy LaBeef

21. Brenda Lee

22. Jerry Lee Lewis [see REVIEW]

23. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]

24. Little Richard

25. Bob Luman [see REVIEW]

26. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

27. Carl Mann

28. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]

29. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]

30. Ricky Nelson

31. Carl Perkins

32. Roy Orbison

33. Lloyd Price [see REVIEW]

34. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]

35. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]

36. Jack Scott

37. Shirley and Lee

38. The Treniers

39. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]

40. Conway Twitty

41. Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps

42. Rusty York [see REVIEW]

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton

2. Marvin Rainwater

3. Marty Robbins Vol.1

4. Marty Robbins Vol.2

5. Marty Robbins Vol.3 

“Rocks” by ELLA MAE MORSE. A Review Of The 2010 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Just Love Me…All Night Long…"

Released November 2010 on Bear Family BCD 16672 AR, "Rocks" offers up 34 slices of Ella Mae Morse’ varying styles – Easy Listening, Jazz Vocals, pumping Rhythm 'n' Blues and even Rock ‘n’ Roll – and it’s a peach. “Rocks” covers 1942 to 1957 on the Capitol label and at a stonking 84:33 minutes - doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (52-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 78” for “House Of Blue Lights” – a big hit for her and Freddie Slack in 1946 - complete with its Capitol Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 30 by KEVIN COFFEY with a Discography for all 34 tracks from Page 31 to 45 by Kevin Coffey, LAWRENCE J. ZWISOHN and Bear Family’s owner RICHARD WEIZE. Especially worth noting is that the 40-page album-sized booklet which came with Bear’s extensive 5CD box set (from way back in 1997) was a dull black & white pictures affair… “Rocks” has considerably improved on that – there are lovely full-page colour shots of her two important album covers, “Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues” (1954) and “The Morse Code” (1957). Added to that are in-studio-recording snaps which are new, trade adverts, sheet music and many of her American Capitol singles are pictured throughout - a typically top job done by Bear.

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER – he handling the stunning “Blowing The Fuse” series (1945 to 1960 - I’ve reviewed all 16 volumes) and the “Sweet Soul Music” series (1961 to 1970 – all reviewed too). Alive, clean and full of well-recorded Capitol Records class - the sound is wonderful.

Musically - although Morse looked like some squeaky-clean 20-year old usherette serving popsicles in the movie theatre during World War II, musically this belied her vocal delivery. Ella was like a female Louis Jordan or a Bessie Smith, a white gal from Texas often mistaken for a black singer because of her slightly raunchy delivery when she got her hands on good R’n’B material (covers of Atlantic artist like Ruth Brown and LaVern Baker). A good case in point for this is the 10” LP of “Barrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues” which to my mind is a criminally forgotten R’n’B masterpiece - and I’m glad to report that someone has been smart enough to put 7 of its 8 tracks on here. It opens with “Rock Me All Night Long” (lyrics above). Don’t get me wrong – not every track on here is rocking by any means – there are easy moments too - but they’re really good also. It just depended on the material she was given.

Speaking of history – when Capitol launched its first nine 78"s on 1 July 1942, Ella Mae Morse was there on Day 1. She sang lead with Freddie Slack and his Orchestra on the A-side of Capitol 102 - "Cow-Cow Boogie". It was a huge hit and quickly climbed to Number 1 - putting the fledgling label on the map. By 1946 Capitol had shifted 46 million records, by the mid Fifties they boasted two of the best selling singers in the Universe (Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra) and by the mid Sixties they'd acquired some band from Liverpool in England (who also shifted some records - apparently). So you could say with confidence that Nick Tosche's assertion that she was one of 'the great unsung heroes of rock 'n' roll' is right. A musical chameleon, a sassy vixen, or just a good old gal with a nice voice – take your pick - but the world owes Ella Mae Morse for what her breakthrough led to.

Another cracker from those nice reissue people in Germany - and such good fun too.

In the vernacular - recommended the most...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red [see REVIEW]
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

PPS: I’ve reviewed the box set separately with attached 78”, 45” and LP discographies

"Rocks" by PIANO RED aka Dr. FEELGOOD. A Review Of The 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Do You Want To Rock Baby? Yes! Yes!”

Released April 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16639 AR, "Rocks" offers up 33 slices of Piano Red’s pumping Rhythm 'n' Blues piano style – and it’s a peach. “Rocks” covers 1950 to 1966 on the Groove, Jax, Okeh and RCA Victor labels - and at a generous 78:04 minutes - doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (48-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 1956 7" single of “Woo-Ee” complete with its Groove Records label bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 26 by BILL DAHL who did such stunning work on Bear's "Sweet Soul Music" Series from 1961 to 1971 (see separate reviews for all 10 compilations). There's even a Discography for all 33 tracks from Page 34 to 45 by Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE - which in itself pictures 45"s and album sleeves in full colour (very tasty to look at). Especially worth noting is a series of black and white photos of Piano Red and his band in concert in March 1956 at the Magnolia Ballroom in Atlanta, Georgia – they’re peppered throughout the text pages and are very intimate shots of the band and the audience enjoying themselves. Great stuff…

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER – he handling the “Blowing The Fuse” series from 1945 to 1960 (I’ve reviewed all 16 volumes). Alive, clean and far better than previous CDs I've had of the same material, the sound is wonderful.

Musically William Perryman (his real name) was like Amos Milburn, Louis Jordan, Smiley Lewis and Louis Prima - an irrepressible force of rockin' joy. His warmth and witty words filled every song and when he was pumping out those party tunes with a big brassy band behind him, it must have been nigh on impossible to resist dancing your nuts off. Highlights include the 1957 instrumental “Wild Fire” with the whole band cooking like eggs on the bonnet of a car, the “I’ve had lots of big women…I’m having a ball…” song of “What Up Doc?” while in “Rock, Baby” he tells his girl to “Get out your silk and satin, because that old gal dress just won’t do…” because they’re going out to party (lyrics above). But the biggest surprise is kept until last.

Not found when the 4CD box set “The Doctor Is In!” was being formed in 1993, five previously unreleased studio cuts have surfaced from Columbia’s vaults – “Jumping The Boogie”, “The Double Twist” and “Rock Me” were recorded in December 1962 – while “I Need You” and “Can’t Wait No Longer” were recorded in March 1966. Being fully-formed and expertly recorded Columbia studio cuts, the Stereo sound is fabulous – and the quality of the songs themselves shockingly good. There's even a slightly Mod feel to “I Need You” from 1966 where it sounds like he's being backed up by Booker T And The MG’s. It’s the kind of song that a DJ would discover on the B-side of some single somewhere and play it in a UK Northern Soul club!

But if you want to get a taster of the songs and sound quality for a reasonable cost - try the 36-track "All We Wanna Do Is ROCK" sampler for this series - it has the 1954 Groove single of "Big Rock Joe From Kokomo” - typical of his style (see separate review).

Great stuff and such fun. In the vernacular - recommended the most...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Rocks” by SMILEY LEWIS. A Review of the 2010 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…I’m Goin’ Home…Never More To Roam…Spend The Rest Of My Life…Right There With My Wife…"

Released February 2010 on Bear Family BCD 16676 AR, "Rocks" offers up 36 slices of primo Smiley Lewis New Orleans style Rhythm 'n' Blues on the Colony and Imperial labels from 1950 through to 1958 - and at an envelope-pushing 85:36 minutes, doesn't scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, "Rocks" comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (40-pages for this one). The CD label itself repros the 1953 7"single of “Blue Monday” complete with its Imperial Records record bag - and that's again repro’d in full on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch). The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 2 to 28 by BILL DAHL who did such stunning work on Bear's "Sweet Soul Music" Series from 1961 to 1971 (see separate reviews for all 10 compilations). There's even a Discography for all 36 tracks from Page 29 to 39 by WOOTER KEESING and Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE which in itself pictures each 78" and 45" at the base of every page (very tasty to look at). Knowledgeable people like DAVE “DADDY COOL” BOOTH and others contributed information and illustrations too.

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER who handling the “Sweet Soul Music” series I raved about. One or two tracks are rough (“Dirty People” is one) because they’re dubbed off discs, but the sound on the others is fabulous - far better than previous CDs I've had of the same material.

Musically Smiley Lewis was like Louis Jordan, Amos Milburn and Louis Prima - an irrepressible force of rockin' joy. His big pipes had the room-filling fun of Big Joe Turner at his Atlantic Records best, while his rolling piano fills made every track a Fats Domino blast. You can just 'feel' the good vibes of a hot gig on a Saturday Night at the local bar coming off these songs (his mischievous lyrics to "Ain’t Gonna Do It" title this review).

Given the vintage of the material, this CD is expensive for sure (as most of Bear Family's product is), but it's the best representation of Lewis’ material I've ever heard or seen. If you want to go deeper, there’s the “Shame, Shame, Shame” 4CD Box Set they issued in 1993. But if you want to get a taster of the songs and sound quality for a reasonable cost - try the 36-track "All We Wanna Do Is ROCK" sampler for this series - it has the 1953 Imperial single of "Big Mamou” (see separate review).

Great stuff – and such fun. In the vernacular - recommended the most daddy-o...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

“Rocks” by AMOS MILBURN. A Review of the 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Let’s Get In The Mood…A Real Groovy Mood…Let’s Have A Party…"

Released June 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16926 AR, “Rocks” offers up 31 slices of primo Amos Milburn Rhythm ‘n’ Blues on the Aladdin label from 1948 through to 1957 – and at a whopping 82:38 minutes, doesn’t scrimp it on content or value for money.

Like all the titles in this extensive series, “Rocks” comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak with a large detachable booklet in the centre (48-pages for this one). The CD itself reproduces the 1956 7”single remake of his huge “Chicken Shack” song complete with its Aladdin Records label bag and that’s continued on the flap beneath the see-through tray (a nice touch).

The substantial booklet features extensive liner notes from Page 3 to 33 by BILL DAHL who did such stunning work on Bear’s “Sweet Soul Music” Series from 1961 to 1971 (see separate reviews for all 10 compilations). There’s even a Discography for all 31 tracks from Page 34 to 45 by MICHAEL CUSCANA, STBVE LaVERE and MICHEL RUPPLI, which in itself pictures each 78” and 45” at the base of every page (very tasty to look at). Good names like BILL MILLAR and COLIN ESCOTT contributed information and illustrations too.

The remastered sound is handled by CHRISTIAN ZWARG and is far better than previous CDs I’ve had of the same material.

Milburn was like Louis Jordan, Smiley Lewis and Fats Domino – an irrepressible force of rockin’ joy - and even when tracks like “Boogie Woogie” sound a bit rough, the ‘feel’ of a Saturday Night dive jumping with bodies going at it like Sunday’s never going to come permeates every track (lyrics above to “Let’s Have A Party”).

Given the vintage of the material, this CD is expensive, as most of Bear Family’s product is, but it’s the best representation of Milburn’s material I’ve ever seen.

If you want to get a taster for a reasonable cost – try the “All We Wanna Do Is ROCK” sampler for this series – 36 tracks and it’s cheap (see separate review). It has “Chicken Shack” on it – and it’s a monster…

In the vernacular – recommended the most big daddy-o.

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Pat Boone
2. Johnny Burnette
3. The Cadillacs
4. Eddie Cochran
5. Bobby Darin
6. Fats Domino
7. Connie Francis
8. Don Gibson
9. Glen Glenn
10. Bill Haley
11. Roy Hall
12. Dale Hawkins
13. Ronnie Hawkins
14. Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Wanda Jackson
16. Sonny James
17. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids
18. Sleepy LaBeef
19. Jerry Lee Lewis
20. Smiley Lewis
21. Bob Luman
22. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
23. Carl Mann
24. Amos Milburn
25. Ella Mae Morse
26. Ricky Nelson
27. Carl Perkins
28. Roy Orbison
29. Lloyd Price
30. Piano Red
31. Charlie Rich
32. Jack Scott
33. Shirley & Lee
34. The Treniers
35. Conway Twitty
36. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
37. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton
2. Marvin Rainwater
3. Marty Robbins Vol.1
4. Marty Robbins Vol.2
5. Marty Robbins Vol.3