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Welcome to Mark Barry's Review Blog - SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GOOD... It features in-depth reviews for Quality CD Reissues and Remasters - all with Discography Info (six times Amazon 'Hall of Fame' Reviewer). With over 2,700 posts - genres covered include Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk, Jazz Fusion, Blues, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Doo Wop, Vocal Groups, 1960s and 1970s, Prog, Psych, Folk, Blues-Rock, Goth, Punk, New Wave, 1980s, Reggae and more. I also review FILMS, TV Shows, BLU RAYS and BOOKS. Enjoy the reads...

Showing posts with label Ian Saddler Liner Notes. Show all posts

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

"Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Barbara Lynn, Lightnin’ Slim, Mercy Baby, Lazy Lester, Polka Dot Slim, Big Walter, Jake Jackson, Slim Harpo, Leroy Washington, Al Smith and more (August 2017 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters With Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks) - 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)

"...Sugar Coated Love..."

The 'By The Bayou' Series of CD compilations from Ace Records of the UK now numbers 22 titles in June 2021 and runs through four generalised genre themes - Bluesin' By The Bayou - Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou - Boppin' By The Bayou and Swamp Pop By The Bayou - each title numbered on the spine (this set from 2017 is No. 18, see discography list provided below).

Each is 28-tracks long (so plenty of listening time) and tackle down 'n' dirty Deep South sounds from a large range of American labels specialising in fast-cat 45s - names like Ric, Goldband, Dixie, Carl and whole slew more. This is the Jay D. Miller catalogue out of Louisiana that got turned out on oodles of those Flyright compilation LPs in the 70s, 80s & 90s – so there is also liberal doses of Cajun, Zydeco, Tex Mex, Rock and Roll and Rockabilly choons too. As Flyright clocked up some huge number of reissues – nearly 300 as I recall – I imagine there are many sea-legs left in this CD Series, even if it is at No. 22 already.

UK-issued, each CD compilation has its share of previously unreleased (eight in this case) and mixes up known names like Soul Singer Barbara Lynn and Blues Boy Lazy Lester with virtual unknowns like T.B. Fisher and Boozoo Chavis & His Zodico Accordian. With Ace's usual attention to track-by-track booklet detail and period photos to compliment the 50s and 60s listens, as you can imagine each comp is a whole heap of hoodoo fun and a proper journey of genre jumpin' discovery. So let's get to the lonesome cigarettes, sugar coated lovers and prison hamburgers (and that's just the left leg)...

UK released Friday, 25 August 2017 - "Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1506 (Barcode 029667084222) is a Remastered 28-Track CD compilation with Eight Previously Unreleased Tracks that plays out as follows (73:08 minutes):

1. Pleadin' - MERCY BABY (June 1958, US 45-single on Ric 955, A-side)

2. I've Been In This Prison - LEROY WASHINGTON (originally issued on the 1981 UK LP "Wild Cherry" on Flyright FLY LP 574)

3. Little Girl Blues (The Blues And My Woman) - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 3 of a track originally on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright FLY LP 524)

4. I Haven't Got A Home - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

5. Better Start Doin' It – HONEY BOY ALLEN – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

6. Cigarettes – SLIM HARPO (from the 1985 Various Artists UK LP "Baton Rouge Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 607)

7. Hoo Doo Blues – LIGHTNIN' SLIM (originally unissued take of the January 1958 A-side to Excello 2131, first released on the 1981 UK LP "The Feature Sides 1954" on Flyright Records FLY LP 583)

8. Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, B-side of "A Thing You Gotta Face")

9. I'm A Lover Not A Fighter – LAZY LESTER (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take 6 of Excello 2143, September 1958 US 45-single A-side)

10. Dreaming Dreaming – JOE RICHARDS (1962 US 45-single on Carl 504, A-side)

11. Still In Love With You – AL SMITH – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

12. In The Evening – COOKIE & THE CUPCAKES (from the 1976 US LP "The Legendary Cookie And The Cupcakes" on Goldband GRLP-7757)

13. A Thing You Gotta Face – POLKA DOT SLIM (December 1964, US 45-single on Instant 3269, A-side – for B-side see Track 8)

14. Life Gets Hard – JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

15. Sugar Coated Love – BARBARA LYNN (1971 US Copyright Records 2319, A-side)

16. Tee Black – BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, B-side – see Track 19 for A-side)

17. Angel Please – JIMMY ANDERSON & THE JOY JUMPERS (1962 US 45-single on Zynn 1014, B-side to "I Wanna Boogie")

18. Make Me Cry – CLARENCE GARLOW (from the 1987 US LP "Zydeco Birth" on Goldband Records GFCL 103)

19. Hamburgers & Popcorn BOOZOO CHAVIS & HIS ZODICO ACCORDIAN (1960s, US 45-single on Goldband 1161, A-side – see Track 16 for B-side)

20. I Hate To Leave You Baby - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Alternate of a Track on the 1976 UK LP "The Early Years" on Flyright Records FLY LP 524)

21. If I Don't See You - AL SMITH (1959 US 45-single on Goldband 1092, B-side of "I Love Her So")

22. Baby, Baby, Baby - RAMBLIN' HI HARRIS - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

23. I Don't Know - LIGHTNIN' SLIM (from the 1986 UK LP "We Gotta Rock Tonight" on Flyright Records FLY LP 612)

24. If The Blues Was Money - BIG WALTER - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

25. Somebody Tell Me - JAKE JACKSON (originally on the 1989 Various Artists UK LP compilation "I Ain't Got No Money: 1950s South Louisiana Blues" on Flyright FLY LP 620)

26.

Tracks 3, 5, 9, 11, 20, 22, 24 and 28 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

NICK ROBBINS handles the clearly homecookin' tapes - some super clean - but many rough as a gutbucket. The audio is always real - full of energy even if the source has clearly been recorded in Aunty Flo's outside lavvy. IAN SADLER handles the track-by-track histories (Lester Johnson is the real name for Lazy Lester, Julius Mullins is Mercy Baby, gunned down at the age of 47,and so on) and of course you get those rare and obscure 45-labels siding the text. Typically well annotated Ace Records 12-page liner notes.

"Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry..." opens on a suitably rough-recorded raucous Blues stomper, Mercy Baby asking why his woman don't love him all the time - but his "Pleadin'" falls of her cold deaf ears. The Audio takes a leap up with the cool steppin' toe-tapper "I've Been In This Prison" - Leroy Washington lonely in his factory of the Blues – his prison cell jumpin' every night with songs like this. The big moan continues with Lightnin' Slim in all kinds of misery 'cause his women won't let him be (poor chap). It's worse for Ramblin' Hi Harris whose sleepin' in his bed alone - that's when he has a home to lay his worried mind down in.

Always loved Slim Harpo and his "Cigarettes" is a great little shuffler with witty lyrics – his pals always broke and bumming smokes off of him. Fantastic comes in the shape of the put-you-down "Hoo Doo Blues" – Lightnin' Slim watching his women runnin' 'round with another man (it even has some talk in dialogue and a blow-your-harmonica-son harp solo too). It gets even better - Howlin' Wolf fans will double-take at the set titles "Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry" by Polka Dot Slim - a fantastic down-in-the-mud Blues shuffle as he moans like the Wolf and plays his harp like Little Walter. It's not audiophile baby, but it's got Soul and a few other neckjerkin' Hoodoo moments

in-between.

Other highlights include the simple Harmonica, Guitar and Piano rolls of the Previously Unissued "Still In Love With You" - a real discovery by Al Smith. Rough and ready is the kicking beat in "A Thing You Gotta Face" by Polka Dot Slim - a recording that's barely hanging on by its tape lapels. There's a pair of bare-bones but well recorded shufflers from Jake Jackson that turned up on an obscure 1989 LP - Volume 55 in the Jay Miller Series. And I'm diggin' the I-don't-have-worry Harmonica shuffle in Barbara Lynn's "Sugar Coated Love" - yes, he's got what Babs can use.

As I recall the Flyright LPs were easy purchases at record fairs and secondhand stores back in the day - but I also remember they were fab one minute and patchy the next. This Ace CD Series seems to be consciously re-writing that 'hotch-potch' mentality and mixing it up into better compilation listens. "I Hate To Leave You Baby..." moaned Lightnin' Slim as he flicked his guitar like Ike Turner in girly pain yet again.

A blast of a listen and a good indicator of what the whole 'By The Bayou' Series offers...

BY THE BAYOU CD Compilation Series

From Ace Records of the UK

A LIST

22 Titles correct to June 2021

Focuses mostly on the Louisiana Recordings of Jay D. Miller

(The Legendary Sessions Series), a lot of which were issued on

UK Flyright Records LPs in the 70s, 80s and 90s

Boppin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Boppin' By The Bayou (August 2012, Ace CDCHD 1345 - Barcode 029667052023) - No. 1 in the Series

2. Boppin' By The Bayou Again (January 2013, Ace CDCHD 1355 - Barcode 029667053228) - No. 2 in the Series

3. Boppin' By The Bayou: More Dynamite (October 2013, Ace CDCHD 1380 - Barcode 029667056625) - No. 5 in the Series

4. Boppin' By The Bayou: Made In The Shade (September 2014, Ace CDCHD 1415 - Barcode 029667062022) - No. 9 in the Series

5. Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me Mama! (29 June 2015, Ace CDCHD 1443 - Barcode 029667072229) - No. 11 in the Series

6. Boppin' By The Bayou: Drive-Ins & Baby Dolls (28 October 2016, Ace CDCHD 1486 - Barcode 029667077521) - No. 16 in the Series

7. Boppin' By The Bayou: Flip, Flop & Fly (June 2018, Ace CDCHD 1529 - Barcode 029667089920) - No. 20 in the Series

8. Boppin' By The Bayou: Feel So Good (29 May 2020, Ace CDCHD 1567 - Barcode 029667097727) - No. 22 in the Series

Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Bluesin' By The Bayou (27 June 2013, Ace CDCHD 1368 – Barcode 029667054928) – No. 4 in the Series

2. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough 'n' Tough (28 July 2014, Ace CDCHD 1403 – Barcode 029667060622) – No. 8 in the Series

3. Bluesin' By The Bayou: I'm Not Jivin' (8 June 0216, Ace CDCHD 1471 - Barcode 029667075824) - No. 14 in the Series

4. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry (25 August 2017, Ace CDCHD 1506 - Barcode 029667084222) - No. 18 in the Series

Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou TITLES

1. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou (February 2013, Ace CDCHD 1363 – Barcode 029668053723) – No. 3 in the Series

2. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin' (27 January 2014, Ace CDCHD 1388 – Barcode 029667057820) – No. 6 in the Series

3. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies (26 January 2015, Ace CDCHD 1422 - Barcode 029667063425) - No. 10 in the Series

4. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups (25 September 2015, Ace CDCHD 1448 - Barcode 029667073127) - No. 12 in the Series

5. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals And Love Sick Souls (29 July 2016, Ace CDCHD 1478 - Barcode 029667076425) - No. 15 in the Series

6. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' (24 November 2017, Ace CDCHD 1514 - Barcode 029667086424) - No. 19 in the Series

7. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp (31 May 2019, Ace CDCHD 1547 - Barcode 029667094528) - No. 21 in the Series

Swamp Pop By The Bayou TITLES

1. Swamp Pop By The Bayou (March 2014, Ace CDCHD 1397 - Barcode 029667058520) - No. 7 in the Series

2. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Troubles, Tears & Trains (29 January 2016, Ace CDCHD 1462 - Barcode 029667074520) - No. 13 in the Series

3. Swamp Pop By The Bayou: Let's Get Together Tonight (28 April 2017, Ace CDCHD 1499 - Barcode 029667079426) - No. 17 in the Series

Sunday, 12 July 2015

"Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2015 Ace CD Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Papa Lou And Gran Are At It…"

With this quality CD release - the "By The Bayou" series from one of England's premier reissue labels Ace Records now reaches double-digits (10th in the series) - and typically their latest edition is a classy inclusion in every way. Greats tunes (7 previously unreleased), rocking sound and annotation that both informs and touches the old heartstrings. Here are pretty baby swoons and mad dog howls...

UK released January 2015 - "Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies" on Ace Records CDCHD 1422 (Barcode 029667063425) fills out as follows (64:33 minutes):

1. Papa Lou And Gran - LITTLE VICTOR & HIS ORCHESTRA (1961 USA 7" single on Richland 23, A)

2. Hoo Wee, Sweet Daddy - KATIE WEBSTER (1959 USA 7" single on Zynn 505, A)

3. I'd Love To Tell - TABBY THOMAS (first appeared on the 1989 compilation LP "Hoodoo Party" on Flyright Records FLY LP 621)

4. Pretty Woman (Take It Home To Grandma) - LESTER ROBERTSON - Previously Unreleased

5. Long Way From Home - GUITAR GABLE (first appeared on the 1984 UK LP compilation "Cool Calm Collected" on Flyright Records FLY LP 599)

6. I Called You Daddy - ANNA MAE ROGERS (1954 USA 78" on Feature 3004, B-side of "If I Keep On Worrying" by Clarence Garlow)

7. I Got Fever (Wicked Fever) - MAD DOG SHEFFIELD (first appeared on the UK 1987 Various Artists LP compilation "Rockin' Jumpin' Shoutin'" on Goldband GCL-112)

8. Knock Knock - CAROL FRAN - Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of Excello 2156

9. Sally Lou - LEROY WASHINGTON - Previously Unreleased

10. Rooty Tooty - LIONEL TORRENCE (1962 USA 7" single on Zynn 1023, A)

11. A Merry Christmas - SAD LEROY WHITE (first appeared on the UK 1981 Various Artists compilation LP "Too Hot To Handle: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 21" on Flyright Records FLY LP 570)

12. You Know Yeah - WONDER BOY TRAVIS (first appeared on the UK 1976 Various Artists Compilation LP "Tag Along: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 1" on Flyright Records FLY LP 516)

13. Tell Me Pretty Baby - LAZY LESTER - Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of Excello 2129, A)

14. Hey Ma Ma - CLIFTON CHENIER (1961 USA 7" single on Zynn 1004, A)

15. Ain't Nothing Shaking (But The Leaves On The Tree) - EDDIE WILLIAMS - Previously Unreleased

16. Mad Dog - MAD DOG SHEFFIELD (1956 USA 7" single on Goldband 1045, A)

17. Mary Lou - KING KARL & GUITAR GABLE (first appeared on the 1984 UK LP compilation "Cool Calm Collected" on Flyright Records FLY LP 599)

18. How Wee Pretty Baby - LESTER ROBERTSON - Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of a track that first appeared on 1984 UK Various Artists compilation LP "Going To New Orleans" on Flyright FLY LP 601)

19. One More Chance - CAROL FRAN - Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of Excello 2175)

20. Don't Le Me Down - FRANK SIMIEN (1959 USA 7" single on Rod 1001, A)

21. Hello Baby, What You Know - LEROY WASHINGTON (first appeared on the 1976 UK Various Artists Compilation LP "Rock Me All Night Long" on Flyright Records FLY LP 606)

22. I Want Her To Love Me - KATE WEBSTER & ASHTON CONROY (1958 USA 7" single on Kry 100)

23. Hey Mr. Love - KATIE WEBSTER & BOBBY JAY (first appeared on the 1988 UK compilation LP "Katie Webster" on Flyright FLY LP 613)

24. I Need Your Love - JIMMY DOTSON (1960 USA 7" single on Rocko 516)

25. When It Rains It Really Pours - CHARLES MORRIS - Previously Unreleased

26. Baby Please Come Home - LEROY WASHINGTON (first appeared on the 1981 UK compilation LP "Wild Cherry: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 25" on Flyright FLY LP 574)

27. I'll Never Hold It Against You - CLARENCE GARLOW (1954 USA 78" on Feature F-3003, A)

28. Take It Home To Grandma - LESTER ROBERTSON &THE UPSETTERS (1958 USA 7" single on Montel 1001, A)

Tracks 4, 8, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 25 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (all tracks in Mono)

The 16-page booklet has liner notes by Series compiler and leading light IAN SADDLER and brilliant they are too. His comments on both CAROL FRAN and LIONEL TORRENCE are full of affection and insights that will tickle collectors everywhere. Once again resident tape-wizard/Audio Engineer NICK ROBBINS has handled the transfers and for the most part - they are great. However on the Fifties sides especially - there's no doubt that were not in Audiophile Heaven here - many of these recordings are rough and tumble even if the tapes are in good shape - so be prepared for crude recordings with a whole lot of heart and passion.

This latest volume in the "By The Bayou" series opens with an absolute R'n'B belter - the Little Richard wild pace feel of "Papa Lou And Gran" by Little Victor on the obscure Richland label - a tune guaranteed to make grandma boogie that Zimmer-frame. More fun comes in the Fats Domino roll of "Hoo Wee, Sweet Daddy" complete with a brill Sax solo about a minute in. The audio quality dips into 78"/Acetate territory for "I Called You Daddy" by Anna Mae Rogers - a pianist in Clarence Garlow's band. But I can see why Ace chose to include it - not only is it ludicrously rare - it's a great boppin' R'n'B tune that sounds like vintage Joe Turner in his Fifties Atlantic Records heyday. "Sally Lou" gets caught "in the alley" but Leroy Washington doesn't seem to mind in this excellent Fats Domino type piano-roller. Back to Saxophone boppin' in the superb call-and-answer "Rooty Tooty" - the band playing a blinder - the kind of infectious instrumental (with Vocal jabs) that would bring a morgue to life.

Your then hit with two wicked dancers - "You Know Yeah" by Wonder Boy Travis and Lazy Lester's "Tell Me Pretty Baby" (with Nathan Abshire blowing some nice Slim Harpo like Harmonica). I must admit that the poor production values of "Ain't Nothing Shakin' (But The Leaves On The Tree)" do for the song (not surprised it remained in the can) - better is the growl of Mad Dog Sheffield on "Mad Dog" where our singer is "...with two-ton Tilly...a glamour girl..." - is it any wonder he's howling at the moon. Another wicked dancer is "Mary Lou" which starts out so Fats Domino its embarrassing but then rocks into a guitar middle-eight that is brilliant. For me one the best songs on here is a Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of "One More Chance" with the fantastic voice of Carol Fran - as lovely and lilting as R'n'B gets. Vocal genius kicks in with "When It Rains It Really Pours" - Charles Morris with a fantastic Bluesy delivery (aka Left-Hand Charlie). It ends a little like it started only this time "Take It On Home To Grandma" has a Cajun/Bayou shuffle against a bopping Little Richard Rock'n'Roll shuffle - nice.

Another winner from Ace (celebrating 40 years with 1975 to 2015) and kudos to Ian Saddler for doing such a good job...

PS: Titles to July 2015 in the Ace Records "By The Bayou" CD Series are:

1. Boppin' By The Bayou - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1345)

2. Boppin' By The Bayou Again - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1355)

3. Boppin' By The Bayou: More Dynamite - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1380)

4. Boppin' By The Bayou: Made In The Shade - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1415)

5. Boppin’ By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama! - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1443)

6. Bluesin' By The Bayou - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1358)

7. Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rough 'n' Tough - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1403)

8. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1363)

9. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies – VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1422)

10. Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin' - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1388)

11. Swamp Pop By The Bayou - VARIOUS (Ace CDCHD 1397)

"Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama!" By VARIOUS ARTISTS (June 2015 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters) – A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boppin-Bayou-Rock-Me-Mama/dp/B00XAB4XXG?crid=375B41ZI0S5FY&keywords=029667072229&qid=1706482585&sprefix=029667072229%2Caps%2C76&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=294f63d4bb6e87b57f36d19ebe8d5515&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

"...Havin' A Whole Lotta Fun..."

Volume 11 in an ongoing-series of CD reissues (see list below) and there’s no sign of the Saturday Night Fish Fry letting up – 28 Killer Diller Rhythm 'n' Blues tunes with a Louisiana Rock 'n Roll and Rockabilly twist. Here are the very unladylike details...

UK released June 2015 (July 2015 in the USA) – "Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me, Mama!" By VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1443 (Barcode 029667072229) fleshes out as follows (65:09 minutes):

1. Switch Blade Sam – JEFF DANIELS (1958 USA 7" single on Big Howdy 777, A)

2. Saw My Baby Walkin' – AL "PUDDLER" HARRIS (first released in 1978 on the Various Artists compilation LP "Rockin' Fever" on Flyright FLY LP 540)

3. Gonna Work – RICHARD BROS (1959 USA 7" single on Richland 22, A)

4. Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy's Done - WARREN STORM (2015 Previously Unreleased Alternate Take to USA 7" single on Nasco 6015)

5. Rockin' Fever – JOE CARL & The Dukes Of Rhythm (1960 USA 7" single on Rocko 519, A)

6. Bad Luck – DANNY (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 557, A)

7. Mickey Lee – TONY PERREAU (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950's: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

8. Havin’ A Whole Lotta Fun – JOHNNY JANO (first released on the 1977 Johnny Jano LP "King of Louisiana Rockabilly" on Flyright FLY LP 531)

9. Rock Me Mama – KEN LINDSAY (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950’s: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

10. You Win Again – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

11. Come Back Baby – DAYWARD PENNY (1961 USA 7" single on Big Howdy 6102, A)

12. She Left Me – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

13. Bayou Boogie – BENNIE FRUGE (2015 Previously Unreleased Alternate Take of a track that first appeared on the 1980 Various Artists LP "Bayou Boogie: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 19" on Flyright FLY LP 557)

14. Good Morning Blues – VORRIS SHORTY LeBLANC & All The Sugar Bees, Vocals by Jay Stutes (1962 USA 7" single on Goldband 1156, A)

15. Popcorn Blues – NATHAN ABSHIRE & The Pine Grove Boys (1960 USA 7" single on Kajun 500, A)

16. She's Mine, She's Yours – BENNIE FRUGE (2015, Previously Unreleased)

17. You’re Happy Now – LITTLE CAROL (1959 USA 7" single on Richland 26, B)

18. Hard Luck – BILLY BLANK (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 556, A)

19. Uh-Huh-Huh – JEFF DANIELS (1959 USA 7" single on Big B 555, A)

20. You're Jealous – JIVIN' GENE (1959 USA 7" single on Mercury 71561, A)

21. Take Your Choice – ROCKET MORGAN (2015, Previously Unreleased)

22. Stop, Look And Listen – JOHNNY JANO (first released on the 1977 Johnny Jano LP "King of Louisiana Rockabilly" on Flyright FLY LP 531)

23. Boppin' Blues – ERWIN BABY (first released on the 1980 Various Artists LP Compilation "Boppin' It: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 17" on Flyright FLY LP 554)

24. Love Me Baby (Kiss Me Baby) – AL FERRIER (first released on the 1983 Al Ferrier LP "Let's Go Boppin' Tonight: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 34" on Flyright FLY LP 597)

25. I'll Be Waiting – JOHNNIE ALLAN & The Krazy Kats (first released on the 1984 compilation LP "Johnnie Allan And The Krazy Kats" on Krazy Kat KK 792)

26. Sweet Little Girl – CHARLES PAGE (1960 USA 7" single on Tic Toc 101, A)

27. On The Corner Of The Street – FRANKIE LOWERY (first released on the 1983 Various Artists LP "Rock 'n' Roll Beat - South Louisiana Rockers From The 1950’s: The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions Volume 35" on Flyright FLY LP 598)

28. Little Girl Next Door – COLLAY & THE SATELLITES (1959 USA 7" single on Show-Biz 1002, A)

NOTES: Tracks 4, 13, 16 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

This is the 11th CD in the "By The Bayou" series (numbered on the spine – see full list below) and dips into the rich pickings found in the Jay Miller Sessions (mostly reissued by Flyright Records), the vaults of Eddie Shuler of Louisiana's Goldband Records and Floyd Soileau of Swallow Records – men who put out literally hundreds of albums and three-times that in 45s.

It may be obscure to even die-hards, but I'm actually shocked at the quality of the Rock 'n' Roll, Rockabilly and Cajun on offer here. This CD is properly exciting on all fronts. Compiled by and annotated by genre lover and expert IAN SADDLER – the 16-page booklet is the usual classy affair from Ace Records – American 45 repros of labels that make collectors itchy in the wallet area – Goldband, Big Howdy, Tic Toc, Big B, Richland, Rocko and Sho-Biz. There are posters of Al Harris and his Band at the Golden Rocket Club on Highway 90, which is 2 Miles East of Sulphur (now there's a band name – 2 Miles East Of Sulphur), snaps of Johnny Jano in front of Tape Machines, a publicity shot of Nathan Abshire & The Pine Grove Boys and so on. The track-by-track info is deep and delicious – featuring contributions from people who were there – Johnnie Allan, Jivin' Gene and Al Ferrier – along with genre experts like Roger Armstrong and Alec Palao

Long-time Ace Engineer NICK ROBBINS has carried out the transfers (ALEC PALAO worked on the Flyright material) and as you can imagine the sources varies wildly – sensational audio one moment – gutbucket the next. But even when the audio is clearly dubbed from a rare 45 or some other ropey source – the sheer musical impact is there. These tracks ROCK – time and time again. And because the emphasis is on dance and bopping - in many cases the odd click and pop only adds to that Fifties magic - echoes and slap bass and people whooping like they’ve been given a day pass to a brewery...

It opens with "Switch Blade Sam" where Jeff Daniels sounds like Eddie Cochran playing guitar with Jerry Lee Lewis on an upright bass and vocals – it's wonderfully breathless Rock 'n' Roll tapping at the door of Louisiana Rockabilly. We continue on the slap bass tip with "Saw My Baby Walkin'" where the "...oh, oh, oh..." vocal sounds like Smiley Lewis sided by Pete Johnson on boogie-woogie piano while Cochran once again provides acoustic backing (another winner). Saxophone Rock 'n' Roll takes over on "Gonna Work" and we get some studio chatter on "Mama Mama Mama Look What Your Little Boy's Done" where our hero tells his mum he's been out with his girl doing that illicit Rock 'n' Roll thing (not to mention The Stroll). The fun continues for an impressive fifth time on "Rockin' Fever" – more piano Rock 'n' Roll with Saxophone and Piano doing stroll R&B.

"Bad Luck" is clearly dubbed from a disc but I can hear why compiler Ian Saddler put it on here – it's a big brassy Rock 'n' Roll winner full of echoed vocals and a great hook. "Mickey Lee" assures us that Tony Perreau's girl is a fine, fine woman and ain't no square (thank God for that) while straight up Country Rockabilly comes in the shape of the lively "Havin' A Whole Lotta Fun". "Rock Me Mama" is truly wicked Rockabilly – home-made, crude and full of attitude – but dancing like a drunken sailor home on shoreleave. Hank Williams would approve of "You Win Again" by a rocked-up Al Ferrier (a great version of a classic) while I love the bopping groove of "Come Back Baby" fitted out with great piano and guitar and clear audio (what a winner).

It's followed by another Cochran-soundalike from Al Ferrier in the shape of the brilliantly infectious piano-boogie of "She Left Me" (probably the best track on here) – this is the kind of great Rockin' tune that will restore the faith. Cajun R&B pops up in the shape of the whinging "You're Happy Now" with a sound that feels someone's back porch – but bopping genius follows with Jeff Daniels' "Uh-Huh-Huh" where our hero sings the praises of a lady with "...big red lips...smackity smack...red pedal pushers and a car out of gas..." The influence of Fat Domino fills "I'll Be Waiting" where Johnnie Allan sings up a storm and it ends on a manic "Little Girl Next Door" where Collay (Allen Callais) took his gal to a movie show but lucked out on the cuddles and kissin' front...

"...Long Tall Sally was sitting on my knee...this went on all night...I'm tellin' you man...they were treatin' me right..." – Jeff Daniels sings on "Switch Blade Sam".

Buy this CD and I suspect you're gonna feel the same...

BY THE BAYOU CD Compilation Series

From Ace Records of the UK

A LIST

22 Titles correct to January 2024