"History Of Rhythm And Blues 1942-1952, The" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 101 Tracks Across 4 CDs including Lucky Millinder, Ella and Buddy Johnson, Dinah Washington, T-Bone Walker, Joe Liggins, Louis Jordan, Amos Milburn, Julia Lee, Nellie Lutcher, Nat King Cole, Arthur Crudup, Johnny Otis, Hank Williams, Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, The Dominoes, The Swallows, The Treniers, Ray Charles, The Clovers, The Five Keys, Lloyd Price, Lowell Fulson, and more (May 2009 UK Rhythm And Blues Records 4CD Card Digibook Box Set – Volume 3 of 4 in a Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"...Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Night... "

 

Released in May 2009 - this 4CD box set is the 2nd issue in a series of 4 releases from Rhythm And Blues Records - a new label out of the UK specializing in quality issues of R&B music from way, way back.

 

The first set "The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942" on RANDB001 was issued in early 2008 and is reviewed separately. And I'm delighted to say that this set is just as good as the first - and it's also improved presentation-wise in a major way (Volume 3 covers 1952-1957 while Volume 4 continues the story from 1957-1962). This 2nd Box Set is much prettier than the last and in many ways a much more 'fun' listen. Here are the Big Ten Inch details...

 

UK released May 2009 - "The History Of Rhythm And Blues 1942-1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhythm And Blues Records RANDB0003 (Barcode 5065001126024) breaks down as follows...

 

Disc 1 (72:45 minutes):

"Jumpin' From Harlem To The West Coast"

1. Little John Special - LUCKY MILLINDER and HIS ORCHESTRA (1942, Decca/Brunswick 3406)

2. That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch - ELLA and BUDDY JOHNSON and ORCHESTRA (1945, Decca 8671)

3. Evil Gal Blues - DINAH WASHINGTON with LIONEL HAMPTON SEXTET (1944, Keynote 605)

4. I Wonder - PRIVATE CECIL GANT (1944, Bronze 117, Gilt Edge 501)

5. Driftin' Blues - CHARLES BROWN with JOHNNY MOORE'S THREE BLAZERS (1946, Philo 112)

6. T-Bone Boogie - T-BONE WALKER (1944, Rhumboogie 4002)

7. Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Night - FIVE RED CAPS (1944, Beacon 7133)

8. The Blues Can Jump - THE FOUR BLUES (1945, Deluxe 1004)

9. Be-Baba-Leba - HELEN HUMES (1945, Philo/Aladdin 106)

10. Caldonia Boogie - LOUIS JORDAN (1945, Decca 8670)

11. Milton's Boogie - ROY MILTON and HIS SOLID SENDERS (1946, Jukebox 503)

12. The Honeydripper - JOE LIGGINS (1945, Exclusive 207)

13. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well - WYNONIE HARRIS with LUCKY MILLANDER and HIS ORCHESTRA (1945, Decca 18674)

14. Strange Things Happening Every Day - SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (1945, Decca 8669)

15. That's The Blues - RUBBERLEGS WILLIAMS (1945, Continental 6013)

16. My Gal's A Jockey - BIG JOE TURNER (1946, National 4002)

17. House Of Blue Lights - ELLA MAE MORSE with FREDDIE SLACK and HIS ORCHESTRA (1946, Capitol 251)

18. Ain't That Just Like A Woman - LOUIS JORDAN (1946, Decca 23669)

19. He's A Real Gone Guy - NELLIE LUTCHER (1947, Capitol 40017)

20. Snatch And Grab It - JULIA LEE (1947, Capitol Americana 40028)

21. Chicken Shack Boogie - AMOS MILBURN (1948, Aladdin 3014)

22. Get Your Kicks On Route 66 - NAT COLE TRIO (1946, Capitol 256)

23. Please Remember Me - WALTER DAVIS (1946, RCA Victor 20-1999)

24. Get The Mop - HENRY `RED" ALLEN (1946, RCA Victor 20-1808)

25. Ooh Pa Pa Dah - BABS' THREE BIPS & A BOP (1947, Blue Note 534)

 

Disc 2 (71:04 minutes):

"Guitar Boogies, Sax Screamers & Gospel Roads"

1. That's Alright Mama - ARTHUR CRUDUP (1946, RCA Victor 20-2205)

2. Baby Please Don't Go - BIG JOE WILLIAMS (1947, Columbia 30099)

3. Midnight In The Barrelhouse - JOHNNY OTIS, HIS DRUMS and HIS ORCHESTRA (1947, Excelsior 536)

4. Louie's Guitar Boogie - LOUIS SPEIGINER (1947, Supreme 1501)

5. Guitar Boogie - ARTHUR SMITH RAMBLER TRIO (1948, Super Disc 1004 & MGM 10293)

6. Move It On Over - HANK WILLIAMS (1947, MGM 10033)

7. Play With Your Poodle - LIGHNIN' HOPKINS (1947, Aladdin 209)

8. Shake That Boogie - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (1947, RCA 2056)

9. I Can't Be Satisfied - MUDDY WATERS (1948, Aristocrat 1305)

10. Boogie Chillun - JOHN LEE HOOKER (1949, Modern 627)

11. You Got To Run Me Down - JAZZ GILLUM (1947, RCA 2405)

12. Call It Stormy Monday - T-BONE WALKER (1948, Black And White 142)

13. Blues After Hours - PEE WEE CRAYTON (1948, Modern 624)

14. The Twister - PAUL WILLIAMS (1948, Savoy 665)

15. Deacons Hop - BIG JAY McNEELY (1948, Savoy 685)

16. The Hucklebuck - ROY MILTON (1949, Specialty 328)

17. Landslide - JAMES VON SKEETER (1949, Scoop 9000)

18. Pettin' & Pokin' - LOUIS JORDAN (1948, Decca 24527)

19. After While - BIG THREE (1947, Columbia 30103)

20. Milky White Way - TRUMPETEERS (1948, Score 5001)

21. Rough And Rocky Road - STARS OF HARMONY (1948, Supreme 1511)

22. Friends Let Me Tell You About Jesus - DIXIEAIRES (1949, Exclusive 98)

23. St. Louis Blues - JUBALAIRES (1947, Standard U261)

24. Write Me A Letter - RAVENS (1948, National 9038)

25. It's Too Soon To Know - ORIOLES (1948, Natural 5000)

 

Disc 3 (71:09 minutes):

"Have You Heard The News? There's Good Rockin' Tonight"

1. Good Rockin' Tonight - WYNONIE HARRIS (1947, King 4201)

2. Rock `n' Roll - WILD BILL MOORE (1948, Modern 674)

3. Butcher Pete - ROY BROWN & HIS MIGHTY MEN (1949, Deluxe 3301)

4. Saturday Night Fish Fry - LOUIS JORDAN & HIS TYMPANY FIVE (1949, Decca 24725)

5. Rock Around The Clock - HAL SINGER (1950, Mercury 8196)

6. Rock A While - GOREE CARTER & HIS HEP CATS (1949, Freedom 1506)

7. I'm Gonna Rock - RALPH WILLIS & BROWNIE McGHEE (1949, Abbey 3005)

8. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - STICK McGHEE & HIS BUDDIES (1949, Atlantic 873)

9. Cool Down Mama - LOST JOHN HUNTER & HIS BLIND BATS (1950, Four Star 1492)

10. Rocket 88 - IKE TURNER & HIS KINGS OF RHYTHM (as JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS) (1951, Chess 1458)

11. How Many More Years - HOWLIN' WOLF (1951, Chess 1479)

12. Booted - ROSCO GORDON (1951, Chess 1487)

13. Well, Well, Well - TINY BRADSHAW (1950, King 4357)

14. Good Morning Judge - WYNONIE HARRIS (1950, King 4378)

15. My Baby Left Me - ARTHUR `BIG BOY' CRUDUP (1951, Victor 50-0109)

16. Eyesight To The Blind - LARKS (1951, Apollo 427)

17. Dust My Broom - ELMORE JAMES (1952, Trumpet 146)

18. Two Little Girls - JIMMY WITHERSPOON (1952, Federal 12095)

19. Let's Rock Awhile - AMOS MILBURN (1951, Aladdin 3080)

20. Rockin' Chair Mama - LITTLE WILLIE LITTLEFIELD (1950, Modern 729)

21. Pink Champagne - JOE LIGGINS (1950, Specialty 355)

22. Sixty-Minute Man - THE DOMINOES (1951, Federal 12022)

23. Walk Right In - FLUFFY HUNTER & JESSE POWELL (1952, Federal 12056)

24. It Ain't The Meat It's The Motion - THE SWALLOWS (1952, King 4501)

25. Big Ten Inch - BULLMOOSE JACKSON with TINY BRADSHAW'S ORCHESTRA (1952, King 4580)

26. Go, Go, Go - TRENIERS (1951, Okeh 6804)

 

Disc 4 (70:54 minutes):

"Soul Train Mambo - Destination New Orleans"

1. Stone Cold Dead In The Market - ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS JORDAN (1946, Decca 23546)

2. Fat Meat `n' Greens - EDGAR HAYES (1949, Exclusive 78)

3. Country Boy - DAVE BARTHOLOMEW (1950, Deluxe 3223)

4. Mardi Gras In New Orleans - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR & HIS SHUFFLING HUNGARIANS (1950, Talent 808)

5. Bon Ton Roula - CLARENCE GARLOW (1950, Macy's 5002)

6. The Fat Man - FATS DOMINO (1950, Imperial 5058)

7. Stack-A-Lee - ARCHIBALD (1950, Imperial 5068)

8. Lawdy Miss Clawdy - LLOYD PRICE (1952, Specialty 428)

9. Goin' Home - FATS DOMINO (1952, Imperial 5180)

10. Mambo Boogie - JOHNNIE OTIS (1951, Savoy 777)

11. Don't You Want A Man Like Me - B.B. KING (1951, RPM 318)

12. Chick Boo - LLOYD GLENN (1951, Swingtime 254)

13. Don't You Know I Love You So - THE CLOVERS (1951, Atlantic 934)

14. 5-10-15 Hours - RUTH BROWN (1952, Atlantic 962)

15. Hey Little Girl - BILLY WRIGHT (1951, Savoy 810)

16. Mistrustin' Blues - LITTLE ESTHER PHILIPS & MEL WALKER with JOHNNIE IT IS (1950, Savoy 735)

17. Please Send Me Someone To Love - PERCY MAYFIELD (1950, Specialty 375)

18. Everyday I Have The Blues - LOWELL FULSON (1950, Swingtime 196)

19. T-99 Blues - JIMMY NELSON & THE PETER RABBIT TRIO (1951, RPM 325)

20. Chains Of Love - BIG JOE TURNER (1951, Atlantic 939)

21. Too Late Baby - FIVE KEYS (1951, Aladdin 3085)

22. Do Something For Me - THE DOMINOES (1951, Federal 12001)

23. Give Me One More Chance - ROYALES [aka The "5" Royales] (1952, Apollo 434)

24. Misery In My Heart - RAY CHARLES (1953, Swingtime 326)

25. The Lord's Gospel Train - MARY DELOATCH (1952, Regent 1042)

 

There's a paperback-sized outer card wrap, which houses a 3-way fold out clip holder. The 64-page booklet is detached this time and twice the size of the previous set (the 1st box had it attached to the centre inner sleeve and was difficult to use because of it) - so it's detachment is a huge improvement. The booklet is also such an enjoyable read. Duckett (the compiler) gets to spread out on each song - every smartly-chosen entry packed with detailed analysis of each song - when it was recorded, players if known, USA catalogue numbers, chart positions etc. Between the texts are trade adverts, artist publicity photos and small colour pictures of those beautiful and evocative 78" and 7" labels - Imperial Records, Federal, Atlantic, Decca, Savoy, 4 Star, National, Chess and many more. There's even discussion on the transition away from 78's to 45's and the effect Dime Jukeboxes had on sales and demand. If you want a full printed out version, the same detailed text is available from their website in colour.

 

Expertly and lovingly compiled by NICK DUCKETT - it's remastered by CheekyPaul.com and given the vintage of the recordings (1942 to 1952) - the sound quality obviously varies enormously - some are awful, but others are superlative.

 

Like the 1st box - what doesn't vary is the sheer charm of the recordings themselves - the tracks 'flowing' into each other with real precision. There's Blues of course (lyrics above to "Boogie Chillen" by John Lee Hooker title this review - but there's also Rhythm 'n' Blues, Jive, Doo-Wop, Hillbilly and even a little World War II swing. All manner of life is here  - sexy songs, poverty songs, emigration and work songs, music as solace and a liberation, music about drinking and cheating women - and men who are no better, breaking free music, dancing on a Saturday night music - it all weaves a magical listen. We regularly used it in Reckless as a shuffle-play and it had customers coming to the counter time and time again asking - "Who's this?"

 

Retailing at just under twenty-three pounds from some online retailers - this box set of 101 remastered hits and obscurities - is both revelatory and great value for money. And it's music you'll find yourself loving and wanting more of. Like its predecessor - Volume Two of "The History Of Rhythm And Blues" is another 4CD Box Set corker and comes recommended the most...