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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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