LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA LP Discography For Capitol (1957-1962) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera And The Witnesses (including Gia Maione)
USA LP Discography referencing “The Capitol Recordings”
An 8CD box set on Bear Family BCD 15776 HI issued in Germany in 1994

The enclosed numbers after the Catalogue Number denote the Box Set placing:
1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2, Track 14 etc

[NOTE: there’s also a 7” singles Discography posted separately]

1. “The Wildest”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1956 USA LP on Capitol T 755 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody [1/3]
2. (Nothing's Too Good) For My Baby [1/6]
3. The Lip [1/10]
4. Body And Soul [1/4]
5. Oh Marie [1/2]
Side 2:
1. Basin Street Blues/When It's Sleepy Time Down South [1/8]
2. Jump, Jive, An' Wail [1/5]
3. Buona Sera [1/1]
4. Night Train [1/9]
5. (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You [1/7]

2. “The Call Of The Wildest”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957 USA LP on Capitol T 836 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. When You're Smiling/The Sheik Of Araby [1/15]
2. Autumn Leaves [1/27]
3. I've Got The World On A String [1/22]
4. Blow, Red Blow [1/17]
5. The Pump Song [1/2]
Side 2:
1. There'll Be No Next Time [1/20]
2. Pennies From Heaven [1/25]
3. The Birth Of The Blues [1/16]
4. Closest To The Bone [1/21]
5. Sentimental Journey [1/19]
6. When The Saints Go Marching In [1/18]

3. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 908 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Exactly Like You [4/1]
2. A Foggy Day [4/2]
3. How High The Moon [4/3]
4. Angelina/Zooma Zooma [4/4]
Side 2:
1. Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me/I’m In The Mood For Love [4/5]
2. Come Back To Sorrento [4/6]
3. I’ve Gotta Right To Sing The Blues [4/7]
4. Robin Hood/Oh Babe! [4/8]

4. “I Wish You Love”
KEELY SMITH
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 914 (Mono) and ST 914 (Stereo, 1960’s)
[Arranged & Conducted by Nelson Riddle]
Side 1:
1. I Wish You Love [5/17]
2. When Your Lover Has Gone [5/14]
3. You Go To My Head [5/12]
4. I Understand [5/20]
5. Fools Rush In [5/10]
6. Don't Take Your Love From Me [5/13]
Side 2:
1. Imagination [5/11]
2. If We Never Meet Again [5/19]
3. As You Desire Me [5/9]
4. Mr. Wonderful [5/18]
5. When Day Is Done [5/16]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “I Wish You Love” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes. Nine of the LP’s eleven tracks are also referenced in the discography for the 2-track tape of “I Wish You Love” on Capitol ZC 42 – the two songs not referenced are “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “You Go To My Head”

5. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Recorded Live At The Sahara Hotel”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
June 1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1010 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Them There Eyes/Honeysuckle Rose [4/10]
2. Tiger Rag/Just Because [4/11]
3. Embraceable You/I Got It Bad [4/2]
4. Should I/I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me [4/13]
Side 2:
1. The White Cliffs Of Dover [4/14]
2. Holiday For Strings [4/15]
3. Greenback Dollar Bill [4/16]
4. Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) [4/17]
5. Too Marvelous For Words [4/18]

6. “Politely!”
KEELY SMITH with Billy May And His Orchestra
October 1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1073 (Mono) and ST 1073 (Stereo, 1960’s)
Side 1:
1. Sweet And Lovely [6/22]
2. Cocktails For Two [6/27]
3. The Song Is You 6/17]
4. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) [6/19]
5. Lullaby Of The Leaves [6/24]
6. On The Sunny Side Of The Street [6/18]
Side 2:
1. I Can't Get Started [6/26]
2. I'll Never Smile Again [6/21]
3. S'Posin' [6/16]
4. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) [6/25]
5. All The Way [6/23]
6. I Never Knew (I Could Love Anybody Like I’m Loving You) [6/20]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Politely!” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

7. “The Big Horn”
SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958 USA LP on Capitol T 1098 (Mono) and ST 1098 (Stereo, 1960’s)
Side 1:
1. La Vie En Rose [7/24]
2. All The Way [7/25]
3. Tennessee Waltz [8/2]
4. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing [7/22]
5. Too Young [7/20]
6. Around The World [7/23]
Side 2:
1. Three Coins In The Fountain [7/19]
2. I Love Paris [7/16]
3. On The Street Where You Live [7/17]
4. Hey There [7/15]
5. The Song From Moulin Rouge [7/18]
6. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody [7/21]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Big Horn” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

8. “Strictly Prima!”
LOUIS PRIMA
1959 USA LP on Capitol T 1132 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. If You Were The Only Girl [2/5]
2. Judy [2/9]
3. Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days [1/12]
4. That’s My Home [2/11]
5. Sing, Sing, Sing [2/7]
Side 2:
1. Gotta See Baby Tonight [2/13]
2. Felicia No Capicia [2/10]
3. Moonglow [2/12]
4. Bourbon Street Blues [2/6]
5. Fee Fie Foo [2/14]

9. “Swingin’ Pretty”
KEELY SMITH with NELSON RIDDLE And His Orchestra
May 1959, Capitol T 1145 (Mono) and ST 1145 (Stereo, 1960)
Side 1:
1. It’s Magic [6/2]
2. It’s Been A Long, Long Time [6/6]
3. Storm Weather [6/4]
4. Indian Love Call [5/25]
5. The Nearness Of You [5/26]
6. What Is This Thing Called Love? [6/3]
Side 2:
1. The Man I Love [6/1]
2. You’re Driving Me Crazy [6/7]
3. Stardust [6/8]
4. There Will Never Be Another You [6/5]
5. Someone To Watch Over Me [5/27]
6. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry [6/9]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Swingin’ Pretty” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

10. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl!” (Music From The Soundtrack of The Columbia Picture)
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
May 1959, USA LP on Capitol T 1160 (Mono)
Side 1:
1. Hey Boy! Hey Girl! [2/19]
2. A Banana Split For My Baby [1/13]
3. You Are My Love [5/22]
4. Fever [2/16]
5. Oh Marie [2/17]
Side 2:
1. Lazy River [2/20]
2. Nitey-Nite [6/10]
3. When The Saints Go Marching In [1/18]
4. Autumn Leaves [1/27]
5. Hey Boy! Hey Girl! (Reprise) [2/21]

11. “The Big Sax And The Big Voice Of ”
SAM BUTERA
1960 USA LP on Capitol T 1521 (Mono) and ST 1521 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. Perdido [8/11]
2. Chantilly Lace [8/4]
3. Just Say I Love Her [8/6]
4. Skinny Minny [816]
5. Night Train [8/8]
6. Honey Love [8/9]
Side 2:
1. Street Scene [8/10]
2. Kansas City [8/10]
3. Easy Rockin' [8/7]
4. Up Jumped A Rabbit [8/5]
5. Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio) [8/13]
6. Ol' Man River [8/14]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Big Sax And The Big Voice Of” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

12. “The Hits Of Louis & Keely”
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH
1961, Capitol T 1531 (Mono) and ST 1531 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. That Old Black Magic [2/8]
2. It's Magic [6/2]
3. Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody [1/3]
4. I'm In The Mood For Love [4/5]
5. I've Got You Under My Skin [3/1]
Side 2:
1. Buona Sera [1/1]
2. I Wish You Love [5/17]
3. Oh Marie [1/2]
4. Embraceable You/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good [4/12]

Notes: the MONO versions for “The Hits Of Louis & Keely” are used in the box set and not the STEREO mixes

13. “The Continental Twist”
SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses starring LOUIS PRIMA
(with June Wilkinson)
1961, USA LP on Capitol T 1677 (Mono) and ST 1677 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. The Continental Twist [8/19]
2. Tag That Twistin’ Dolly [8/20]
3. Chantilly Lace [8/4]
4. Skinny Minny [8/16]
5. Oh Ma-Ma Twist [8/22]
6. Honey Love [8/9]
Side 2:
1. Kansas City [8/12]
2. Come And Do The Twist [8/21]
3. Perdido [8/11]
4. Twistin’ The Blues [8/18]
5. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby [
6. Better Twist Now Baby [8/17]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Continental Twist” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

14. “The Wildest Comes Home”
LOUIS PRIMA With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1962 USA LP on Capitol T 1723 (Mono) and ST 1723 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. You’re Just In Love [3/3]
2. All Night Long [3/7]
3. Glow-Worm [3/5]
4. Twist All Night [3/13]
5. Three-Handed Woman [3/11]
6. St. Louis Blues [3/12]
Side 2:
1. Just One Of Those Things [3/6]
2. Harlem Nocturne [3/4]
3. Everybody Knows [3/9]
4. Lover, Come Back To Me [3/8]
5. Ain't Misbehavin' - Way Down Yonder In New Orleans [3/10]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “The Wildest Comes Home” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes

15. “Lake Tahoe Prima Style”
LOUIS PRIMA, GIA MAIONE, SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1962, USA LP on Capitol T 1797 (Mono) and ST 1797 (Stereo)
Side 1:
1. Scuba Diver [3/19]
2. I Want You To Be My Baby [3/20]
3. Shadrack [3/21]
4. Next Time [3/22]
Side 2:
1. Lady Of Spain [3/23]
2. Hello Lover, Goodbye Tears [3/24]
3. Undecided [3/25]
4. Come Rain Or Shine [3/26]
5. Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night [3/27]

Notes: the STEREO versions for “Lake Tahoe Prima Style” are used in the box set and not the MONO mixes



Compiled by Mark Barry, Monday to Wednesday, 16 to 18 August 2010

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA 7” Single Discography For Capitol (1956-1963) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE)
USA 7” Single Discography For Capitol Records from 1956 to 1963
Referencing The 8CD Bear Family Box Set BCD 15776 HI Issued in 1994

The enclosed numbers after the Catalogue Number denote the Box Set placing:
1/2 = Disc 1, Track 2
2/14 = Disc 2. Track 14 etc

[NOTE: there's a separate listing for the 15 Capitol LPs covered by the box set also]

1. I Wish You Love b/w Shy
KEELY SMITH
1956, Capitol F 3445 [5/1 and 5/3]
Notes: Both tracks are non-album

2. High School Affair b/w Hurt Me
KEELY SMITH
1956, Capitol F 3545 [6/12 and 6/11]
Notes: Both tracks are non-album

3. Banana Split For My Baby b/w Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1956, Capitol F 3566 [1/13 and 1/12]

4. Whistle Stop b/w Be Mine (Little Baby)
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3615 [1/11 and 1/14]
Notes: Although they didn’t feature on the session, “Whistle Stop” was written by JIMMY BREEDLOVE of the vocal group THE CUES.
The Cues did huge amounts of backing vocal group work on Atlantic Records and had 7" single releases of their own on both Prep and Capitol Records. Breedlove also had a Solo career. The song turns up in different form as “Rock 'n' Roll Mr. Oriole” on the Bear Family CD “Why” by The Cues (see separate review). Both tracks are non-album.

5. Equator b/w I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
SAM BUTERA
1957, Prep F 102 [7/4 and 7/6]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

6. Ten Little Women b/w Love Charm
SAM BUTERA
1957, Prep F 105 [7/3] and 7/7]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

7. Sentimental Journey b/w Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
KEELY SMITH featuring LOUIS PRIMA with SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3663 [1/19 and 1/26]
Notes: “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home” is non-album

8. Young And In Love b/w You Better Go Now
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3698 [5/5 and 5/8]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

9. You’ll Never Know b/w Good Behaviour
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3740 [5/6 and 5/7]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

10. Autumn Leaves b/w I Keep Forgetting
KEELY SMITH
1957, Capitol F 3820 [1/27 and 6/12]
Notes: “I Keep Forgetting” is non-album

11. Beep! Beep! b/w Buona Sera
LOUIS PRIMA With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1957, Capitol F 3856 [2/4 and 1/1]
Notes: “Beep! Beep!” is non-album

12. Good Gracious Baby b/w It’s Better Than Nothing At All
SAM BUTERA
1958, Prep F 134 [7/12 and 7/10]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

13. How Are Ya Fixed For Love? b/w Nothing In Common
FRANK SINATRA with KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol F 3952 [6/15 and 6/14]
Notes: "Nothing In Common" is non-album

14. The Whipporwill b/w Sometimes
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol F 3975 [5/21 and 5/23]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

15. Bim Bam b/w Twinkle In Your Eye
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol F 4014 [7/1 and 7/2]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

16. That Old Black Magic b/w You Are My Love
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1958, Capitol F 4063 [2/8 and 5/22]

17. French Poodle b/w Handle With Care
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol F 4119 [8/3 and 7/13]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

18. I’ve Got You Under My Skin b/w Don’t Take Your Love From Me
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH With SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1959, Capitol F 4140 [3/1 and 3/2]
Notes: “Don’t Take Your Love From Me” is non-album

19. Smilin’ Billy b/w Easy Rockin’
SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol 4264 [8/15 and 8/7]
Notes: first 7” single without the ‘F’ prefix in the catalogue number; the backing singers on “Smilin’ Billy” are not identified; “Easy Rockin’” is an instrumental

20. Chantilly Lace b/w Come And Do The Twist
SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol 4683 [8/4 and 8/21]
Notes: “Chantilly Lace” is a cover version of the famous Big Bopper song on Mercury Records; the BF Discography mistakenly omits Capitol 4683

21. Twist All Night b/w Everybody Knows
LOUIS PRIMA
1962, Capitol 4732 [3/13 and 3/9]
Notes: the Stereo version is used for both tracks; both sides feature Sam Butera And The Witnesses

22. Big Daddy b/w Ooh, Look What You’ve Done To Me
LOUIS PRIMA with GIA MAIONE
1962, Capitol 4805 [3/16 and 3/15]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

23. I Feel Good All Over b/w Later, Baby, Later
SAM BUTERA
1962, Capitol 4862 [8/23 and 8/24]
Notes: both tracks are non-album

24. Sunday Lover b/w Little Girl Blues
GIA MAIONE with LOUIS PRIMA, SAM BUTERA And The Witnesses
1963, Capitol 4906 [3/17 and 3/18]
Notes: although both Louis Prima and Sam Butera are credited on the label and were obviously at the sessions, BOTH sides feature Gia Maione on Lead Vocals ONLY; the Stereo version is used for both tracks

Compiled by Mark Barry, Tuesday and Wednesday 17 and 18 August 2010

“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

“Sweet Soul Music – 31 Scorching Classics From 1961” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 1 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mary Barry...

"…I Don't Know Why I Love You...But I Do…" 

Compilations like this live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well "Sweet Soul Music" wins on all counts - it really does. The entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to.

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - “Sweet Soul Music - 31 Scorching Classics From 1961" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 16867 AS (Barcode 4000127168672) was Volume 1 in a 15-set series stretching from 1961 to 1975 – one CD to each year (I've reviewed all of them in depth).

Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1961 has the instrumental "Hide Away" by Freddy King), the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960, each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of a Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake – it’s in the 1963 set). This 1961 issue has 80-pages in its booklet (yes 80!) with a live shot of Solomon Burke on the front sleeve and Berry Gordy standing by his first million-seller gold disc award on the inner flap (“Shop Around” by The Miracles – Track 2) - and it runs to a generous 79:23 minutes.

TRACK CHOICES:

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear guitar intro to "The Watusi" by The Vibrations – as infectious a dance number as the breakthrough Tamla establisher “Shop Around” by The Miracles. I’ve never heard the melodrama of either “Gee Whiz” by Carla Thomas or “All In My Mind” by Maxine Brown sound so clear (even if both aren’t exactly audiophile recordings). Genius choices include the Doo Wop of “Daddy’s Home” by Shep And The Limelites which is soulful in it’s own lovely slow-paced way and the New Orleans shuffle of "Let The Four Winds Blow" by Fats Domino (stupendous Stereo sound quality).

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. And even the way-too-familiar tracks on here like "Blue Moon", "Stand By Me" and "Last Night" are sorted out by the next big plus...the beautifully clear sound...

THE SOUND:

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity on the brass and drums of “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do" by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry is so clear you’ll probably have to turn the volume down, while Dee Clark’s “Raindrops” opens with just that – an explosion of falling rain before the song kicks in – it’s so sweetly remastered that it may make you double-take on the weather outside…

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 4 and ends on Page 77, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, the 7" single is usually sat beside that - and even if it isn't - the album it came off is - with most of it in colour. Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

Niggles - purists might say that as many as a third of the tracks on here have little to do with "Soul" and more to do with R&B, Doo Wop and even Blues - but personally I like the way Booth blurs the lines. And I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of the heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week. 

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1961" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. I’m now going to have to frighten the bank manager as I acquire the preceding 16 Volumes in the “Blowing The Fuse” series from 1945 to 1960 – I’m just going to have to own them.

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1961

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. The Watusi – THE VIBRATIONS (Checker 969)

2. Shop Around – THE MIRACLES (Tamla T 54034)

[Featuring Smokey Robinson and co-written with Berry Gordy]

3. All In My Mind – MAXINE BROWN (Nomar N45-103)

4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? – THE SHIRELLES (Scepter 1211)

[Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin]

5. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do – CLARENCE ‘FROGMAN’ HENRY (Argo 5378)

[Written by Robert Guidry [aka Bobby Charles] and Paul Gayten]

6. You Can Have Her – ROY HAMILTON (Epic 9434)

7. Rainin' In My Heart – SLIM HARPO (Excello 2194)

8. I Don't Want To Cry - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 106)

9. Hide Away – FREDDY KING (Federal 12401)

[An Instrumental]

10. Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) – CARLA THOMAS (Satellite 104/Atlantic 2086)

11. Some Kind Of Wonderful – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2096)

12. Big Boss Man – JIMMY REED (Vee Jay VJ 380)

13. Blue Moon – THE MARCELS (Colpix 186)

14. Daddy's Home – SHEP AND THE LIMELITES (Hull H-740)

15. Mother-In-Law – ERNIE K-DOE (Minit 623)

16. Driving Wheel – LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER (Duke 335)

17. Tossin' And Turnin' – BOBBY LEWIS with Joe Rene Orchestra (Beltone 1002)

18. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE PIPS (Vee Jay VJ 386)

[Featuring Gladys Knight on lead vocals]

19. Stand By Me – BEN E. KING (Atco 6194)

20. Raindrops – DEE CLARK (Vee Jay VJ-383)

21. My True Story – THE JIVE FIVE with Joe Rene And Orchestra (Beltone 1006)

22. It's Gonna Work Out Fine – IKE and TINA TURNER (Sue 749)

23. Last Night – THE MAR-KEYS (Satellite 107)

24. I Like It Like That, PART 1 – CHRIS KENNER (Valiant/Instant 3229)

25. A Little Bit Of Soap – THE JARMELS (Laurie 3098)

26. Let The Four Winds Blow – FATS DOMINO (Imperial 5764)

27. Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) – SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2114)

28. Ya Ya – LEE DORSEY (Fury 1053)

29. Please Mr. Postman – THE MARVELETTES (Tamla 54046)

30. Gypsy Woman – THE IMPRESSIONS (ABC-Paramount 10241)

[Written by and featuring Curtis Mayfield]
31. Turn On Your Love Light – BOBBY BLAND (Duke 344)

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap). 

“Sweet Soul Music – 28 Scorching Classics From 1962” by VARIOUS ARTISTS [Volume 2 of 15] (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…All Aboard The Night Train…" 

Soul compilations live or die based on a few key ingredients - great track choices, properly remastered sound and all of it wrapped up in knowledgeable and (if you're lucky) sumptuous presentation. Well, Bear Family’s magnificent “Sweet Soul Music" CD series slays them in the aisles on all counts - it really does. There are 15 volumes now and the entire series is gorgeous to look at and especially to listen to. 

Originally released July 2008 in Germany - "Sweet Soul Music - 28 Scorching Classics From 1962" by VARIOUS ARTISTS is on Bear Family BCD 16868 AS (Barcode 4000127168689) and is part of a 15-volume series stretching from 1961 to 1975 - one volume to each year (I’ve reviewed them all in depth). 

Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures a 7" single in its label bag relevant to the year (1962 has "You Better Move On" by Arthur Alexander) - the centre flap holds a 60 to 90 page oversized booklet that slips out so you can read it separately and the right flap a colour-themed CD that matches the outer packaging. As with the 16 titles in Bear Family's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" CDs from 1945 to 1960 - each spine in the "Sweet Soul Music" series also makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a live shot of Jackie Wilson leaning into an audience to make a handshake - it's in the 1963 compilation). This 1962 issue has an impressive 72-page booklet with The Isley Brothers on the front sleeve and Barbara George on the inner flap - and runs to a format-busting 79:58 minutes playing time.

TRACK CHOICES: 

I raved about Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth's sequencing on the other editions - it's the same here. Proceedings open with the crystal clear piano intro to Barbara George and her 'All For One' New Orleans soul shuffle "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" (covered later by Ike & Tina Turner and Fats Domino among others) which is then cleverly followed by Gladys Knight's "Letter Full Of Tears" - a tune full of girl-group melodrama. Genius choices include "Snap Your Fingers" by Joe Henderson sounding not unlike Brook Benton at his slinkiest best (stunning production values) and the name-that-city funk of James Brown's "Night Train" which is crystal clear and an absolute joy to listen to (lyrics above). And although "Boom Boom" by John Lee Hooker and "Stormy Monday Blues" by Bobby Bland are really Blues and not Soul, I'm loving them on here for the same reason that I played "Green Onions" to the boys in the shop - the awesome clarity of sound - especially in the rhythm sections...

Booth took his time with this - actually playing the set through - mixing in the famous with the obscure but in a new order - and the result is a truly satisfying listen rather than a patchy one. The compilation begins in January and in rough chronological order ends in December. Also, because of the extended playing time, there's usually only a one second space between each track, so it feels like you're listening to a jukebox of the time - or a good DJ cueing up song after song - seamlessly segueing one cool tune after another. 

THE SOUND: 

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS. The clarity of every instrument on Chuck Jackson's "Any Day Now..." is incredible and the lesser-heard Jazz Instrumental of Jimmy McGriff's Ray Charles cover "I've Got A Woman..." is huge too. 

THE BOOKLET:

Like all the other issues I've covered, the booklet is to die for. The text for the songs begins on Page 5 and ends on Page 69, so there's very little wasted space. Each artist is pictured using a quality publicity shot which is then sided by the album cover the track came off (the LP sleeve is usually in colour and a clever contrast against the black and white record company photographs). Each song then has a 2 to 3 page essay on its history with its title centred like a paper nametag inside a jukebox - a nice touch. Noted writer and soul lover BILL DAHL handles the liner notes with knowledgeable contributions from Colin Escott, Rudigar Ladwig & Bill Millar. And because the booklet allows Dahl to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read. 

Niggles - in terms of "Soul" music as many would define it, I'd say that doesn't actually arrive until track 5 which is Solomon Burke's wonderful "Cry To Me". Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl" is really Doo Wop and Little Eva's overplayed "Loco-motion" is more Pop than anything else. Esther Phillips' "Release Me" has forever been poisoned for me by the man who tears up telephone books and kept The Beatles off Number 1 in the UK. 

But while the compilation does feel a little all over the place at times, I personally like the way Booth blurs the lines and as a straight-through listen, it works. The Motown-followed-by-Atlantic tracks are 'overplayed' for many of us too, but again - and I can't emphasize this enough - 95% of these heard-too-often tracks are at least countered by their great sound - and if that's a complaint, I'll take it any day of the week.  

To sum up - even though they're expensive as imports, I think once long-time collectors actually get their hands on even one of these compilations (no matter what the date) - they'll be irresistibly hooked. For the casual buyer just looking for a great one-stop account of Soul Music for a given year - "1962" is 'the' place to start.

After 35 years reissuing Blues, Doo Wop, Fifties Rhythm 'n' Blues, Sixties Pop and huge swathes of Country Music - this is Bear Family's first real foray into Soul Music - and personally I'm weak at the knees thinking about what they'll tackle next. 

As you can tell, I'm properly taken aback - I cannot recommend these beautiful compilations enough.  Well done to all involved...

Track List for 1962

(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 7" Single Follow The Title)

1. I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) - BARBARA GEORGE with the A.F.O. STUDIO COMBO (A.F.O. 302)

2. Letter Full Of Tears - GLADYS KNIGHT and THE PIPS (Fury 1054) 

3. Let Me In - THE SENSATIONS (Argo 5405) 

4. Duke Of Earl - GENE CHANDLER (Vee Jay VJ 416)

5. Cry To Me - SOLOMON BURKE (Atlantic 2131)

6. Something's Got A Hold On Me - ETTA JAMES with the RILEY HAMPTON ORCHESTRA (Argo 5409)

7. I Found A Love - THE FALCONS & BAND (Ohio Untouchables) (Lu Pine Productions L-1003) [Features Wilson Pickett on Lead Vocals]

8. You Better Move On - ARTHUR ALEXANDER (Dot 16309)

9. Soul Twist - KING CURTIS & THE NOBLE KNIGHTS (Enjoy 1000)

10. Lover Please - CLYDE McPHATTER (Mercury 71941)

11. Soldier Boy - THE SHIRELLES ((Scepter 1228)

12. Any Day Now (My Beautiful Wild Bird) - CHUCK JACKSON (Wand 122)

13. Night Train - JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES (King 5614)

14. Snap Your Fingers - JOE HENDERSON (Todd 1072)

15. Playboy - THE MARVELETTES (Tamla T 54060)

16. I Need Your Loving - DON GARDINER and DEE DEE FORD (Fire 508)

17. Twist And Shout - THE ISLEY BROTHERS (Wand 124) 

18. Boom Boom - JOHN LEE HOOKER (Vee Jay VJ 438)

19. The Loco-Motion - LITTLE EVA (Dimension 1000)

20. Green Onions - BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'s (Volt 102 - Reissued on Stax 127)

21. You Beat Me to the Punch - MARY WELLS with Vocal Accompaniment THE LOVE-TONES

22. Do You Love Me - THE CONTOURS (Gordy G-7005) 

23. Stormy Monday Blues - BOBBY BLAND (Duke 355)

24. Up On The Roof - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 2162)

25. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow - MARVIN GAYE Vocal Accompaniment The Vandellas (Tamla T-54068)

26. Release Me - ESTHER PHILLIPS ("Little Esther") (Lenox NX-5555)

27. Chains - THE COOKIES (Dimension 1002)
28. I've Got A Woman, Part 1 - JIMMY McGRIFF (Jell 190/Sue 770) [a Ray Charles cover]

This review is part of my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series. One of those titles is SOUL, FUNK and JAZZ FUSION - Exceptional CD Remasters - an E-Book with over 245 entries and 2100 e-Pages - purchase on Amazon and search any artist or song (click the link below). Huge amounts of info taken directly from the discs (no cut and paste crap).