JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS - LP Discography - Referencing “Kansas City Star” The 1995 Bear Family CD Box Set.

"…I Used To Run Away From The Stuff…But Now Somehow…I Can’t Get Enough…"

JULIA LEE And HER BOY FRIENDS
LP Discography Referencing “Kansas City Star”
The May 1995 Box Set On Bear Family BCD 15770 EI (5CDs)

Notes:
15/4 = Track 15, Disc 4
12/3 = Track 12, Disc 3 etc
All albums credit her as JULIA LEE and HER BOY FRIENDS

1. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1950 USA 10” LP on Capitol H-228 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]

2. “Party Time” [aka Julia Lee’s Party Time]
1955 USA 12” Reissue LP on Capitol T-228 [Mono]
[4 Extra Tracks Over The 10” Original, Slightly Different Artwork]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
3. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]
6. I Was Wrong [11/3]
Side 2:
1. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
5. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
6. My Man Stands Out [8/4]

3. “The History Of Jazz Volume 2 – The Turbulent ‘Twenties”
1956 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-794 [Mono]
1. (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along [24/3]

4. “KC In The 30’s” [Kansas City]
1958 Various Artists USA 12” LP on Capitol T-1057 [Mono]
1. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
2. My Sin [9/3]
3. When You’re Smiling [10/3]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]

5. “Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends”
1964 USA LP on Capitol T 2038 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Dragging My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme What'cha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

6. “Tonight’s The Night”
1983 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1039 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. I Didn't Like It The First Time (The Spinach Song) [20/3]
3. Come On Over To My House [9/1]
4. That's What I Like [15/3 *]
5. Knock Me A Kiss [4/3 *]
6. King Size Papa [16/3]
7. Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff [3/5 *]
8. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
Side 2:
1. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
2. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
3. Don't Come Too Soon [11/4]
4. All This Beef And Big Ripe Tomatoes [12/5 *]
5. Mama Don't Allow It [1/3]
6. Trouble In Mind [10/1]
7. Take It Or Leave It [14/3]
8. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

7. “Ugly Papa”
1983 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-603 [Mono, Reissued on CD in 1991 on RBD 603]
Side 1:
1. Do You Want It? [9/4]
2. Dream Lucky Blues [14/1]
3. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
4. Ugly Papa [12/4]
5. Julia's Blues [1/2]
6. If You Hadn't Gone Away (I Wouldn't Be Where I Am) [15/2]
7. Bleeding Hearted Blues [18/2]
8. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
Side 2:
1. It Won't Be Long [1/5]
2. Decent Woman Blues [18/4]
3. Scream In The Night [5/5]
4. I Know It's Wrong (The Diet Song) [6/5]
5. Bop And Rock Lullaby [24/5]
6. Goin' To Chicago Blues [15/5]
7. King Size Papa [23/5]
8. Scat You Cats [21/5]

8. “Julia Lee And Her Boy Friends”
1983 USA-only LP on PA USA Records PR 9020
Side 1:
1. King Size Papa [16/3]
2. Draggin My Heart Around [19/4]
3. My Man Stands Out [8/4]
4. Crazy World [21/3]
5. Gotta Gimme Whatcha Got [3/2]
6. After Hours Waltz [14/4]
Side 2:
1. (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It [14/2]
2. There Goes My Heart [13/2]
3. Tonight's The Night [7/4]
4. I Was Wrong [11/3]
5. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
6. Last Call (For Alcohol) [16/5]

9. “A Porter’s Love Song”
1985 Swedish LP on Jukebox Lil JB-614 [Mono]
Side 1:
1. If It’s Good [16/1]
2. When A Woman Loves A Man [4/2]
3. Show Me Missouri Blues [12/1]
4. I’ll Get Along Somehow [6/2]
5. A Porter’s Love Song [7/2]
6. Young Girl’s Blues [11/2]
7. Since I’ve Been With You [9/2]
8. Oh, Marie [5/2]
Side 2:
1. Doubtful Blues [2/3]
2. On My Way Out [12/2]
3. Wise Guys (You’re A Wise Guy) [20/2]
4. All I Ever Do Is Worry [13/3]
5. Breeze (Blow My Baby Back To Me) [19/3]
6. Christmas Spirits [23/3]
7. The Glory Of Love [6/4]
8. Charmaine [1/4]

10. “Of Lions And Lambs”
1988 UK LP on Charly R&B Records CRB 1175 [Mono]
(* = Referenced in the BF Discography)
Side 1:
1. When Jennie Does That Lowdown Dance [9/5 *]
2. Don't Save It Too Long [13/4]
3. Back Street [aka Living Back Street For You] [19/2]
4. Tell Me, Daddy [22/3]
5. I Was Wrong [11/3]
6. When A Man Has Two Women [4/5 *]
7. Away From You [5/4 *]
8. You're Gonna Miss It [2/5 *]
Side 2:
1. It Comes In Like A Lion [10/4 *]
2. Lotus Blossom [13/1]
3. Ain't It A Crime [3/3]
4. When Your Lover Has Gone [16/4 *]
5. Oh, Chuck It (In A Bucket) [17/4]
6. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out [16/2]
7. You Ain't Got It No More [15/4]
8. I Got News For You [14/5 *]

“Crazy Heart”. A Review Of The 2009 Film Now Released On DVD and BLU RAY In 2010.

"…The Good Ones Feel Like They’ve Always Been There…"

As every film lover knows, Jeff Bridges has been putting in great performances for years - but “Crazy Heart” is different.
Quietly magnificent throughout the entire movie, he owns the Oscar on this one.

“Bad Blake” is a 57-year old country singer, drunk most of the time and shuffling with a cigarette in his gob towards another small time venue he doesn’t care about. As he empties a plastic carton of piss into the parking lot of a bowling alley (having been on the road for hours), he can think about only one thing – not family, not music, not love – but how can he get a bottle of McClure’s Whiskey into his liver with only $10 left in his jeans?

Without any new material to make money from, wifeless for the 4th time and with deteriorating health, “Bad” is still a legend among his fans and when he’s on stage, him and his beloved songs like “I Don’t Know” can still cut it. But the younger bucks have replaced him – especially his despised protégé Tommy Sweet (a brilliantly cast Colin Farrell) who now has 3 huge articulated trucks to haul his equipment from one arena to the next and not a beat-up convertible called ‘Bessie’.

Then “Bad” gets a lucky break. He is interviewed by a local Santa Fe journalist Jean Craddock, a divorced Mum in her Thirties with a bubbly 4-year old son Buddy whom she protects from – you guessed it - ‘bad’ men. Yet despite all her rules, both Jean and Buddy fall for the charms of the big kid with the guitar and the ten-gallon hat. And on the story goes, heartbreak to joy, joy to heartbreak and back again…

The support cast are convincingly enamored small town folks - Tom Bower as the store manager and Rick Dial as the local band's piano player. Colin Farrell sings amazingly well too and is a perfect foil for the aging singer (he's also superb in "Ondine"). Significant others shimmy around Bad's constant verbal abuse too - Paul Herman as his long-suffering manager Jack Greene and Robert Duvall as the bar-owner who never seems to give up on "Bad" and is maybe his only real friend (Duvall is still such a great actor at 79).

Although this kind of movie harks back to Duvall’s own “Tender Mercies”, it feels a lot richer in its details. There’s a particularly tough scene where Bad decides to finally call his son of 28. Bad hasn’t seen him since he was 4 years of age – never helped him, never been there for him. There are very few words in the scene, but there’s a lot of pain. The grown-up son is not surprisingly unforgiving - especially with his Mom having passed away two years earlier. With the receiver to his ear, there is a look on Bridge’s face that is pure destruction – a horrible realization that he has caused agony with his cavalier stay-away life and won’t easily get forgiveness for it. In the hands of another actor, there might have been histrionic tears when the call abruptly finishes – but Bridges just does what an alcoholic would do, not mend his ways, but look cravenly at the kitchen for a bottle to get lost in. And on it goes until he finally does something really selfish and stupid in a shopping mall with a boy who now looks at him with affection. It’s brilliantly relaised stuff, it really is.

Niggles – his recovery is too swift and too painless – alcohol abuse over that length of time is never that easy to shake off, and even though she’s a magnificent actress, there’s a nagging disbelief in the relationship between her character and his – would she really fall for such a car-crash as “Bad Blake”. But these are minor points.

“Crazy Heart” (based on the novel by Thomas Cobb) isn’t quiet a masterpiece, but it's damn close. And while the other actors, the T-Bone Burnette music and Scott Cooper’s superb direction all add so much to the film - ultimately it belongs to its leading man. Bridges imbibes it with believability and a soul few actors could even get near.

As Jean asks what is it that makes a great song – Bad answers with the title of this review – “The good ones feel like they’ve always been there…” You may feel the same about “Crazy Heart”.

Put it high on your rental/to buy list.

“Ondine”. A Review Of The 2009 Neil Jordan Film Now Released On a 2010 DVD and BLU RAY (USA).

"…It's Not Illegal…But It Is Unusual…"

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR 'BOTH' THE DVD and BLU RAY VERSIONS ***

Colin Farrell has become a great actor - not just a good one - a great one - and there's a very real difference. As wildly differing characters, he has amassed an accumulation of powerhouse performances in "London Boulevard", "In Bruges", "Crazy Heart" and "The Way Back" – there seems little he can't do. And Director/Writer Neil Jordan was smart enough to surround him with a hugely complimentary cast on "Ondine" (filmed in 2008) that I dare say the handsome and talented Dubliner absolutely relished working with.

Set in a quiet fishing village in Southern Ireland, Farrell plays Syracuse (nick-named "Circus" because of his previous clown-like antics when drunk) who goes out to fish every day, but both life and the sea have beaten him and his boat into a hopeless wreck. But then something almost mystical happens...

The gorgeous Alicja Bachleda is "Ondine" - a woman literally fished out of the Sea into Syarcuse's trawler net one afternoon. Maybe she's a magical sea-creature - maybe she's not. She can't remember - but mysteriously she seems aware enough to not want to see 'other people' whom she perceives as dangerous. And whenever she sings on his boat, bountiful things happen to his catch - and therefore his fortunes.

Recovering from drink himself, a broken marriage to another drunk (a great performance of skill from Dervla Kirwan) and trying to keep his sick daughter alive (a sensational and touching turn by newcomer Alison Barry), Farrell's character has his hands full. He then confesses all of this to his local Catholic priest, because he knows that the confessional bounds him to secrecy (a wonderfully weary and understated turn by Stephen Rea - who has starred in 12 of Neil Jordan's movies).

But the heart of the film belongs to Alison Barry as Annie - trundling around lanes and grass pathways in her motorized wheelchair. A precocious and witty child – she comforts her troubled Dad - while also giving him a very real reason to stay sober (two years and counting). But life has cruelly lumbered Annie with a life-destroying condition of her own – a failing liver. Ever upbeat though - Annie believes in magic – fairytales – and her talks with the ethereal "Ondine" only fuel this.

But while she's playful and charming at first with the mysterious woman who seems to permanently love the sea, Annie soon wants and needs more. Weakened by the draining hours of Dialysis - she craves a cure, a proper family, a happy ending. Annie starts to dangerously believe wholeheartedly (like a child would) in the 'good luck charm' Syracuse has been blessed with. Daddy's beautiful lady in the secret cottage down by the shore is the saving of them all. Ondine wouldn't be hiding something...would she? And on the story craftily goes to a lovely Sigur Ros song sung on television towards the end...

Filmed on location, the scenery is ace, the locals are believable and the bonds that hold together and destroy a family are realistically portrayed. Believable humour even crops up from time to time - the two fishery officials peering down on Ondine tangled up in his nets instead of salmon (dialogue above). And to the cinematographer's credit they make the Beara Peninsula in Cork where it was filmed look beautiful but not like an Irish Tourist board advert. Even Colin’s Cork accent is good and lends his character a 'humbled-man' feel, which really works. And as Farrell and the intoxicating Bachleda fell in love on set for real, there's also a secret tenderness and chemistry at play between them that feels like art imitating life. It finishes on a lovely song called "Braille" by Lisa Hannigan that sees out the credits…

To sum up - "Ondine" is not a blockbuster - it's a small film with a big heart.
I had a feeling it would be good – and it is.
Lovely, lovely stuff...

Note: A WORD ABOUT THE 'BLU RAY' VERSION:
At present (February 2012) “Ondine” is on BLU RAY but only in the USA. The good news is that the 2010 American release on Magnolia Home Entertainment is 'all regions' so it will play on UK machines (type in barcode 876964003384 in Amazon and it will direct you to the correct issue).

Audio is English 5.1 DTS-HD and there are two Subtitles - English for the Hard Of Hearing and Spanish

The aspect is defaulted 1.85:1 so it fills the entire screen and it's BEAUTIFUL to look at about 90% of the time. There are moments when blocking appears (the opening shots – the intruders at night in their home) but these are few and far between. The clarity when Colin’s in the confessional with Stephen Rea – when he’s talking head to head with his daughter – absolutely spot on – and a joy to look at.

The 2 Extras are 10 and 8 minutes and have interviews with most of the cast and the Director – very nice – if not a little short.

If you can plum the extra for the BR then go for it – because this is a movie that shines on this format…

“Look Out! We Got Soul…Sweet Soul Music” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review of the 2009 10-Track Bear Family Sampler CD.

"Sweet Soul Music" 1965 and 1971 are part of my "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters Soul, Funk & Jazz Fusion" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"...Are The 10 Volumes Of “Sweet Soul Music” The Best CD Compilations Ever Made? 

Here’s A Cheap And Neat Way Of Finding Out…”

Issued in September 2009 as a Sampler CD and retailing at less than the price of a glossy magazine - "Look Out! We Got Soul..." is still on catalogue and a cheap way of getting to hear just how extraordinary Bear Family's accolade-busting compilations really are.

The first 5 single-CD volumes of "Sweet Soul Music" came out in 2008 each with huge playing times and Bill Dahl written liner notes (1961 to 1965). 1966 to 1970 came at the end of 2009. They were themselves preceded by Bear's award-winning "Blowing The Fuse" Rhythm 'n' Blues CD compilations - 16 volumes covering 1945 to 1960. In each series the thick card spines make up a whole photograph - a live shot of Jackie Wilson from 1963 is the photo for "Soul" - a group shot of people dancing at a Saturday nightclub is the "Fuse" shot (both nice touches). Which brings us to this sampler...

Bear Family BCD 17033 breaks down as follows (28:07 minutes):

1. Turn On Your Love Light - BOBBY BLAND (1961, Duke 344)
2. Something's Got A Hold On Me - ETTA JAMES with the RILEY HAMPTON ORCHESTRA (1962, Argo 5409)
3. Walking The Dog - RUFUS THOMAS (1963, Stax S-140)
4. Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um - MAJOR LANCE (1964, Okeh 4-7187)
5. Hold What You've Got - JOE TEX (1965, Dial 4001)
6. Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.) - EDWIN STARR (1966, Ric-Tic RT-109)
7. Funky Broadway Part 1 - DYKE & THE BLAZERS (1967, Artco 101)
[Re-issued shortly afterwards on Original Sound Records 05-64 which charted)
8. Tighten Up Part 1 - ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS (1968, Atlantic 2478)
9. Snatching It Back - CLARENCE CARTER (1969, Atlantic 2605)
10. Express Yourself - CHARLES WRIGHT AND THE WATTS 103rd STREET RHYTHM BAND (1970, Warner Bros. 7417)

Sporting Lee Dorsey on the cover grinning at you with his pistol of love, there's one track from each year and a photo-adorned page given to each song. A let down (if you could call it that) is that the 15-page booklet inside the gatefold card digipak, although nice, doesn't give you the full impact of the actual compilations.
What do I mean by this? How about these - 80, 72, 80, 88, 96, 88, 96, 96, 92 and 76 are the number of pages in each booklet from 1961 through to 1970! Look at those numbers again - and then think about how a major label reissue would barely push 25 pages if you're lucky. Then there's the really big deal - the SOUND...

Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (good Stereo preferred over Mono) and their resident tape expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - the sound is GLORIOUS.

And with regard to content versus sound - as a long-time collector of soul music on CD, I'll admit that I was at first put off this series because of duplications. I had at least 60 to 70% of the tracks already - so why buy them again? What I wasn't prepared for was the blistering sound quality once I bought only 1. You've not heard "Green Onions" by Booker T & The M.G.'s or "People Get Ready" by The Impressions until they've heard them on these sets - they're mind-blowing. In fact, I've played these and other overused songs to the guys in the record shop and to long-standing customers - and jaws fell promptly onto our well-worn carpet tiles...

I can't praise these beautifully prepared and stunning-sounding CD compilations enough. But if you're still unprepared to fork out for all 10 of the "Sweet Soul Music" sets (they're not cheap as imports), then invest in this as a taster.

"Look Out! We Got Soul..." is a few quid well spent, no mater what the year is.

Grammy winning stuff - and roll on 1971 to 1975...

PS: for a more detailed picture, see my reviews of all 10 volumes.

“The Capitol Recordings” by LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH & SAM BUTERA. A Review Of The 1994 Bear Family 8CD Box Set (With 7”, EP and LP Discographies).

"…Gonna Take A Sentimental Journey…To Renew Old Memories…"

Released September 1994 in Germany, Bear Family’s “The Capitol Recordings” offers up a massive 198 studio and live tracks remastered across 8 CDs - 17 of which are previously unreleased.

The 12” x 12” box houses a 40-page album-sized booklet with comprehensive Billy Vera liner notes, studio photos of all the key musicians and singers, publicity stills from the movies “Hey Boy! Hey Girl!” and “Twist All Night”, a two-page album-covers spread in colour - and a fully detailed Discography at the rear by RICHARD WEIZE and LARRY ZWISOHN. It was produced by VOYLE GILMORE and long-time tape engineer ADAM SKEAPING did the mastering.
The sound quality is everything you would expect from people who love what they’re doing – fabulous and full – especially on the 1960's Stereo versions.

In detail, Bear Family BCD 15776 HI breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 Louis Prima, 27 Tracks, 79:19 minutes
Previously unreleased track - “Much Too Young To Loose My Mind” (23)

Disc 2 Louis Prima, 23 Tracks, 66:35 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks - “The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” (2), “Natural Guy” (3) and “Oh, Marie (Alternate)” (23)

Disc 3 Louis Prima, 26 Tracks, 78:58 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “John Ping Pong” (14)

Disc 4 Louis Prima, 18 Tracks, 68:42 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “Judy (Live At The Sahara)” (9)

Disc 5 Keely Smith, 27 Tracks, 77:13 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks – “I Would Do Most Anything For You” (2), “Rock-A-Doodle-Doo” (4), “All The Things You Are” (15) and “Just As Much” (24)

Disc 6 Keely Smith, 27 Tracks, 73:38 minutes

Disc 7 Sam Butera, 25 Tracks, 57:37 minutes
Previously unreleased tracks – “Seven Out” (5), “The Love Nest” (8), “Put Your Mind At Ease” (9),”Hold Out For Love” (11) and “Dig That Crazy Chick” (14)

Disc 8 Sam Butera, 25 Tracks, 60:32 minutes
Previously unreleased track – “Bugs” (1) and “Ol’ Man River (Alternate)” (25)

You get all tracks for 23 x 7” Extended Plays (“Don’t Let A Memory” by Keely Smith is an exclusive track to that format), 24 x 7” singles (32 sides are non-album) and a whopping 15 full albums worth - with the 1961 set of “Hits Of Louis & Keely” being the only duplication. For those who want exact details, I’ve provided 7”, EP and LP discographies separately that reference the track placing in the box (see PS below). Keely’s duet with Frank Sinatra on “How Are Ya Fixed For Love” and its exclusive B-side “Nothing In Common” are also on here.

Fans of Keely Smith and Sam Butera should note that their 5 albums are all here and in STEREO (the mono mixes are only available now on original vinyl LPs) while the later Prima LPs also featured Keely’s vocal replacement GIA MAIONE. In fact it’s shocking to hear how good the Smith and Butera solo records are – warm and witty and just as effortlessly cool as King Louis.

In 2010, over a ton sterling might seem like a lot of Spondulicks to spend on a box set from 1994, but if you want the best and the deepest on these criminally forgotten geniuses of swing, jazz and fun, then this is the place to go. As with so many of these sumptuous Bear Family’s box sets, “The Capitol Recordings” is a thing of beauty and shows deep respect to entertainers almost too beautiful for this world…

Grade-A as ever boys…recommended.

PS: I've provided 7" single, EP and LP discographies in 3 separate posts in my "Discographies" blog file

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE). USA "EP" Discography For Capitol (1956-1961) Referencing The 1994 Bear Family Box.

LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH, SAM BUTERA (Including GIA MAIONE)
USA 7” EXTENDED PLAYS (EP’s) Discography For Capitol Records
From 1956 to 1961 - Referencing “The Capitol Recordings”
An 8CD Bear Family Box Set Issued In 1994 on BCD 15776 HI

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

1. “The Wildest Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 1-755
Side 1: Medley: Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody (And Nobody Cares For Me)
Side 2: Night Train/(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You

2. “The Wildest Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 2-755
Side 1: (Nothing’s Too Good) For My Baby/The Lip
Side 2: Jump, Jive, An’ Wail/Buona Sera

3. “The Wildest Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1956, Capitol EAP 3-755
Side 1: Body And Soul/Oh, Marie
Side 2: Medley: Basin Street Blues/When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

4. 1957, Capitol EAP 810 – KEELY SMITH
Features exclusive track “Don’t Let A Memory” sung by Keely Smith [Disc 1, Track 24], however, I think this catalogue number is incorrect – this EP is “Kenton With Voices Part 1” which doesn’t feature this track

5. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 1-836
Side 1: When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)/The Sheik Of Araby
Side 2: Blow, Red Blow/When The Saints Go Marching In

6. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 2-836
Side 1: Sentimental Journey/I’ve Got The World On A String
Side 2: Pennies From Heaven/Autumn Leaves ??

7. “The Call Of The Wildest Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1957, Capitol EAP 3-836
Side 1: There’ll Be No Next Time/The Birth Of The Blues
Side 2: The Pump Song/Closest To The Bone ??

8. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-908
Side 1: Medley: On The Sunny Side Of The Street/Exactly Like You
Side 2: Medley: Robin Hood/Oh Babe!

9. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 2-908
Side 1: Medley: A Foggy Day/How High The Moon
Side 2: Come Back To Sorrento/I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues

10. “The Wildest Show At Tahoe Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 3-908
Side 1: Medley: Angela/Zooma Zooma
Side 2: Medley: Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me/I’m In The Mood For Love

11. “I Wish You Love”
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol EAP 1-914
Side 1: I Wish You Love/I Understand
Side 2: You Go To My Head/When Day Is Done

12. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1010
Side 1: Them There Eyes/Honeysuckle Rose
Side 2: Love Of My Life (O Sole Mio)/Too Marvelous For Words

13. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 2-1010
Side 1: Medley: Tiger Rag & Just Because/Embraceable You & I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
Side 2: Holiday For Strings/Greenback Dollar Bill

14. “Las Vegas Prima Style – Part 3”
LOUIS PRIMA
1958, Capitol EAP 3-1010
Side 1: The White Cliffs Of Dover
Side 2: Medley: Should I & I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me

15. “Politely!”
KEELY SMITH
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1073
Side 1: Sweet And Lovely/East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
Side 2: I Can’t Get Started/Cocktails For Two

16. “The Big Horn”
SAM BUTERA
1958, Capitol EAP 1-1098
Side 1: Three Coins In The Fountain/Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Side 2: Around The World/La Vie en Rose

17. “Strictly Prima!”
LOUIS PRIMA
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1132
Side 1: Gotta See Baby Tonight/Sing, Sing, Sing
Side 2: Fee Fie Foo

18. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 1”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1145
Side 1: It’s Magic
Side 2: What Can I Say After I’m Sorry

19. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 2”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 2-1145
Side 1: Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time)
Side 2: Indian Love Call

20. “Swingin’ Pretty Part 3”
KEELY SMITH
1959, Capitol EAP 3-1145
Side 1: The Man I Love
Side 2: The Nearness Of You

21. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Part 1”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH and SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol EAP 1-1160
Side 1: Hey Boy! Hey Girl!/A Banana Split For My Baby
Side 2: You Are My Love/Fever

22. “Hey Boy! Hey Girl! Part 2”
LOUIS PRIMA, KEELY SMITH and SAM BUTERA
1959, Capitol EAP 2-1160
Side 1: Oh Marie/Lazy River
Side 2: Nitey Nite

23. “The Hits Of Louis & Keely”
LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH
1961, Capitol EAP 1-1531
Side 1: That Old Black Magic/I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Side 2: Buona Sera/I Wish You Love

Compiled Thursday, 19 August 2010 by Mark Barry in London

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