"The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956" by ELMORE JAMES & HIS BROOMDUSTERS (Originally June 1994 UK Ace Records/Vanguard 3CD Long Box Set of Remasters – Reissued August 2007 UK Vanguard/Ace Records 3CD Set in a Jewel Case with Same Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Dusted Off His Blues…"

When the vinyl album "The Best Of Elmore James" first appeared in February 1965 in the UK on Sue Records ILP 918 priced at 29/11d - certain white English boys (chaps from Cream, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin) grabbed it, listened to the 'loud electric slide blues guitar' of this Delta son and quietly shat their Carnaby St. pants.

"Dust My Broom" is one of those tunes/riffs that has literally altered history - a game-changer that's been copied and modified to buggery ever since it's first appearance back in Mississippi in the 1930's. Lyrically the words "dust my broom" (which reputedly date back to the 17th Century and mean "leave home quickly") were first mentioned by Carl Rafferty in 1933 and Kokomo Arnold in 1934. 

But it was the legendary slide player ROBERT JOHNSON who finally put the words into a song title when he cut "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" on Vocalion 03475 in 1937. Elmore James met the great man sometime in late 1937 (a year before Johnson died) and adapted the song to his own emerging style - electrified guitar slashed by a bottleneck slide. Elmore James' version (credited to Elmo James) first appeared as a 78" in late 1951 on Trumpet Records 146 with an uncredited Sonny Boy Williamson playing harmonica (it's pictured on Page 8 of the book) - and history was made. 

But quite apart from 'that' famous riff - this 3CD (reissue) set makes a strong case for Elmore Leroy James as being way more than a one-song wonder. Here are the early-in-the-morning details...

"The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956" by ELMORE JAMES & HIS BROOMDUSTERS originally appeared as an American 71-track 3CD set in long-box form in June 1994. This is the August 2007 Ace Records double jewel-case UK reissue (same tracks and annotated booklet) on Ace Records ABOXCD 4 (Barcode 029667000420) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 "Canton Crusade" - 62:28 minutes:

1. Dust My Broom (1951 USA 78" on Trumpet 146, A)

2. Please Find My Baby (Version 1) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

3. Hawaiian Boogie (Version 1) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

4. Please Find My Baby (Version 2) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1022, A)

5. Hand In Hand (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1031, A)

6. Long Tall Woman (Previously Unreleased Until 1993 Box Set)

7. Rock My Baby Right (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1048, B-side of "Dark And Dreary")

8. One More Drink (Take 1) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

9. My Baby's Gone (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

10. One More Drink (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

11. Lost Woman Blues (aka "Please Find My Baby (Version 3)") (Previously Unreleased Until 1993 Box Set)

12. I Believe (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5000, A)

13. I Held My Baby Last Night (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5000, B-side of "I Believe")

14. Baby What's Wrong (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5003, A)

15. Sinful Woman (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5003, B-side of "Baby What's Wrong")

16. Round House Boogie (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5001, A - reissued on Meteor 5024 in 1955 as "Sax Symphonic Boogie" with the B called "Flaming Blues" - see 19)

17. Dumb Woman Blues (1954 USA 7" single on Meteor 5016, B-side of "Sax-Ony Boogie")

18. Sax-Ony Boogie (1954 USA 7" single on Meteor 5016, A)

19. Kickin' The Blues Around (first issued as "Kickin' The Blues Around" in 1953 on the USA 7" single Meteor 5001 - reissued as "Flaming Blues" in 1955 on the USA 7" single Meteor 5024)

20. I May Be Wrong (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1010, A)

21. Sweet Little Woman (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1010, B

Disc 2 - "Broomdusting In Chicago" - 70:35 minutes:

1. Early In The Morning (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1011, A)

2. Can't Stop Lovin' (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1014, A)

3. Hawaiian Boogie (Version 2) (1953 recording on the 1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

4. Make A Little Love (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1014, B-side of "Can't Stop Lovin'")

5. My Best Friend (Take 1) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

6. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 2) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

7. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 3)

8. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 4) - 3 and 4 Previously Unreleased until 1993

9. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 7) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1031, B-side of "Hand In Hand")

10. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

11. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

12. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 3) - previously unreleased until 1993

13. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 4) - previously unreleased until 1993

14. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 5) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

15. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 6) (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1022, B-side of "Please Find My Baby")

16. Dark And Dreary (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

17. Dark And Dreary (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

18. Dark And Dreary (Take 4) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1048, A)

19. Quarter Past Nine (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

20. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

21. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 8) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

22. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 9) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

23. Please Come Back To Me (Sho' Nuff I Do) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

24. Session Talk & False Start/Sho' Nuff I Do - previously unreleased until 1993

25. Sho' Nuff I Do (Alternate Take) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

26. Sho' Nuff I Do (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1039, A)

27. 1839 Blues (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1039, B-side of "Sho' Nuff I Do")

28. I Got A Strange Baby (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

29. Canton, Mississippi Breakdown (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

Disc 3 - "Culver City To The Crescent City" - 58:22 minutes:

1. Standing At The Crossroads (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1057, B-side of "Sunny Land")

2. Late Hours At Midnight (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1062, A)

3. Happy Home (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1069, A)

4. Sunny Land (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1057, A)

5. The Way You Treat Me (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1062, B-side of "Late Hours At Midnight")

6. No Love In My Heart (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1069, B-side of "Happy Home")

7. Dust My Blues (Take 3) (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1074, A)

8. I Was A Fool (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1074, B-side of "Dust My Blues")

9. Blues Before Sunrise (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1079, A)

10. Good Bye (Baby) (Take 1) (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1079, B-side of "Blues Before Sunrise")

11. So Mean To Me (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

12. So Mean To Me (Take 3) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

13. So Mean To Me (Take 4) (1987 UK LP "Let's Cut It: The Very Best Of Elmore James" on Ace Records CH 192)

14. Chat & False Start To "Wild About You Baby" - Previously unreleased until 1993

15. Wild About You (1956 USA 7" single on Modern 983, A)

16. Wild About You Baby (1965 USA LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP-5022)

17. Elmo's Shuffle (Instrumental) (Take 3) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

18. Elmo's Shuffle (Take 4) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

19. Elmo's Shuffle (Take 5) - Previously Unreleased Until 1993

20. Long Tall Woman (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

21. Long Tall Woman (1956 USA 7" single on Modern 983, B-side of "Wild About You")

The 40-page CD-sized booklet opens with pages of track credits but the superbly detailed RAY TOPPING liner notes begin properly on Page 6 and finish on Page 31 with a Discography that follows. Inbetween the text are black and white and colour photos of EJ and various support bands, reproductions of those rare Meteor, Modern, Trumpet and Flair American labels, trade adverts, label calling cards, photos of Joe Bihari (Modern Records) and even a copy of his birth certificate from 27 January 1918.

Topping disentangles the messy mastertapes situation surrounding so much of EJ's recorded legacy - admitting that a few titles are dubbed from clean 78"s because masters are either lost or destroyed (Modern cannibalised their tapes in the 60's). Given all that - the BOB JONES remasters are a revelation for what is notoriously badly recorded material. I've heard CDs of EJ's material that a few shades short of unlistenable - not the case here. It's rough for sure in places - but it is at least real.

After the crackly start of "Dust My Broom" - you get to track 2 "Please Find My Baby" - and suddenly there it is - 'that' electric sound. It's an immediate gritty ballsy and visceral kick in the teeth and you can hear 'everybody' who was influenced by his style - from Fleetwood Mac right on through to Johnny Winter and George Thorogood. His great raspy vocal comes shining through on the lonesome "Long Tall Woman" while Ike Turner's piano so compliments "Rock My Baby First". The production values improve on "Baby What's Wrong" (recorded Nov 1952 in Chicago) with J T Brown on Saxophone and Johnny Jones on Piano. James is just about audible on the fabulous R'n'B boogies of "Sweet Little Woman" and "I May Be Wrong" by Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs - sounding not unlike some long lost rocking masterpiece. Elmore's rocking rearrangement of Robert Johnson's "I Believe" (also known as I Believe (My Time Ain't Long)") was Fleetwood's Mac's UK debut single on Blue Horizon in November 1967 (miscredited to Jeremy Spencer) - and practically defined their first album sound.

Johnny Jones once again provides tasty piano fills for "Can't Stop Lovin'" while the whole band whips up a storm for the instrumental "Hawaiian Boogie" which features those trademark licks on his as JT Brown blasts away on a Sax. The growth of "Make My Dreams Come True" (Take 7 is the master) and "Strange Kinda Feeling" (Take 6 is the master) are documented through several aborted/truncated takes - the band finding their groove. And the properly Bluesy "Please Come Back To Me" features Ike Turner on Guitar with Raymond Hill on Tenor Sax. And we return to Robert Johnson for "Standing At The Crossroads" where James puts in a hugely confident vocal against a brassy backdrop. Back to that slasher style for "Dust My Blues" which is one my faves on here.

Given what's gone before - the audio on here is years ahead of what we've had to put up with before - even if it is a bit rough around the gills. But in some respects isn't that what made Elmore James so electrifying in the first place...

Artwork for the original Long Box 

"Beef Ball Baby! The New Orleans R&B Sessions" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1947 to 1949 Recordings (Eight Previously Unreleased) featuring Eddie Gorman, Paul Gayten, Smiley Lewis, Cousin Joe and His Sextette, Jewel King, Dave Bartholomew and (Velma) Chubby "Hip Shakin'" Newsom (November 2015 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Nick Robbins Remasters – Part of The King & Deluxe Acetate Series) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...When Me And My Baby Boogie Woogie... "

The kind of CD compilation that simply falls by the wayside no matter how good the reissue company's intentions, but this is one you shouldn't ignore. 

I know CDTOP 1435 says the dread word 'Acetate' on the sleeve (these recordings – many unissued - were done between 1947 and 1949), but frankly Frank you would be hard pressed to know it. There's a very real reason England's Ace Records states 'Stupendously rare and unissued New Orleans R&B and Blues in Incomparable sound quality' on the rear sleeve as a tagline - they mean it on all fronts. You get Blues, Rhythm and Blues and even Vocal Group crooner moments in amazing click-less audio quality. And the tunes are good too. To the Beef Balls and the Bedroom Blues of olde New Orleans... 

UK released 27 November 2015 - "Beef Ball Baby! The New Orleans R&B Sessions" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1435 (Barcode 029667070829) is a 24-Track CD Compilation in The King & Deluxe Acetate Series that plays out as follows (65:19 minutes):

1. Answer To Chubby's Bedroom Blues - EDDIE GORMAN * 

2. Beef Ball Baby - EDDIE GORMAN 

3. Don't Worry 'Bout Nothin' - PAUL GAYTEN and His Band (Vocal Eddie Gorman) 

4. Hey Now - EDDIE GORMAN *

5. Telephone Blues (Alternate Take) - EDDIE GORMAN * 

6. Worrying About My Love - EDDIE GORMAN *

7. You Don't Move Me No More - EDDIE GORMAN *

8. Swimming Blues - SMILING LEWIS (Smiley Lewis) 

9. Turn On Your Volume, Baby - SMILING LEWIS (Smiley Lewis)

10. Here Comes Smiley - SMILING LEWIS (Smiley Lewis)

11. Love Is Like A Gamble - SMILING LEWIS (Smiley Lewis) 

12. Phoney Woman Blues - COUSIN JOE and His Sextette 

13. Little Woman Blues - COUSIN JOE and His Sextette 

14. It's Dangerous To Be A Husband - COUSIN JOE and His Sextette 

15. Give Me A Clue Baby - JEWEL KING *

16. Go Now - JEWEL KING *

17. Passion Blues - JEWEL KING * 

18. She's Got Great Big Eyes (And Great Big Thighs) - DAVE BARTHOLOMEW and His Sextette

19. Dave's Boogie Woogie - DAVE BARTHOLOMEW and His Sextette

20. Chubby's Confession - CHUBBY "Hip Shakin'" NEWSOM and Her Hip Shakers 

21. Back Bitin' Woman - CHUBBY "Hip Shakin'" NEWSOM and Her Hip Shakers

22. Bed Room Blues - CHUBBY "Hip Shakin'" NEWSOM and Her Hip Shakers 

23. Close To Train Time - CHUBBY "Hip Shakin'" NEWSOM and Her Hip Shakers 

24. New Orleans Lover Man - CHUBBY "Hip Shakin'" NEWSOM and Her Hip Shakers

* Tracks 1, 4 to 7 and 15 to 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

Amidst knowledgeable and affectionate liner notes by Soul and R&B expert TONY ROUNCE - the 12-page booklet pictures those super rare DeLuxe Records 78" labels - "Back Bitin' Woman" by Chubby "Hip Shakin'" Newsom on DeLuxe 3204 and "Turn On Your Volume, Baby" by Smiley Lewis (as Smiling Lewis) on DeLuxe 1099. There are also classy black and white publicity shots for Dave Bartholomew and a fetching Velma 'Chubby' Newsom looking a lot like a smiling LaVern Baker. The last couple of pages provide a Discography as to who plays on what - famous names like Saxophonist Joe Harris and Drummer Earl Palmer. Eight of the tracks are Previously Unreleased with the overall Audio masterfully handled by NICK ROBBINS. 

Faves include the raunchy title track "Beef Ball Baby!" where Eddie Gorman sings the praises of his effortlessly thrilling lady whereas by the time he's gotten to "Worrying About My Love" - the man is distraught at her over friendliness. The Smiley Lewis style of rolling Fats Domino R&B comes sailing out of "Swimming Blues" whilst I can only imagine Velma Newsom and Her 'Hip Shakers' tearing up a storm on any Chitlin Circuit Saturday night. 

Great fun and a disc I like playing a lot. "It's Dangerous To Be A Husband" Cousin Joe tells his Sextette - well it's lethal to have a debit card anywhere near Ace Records of the UK with releases like this...

"Ronnie Rocks" by RONNIE HAWKINS [and The Hawks] – Original Recordings from 1958 to 1963 on Roulette Records featuring Fred Carter, Jr. and Jimmy Ray Paulman on Guitars with guests Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Richard Manuel of The Band on Three 1961-1963 Roulette Tracks with Polydor Records artists Roy Buchanan on Bass and King Curtis on Saxophone (January 2008 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation of Jurgen Crasser Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...She Took The Keys To My Cadillac Car..."

The kind of compilation you'd normally ignore and shouldn't. 

Last time I touched on Arkansas' great survivor Ronnie Hawkins and his band of Gene Vincent-like Rock 'n' Roll reprobates 'The Hawks' was all the way back in August 1990. EMI UK was putting out Remastered compilations to beat the band, feeding a hungry CD buying public pigging out on nostalgia. 

One of those was the American Rhino CD-compilation "The Best Of Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks" given a UK issue on Roulette CDROU 009 - EMI CDP 794890 2 - its 18 raucous Blue Caps-type tracks Remastered and mid-priced to tempt lapsed buyers on a budget. This Bear Family compilation begins with a track that opened that British CD all the way back in 1990 – a then Previously Unreleased June 1958 cover of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days". 

Fast-forward to early 2008 and what you get here is almost double that Rock 'n' Roll trouble in track numbers - 32 to be exact and a near 77-minutes playing time. There is hugely improved sound courtesy of BF's resident Audio Engineer genius JURGEN CRASSER and very tasty presentation into the bear pit bargain - a card digipak with a jammed 48-page booklet put together by a name familiar to Rock and Rollers everywhere – BILL MILLAR. 

With a Discography from IAN WALLIS - "Ronnie Rocks" also has lots of juicy Stereo too in the album tracks, guests that feature four members of The Band with blistering 1963 geetar from a young Robbie Robertson (they are on ten tracks) and Bear even manage to find one Previously Unreleased cut from 1958 (a different version of "Horace"). There is much to detail, so on to the Mary Lou's, Mr. Dynamo's and Mojo Men...

Released in Germany on 28 January 2008 - "Ronnie Rocks" by RONNIE HAWKINS on Bear Family BCD 16873 AR (Barcode 4000127168733) offers 32 Remastered Original Recordings from 1958 to 1963 that plays out as follows (76:42 minutes):

1. Thirty Days - first issued August 1990 on the CD Compilation "The Best Of Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks"

2. Hey Bo Diddley - 1958 CANADA 45-single on Quality 1827, A-side 

3. Ruby Baby - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

4. Forty Days - May 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4154, A-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078

5. Horace - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

6. One Of These Days - May 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4154, B-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078

7. Wild Little Willy - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo 

8. Whatcha Gonna Do (When The Creek Runs Dry) - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

9. Mary Lou - August 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4177, A-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 

10. Oh Sugar - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

11. Odessa - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

12. My Gal Is Red Hot - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

13. Need Your Lovin' (Oh So Bad) - August 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4177, B-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 

14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

15. Hay Ride - April 1960 US 45-single on Roulette 4249, B-side of "Ruby Baby" - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

16. Baby Jean - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo 

17. Southern Love - November 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4209, A-side - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

18. Hey Boba Lou - from the 1960 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

19. Clara - February 1960 US 45-single on Roulette 4228, A-side - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

20. Honey Don't - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

21. Sick & Tired - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

22. You Know I Love You - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

23. Sexy Ways - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

24. Come Love - October 1961 US 45-single on Roulette 4400, B-side of "I Feel Good" - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

25. I Feel Good - October 1961 US 45-single on Roulette 4400, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

26. Suzie Q - from the 1964 CANADA LP "Mojo Man" on Roulette SR 25390 in Stereo 

27. Matchbox - from the 1964 CANADA LP "Mojo Man" on Roulette SR 25390 in Stereo

28. High Blood Pressure - June 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4502, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

29. Mojo Man - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

30. Bo Diddley - April 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4483, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

31. Who Do You Love - April 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4483, B-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

32. Horace - June 1958 recording PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

NOTES: From September 1961 to May 1963 and at five different recording sessions, four members of Ronnie’s group would famously later become THE BAND – the backing group for Bob Dylan in 1966 and a huge group in their own right from 1968 - Jamie 'Robbie' Robertson on Lead Guitar, Rick Danko on Rhythm Guitar, Richard Manuel on Piano with Levon Helm on Drums. They feature on ten - Tracks 22 to 31. Other sessioning players included ace axeman and future Polydor Records star Roy Buchanan playing Bass on Tracks 30 and 31, Backing Vocals from Cissie Houston, Dee Dee Warwick and Dionne Warwick on Tracks 22, 23 and 24, King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone on Tracks 25 and 26 with Jerry Penfound on Tenor Saxophone for Tracks 26, 28 and 29. Ronnie Hawkins sings Lead Vocals throughout.

With this compilation you get the 50ts Rock 'n' Rollin' Ronnie & The Hawks on tunes like their cover of The Drifters huge hit "Ruby Baby" and the crossover Rockabilly-Pop sound of "Mary Lou" and "My Gal Is Red Hot" - Jimmy Ray Paulman playing the distinct geetar on those sessions. But when he hit the 60s and boys in The Band (literally) join proceedings - the sound goes through the roof into almost dangerous garage or even an early form of Punk. When Robbie Robertson is slashing away on "Sexy Ways" or the fantastic "Suzie Q" (you so realise from hearing this why Juicy Lucy covered "Who Do You Love" the wild-slashing-guitar way they did in 1969 when you hear Robertson here) - you're reminded of a dangerous Link Wray - almost live on stage - his guitar is that distorted – a bad Diddley Daddy eyeing your daughter with ill-intent. But whatever tune you play, it's all so hugely enjoyable. This is a constantly surprising CD - even his cover of Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't" sounds fresh and Ronnie-fied. There are many more where that came from. 

In July 2021 the Bear Family "Rocks" series numbers 60 artists and rising (I've reviewed a dozen or so, see list below) and all come highly recommended. 

Just don't forget to feed your need for "High Blood Pressure" from that Arkansas "Mojo Man"... 

The "Rocks" CD Compilation Series by Bear Family of Germany 

60 Artists as of July 2021...

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW]

2. Pat Boone

3. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown 

4. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]

5. The Cadillacs [see REVIEW]

6. The Coasters 

7. Eddie Cochran

8. Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

9. Bobby Darin

10. Fats Domino

11. The Drifters 

12. Champion Jack Dupree 

13. Duane Eddy 

14. The Everly Brothers 

15. Narvel Felts 

16. The "5" Royales 

17. Connie Francis

18. Don Gibson

19. Glen Glenn

20. Bill Haley

21. Roy Hall

22. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]

23. Dale Hawkins

24. Ronnie Hawkins [see REVIEW}

25. Screamin' Jay Hawkins [see REVIEW]

26. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]

27. Sonny James

28. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids

29. Sleepy LaBeef

30. Brenda Lee

31. Jerry Lee Lewis [see REVIEW]

32. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]

33. Little Richard

34. Bob Luman [see REVIEW]

35. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

36. Carl Mann

37. Scotty McKay 

38. Clyde McPhatter 

39. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]

40. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]

41. Ricky Nelson

42. Little Junior Parker 

43. Carl Perkins

44. Louis Prima 

45. Roy Orbison

46. The Platters 

47. Lloyd Price [see REVIEW]

48. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]

49. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]

50. Billy Lee Riley 

51. Marty Robbins 

52. Jack Scott

53. Shirley & Lee

54. The Treniers

55. (Big) Joe Turner [see REVIEW]

56. Conway Twitty

57. Richie Valens 

58. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

59. Link Wray 

60. 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

"A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings" by ELVIS PRESLEY – Includes The Four Sides Of His Self-Financed Memphis Recording Services Acetates, All The Sun Masters, 28 Sun Studio Sessions, Four RCA Masters and 32 Live/Radio Performances – The Definitive Account of the Sun Records Period (2017 UK RCA/Legacy/Sony Music 10 x 10-Inch 3CD Book Set of Remasters with A Detached 120-Page Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...That's All Right..."

For my Elvis Presley Sun Records fix and delectation, I would always reach for the June 2004 single CD "Elvis At Sun" - RCA/BMG 82876 613082 and its 19 tracks and 47:39 minutes sufficient for my Rock 'n' Roll/Rockabilly needs. But then this officially issued RCA/Legacy swoon-fest showed up in 2017 and it's been "That's All Right Mama..." ever since. 

With the involvement of long-time Presley aficionado and a reissue name fans revere and trust - Ernst Mikeal Jorgensen – this Sun Records period splurge was always going to be thorough, affectionate and worth buying. But few could have expected "A Boy From Tupelo..." to be such a winner. This actually feels and looks like a release wanting to do right by his legendary beginnings – and not just dress to impress – but put out the definitive statement on that wild rollercoaster of a start. And in July 2021, "...Tupelo" is reduced to below twenty-two quid as new. Loads to discuss, so let's have at it...

UK released 28 July 2017 - "A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings" by ELVIS PRESLEY on RCA/Legacy/Sony Music 88985417732 (Barcode 889854177324) is a 3CD 85-Track 10" x 10" Soft Book Set of Remasters covering his Sun Records period with an accompanying 120-Page Booklet. It plays out as follows:

CD1: Memphis Recording Services Acetates, Sun Masters & RCA Masters (66:36 minutes, 27 tracks):

MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE ACETATES 

1. My Happiness 

2. That's When Your Heartaches Begin 

3. I'll Never Stand In Your Way 

4. It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You) 

SUN MASTERS

5. Harbor Lights 

6. I Love You Because 

7. That's All Right (45 RPM Master) 

8. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (45 RPM Master, July 1954 recording) 

9. Blue Moon (August 1954 recording)

10. Tomorrow Night 

11. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') 

12. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine 

13. Just Because 

14. Good Rockin' Tonight 

15. Milkcow Blues Boogie 

16. You're A Heartbreaker 

17. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version) 

18. Baby, Let's Play House 

19. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone 

20. I Forgot To Remember To Forget 

21. Mystery Train 

22. Tryin' To Get To You 

23. When It Rains It Pours 

RCA MASTERS

24. That's All Right (RCA Single Version) 

25. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (RCA Single Version - 78 RPM Master)

26. I Love You Because (Spliced From Takes 3 & 5) 

27. Tomorrow Night (RCA LP Version, Overdubbed & Slowed Down)  

CD2: Sun Studio Sessions (75:40 minutes, 26 tracks):

SUN STUDIO SESSIONS 

1. Harbor Lights (Takes 1-2, Level Adjustments & 3/M) 

2. Harbor Lights (Take 4) 3. Harbor Lights (Takes 5-8)

4. I Love You Because (Takes 1-2) 

5. I Love You Because (Take 3) 

6. I Love You Because (Takes 4-5) 

7. That's All Right (Takes 1-3) 

8. Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Slow Tempo Outtake) 

9. Blue Moon (Takes 1-4)

10. Blue Moon (Take 5) 

11. Blue Moon (Takes 6-8) 

12. Blue Moon (Take 9/M) 

13. Dialogue Fragment (Before "Tomorrow Night") 

14. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') (Incomplete Take)

15. Good Rockin' Tonight (Fragment From Vocal Slapback Tape) 

16. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine (Takes 1-2 & 3/Master) 

17. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 1) 

18. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 2) 

19. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Take 3) 

20. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Takes 4 & 5/Master) 

21. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Slow Version, Takes 6-7)

22. How Do You Think I Feel (Guitar Slapback Tape, Rehearsals)

23. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Take 1)

24. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Takes 2-4)

25. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Take 5/Master)

26. When It Rains It Pours (Vocal Slapback Tape, Takes 6-8)

CD3: Live And Radio Performances (79:17 minutes, 32 tracks):

LIVE AND RADIO PERFORMANCES 

1. That's All Right 

2. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

(Tracks 1 & 2 - Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, 16 Oct 1954)

3. Shake, Rattle And Roll

4. Fool, Fool, Fool (Tracks 3 & 4 - KDAV Radio, Lubbock, Texas, 6 Jan 1955)

5. Hearts Of Stone 

6. That's All Right 

7. Tweedlee Dee (Tracks 5-6 - Louisiana Hayride, 15 Jan 1955)

8. Shake, Rattle & Roll (Track 8 - WJOI Radio, Alabama, 19 Jan 1955)

9. KSU Radio Commercial With DJ Tom Perryman 

10. Money Honey 

11. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

12. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine 

13. That's All Right (Tracks 10 to 13 - Louisiana Hayride, 22 Jan 1955)

14. Tweedle Dee 

15. Money Honey 

16. Hearts Of Stone 

17. Shake, Rattle & Roll 

18. Little Mama 

19. You're A Heartbreaker (Tracks 14 to 19 - Louisiana Hayride, 5 March 1955)

20. Good Rockin' Tonight 

21. Baby Let's Play House 

22. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 

23. I Got A Woman 

24. That's All Right (Tracks 20-24 - Eagles Hall, Houston, 19 March 1955)

25. Tweedle Dee (Track 25 - Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Texas, 30 April 1955)

26. That's All Right (Track 26 - Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi, 26 May 1955)

27. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (Track 27 - Louisiana Hayride, 2 July 1955)

28. Baby Let's Play House 

29. Maybelline 

30. That's All Right (Tracks 28-30 - Louisiana Hayride, 20 August 1955)

31. Interview With Bob Neal (5:31 minutes) (WMPS Radio, Memphis, Tennessee, 29-31 August 1955)

32. I Forgot To Remember To Forget (Track 32 - Louisiana Hayride, 29 Oct 1955)

Many have commented on the 120-page booklet but until you see it, its hard to describe how cleverly and beautifully its put together. Take Pages 70 and 71 - there are seven photos on one and another six on 71 - at the bottom you get a numbered reference - most are in black and white but there are four colour of a June 1955 Louisiana Hayride gig where a young lad gets a photo opportunity with the new 'uppercoming Country Star attraction' ELVIS PRESLEY. They even picture the ten 45-singles that Elvis took his cover versions from on Pages 116 and 117. The text is stunning - broken down into a week-by-week chronology of events - for instance Page 61 pictures both sides of the Sun 217 45-single - "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" b/w "Baby, Let's Play House" because it was issued April 1955. The booklet even provides the less-than-enthusiastic trade reviews for the awkward A-side while a timeline chart shows that Elvis played Gladewater High School on Saturday 30th of April. And of course all the key players are there - Sam Phillips of Sun Records - the ever-lingering Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis' chaperoning Mum and Dad - Vern and Gladys. There are lovely photos of girlfriends too - Carolyn Bradshaw, Betty Amos, all a tad giddy to be in the orbit of a rising star. 

AUDIO RESTORATION and Mastering is by SEBASTIAN JEANSSON with additional work from Sony stalwarts VIC ANESINI, MARIA TRIANA and MARK WILDER with Dominick Constanzo and Alan Stoker - all at Battery Studios. As you can imagine it's a mixed bag of the amateur vying for attention with the restored hissy tapes of Sun Records. The outtakes are in great shape and even if the Sun Masters dip a bit here and there, we are so used to hearing the lo-fi releases of yore - this kind of clarity will come as a shock to most. I cannot imagine the number of hours both the presentation and the restoration took, but the results are impressive even if the difficult-to-remove CDs from their card lips is a disappointment (once out, I'd store them in envelopes for ease of access). To the music...    

The sound on the "My Happiness" debut acetate is eerily clean – awesome frankly. RCA admits that the second "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" self-financed acetate is far more compromised and therefore not as pristine, but it still shockingly good. The RPM Master for "That's All Right" has hiss but the sheer power of history comes roaring across your speakers and it put the first of many smiles on my Covid-weary visage. But then you're whomped with the stunning Slapback echo of "Tomorrow Night" in fabulous sound quality – the best I've ever heard it – Scotty Moore on Guitar and Bill Black on Bass. There is also an RCA version (Track 27) but it feels like Elvis is lost in the back of the mix amidst girly vocals, an overly powerful Bass and a scene-stealing Charlie McCoy Harmonica solo. I want to hear him, not them. 

Another wonderful clarity moment comes with the Rockabilly rattle of the kiss and kiss and kiss "I Don't Care If The Sun Don’t Shine" – lights are low – when I’m with my baby. There has been repair to "Good Rockin’ Tonight" – Scotty’s fab solo clear as a bell – Bill’s plucking Double Bass sweet in the background as Elvis sings I heard the news. And while "Milk Cow Blues" and "You're A Heartbreaker" sound good and not much more - I'm taken aback by the Slow Version of "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" – the Audio leaping out of my speakers and Elvis letting rip with just enough power. Suddenly he seems like the rocket they were all saying he was. Music-changing epoch number three arrives in the shape of "Mystery Train" – sixteen coaches long – coming right round the Audio Slap-Bass bend - very tasty indeed. 

In some respects I was crest-fallen to find not one outtake from my fave Elvis track of that period - his great cover version of The Eagles Vocal Group R&B hit "Tryin' To Get To You" (original 1954 on Mercury Records) - or for that matter "Mystery Train" - but the stop-starts of "Harbor Lights" and "That's All Right" are very clear if not minus any dialogue (Elvis being respectful?). And when you hear the live stuff where he tears into R&B influences like Joe Turner's "Shake, Rattle And Roll", The Clovers "Little Mama", Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" and even Chuck Berry's "Maybelline" - you wish they were amongst the outtakes or studio cuts too - but alas. 

For certain that 2004 single CD "Elvis At Sun" is probably all any period-curious traveller needs, but if you've any love for the man and this myth making period - then "A Boy From Tupelo" is the tribute it has always deserved...