“Blowing The Fuse – 27 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1949” by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2004 Bear Family CD Compilation, Volume 5 of 16, Jurgen Crasser Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Boogie Woogie…It's In Him…And It's Got To Come Out…"

Bear Family's truly fabulous "Blowing The Fuse" series of CD compilations chronicles the transition of minority ghettoized Blues into national Rhythm 'n' Blues and stretches across 16 individual single-disc volumes that cover the years 1945 to 1960. Released across 2004 and 2005 –"Blowing The Fuse" was then followed in 2008 and 2009 by Bear’s equally magnificent "Sweet Soul Music" series of 15 sets from 1961 to 1975 - complimented in turn by their spiritual and musical partners - 15 volumes of Vocal Group sets called "Street Corner Symphonies" covering 1939 to 1963 (released 2012 and 2013). I suppose you could argue that I just say, "Buy the lot man!" in a very loud voice - but bluntly they're so good - each deserves a thorough review (and that’s what I’ve done). So here goes with Volume 1 of the R&B Series "Blowing The Fuse"…

"Blowing The Fuse - 27 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1949" is on Bear Family BCD 16704 AS (Barcode 4000127167040) and was released November 2004 in Germany. Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures an original record relevant to the year (1949 has "Rockin At Midnight" by Roy Brown on DeLuxe), the centre flap holds a 70 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 "Sweet Soul Music" and "Street Corner Symphony" setes of compilations, each of the 16 R&B spines makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a fantastic black & white shot of a crowd of hip dudes and their gals dancing at some Saturday night bar). As you can see from the cover photos of these compilations too, the theme of people dancing and artists enjoying themselves is repeated right across all of these wonderfully restored photographs (they're from The Showtime Music Archive in Toronto). This 1949 issue has 72-pages in its booklet and the CD runs to a fulsome 79:10 minutes.

THE SOUND and TRACK CHOICES:
Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (or the best disc available) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - and given their age and the wildly varying sources, the sound quality is uniformly great. But - it has to be said that in comparison to 1951 to 1960, the sound on both 1949 and 1950 is a lot rougher, especially when it’s off a 78”…

The first indication of this is on Track 3 – the ballad “Bewildered” by Red Miller (originally a hit for Tommy Dorsey 10 years earlier) – it’s rough sounding, but the charm is there and still remains a lovely listen. But then things jump straight into the legendary – the awesome one-chord, foot-stomping “Boogie Chillen” by John Lee Hooker - sounding like Blues was literally invented right here.
As if sensing its importance, the Modern Records 78” is pictured alongside an early shot of him on Pages 12 and 13. Over 60 years old and this simplest of Blues stomps still has incredible power and mojo (lyrics above).

Outside of Blues (Jimmy Witherspoon) and Vocal Groups (The Orioles) - the other order of the day was shuffling boogie tunes – most of which were instrumentals. There’s “Texas Hop” by Pee Wee Clayton (with Buddy Floyd on Tenor Sax), “The Hucklebuck” by Paul Williams (a tremendous dancer that was No.1 for weeks) and “T.J. Boogie” by Georgia piano player T.J. Fowler, where you can literally hear Glenn Miller and Lionel Hampton receding into the background, blurring into that new rocking Rhythm ‘n’ Blues sound – and even Rock 'n' Roll…

Criminally forgotten gems go to "The Spinach Song" by the witty and saucy Julia Lee. Sounding fantastic (top Capitol Records production values), it’s a master class in double-entendre lyric writing – sex disguised as a song about a hot vegetable on a dinner plate (“I didn’t like it at first, but oh how it grew on me…”). It’ll have you grinning and running to the confessional. Speaking of likeable sinners, habitual womanizer and whiskey drinking Wynonie Harris gives us his fantastic voice and another irresistible bopper in “All She Wants To Do Is Rock” – where he also uses the lyric couplet “rock ‘n’ roll” six years before its explosion. “Numbers Boogie” sounds like a nine-year old singing, because it is… Sugar Chile Robinson was a piano-playing child prodigy born in Detroit and Capitol rather cutely advertised him as needing his stool to be propped up by two telephone directories in order to reach the keys. He was a smash though – and even headlined in England’s West End in 1951 (great advert and publicity photo on Pages 54 and 55). Ruth Brown’s “So Long” on Atlantic sounds far better here than it has done on any other compilation I have by her. And of course, there’s the perfection of Louis Jordan on “Saturday Night Fish Fry” – it’s easy to see why he was so beloved and shifted so many units – everything about his songs was right – catchy tune, great lyrics, huge personality…

But my favourites are two criminally forgotten blues shouters - Billy Wright and Charles Brown. Now a footnote in history, the openly gay Billy Wright looked like a younger Little Richard. Wild showmanship, Pancake 31 makeup to lighten his face, even his singing style was lifted by Richard a few years later (James Brown and Otis Redding name-checked him too). His “Blues For My Baby” on Savoy is exactly the kind of great choice the compilers should make. Charles Brown was a ‘classy’ Blues singer – his “Trouble Blues” has a real beauty about it - the great bluesman even received a letter of consolation written by President Clinton, which was read out at his funeral in 1999.

THE BOOKLET:
Although slightly different in layout, like the "Sweet Soul Music" series, the booklet is to die for. There's an intro on Page 4 with the text for the songs beginning on Page 5 and ending on Page 70, so there's almost no wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, and every now and then, a beautiful full colour plate of lesser-seen records and their label bag graces an entire page (“Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee” by “Stick” McGhee on Atlantic and "Rock The Joint” by Jimmy Preston on Gotham and are on Pages 36 and 58). Each song then has an essay on its history by noted writer COLIN ESCOTT and because the booklet allows him to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

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 R&B Music for a given year - "1949" is 'the' place to start.


Detailed track list for the Bear Family CD compilation “Blowing The Fuse - 1949"
Label & Catalogue Number () for the USA 78" follow the Title and Artist Name.
If there's TWO Catalogue Numbers, the first is the Original; the 2nd is the Reissue.

1. Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air – SISTER ROSETTA THARPE and MARIE KNIGHT with the Sam Price Trio (Decca 48090)
2. Texas Hop – PEE WEE CRAYTON and his Guitar (Modern 643)
3. Bewildered – RED MILLER TRIO (Staff 607/Bullet 295)
4. Boogie Chillen – JOHN LEE HOOKER (Modern 627)
5. Deacon’s Hop – BIG JAY McNEELY (Savoy 685)
6. Ain’t Nobody’s Business, Part 1 – JIMMY WITHERSPOON (Supreme 1506)
7. The Hucklebuck – PAUL WILLIAMS and his Hucklebuckers (Savoy 683)
8. The Spinach Song – JULIA LEE and her Boyfriends (Capitol 15367)
9. Rockin At Midnight – ROY BROWN and his Mighty, Mighty Men (DeLuxe 3212)
10. Tell Me So – THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 5005)
[Featuring Sonny Til and Norman Bridges on Lead and Bridge Vocals]
11. T-Bone Shuffle – T-BONE WALKER (Comet T-53/Capitol 57-70042)
12. Pot Likker – TODD RHODES and his Orchestra (Sensation 15/King 4287)
13. Trouble Blues – CHARLES BROWN TRIO (Aladdin 3024)
14. Drinkin’ Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee – "STICK" McGHEE and his Buddies (Atlantic 873)
15. T. J. Boogie – T.J. FOWLER and his Orchestra (National 9075)
16. So Long – RUTH BROWN with Eddie Condon’s N.B.C. Television Orchestra (Atlantic 879)
17. All She Wants To Do Is Rock – WYNONIE HARRIS (King 4304)
18. Roamin’ House Boogie – AMOS MILBURN (Aladdin 3032)
19. Baby Get Lost – DINAH WASHINGTON (Mercury 8148)
20. Why Don’t You Haul Off And Love Me – BULL MOOSE JACKSON and his Buffalo Bearcats (King 4322)
21. Numbers Boogie – SUGAR CHILE ROBINSON (Capitol 70037)
22. Rock The Joint – JIMMY PRESTON and his Prestonians (Gotham 188)
23. Blues For My Baby – BILLY WRIGHT (Savoy 710)
24. Saturday Night Fish Fry, Parts 1 & 2 – LOUIS JORDAN and his Tympany Five (Decca 24725)
25. Cuttin’ Out – ANNIE LAURIE with The Paul Gayten Orchestra (Regal 3235)
26. For You My Love – LARRY DARNELL (Regal 3240)
27. Mary Is Fine – CLARENCE 'GATEMOUTH' BROWN, his guitar and Orchestra (Peacock 1504)

"Rocks" by PIANO RED aka Dr. FEELGOOD. A Review Of The 2009 Bear Family CD Compilation.

"…Do You Want To Rock Baby? Yes! Yes!”

Released April 2009 on Bear Family BCD 16639 AR, "Rocks" offers up 33 slices of Piano Red’s pumping Rhythm 'n' Blues piano style – and it’s a peach. “Rocks” covers 1950 to 1966 on the Groove, Jax, Okeh and RCA Victor labels - and at a generous 78:04 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 label itself repros the 1956 7" single of “Woo-Ee” complete with its Groove Records label 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 26 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 33 tracks from Page 34 to 45 by Bear Family’s own RICHARD WEIZE - which in itself pictures 45"s and album sleeves in full colour (very tasty to look at). Especially worth noting is a series of black and white photos of Piano Red and his band in concert in March 1956 at the Magnolia Ballroom in Atlanta, Georgia – they’re peppered throughout the text pages and are very intimate shots of the band and the audience enjoying themselves. Great stuff…

The remastered sound is by one of their best tape engineers JURGEN CRASSER – he handling the “Blowing The Fuse” series from 1945 to 1960 (I’ve reviewed all 16 volumes). Alive, clean and far better than previous CDs I've had of the same material, the sound is wonderful.

Musically William Perryman (his real name) was like Amos Milburn, Louis Jordan, Smiley Lewis and Louis Prima - an irrepressible force of rockin' joy. His warmth and witty words filled every song and when he was pumping out those party tunes with a big brassy band behind him, it must have been nigh on impossible to resist dancing your nuts off. Highlights include the 1957 instrumental “Wild Fire” with the whole band cooking like eggs on the bonnet of a car, the “I’ve had lots of big women…I’m having a ball…” song of “What Up Doc?” while in “Rock, Baby” he tells his girl to “Get out your silk and satin, because that old gal dress just won’t do…” because they’re going out to party (lyrics above). But the biggest surprise is kept until last.

Not found when the 4CD box set “The Doctor Is In!” was being formed in 1993, five previously unreleased studio cuts have surfaced from Columbia’s vaults – “Jumping The Boogie”, “The Double Twist” and “Rock Me” were recorded in December 1962 – while “I Need You” and “Can’t Wait No Longer” were recorded in March 1966. Being fully-formed and expertly recorded Columbia studio cuts, the Stereo sound is fabulous – and the quality of the songs themselves shockingly good. There's even a slightly Mod feel to “I Need You” from 1966 where it sounds like he's being backed up by Booker T And The MG’s. It’s the kind of song that a DJ would discover on the B-side of some single somewhere and play it in a UK Northern Soul club!

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 1954 Groove single of "Big Rock Joe From Kokomo” - typical of his style (see separate review).

Great stuff and such fun. In the vernacular - recommended the most...

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

"How Sweet It Is: The Columbia Hit Singles 1976-1981 by TYRONE DAVIS (January 2010 UK SuperBird CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 330+ Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

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70ts Soul, R 'n' B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
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"…You’ve Been Waiting For Me Too Long…"

UK released January 2010 - "How Sweet It Is: The Columbia Hit Singles 1976-1981" by TYRONE DAVIS features 13 charted 45-singles and 1 album track - giving fans the second phase of his career after having spent 1968 to 1976 with Dakar Records.

A division of Cherry Red Records UK - SuperBird SBIRD 0006 CD (Barcode 5013929880627) breaks down as follows (67:22 minutes):

1. Give It Up (Turn It Loose) (Columbia 3-10388, August 1976)
2. Close To You (Columbia 3-10457, February 1977)
3. This I Swear (Columbia 3-10528, May 1977)
4. All You Got (Columbia 3-10604, October 1977)
5. I Got Carried Away (from the 1977 USA LP "Let's Be Closer Together" on Columbia PC 34654)
6. Get On Up (Disco) (Columbia 3-10684, March 1978)
7. Can't Help But Say (Columbia 3-10773, 1978)
8. In The Mood (Columbia 3-10904, March 1979)
9. Ain't Nothing I Can Do (Columbia 3-11035, 1979)
10. Be With Me (Columbia 3-11128, December 1979)
11. Heart Failure (Columbia 3-11246, 1980 [DJ-Only Issues])
12. Can't You Tell It's Me (Columbia 3-11199, 1980)
13. How Sweet It is (To Be Loved By You) (Columbia 3-11344, October 1980)
14. Just My Luck (Columbia 18-02269, 1981)

The 8-page booklet has detailed and informational liner notes by BILL FISHER and the music's been remastered by ROGER LOMAS at Ro-Lo Studios. The sound is rich and beautifully clear on the smoocher "Close To You" while the brass and strings on the disco dancer "This I Swear" are full of muscle and power. Great sound quality throughout...

Highlights for me are the smooth soul of "I Got Carried Away" which is so Philly in all the right ways (lyrics above), the sexy slink of "In The Mood" and the truly lovely balladry of "Heart Failure" - which inexplicably only ever made it only to a 7" Demo (never received a stock copy release). The sound quality on "Can't You Tell It's Me" is 'so' good - even if it does get a little cheesy in the spoken-word centre part. In fact, his vocal work throughout is wonderfully expressive and deep - it's easy to see why Tyrone Davis' chart career lasted so long and why his live shows were so well attended - even up to his untimely death in 2004. Such an underrated talent...

If you like your Seventies soul in the vein of The Dells, The Spinners and The O'Jays - with a little Ronn Matlock, Teddy Pendergrass and Prince Phillip Mitchell thrown in - then this rather sweet compilation is going to be a treat and a nice surprise. And with most of this music being released for the first time on CD after decades in the digital wilderness, SuperBird has done his legacy and memory proud.

Recommended.

PS: if you want to further your Tyrone Davis soul collection - read my review for "The Ultimate" - issued October 2005 in the USA on Brunswick - it offers 40 Remastered Tracks covering 1968 to 1976 and includes versions of all 22 of his American R&B hits on Dakar Records (a subsidiary label of Brunswick).

"Tasteful Soul"/"Bitter Sweet" by THE MAIN INGREDIENT. A Review of the 2010 CD Reissue Of These Rare Seventies Soul LPs.

This review is 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

“…Before You Do Anything Rash…Dig This…”

Released August 2010, this mid-price CD makes available two lesser-seen Seventies albums by the New York Soul group THE MAIN INGREDIENT. SuperBird Records SBIRD 0027 CD breaks down as follows (68:16 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are “Tasteful Soul”, released March 1971 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4412
[Lead Singer: Donald McPherson]

Tracks 11 to 20 are “Bitter Sweet”, released June 1972 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-4677
[Lead Singer: Cuba Gooding, Snr.]

Excepting the track “Brotherly Love” (which is on the “L.T.D.” album from 1970), this release will also allow you to sequence the following five USA 45’s issued around the albums:

1. “Need Her Love (Mr. Bugler)” b/w “I’m Better Off Without You”, released 1970 on RCA Victor 74-0382
2. “I’m So Proud” b/w “Brotherly Love”, released December 1970 on RCA Victor 74-0401
3. “Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling in Love)” b/w “Magic Shoes”, released April 1971 on RCA Victor 74-0456
4. “Everybody Plays The Fool” b/w “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)”, released July 1972 on RCA Victor 74-0731
5. “You Got What It Takes (If You Want It)” b/w “Traveling”, released January 1973 on RCA Victor 74-0856

The 8-page colour booklet has detailed liner notes by JERRY EWING on the history of the albums and the band itself. It’s mastered by ROGER LOMAS at Ro-Lo Studios and although the sound is good in places (upfront bass), the vocals often feel ever so slightly distorted at the top end - muffled and cluttered – almost like it’s been mastered off good vinyl and cleaned up. It doesn’t mention master tapes anywhere, so I don’t know… The best way of putting is that it’s very good in places – it’s just not great… and it’s kind of sloppy too not to include the B-side of “I’m So Proud” as a bonus track. Edsel would have done this better…

Highlights include their lovely cover of “I’m So Proud” by The Impressions (a Curtis Mayfield tune) on the very accomplished “Tasteful Soul” album, while the equally impressive “Bitter Sweet” LP gave up the huge Number 2 hit “Everybody Plays The Fool” (lyrics above). There’s also covers of two David Gates/Bread tracks – “Make It With You” and “Look At Me” and a top ballad in “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” – a tune initially featured in the Sixties Broadway musical production of “The Roar Of The Grease Paint – The Smell Of The Crowd”. Tony Bennett had a hit with the track in late 1964 – it’s the sort of song that lends itself to soulful interpretation.

But for me there’s two absolute nuggets on here that sum up The Main Ingredient’s sound (a lush Delfonics, Chi-Lites, Dells type of vocal-group soft soul) – the slow and tasty “That’s What Fate Will Do” and the fabulous “You’ve Got To Take It (If You Want It)” which was co-written with Ed Townshend of Marvin Gaye’s “Let's Get It On” fame. Both are worth the price of admission alone.

The 1st album also benefited greatly from the beautiful vocals of Donald McPherson who tragically succumbed to Leukaemia in July 1971 – only months after the album’s release. His replacement was band collaborator Cuba Gooding Snr (his son is Cuba Gooding Jnr, the Oscar winning actor) – an equally impressive set of pipes.

For lovers of lush vocal-group soul – strings and brass galore – then this is a nice release – and despite my niggles about the sound quality on some tracks – it’s recommended.

“Blowing The Fuse – 28 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1950” by VARIOUS ARTISTS. A Review Of The Award-Winning 2004 Bear Family CD Compilation

"…Gonna Drink Myself A Whole Wad Of Gin…Let The Good Times Roll ‘Til The Cops Come In…"

The "Blowing The Fuse" series of CD compilations stretches across 16 volumes from 1945 to 1960 and was then followed by Bear Family's equally magnificent "Sweet Soul Music" series of 10 sets from 1961 to 1970 (I've reviewed all 10 of those in detail). Having been drawn in by the truly beautiful sound quality and presentation of the 'Soul' discs, I knew it would be a big blow to my bank balance buying even one of these R&B issues - and it was! But I've laboured with all of these time-consuming detailed reviews because these reissues are the business...they truly are.

"Blowing The Fuse - 28 R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox In 1950" is on Bear Family BCD 16705 AS and was released November 2004 in Germany. Each US-based yearly compilation comes in a 3-way foldout card digipak sleeve. The left flap pictures an original record relevant to the year (1950 has "Please Send Me Someone To Love" by Percy Mayfield on Specialty), the centre flap holds a 70 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 10 "Sweet Soul Music" compilations, each of the 16 R&B spines makes up a whole photo when placed alongside each other (a fantastic black & white shot of a crowd of hip dudes and their gals dancing at some Saturday night bar). As you can see from the cover photos of these compilations too, the theme of people dancing and artists enjoying themselves is repeated right across all of these wonderfully restored photographs (they're from The Showtime Music Archive in Toronto). This 1950 issue has 72-pages in its booklet and the CD runs to a jam-packed 79:58 minutes.

Compiler Dave "Daddy Cool" 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.

THE SOUND and TRACK CHOICES:
Bear Family have gotten all the ORIGINAL master tapes from each record company (or in many cases, the best disc available) and their resident expert JURGEN CRASSER has mastered them with care - and given their age and wildly varying sources, the sound is uniformly great. But - it has to be said that in comparison to 1951 to 1960, the sound on 1950 is a lot rougher - the music is as blissfully exuberant as ever (“Stack–A ‘Lee” and “The Fat Man”), but the sound has definitely taken a dip…

The proceedings open with two songs about women – the man in the first song doesn’t understand the signals they send out - and the woman in the second song won’t “put out” at all - "Information Blues" by Amos Milburn and "Sittin’ On It All The Time" by Wynonie Harris. Cleverly chosen instrumentals go to “Strollin’ With Bones” by T-Bone Walker and “Old Time Shuffle Blues” by Lloyd Glenn – both are easy on the ear shuffles – while two overly familiar tracks (and personal favourites of mine) now sound fantastic – the best I’ve ever heard them – they are “Teardrops From My Eyes” by Ruth Brown (see track notes below) and “Please Send Me Someone To Love” by Percy Mayfield.

There’s a lot of great dancers on here too – “Well Oh Well” by Tiny Bradshaw, “Come On Let’s Boogie” by Goree Carter (great guitar work) and “Safronia B.” by Calvin Boze who was as musically and lyrically sophisticated as Louis Jordan. A superb coupling is tracks 18 and 19 – they are “Count Every Star” by The Ravens (which some claim practically started the Doo Wop and Vocal Groups craze) and “Blue Shadows” by guitarist Lowell Fulson – an infectious R&B groove that perfectly compliments its predecessor. Great stuff…

After 22 slices of hip R&B dancers and commercially astute smoochers, the straight-up acoustic blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins then comes as both a genuine shock and thrill. “Shotgun Blues” was written by Sonny Boy Williamson and is so sparse and moody that it’s like a dark past licking at your feet – echoes of Robert Johnson. And that voice – wow - his presence too – extraordinary stuff.

Criminally forgotten gems go to "Double Crossing Blues" by Johnny Otis which introduced the wonderfully expressive vocals of “Little” Esther Phillips to the world, Eddie Mack swigs back a few drinks on his “Hoot And Holler Saturday Night” (lyrics above) and Roy Hawkins practically writes the handbook on “poor me” blues songs on his “misery…lonesome…strange things happening…” whiner “Why Do Everything Happen To Me”. And it all ends as it started – a blasting rocker by Jimmy Preston (written by Louis Prima years before he went solo in 1956). It’s impressive stuff…

THE BOOKLET:
Although slightly different in layout, like the "Sweet Soul Music" series, the booklet is to die for. A couple dancing grace Page 3 (and the front sleeve), there's an intro on Page 4 with the text for the songs beginning on Page 5 and ending on Page 70, so there's almost no wasted space. Each artist is pictured using quality publicity shots, and every now and then, a beautiful full colour plate of lesser-seen records and their label bag graces an entire page (“I Almost Lost My Mind” by Ivory Joe Hunter on M-G-M and "Rag Mop” by Doc Sausage and his Mad Lads on Regal and are on Pages 11 and 12). Each song then has an essay on its history by noted writer COLIN ESCOTT with knowledgeable contributions from BILL MILLAR, DAVE BOOTH, Larry Cohn, Walter DeVenne and many more (photos from Michael Ochs Archives, Victor Pearlin & others). And because the booklet allows Escott to spread out on each song, the details come thick and fast - like Dahl's work on "Sweet Soul Music" - it's a fabulously entertaining and informative read.

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 R&B Music for a given year - "1950" is 'the' place to start.

Track List for the CD "Blowing The Fuse 1950"
(Label & Catalogue Number For The US 78" Follow The Title. If There's TWO Catalogue Numbers, The First Is The Original; The 2nd Is The Reissue)

1. Information Blues – ROY MILTON and his Solid Senders (Specialty 349)
2. Sittin’ On It All The Time – WYNONIE HARRIS (King 4330)
3. I Almost Lost My Mind – IVORY JOE HUNTER (MGM 10578)
4. Rag Mop – DOC SAUSAGE and his Mad Lads (Regal 3251)
5. The Fat Man – FATS DOMINO (Imperial 5058)
6. Double Crossing Blues – JOHNNY OTIS QUINTETTE (Savoy 731)
[Featuring “Little” Esther Phillips and Mel Walker on Duet Vocals]
7. Hoot And Holler Saturday Night – EDDIE MACK and Orchestra (Apollo 417)
8. Mardi Gras In New Orleans – PROFESSOR LONGHAIR and his New Orleans Boys (Atlantic 897)
9. 3 x 7 = 21 – JEWEL KING (Imperial 5055) [Mary Jewel King]
10. Why Do Everything Happen To Me – ROY HAWKINS and his Orchestra (Modern 734)
11. Pink Champagne – JOE LIGGINS and his Honeydrippers (Specialty 355)
12. Strollin’ With Bones – T-BONE WALKER, his guitar and his Orchestra (Imperial 5071)
13. Well Oh Well – TINY BRADSHAW (King 4357)
14. Still In the Dark – JOE TURNER and Orchestra (Freedom 1531)
15. Stack-A’ Lee, Parts 1 & 2 – ARCHIBALD and his Orchestra (Imperial 5068)
16. Come On Let’s Boogie – GOREE CARTER (Freedom 1536)
17. Safronia B. – CALVIN BOZE and his All-Stars (Aladdin 3055)
18. Count Every Star – THE RAVENS (National 9111)
19. Blue Shadows – LOWELL FULSON (Swing Time 226)
20. Blue Light Boogie Parts 1 & 2 – LOUIS JORDAN and his Tympany Five (Decca 27114)
21. Love Don’t Love Nobody – ROY BROWN and his Mighty, Mighty Men (DeLuxe 2306)
22. Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere – JOE MORRIS and his Orchestra (Atlantic 914)
[Uncredited Lead Vocals by LAURIE TATE; Atlantic’s first No. 1 R&B hit]
23. Shotgun Blues – LIGHTNIN’ HOPKINS (Aladdin 3063)
[Written by Sonny Boy Williamson]
24. Teardrops From My Eyes – RUTH BROWN with Budd Johnson’s Orchestra (Atlantic 919)
[In October 1950 in reached No. 1 on the R&B charts (their 2nd number one) and was the first Atlantic track issued on the new 45 RPM 7” single format as well as a 78”]
25. Boogie Rambler – CLARENCE ‘GATEMOUTH’ BROWN, his guitar and his Orchestra (Peacock 1505)
26. Please Send Me Someone To Love – PERCY MAYFIELD and Orchestra (Specialty 375)
27. Old Time Shuffle Blues – LLOYD GLENN with Th’ Fulson Unit (Swing Time 237)
[Featuring Lowell Fulson on Guitar, Lloyd Glenn on Keyboards]
28. Oh, Babe! – JIMMY PRESTON and his Band (Derby 748)

"The Singles Volume 9: 1973-1975" by JAMES BROWN [featuring Fred Wesley, The JB's and Lyn Collins] (2010 US Hip-O Select 2CD Anthology - Seth Foster Remasters) - No. 9 in a Series of 11 - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I've Got A Mighty Good Thing…I Ain't Gonna Give It Up…"

This Review Along With 289 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

HIGHER GROUND 
70ts Soul, R'n'B, Funk, Jazz Fusion
Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters  

Just Click Below To Purchase for £6.95 (2021 Update)

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

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I've been diligently collecting this series of 2CD sets since they started in 2006 and this 9th installment is the fourth 2CD set to cover his extraordinary 'Seventies' output (Volumes 6, 7 and 8 feature 1970 to 1973) - and if you ever required categorical proof of the Godlike genius of James Brown and his fantastically funky backing band The JB's - then these beautifully presented compilations are it. But to the details first...

All tracks are credited to JAMES BROWN except where noted and the pairing of numbers below are the A & B-sides of US 7" singles.

Released 21 September 2010 in the USA (July 2010 from Hip-O's own site) but delayed to 4 October 2010 in the UK - "The Singles Volume 9: 1973-1975" by JAMES BROWN on Hip-O Select/Polydor B0014259-02 (Barcode 602527380209) is a 2CD Set of Remasters and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (74:55 minutes):

1. Let It Be Me

2. It's All Right (1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14199, scheduled for release late 1973 but withdrawn)

3. You Can't Beat Two People In Love (Part 1)

4. You Can't Beat Two People In Love (Part 2) (3 and 4 are People PE 629, scheduled for release late 1973 but withdrawn - credited to JAMES BROWN and LYN COLLINS. 3 was finally released as 'Part 2' of People PE 630 in October 1973 - the 'B-side' to "We Want To Parrty, Parrty, Parrty - Part 1" - credited to LYN COLLINS (THE FEMALE PREACHER)

5. I Got A Good Thing (And I Ain't Gonna Let It Go) - Part 1

6. I Got A Good Thing (And I Ain't Gonna Let It Go) - Part 2 (5 and 6 are Polydor PD 14206, scheduled for release late 1973 but withdrawn. 5 and 6 are an early version of "Stoned To The Bone" - see 7 and 8)

7. Stoned To The Bone - Part 1

8. Stoned To The Bone (Some More) (7 and 8 are Polydor PD 14210, released November 1973. The UK and European counterparts of the B-side on Polydor 2066 400 use versions that are about a minute shorter - 8 here is the full US version. Also some US copies titled it "Stone To The Bone" rather than "Stoned To The Bone...")

9. Same Beat - Part 1

10. Same Beat - Part 2 & 3 (9 and 10 are People PE 632, released January 1974 and credited to FRED WESLEY & THE J.B.'S. 9 samples parts of Jesse Jackson's famous "I Am Somebody" speech)

11. The Payback - Part 1

12. The Payback - Part II (11 and 12 are Polydor PD 14223, released February 1974 - 11 and 12 are the stock copy 'with' the vocals of New York DJ, Hank Spann)

13. The Payback - Part I (DJ promo version)    

14. The Payback - Part II (DJ promo version) (13 and 14 are Polydor PD 14223-DJRE, released March 1974 - 13 and 14 are the demo copies 'without' the Hank Spann vocal)

15. Damn Right I Am Somebody - Part I

16. Damn Right I Am Somebody (Last Part That Went Over The Fence) (15 and 16 are People PE 638, released May 1974 - credited to FRED WESLEY & THE J.B.'S)

17. My Thang

18. People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul (17 and 18 are Polydor PD 14244, released June 1974. The B-side to 17 was "Public Enemy, Number 1" is the USA which is on Volume 8, however, Polydor 2066-484 released July 1974 in Italy and Germany had 18 as its B-side - which is what is included here)

19. Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again (6 Times) (19 is the stock copy issue of People PE 641, released June 1974 - known as the 'short version' at 2:32 minutes)

20. Rock Me Again & Again & Again & Again & Again & Again (6 Times) (20 is the DJ promo issue on People PE 641-DJ, released July 1974 - it has an extra minute of playing time)

Disc 2 (70:46 minutes):

1. Control (People Go Where We Send You Part I)

2. Control (People Go Where We Send You Part II) (1 and 2 are Polydor PD 14250, released July 1974 credited to THE FIRST FAMILY (The Godfather-J.B.'s-Lyn Collins-Lee Austin-Maceo))

3. Papa Don't Take No Mess Part I

4. Papa Don't Take No Mess Part II (3 and 4 are Polydor PD 14255, released August 1974)

5. Funky President (People It's Bad)

6. Coldblooded (5 and 6 are Polydor PD 14258, released October 1974)

7. Reality

8. I Need Your Love So Bad (7 and 8 are Polydor PD 14268, released February 1975)

9. Sex Machine Part I

10. Sex Machine Part II (9 and 10 are Polydor PD 14270, released April 1975)

11. Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself, And You Be Yours (Part I)

12. Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself, And You Be Yours (Part II) (11 and 12 are Polydor PD 14273, scheduled for release summer 1975 but withdrawn - credited as by JAMES BROWN & The J.B.'s. It was then scheduled for release as People PE 654 for autumn 1975 but also withdrawn [credited as by FRED & THE NEW J.B.'S]. Both Part 1 and 2 were finally issued as People PE 660 in October 1975. Also - 11-only (Part 1) was released on People PE 663 in January1976 [credited as by THE J.B.'S] as the B-side to "All Aboard The Soul Funky Train")

13. Dead On It-Part I

14. Dead On It-Part II (13 and 14 are Polydor PD 14279, scheduled for May 1975 release but withdrawn; eventually released as Polydor PD 14281 in June 1975)

15. Hustle!!! (Dead On It) (15 is Polydor PD 14281, A-side, released June 1975)

Like Volume 8, the 28-page booklet by noted JB expert and former tour manager ALAN LEEDS and is a joy to look at - a hugely informative read that's packed to the gills with track histories, concert posters, trade adverts, magazine covers and a thoroughly detailed recording Sessionography. The inlay beneath the see-through CD tray has an advert for "The Payback", there's varying memorabilia on display in the booklet from long-time collector Mathieu Bitton - it's exceptionally well done...

And again, as in previous issues, the first-generation master tapes for the single mixes have been transferred by SETH FOSTER - and he's done a truly superlative job - warm, clear and fabulously alive. There is hiss on some cuts like "Dead On It", but mostly the music jumps out of the speakers at you - gorgeous sound. The word "Limited Edition" is embossed in gold lettering on the rear inlay (it's a limited edition of 5000 copies worldwide).

Disc 1 opens with an ill-advised cover of The Everly Brothers "Let It Be Me" done in a truly-awful Salsa style; it's marginally rescued by its B-side - an easy-soul cover of The Impressions song "It's All Right" (written by Curtis Mayfield). Although credited only to Lyn Collins, "You Can't Beat Two People In Love" is a duet with JB and is superb. Then comes a genuine thrill - "I Got A Good Thing (And I Ain't Gonna Let It Go)" was the withdrawn precursor to "Stoned To The Bone" with similar words but a more slowed down funky backbeat. JB's decision to go with the released version was right. Still, it's fascinating to hear this early version (lyrics above) and there's even a rare Test Pressing of it pictured on Page 5. A clever inclusion is the DJ Promo versions of "The Payback" because it removes the overdub of DJ Hank Spann that's on the stock copies. And the fantastic "Same Beat - Part 1" samples Jesse Jackson's famous "I Am Somebody" poem which he aired on the US TV program "Sesame Street" 2 years earlier to inspire young blacks.  "My Thang" is superlative funk with Brown's ridiculously tight band giving it their all. I also love the Lyn Collins tracks - such great vocals and feel...

Although there's good tracks on Disc 2 ("Control" and "Funky President"), there's a lot on here that aren't - half-baked ideas reaching for funky Nirvana and not getting there. On the plus side is Part 2 of "Papa Don't Take No Mess..." - a largely piano-driven funk B-side that for me is worth the price of admission alone - it's fantastic. There's also a surprisingly tender cover version of Little Willie John's "I Need Your Love So Bad". But the remake of "Sex Machine" is unnecessary - and both "Thank You..." and "Dead On It" fail to spark anything. By the time you get to the 'appealing to the disco audience' crud of "Hustle..." you know JB was running on empty... 

Niggles - there were 4 other JB 45s in 1975 on Polydor, yet they're not on here despite they're being plenty of playing time left over on both CDs - no doubt being lined up for Volume 10. And while it's the nature of singles to cut down the playing time to suit radio airplay, I prefer the extended album versions on "Hell" and "The Payback".

To sum up - I'd admit that after the sheer blasting brilliance of Volumes 7 and 8, Volume 9 comes as a slight disappointment (especially on Disc 2). But if you really want to know why he got the title "The Godfather of Soul" in the first place - and especially why funk fans dig him so much - then buy this superbly featured reissue and concentrate only on the good stuff. It's so worth it. The only problem is that once acquired - you'll want all the previous numbers too.

A genius baby - he really was. And what a loss to music...

"All Night Boogie: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups Vol.Two" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (1996 US Rhino/Collectors' Choice Music 2CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…It's The All Night Boogie…That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout…"

Both this and its preceding 2CD partner from 1995 "Don’t It Sound Good - The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups (Vol. One)" are now deleted and have over the years become expensive rarities in themselves. 

But for vocal group collectors and lovers of the magical Atlantic label, they contain tracks you simply can't get anywhere else. Here are the details...

US released 1996 - "All Night Boogie: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups Vol. Two" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino/Collectors' Choice Music R2 7209 (No Barcode) is a 2CD set spanning 1951 to 1963 (with Eight Unreleased) that breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (69:48 minutes):

1. All Night Boogie – THE CLOVERS [Previously Unreleased, Recorded July 1951]

2. I’ll Always Love You – THE CARDINALS (November 1951, Atlantic 952)

3. For Awhile – THE CARDINALS [Previously Unreleased, Recorded January 1953]

4. Yes It’s You – THE CLOVERS (May 1953, Atlantic 989)

5. You Are My Only Love – THE CARDINALS (May 1953, Atlantic 995)

6. Gone – CLYDE McPHATTER And THE DRIFTERS (Previously Unreleased First Version)

7. Here Goes A Fool – THE CLOVERS June 1953, Atlantic 1000)

8. Two Loves Have I – THE DIAMONDS (August 1953, Atlantic 1003, B-side)

9. I’ll Live Again – THE DIAMONDS (August 1953, Atlantic 1003, A-side)

10. Let The Boogie Woogie Roll - CLYDE McPHATTER And THE DRIFTERS [Previously Unreleased, 2nd Version]

11. Cherry – THE DIAMONDS (December 1953, Atlantic 1017)

12. Cross Over The Bridge – THE CHORDS ((June 1954, Cat 104, B-side of “Sh-Boom” which is on Vol.1)

13. Rock, Moan & Cry – THE PLAYBOYS (August 1954, Cat 108, B-side of “Tell Me” which is on Vol.1 - see also PPS below)

14. Good Golly Miss Molly – THE PLAYBOYS [Previously Unreleased, Alternate Take – see also PPS below re The Cues]

15. Bless You – THE CHORDS (September 1954, Cat 109)

16. Freddie - CARMEN TAYLOR & BOLEROS (September 1954, Atlantic 1041, A-side. Its B-side "Ooh I" is on Vol.1. See also PPS below)

17. If Teardrops Were Kisses – THE ROBINS (February 1955, Spark 110)

18. Walk That Walk – THE SHEIKS (March 1955, Cat 116)

19. Pretty Wild – THE SH-BOOMS (The Chords Under Another Name) (October 1955, Cat 117)

20. Heartbeat - THE SH-BOOMS (The Chords Under Another Name) [Previously Unreleased, Recorded February 1955]

21. Here Goes My Heart To You – THE CARDINALS (December 1955, Atlantic 1079)

22. Don’t Leave Me Fannie – THE ROYAL JOKERS (January 1956, Atco 6062)

23. Come On Home – THE PEARLS (April 1956, Atco 6066)

24.Ain’t She Sweet – THE SENSATIONS (March 1956, Atco 6067) 

25. Your Promise To Be Mine – THE DRIFTERS (February 1956, Atlantic 1089)

Disc 2 (63:37 minutes):

1. Offshore – THE CARDINALS (March 1956, Atlantic 1090)

2. My Heart Cries For You – THE SENSATIONS (August 1956, Atco 6075)

3. I Knew I’d Fall In Love – THE PENGUINS (March 1957, Atlantic 1132)

4. My Only Desire – THE FLYERS (March 1957, Atco 6088)

5. You Made Me Love You – THE SENSATIONS (April 1957, Atco 6090)

6. Fine, Fine Baby – THE ROMEOS (1st released as a 7” single in the Fall of 1957 on Fox Records 846, then re-released in December 1957 on Atco 6107, B-side)

7. Moments To Remember You By – THE ROMEOS (as per 6, A-side)

8. Yakety Yak – THE COASTERS [Previously Unreleased Stereo Remix of the 7” single version]

9. Remember The Night – THE DEL-LARKS (June 1958, East West 116)

10. Drip Drop – THE DRIFTERS (Alternate Take 1st released on the 1964 LP “Our Biggest Hits”)

11. Um Bow Bow – THE BOBBETTES (July 1958, Atlantic 1194)

12. Crying – THE VERSATILES (October 1958, Atlantic 2004, B-side to “Crying” – see 13)

13. Passing By – THE VERSATILES (as per 12, A-side)

14. Charlie Brown – THE COASTERS [Previously Unreleased Stereo Remix of the 7” single version]

15. Don’t Say Goodnight – THE BOBBETTES (May 1959, Atlantic 2027) 

16. I Shot Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES (April 1960, Atlantic 2069)

[This is the 1st Version – a second version was released in June 1960 on Triple-X 104]

17. In The Chapel In The Moonlight – BILLY STORM (September 1960, Atlantic 2076, Produced by Phil Spector, as are 18 and 19)

18. Dear One – BILLY STORM (March 1961, Atlantic 2098)

19. A Kiss From Your Lips – BILLY STORM (July 1961, Atlantic 2112)

20.Twist & Shout – THE TOP NOTES (September 1961, Atlantic 2115) 

21. I Do Love You – TEX & THE CHEX (September 1961, Atlantic 2116)

22. She Never Talked To Me That Way – THE DRIFTERS (featuring Ben E. King) [Previously Unreleased, Recorded October 1961]

23. Storm Weather – THE FOUR CASTS (April 1964, Atlantic 2211)

24. Since I Feel For You – THE SKYLINERS (June 1963, Atco 6270)

25. Let’s Be Lovers – THE STARGLOWS (June 1963, Atco 6272)

The 12-page booklet has detailed and informative liner-notes by PETER GRENDYSA on each of the acts with a few pages of musician credits (where known). Grendysa did the superlative liner notes for the 1994 "Chess Rhythm & Roll" 4CD Box Set and the Louis Jordan "Let The Good Times Roll" 8CD Box Set on Bear Family (see separate reviews). 

BOB HYDE compiled it (has a short introduction in the booklet of Volume 1) with Tape research and digital remastering by WALTER DeVENNE (along with Bill Inglot, he has handled large swaths of the Atlantic catalogue for Rhino). Like the first Volume, the sound quality varies - superlative one moment ("All Night Boogie" by The Clovers - lyrics above), hissy and crackly the next ("Bless You" by The Chords). But overall, most tracks are very, very good given the vintage and limited sources. The only other place I've heard them sound 'better' is on the award-winning Bear Family "Blowing The Fuse" Series of CD compilations from 1945 to 1960 (I've reviewed all 16 - for tracks relevant to this set - see 1951 through to 1958). 

The first 2CD set had only 4 previously unreleased songs out of 50, but likewise, the 8 on this second lot of 50 are shockingly good too. "Gone" by Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters is a more ‘weepy’ 1st Version (a later take is the master for the single on Atlantic 1055) and there’s even studio chatter and a false start for “Let The Boogie Woogie Roll” – both will be genuine blasts for lovers of this extraordinary vocalist. The Playboys “Good Golly Miss Molly” was recorded December 1954 (not a Little Richard cover) and is as infectious as Atlantic Rhythm & Blues gets. 

And the rare Doo Wop groups are a revelation too - The Cardinals, The Pearls and the obscure slightly Latin rhythms of The Romeos. Phil Spector fans will appreciate the Billy Storm trio of tracks, while Coasters fans will eat up “Yakety Yak” newly remixed into STEREO! Downsides – I would have liked the proper single version of “Good Golly Miss Molly” and the inclusion of its B-side “Honey Bun” by The Playboys because I collect anything The Cues sang back-up on (Atlantic’s resident vocal group)…but you can’t have everything.

To sum up - yes it's expensive for sure, but if you're a vocal group fan or a junkie for the truly extraordinary Atlantic label - then "All Night Boogie" is a must own - recommended big time...

PS: see also a separate review for Volume 1 - "Don’t It Sound Good: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups (Volume 1)"

PPS: fans of Atlantic's uncredited backing vocal group THE CUES should note that they are featured on Disc 1 on Tracks 13, 14 and 16. They are also on 3 Tracks on Vol.1