"Nothing But Good: 1952-1962" by HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS – Thirteen Albums Worth on Federal and King Records, Single-Only and EP Sides, Collaborations with Little Willie John and Seventeen Exclusive Previously Unreleased Tracks (January 2009 GERMAN Bear Family 5CD Remastered 150-Track LP-Sized Box Set with Hardback Book of 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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"...Finger Poppin' Time..."

Bear Family Records of Germany owns a reputation most reissue labels would probably nobble baby-seal-loving Aunty Flo of the Peace Corps with a lump mallet to obtain. But every now and then, and even by their lofty standards, they stomp on that sucker so damn good that you're left reeling. 

For sure "Nothing But Good: 1952-1962" by Hank Ballard and The Midnighters isn't cheap (nor should it be) and it's not for the faint-hearted or lowly of wallet. But this LP-Sized Box Set and its sumptuous Hardback Book is the total Rhythm and Blues business (with occasional Doo Wops, Twists and Soul Shuffles thrown into the genre mix). 

Across five jam-packed CDs (check out those eye-watering total playing times) you get 150 tracks offering the listener a huge 13 US albums in full and of course all those Federal and King US 45s, Extended Play EPs and even some straggler tracks on a Little Willie John LP. And I count as many as Seventeen Previously Unissued Tracks making their digital debut here. There is much to discuss, fuss and muss over, so in the words of the great twisting entertainer himself - "Let's go, let's go, let's go..."

Released 20 January 2009 in Germany - "Nothing But Good - 1952-1962" by HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS on Bear Family BCD 16795 EK (Barcode 4000127167958) is a 5CD Remastered 150-Track LP-Sized Box Set (Seventeen Tracks Previously Unissued) with a Hardback Book that plays out as follows: 

CD1 (81:49 minutes, 32 Tracks)

CD2 (72:25 minutes, 27 Tracks)

CD3 (78:28 minutes, 30 Tracks) 

CD4 (81:49 minutes, 30 Tracks)

CD5 (81:06 minutes, 31 Tracks)

Bear Family have used the usual crew of R&B good-people DOUG POMEROY did the Disc Transfers, Bear Family's RICHARD WEIZE Produced the Box Set and did Tape Research alongside Tape Comparisons by DAVE BOOTH and BILL DAHL with Mastering by the mighty JURGEN CRASSER – the man who did the mucho-praised "Blowing The Fuse" 1945 to 1960 year-by-year CD series. The 86-page LP-Sized Hardback Book is likely to make even the most die-hard fan gasp – beautiful full-colour plates of Hank in-between album cover shoots, pages of all those King and Federal US 45s, the colour covers of so many LPs peppering the BILL DAHL and RICHARD WEIZE Discography. It’s stunning both visually and audibly. 

This box Set will also allow fans to sequence all of the albums, Extended Plays and Singles from the period (plus subsequent compilations) as follows:

THE MIDNIGHTERS Albums (all MONO):

1. "Their Greatest Hits" (1954 US 8-Track 10" LP on Federal 295-90)

2. "Their Greatest Hits" (1956 US 12-Track 12" LP on Federal 541 - further reissued twice as Hank Ballard and The Midnighters - see list below)

3. "Volume Two" (1958 US 12-Track 12" LP on King 581) - Lady reclining smoking a cigarette sleeve - see below

HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS Albums (all MONO): 

1. "Their Greatest Juke Box Hits" (1956 US 12-Track LP on King 541, 1st Reissue with HB by Jukebox Sleeve)

2. "Greatest Juke Box Hits" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 541, 2nd Reissue with HB Holding Titles In His Hands)

3. "Singin' And Swingin'" (1959 US 14-Track LP on King 618)

4. "Volume Two" (1960s US 12-Track LP on King 581) - Hank Ballard and The Midnighters 'Vivid Sound' sleeve

5. "The One And Only" (1960 US 12-Track LP on King 674)

6. "Mr. Rhythm & Blues" (1960 US 12-Track LP on King 700 - Reissued in 1975 in the USA as "Finger Poppin' Time" on Power Pak PO-276)

7. "Spotlight On Hank Ballard" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 740) 

8. "Let's Go Again" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 748)

9. "Dance Along" (1961 US 12-Track LP on King 759) 

10. "The Twistin' Fools" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 781)

11. "Jumpin" (1962 US 12-Track LP on King 793)

12. "Hank Ballard's Biggest Hits" (1963 US 12-Track LP on King 867)

13. "Glad, Sad, Shout, Sweet Fast, Slow, New and Blue Songs" (1965 US 12-Track LP on King 927)

Beginning with 1952's "Get It" when he began his career in the Vocal Group The Royals (charted in January 1953) on Federal Records – both as The Midnighters and then Hank Ballard and The Midnighters – Detroit, Michigan's finest placed a further twenty singles on the American Billboard R&B Charts – three of which went all the way to No. 1 - "Work With Me Annie" on Federal 12169 and "Annie Had A Baby" on Federal 12195 (both in 1954) and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" in 1960. 

He and his band of R&B pirates were (along with Chubby Checker) also heavily involved in one of the dance crazes of the 60s – The Twist (that 45-single went to No. 6 on King 5171 in 1960). His last big chart showing in 1961 would be the title of this box set "Nothing But Good" on King 6196, which made No. 15. Ballard would trouble the R&B charts for the last time with The Dapps in 1968, but that's outside the purview of this Box Set. They are all here though - "The Switch-A-Roo", "The Hoochi Coochi Coo", "Finger Poppin' Time" and loads more to bop too. I also love those vocal group moments in the early years like "Tell Them" from 1954. 

A simple Best Of would suffice for most, and with regard to stretching further, I've reviewed the excellent October 2000 UK CD compilation by Ace Records called "Dancin' And Twistin'" that covers the full gamut from 1955 to 1969 – tapping into 45s on Federal and King that didn't chart as well. 

But this is the Rolls Royce of treatments and his fun-music legacy deserved nothing less. Ballard issued a US 45 in October 1953 on Federal 12150, the A-side being called "Hello Miss Fine". Well, if you can afford "Nothing But Good: 1952-1962", say hello to 'Mister Excellence' and then some...

"The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" by THE CADETS and THE JACKS [and ROCKATEERS] (1995 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters Covering 1955 to 1958 on Modern and RPM Records) – see also Volume 1 from 1994 "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - 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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"…Fine Lookin' Baby…"

Volume 1 in the story of the intertwining American Vocal Groups THE CADETS and THE JACKS is "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - a September 1994 25-track CD on Ace CDCHD 523 (Barcode 029667153423). 

Well here comes Volume 2 concentrating on THE JACKS side of things. UK released May 1995 - "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" on Ace CDCHD 535 (Barcode 029667153522) has more detailed liner notes by noted Rhythm 'n' Blues expert JIM DAWSON and superlative remastered sound from original analogue master tapes (68:25 minutes).

THE CADETS released 14 singles on Modern and THE JACKS managed 7 on their subsidiary label RPM (the same group using a different name) as well as an ultra-rare one-off by THE ROCKATEERS on M.J.C. Records. But each of these intertwined R'n'B Vocal Group incarnations charted big just once. THE JACKS got there first in July 1955 with "Why Don't You Write Me?" on RPM Records 428 (rose to Number 3) while THE CADETS made it with the novelty hit "Stranded In The Jungle" on Modern 944 in July 1956 (rose to Number 4). "Stranded In The Jungle" was in itself a cover of a JAYHAWKS song on Flash Records 109 that made Number 9 in July 1956.

Using both CDs - here is a discography for each group and their American singles:

[7/1] = Track number 7 on Volume 1 while [7/2] = Track 7 on Volume 2 etc...

THE CADETS

1. Don't Be Angry [7/1] b/w I Cried  [7/2] (Modern 956, April 1955)

2. Rollin' Stone [6/1] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 960, June 1955)

3. I Cried [7/2] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 963, July 1955)

4. Annie Met Henry [5/1] b/w So Will I [24/2] (Modern 969, 1955)

5. Do You Wanna Rock [4/2] b/w If It Is Wrong [15/2] (Modern 971, November 1955)

6. Heartbreak Hotel [18/1] b/w Church Bells May Ring [15/1] (Modern 985, February 1956)

7. Stranded In The Jungle [1/1] b/w I Want You [19/2] (Modern 994, June 1956)

8. I Got Loaded [22/1] b/w Dancin' Dan [22/2] (Modern 1000, September 1956)

9. I'll Be Spinning [23/1] b/w Fools Rush In [3/1] (Modern 1006, Nov 1956)

10. Love Bandit [13/1] b/w Heaven Help Me [3/2] (Modern 1012, December 1956)

11. Wiggle Waggle Woo [12/2] b/w You Belong To Me [20/2] (Modern 1017, 1957)

12. Pretty Evey [10/1] b/w Rum, Jamaica Rum [20/1] (Modern 1019, May 1957, credited as Aaron Collins & The Cadets)

13. Hands Across The Table [8/1] b/w Love Can Do Most Anything [11/1] (Modern 1024, August 1957 credited as Will Jones & The Cadets)

14. Ring Chimes [17/1] b/w Baby Ya Know [12/1] (Modern 1026, December 1957)

THE JACKS

1. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w Smack Dab In The Middle [9/1] (RPM 428, April 1955) - this was withdrawn for...

2. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w My Darling [25/2] (RPM 428, July 1955)

3. I'm Confessin' [13/2] b/w Since My Baby's Been Gone [2/2] (July 1955, RPM 433)

4. This Empty Heart [23/2] b/w My Clumsy Heart [4/1] (November 1955, RPM 444)

5. How Soon [6/2] b/w So Wrong [11/2] (January 1956, RPM 454)

6. Why Did I Fall In Love? [18/2] b/w Sugar Baby [24/1] (April 1956, RPM 458)

7. Dream A Little Longer [9/2] b/w Let's Make Up [14/2] (July 1957, RPM 467)

THE ROCKATEERS

1. They Turned The Party Out Down At Bessie's House [8/2] b/w My Reckless Heart [17/2] (1958, M.J.C Records 501)

Volume 2 has 1 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED OUTTAKE - a version of "Dream A Little Longer". As with Volume 1 - the much-revered LITTLE WALTER DE VENNE researched and compiled the set and the hugely informative 12-page booklet by JIM DAWSON gives a virtual track-by-track history - even reproducing tiny Cashbox Adverts in between the text. But the big news is the stunning audio quality. The greatly missed 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES mastered the tracks initially for the 1987 LP "The Cadets Meet The Jacks" - whilst this set CD reissue boasts 1995 Post Production work done by DAVID YOUNG at Sound Mastering in London. The sonic clarity is fabulous - clear, full of life, great presence and sounding like they were recorded yesterday and not a half-a-century ago.

Aaron Collins and Will "Dub" Jones handled the leads on The Cadets sides while Tenor Willie Davis fronted The Jacks with the other three integral parts of the group being - Ted Taylor (Tenor), Glendon Kingsby (who left to pursue Gospel) and Lloyd McCraw (Baritone).

Vocal Group fans will love the CD inclusion of the ultra-rare ROCKATEERS single which was essentially a private press on M.J.C. (stands for group members McCraw, Jones and Collins) - it's listed at $2000 + (if you can find a copy) and to my knowledge is first time on CD here. I love the piano-driven "Fine Lookin' Baby" and finger-clicking "Let's Make Up" reminds me of THE CUES. What is also noticeable about THE JACKS material is that it's more Crooner Doo Wop than the rocking sides of THE CADETS - lovely stuff like "I'm Confessin'" and "Dream A Little Longer".

Ted Taylor enjoyed a great solo career - both Collins and Davis would join The Flairs in 1961 while Betty and Rosie Collins (his sisters) recorded as The Teen Queens. Will "Dub" Jones would later be with The Coasters as their Bass Vocalist - staying with them for over 10 years.

Great stuff and just as good as Volume 1...

"The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" by THE CADETS and THE JACKS – Volume 1 Has 1955 to 1957 US Tracks and Singles on Modern Records (1994 UK Ace Records Expanded CD Reissue & Remaster) – see also "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Vol.2: Why Don't You Write Me?" - 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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"...Hands Across The Table..."

Some reissue LPs stay with you and you love them to distraction - Rockstar's 1985 Eddie Cochran Compilation "Portrait Of A Legend" (with Stereo Takes), Big Joe Turner's "Rhythm & Blues Years" double album on Atlantic from 1986 and this cracker from Ace Records of the UK covering two great R 'n' B Vocal Groups from the mid Fifties...The Cadets and The Jacks...

It was first issued as a 16-track VINYL LP in the UK called "The Cadets Meet The Jacks" on Ace Records CH 196 in January 1987. This September 1994 UK-released CD upgrade called "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" on Ace Records CDCHD 523 (Barcode 029667153423) expands that initial count of 16 and adds 9 more to make it 25 tracks in all (65:22 minutes total playing time). The CD also replaces Ted Carroll's liner notes with those of Chicago Rhythm 'n' Blues expert JIM DAWSON.

Although THE CADETS released 14 singles and THE JACKS managed 6 on Modern - each of these intertwined R 'n' B Vocal Group incarnations charted big just once. THE JACKS got there first in July 1955 with "Why Don't You Write Me?" on RPM Records 428 while THE CADETS made it with the novelty hit "Stranded In The Jungle" on Modern 944 in July 1956 (itself a cover of a JAYHAWKS song on Flash Records 109 also in 1956). 

This first volume CD concentrates mainly on THE CADETS between 1955 and 1957 and along with a second Ace CD compilation called "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Vol.2: Why Don't You Write Me?" released on CD in May 1995 (CDCHD 535) will allow fans to sequence all of their singles on Modern as follows:

[7/1] = Track number 7 on Volume 1 while [7/2] = Track 7 on Volume 2 

(you will need both CDs):

1. Don't Be Angry [7/1] b/w I Cried  [7/2] (Modern 956, April 1955)

2. Rollin' Stone [6/1] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 960, June 1955)

3. I Cried [7/2] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 963, July 1955)

4. Annie Met Henry [5/1] b/w So Will I [24/2] (Modern 969, 1955)

5. Do You Wanna Rock [4/2] b/w If It Is Wrong [15/2] (Modern 971, November 1955)

6. Heartbreak Hotel [18/1] b/w Church Bells May Ring [15/1] (Modern 985, February 1956)

7. Stranded In The Jungle [1/1] b/w I Want You [19/2] (Modern 994, June 1956)

8. I Got Loaded [22/1] b/w Dancin' Dan [22/2] (Modern 1000, September 1956)

9. I'll Be Spinning [23/1] b/w Fools Rush In [3/1] (Modern 1006, Nov 1956)

10. Love Bandit [13/1] b/w Heaven Help Me [3/2] (Modern 1012, December 1956)

11. Wiggle Waggle Woo [12/2] b/w You Belong To Me [20/2] (Modern 1017, 1957)

12. Pretty Evey [10/1] b/w Rum, Jamaica Rum [20/1] (Modern 1019, May 1957, credited as Aaron Collins & The Cadets)

13. Hands Across The Table [8/1] b/w Love Can Do Most Anything [11/1] (Modern 1024, August 1957 credited as Will Jones & The Cadets)

14. Ring Chimes [17/1] b/w Baby Ya Know [12/1] (Modern 1026, December 1957)

This CD has 4 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED - Tracks 5, 14, 19 are 'Alternate Takes' of Annie Met Henry, Why Did I Fall In Love and Dancin' Dan - while Track 25 is an 'Undubbed Version' of Stranded In The Jungle (without the overdubbed Jungle sounds). The much-revered LITTLE WALTER DE VENNE researched and compiled the set and the hugely informative 12-page booklet by JIM DAWSON gives a virtual track-by-track history - even reproducing tiny Cashbox Adverts in between the text. But the big news (as it was with the LP) is the stunning audio quality. The greatly missed 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES mastered the tracks initially for the 1987 LP - whilst this set boasts 1994 Post Production work done by DAVID YOUNG at Sound Mastering in London. The sonic clarity is fabulous - clear, full of life, great presence and sounding like they were recorded yesterday and not a half-a-century ago.

The handsome quartet on the cover shot (from left to right) are Will "Dub" Jones, Willie Davis, Thomas "Pete" Fox and Aaron Collins. Sporting two world-class frontmen - Will Jones had the most extraordinary low-low-low Bass voice while Aaron Collins was the other Lead Tenor (he also co-wrote "Car Crash" and "Don't"). Collins and Jones handled the leads on The Cadets sides while Tenor Willie Davis fronted The Jacks. Not featured on the glorious album cover are the other three integral parts of the group - Ted Taylor (Tenor), Glendon Kingsby (who left to pursue Gospel) and Lloyd McCraw (Baritone).

The Cadets specialized in doing cover versions of other people's hits. Their debut single is a version of Nappy Brown's "Don't Be Angry", "Do You Wanna Rock" is a re-working of Clyde McPhatter & The Drifter's Atlantic hit "Whatcha Gonna Do" and they even had an unsuccessful stab at Elvis Presley on the A and The Willows on the B for Modern 985 in the heat of Rock 'n' Roll in February 1956. Whilst this almost total reliance on covers doesn't sound promising - one of the reasons I love these CD compilations so much is that their versions are actually ace in my books. 

The group could effortlessly switch between Slow Vocal Group Crooner tunes and outright Rocking R'n'B - having the lead tenor vocalists able to slay both. I adore "Hands Across The Table" (a song stretching all they way back to 1934) with Dub Jones' voice literally startling the neighbours - while the Johnny Mercer/Glenn Miller perennial "Fools Rush In" is gorgeous. They take the wonderful crossover hit "Sixty Minute Man" by Billy Ward & The Dominoes and turn it into an equally cool dancer - "Dancin' Dan". And the drinking song "I Got Loaded" made it onto many of my Shop Play CDs when I was at Reckless.

Ted Taylor enjoyed a great solo career - both Collins and Davis would join The Flairs in 1961 while Betty and Rosie Collins (his sisters) recorded as The Teen Queens. Will "Dub" Jones later went with The Coasters as their Bass Vocalist - staying with them for over 10 years.

Cool, classy and crack-a-lackin' good - I love these CADETS and JACKS CDs and I urge you to do the finger-clickin' same...

"Are You Hep To The Jive?" by CAB CALLOWAY (August 1994 US Columbia/Legacy CD Compilation of Remasters - Part of the "Columbia Legacy Rhythm & Soul" Series of Reissue CDs) - 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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"…Don't Falter At The Altar! All Reet Then!"

With the USA in the grips of the 1929 Stock Market Crash and the subsequent 1930's Depression - Rochester's CAB CALLOWAY was 23 and making $50,000 a year, driving around in a Lincoln Continental, wearing white evening silk suits and fur coats whilst betting on leggy ponies and traversing even friskier molls. 

Coming away from your first listen to these fabulous-sounding Cotton Club Forties dancers (remastered to perfection) - you're left with an admiration for the sheer life-force of the man, your feet shuffling uncontrollably whilst sporting a big zoot suit grin on your flustered mush.

Musically and personally you'd compare Cab Calloway to that other genius of the period - LOUIS JORDAN and His Tympany Five. Both (big) bandleaders stood like giants in the Thirties and Forties - staggeringly good American R'n'B and Jazz Vocalist entertainers who elicited huge affection amongst the public and musicians alike. Cab also received a deserved resurgence in popularity from his dynamite appearance with Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in the 1980 film "The Blues Brothers" doing his trademark "Minnie The Moocher" with a sassily dressed orchestra behind him. What a guy! 

Here's the Gravy Davey, the Baloney Tony and the Pancake Mandrake...

US released August 1994 - "Are You Hep You To The Jive?" by CAB CALLOWAY on Columbia/Legacy Rhythm and Soul CK 57645 (Barcode 886972330426) is a CD Compilation of Remasters that breaks down as follows (64:55 minutes):

1. Boo-Wah Boo-Wah (1940, Okeh 5774, A)

2. Are You All Reet? (1941, Okeh 6053, A)

3. Hey Now, Hey Now (1946, Columbia 37081, B-side to "I Got A Gal Named Hettie")

4. Everybody Eats When They Come To My House (1947, Columbia 38171, A)

5. Are You Hep To The Jive? (1940, Okeh 5804, A)

6. The Calloway Boogie (1947, Columbia 38227, A)

7. Hep Cat's Love Song (1941, Okeh 6192, A)

8. Papa's In Bed With His Britches On (1940, Okeh 5731, A)

9. What's Buzzin' Cousin (from the picture "Song Of The Islands") (Recorded February 1942, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

10. Twee-Twee-Tweet (1939, Vocalion 5126, A)

11. Come On With The "Come On" (1940, Okeh 5687, B-side of "(I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance")

12. Chant Of The Jungle (Recorded July 1942, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

13. I Want To Rock (1942, Okeh 6616, B-side of "I Ain't No Good")

14. Oh! Gram'Pa (1947, on the album "Cab Calloway 1935-1947" on Columbia CG 32593)

15. The Jungle King (You Ain't Done A Doggone Thing) (1947, Columbia 37500, B-side of "Give Me Twenty Nickels For A Dollar")

16. Don't Falter At The Alter (Recorded February 1947, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

17. Who's Yehoodi? (1940, Okeh 5566, B)

18. A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird (1940, Okeh 5847, A)

19. Tarzan Of Harlem (1939, Vocalion 5267, B-side of "Bee Gezindt")

20. Minnie The Moocher (1942, Okeh 4753, A)

21. Boog It (1940, Vocalion 5444, A)

22. Foo A Little Bally-Hoo (1945, Columbia 36786, B-side of "Let's Take The Long Way Home")

The 12-page booklet has wildly enthusiastic and funny liner notes by AL QUAGLIERI who explains just how huge Calloway was way back when. Quaglierei quite rightly wax's lyrical about Calloway's brilliance/fearlessness with words - which (like Louis Jordan) made so many of his dancing hits so memorable. They were fun and sassy and the right side of rude and gigglesome. The booklet also has a couple of period black and white publicity photos and a track-by-track breakdown.

But the big news (apart from three tasty Previously Unreleased tracks) is the new VIC ANESINI remasters which are breathtakingly good - especially given the Vintage of the material. He later went on to transfer The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Hall & Oates, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Jayhawks and Elvis Presley's vast catalogue (all to much praise). Anesini is a name I actively seek out when looking for quality remasters. The artwork also reflects a generic look across the whole of Columbia/Legacy's "Rhythm and Soul" Series of CD reissues. The whole thing has a classy feel to it...

With song titles like "Papa's In Bed With His Britches On", "Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird" and "Don't Falter At The Alter" - you can sense the fun from a mile away. Lyrics like "Papa's got lipstick on his cheek and a knot on his chin..." or "it's your last free mile, so smile brother smile..." or "eat it with tomatoes, rice and potatoes..." paint pictures. His scatting vocals on "Foo A Little Bally-Hoo" are typical - he plays off the boys in the background - they answer in equally silly hoots and hollers - the lowbrows and the highbrows. And all of it in amazing sound...

"...Get with the Banana Hannah, try a Tomato Plato, don't be so picky Mickey..." - Cab Calloway coaxes on the lyrically brill "Everybody Eats When They Come To My House". Get this CD in your home and wonder how you lived without the Lilly-Frilly and Skeedlee-Biddlee? Great Googly Moo and All Root Baby!

Titles in Columbia/Legacy's "Rhythm & Soul" Series of CD Remasters

1. The Complete Okeh Sessions 1952-1955 - BIG MAYBELLE

2. Are You Hep To The Jive? - CAB CALLOWAY (and His Orchestra)

3. Unforgettable - ARETHA FRANKLIN

4. Funky Family - THE ISLEY BROTHERS

5. Beautiful Ballads - THE ISLEY BROTHERS

6. Lady Marmalade: The Best Of - PATTI LaBELLE and LABELLE

7. Everybody Loves A Good Time: The Best Of - MAJOR LANCE

8. If You Don't Know Me By Now: The Best Of - HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES

9. Give The People What They Want - THE O'JAYS

10. Love Train: The Best Of - THE O'JAYS

11. In Philadelphia - THE O'JAYS

12. They Rock! They Roll! They Swing! - The Best Of - THE TRENIERS

13. From Philly With Love - VARIOUS ARTISTS

14. Legacy's Rhythm and Soul Revue - VARIOUS ARTISTS (Sampler)

15. Lost Soul - VARIOUS ARTISTS

16. The Okeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957 - VARIOUS ARTISTS

17. Let's Jump Tonight! The Okeh Sessions 1951-1956 - CHUCK WILLIS

18. Lean On Me: The Best Of - BILL WITHERS

"If I Have To Wreck L.A. Kent & Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Willie Headen, Smokey Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, Long Gone Miles, Model T Slim, Lowell Fulson and Willie Garland (September 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters – All New To Ace CD with Twelve Tracks Previously Unissued) - 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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"...Nursing My Aching Head..."

Released 31 July 2020 in the UK, "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" was the first in this Ace Records CD Series. Here is the next instalment that followed in late September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2". And it's just as enjoyable as numero uno... 

By the end of the 50ts, hard-hitting gutbucket Blues had morphed into a more commercial type of shuffling R&B which quickly then became the softer and more upbeat edge of early Soul. These compilations want in their hearts to go back to basics. And mostly they do – especially here. Like the first volume of these two CD compilations dealing with the 60s output of the US Kent & Modern labels (reviewed separately), Volume 2 is a hugely enjoyable listen with a lot of nifty Guitars and shimmering Harmonica warbles. 

And even if you don’t know names like Willie Headen and Long Gone Miles – you should. There is caustic humour too with the blame-game on both sides of the gender-divide being strong with this one. So here are the Black Widow Spiders, Hoodooing Hoodoo Men and Miss Nella Belle with rocks in her pillows and an inability to let her man play with her poodle (that’s just mean)...

UK released Friday, 25 September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1577 (Barcode 029667099929) offers 24 Remastered Tracks, All New to Ace CD compilations (Twelve are Previously Unissued) and it plays out as follows (78:51 minutes):

1. If I Have To Wreck L.A. – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

2. Mama Said – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording, Take 3)

3. If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind - WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 5)

4. Hey Baby - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

5. You Told Me A Lie - SMOKEY WILSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1976 Kent recording)

6. Before Day (Big Mama's Blues) - BIG MAMA THORNTON (1965 US 45-single on Kent 45x424, A-side)

7. War Time Blues (Take 1) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

8. Gotta Find My Baby – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

9. Little Sweet Thing (Take 4) – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x500, 1968 US 45-single A-side)

10. Black Widow Spider (Underdub With Alternate Vocal) – WILLIE GARLAND (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x461, 1968 US 45-single A-side – for B-side see Track 12)

11. Address In My Hand – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

12. Soul Blues – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 US 45-single on Kent 45x461, Instrumental, B-side of "Black Widow Spider" – see Track 10 for an Alternate of the A-side)

13. You’re Too Cold – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

14. Hot Wire Baby – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 2)

15. Baby You’re Wrong (Take 6) - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

16. If I Have To Wreck L.A. (Take 5) – WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

17. Somebody’s Done Hoodooed The Hoodoo Man – MODEL T SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording)

18. Christine – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, A-side – for B-side see Track 19)

19. Baby Don’t Tear My Clothes – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, B-side – for A-side see Track 18)

20. Rocks In My Pillow (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

21. Let Me Play With Your Poodle (Take 2) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

22. Low Down Dirty Shame (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

23. Miss Nella Belle - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

24. Blues Pain - LOWELL FULSON (Originally Unissued Take of Kent 489, appeared also on the September 2001 Japan-Only 4CD compilation "The Complete Kent Recordings 1964-1968" on P-Vine PCD-3066-9)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

(Like Volume 1) the 16-page booklet features informative liner notes courtesy of DICK SHURMAN sat alongside photos of those rare US 45-labels and rare publicity shots of heroes like Little Joe Blue, B.B. King and Big Jay McNeely (dig T-Bone Walker looking cool with a cigarette in his mouth and that huge guitar in hand) while DUNCAN COWELL does his usual spectacular best - the Audio kicking ass on every tune. The fidelity (despite the age) is at times eerily brill. To the listen...

Clever inclusions are eight tracks from those desirable but long-deleted 'P-Vine' CD compilations out of Japan (limited editions of 3000 or less apparently) as well as Alternates of Kent 45s that feel just as good as the released versions. "If I Have To Wreck L.A." opens with a triple-whammy of Previously Unreleased guitar soloing Blues from Willie Headen who comes on like an excited Albert King ripping up and down the frets while he sings of mistreating women. They're damn good, but they're whomped by an Elmore James slashing Smokey Wilson whose 1976 "You Told Me A Lie" is a real find (cool and clear audio). The fantastic continues with great Little Walter-type Harmonica warbling from George Smith guesting on the anti-draft song "War Time Blues" by Luke "Long Gone" Miles. Two more cuts from him hammer home more slices of early-in-the-morning mean and dirty Harp Blues – brilliant inclusions.

Pity poor Willie Garland, his baby is a "Black Widow Spider" who done bit him and then up and left. Willie called the Doctor but the man with the leather bag just shook his head and went into a Harmonica solo in sympathy. Willie Headen returns too and he has his own problems – he wants to stop being a fool for his "Hot Wire Baby" who has returned from California with attitudes and some Mississippi missing (he bought her first shoes at the age of 22). A great guitar-shuffler. And on it goes - a great listen, Bluesy, Shufflers when you need them, Fun moments and those superb unreleased lifting up everything to winner status. 

"Well, look here mama, listen to my song, let me play with your poodle, I mean him no harm... " Luke "Long Gone" Miles saucily implores on "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" - a raucous Tampa Red cover version blessed with fabulous Harmonica from George Smith and the deep suggestive voice of Luke Miles. 

Well, I suggest you get jiggy-jiggy with "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" too, because it's a winner that deserves your loving ham (if you know what I'm saying)...

See also Review for Volume 1

"The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" by SMOKEY HOGG – 78" and 45-single Tracks Recorded 1947 to 1953, All New To CD, Four Previously Unreleased (February 2021 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Rarities Remastered by Duncan Cowell) - 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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"...Life Is Too Short To Be Worrying Over You..."

Some Blues artists elicit a kind of affection in me that just won't quit – the slinky Folk Blues of Lightning Hopkins – the Harmonica warble of Slim Harpo buzzing around bees – the combo positive message of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on A&M Records in the Seventies – Robert Johnson and those eerie groundbreaking Thirties sides – and on it goes. 

Texas Folk Bluesman (Andrew) Smokey Hogg is the same. This 2021 CD is the kind of Acoustic Guitar, plinking Piano and shuffling snare drum beat I could listen to all the live long day – reed of straw in my mouth and a fishing rod in my hands (ok maybe not the fishing rod in Margate after a thunderstorm). And combined with his similar-to-Lightning Hopkins wily voice - I'm a goner. 

So I'm more than pleased to report that Ace Records' digital instalment number five (see list below) afforded the largely unknown (Andrew) Smokey Hogg does the heartbreak business once again - even if the artwork is dull as Dallas dishwater. Here are the pretty mamas, crooked fortune tellers, devilish preachers, penitentiary holds and good morning little schoolgirl details...

UK released Friday, 5 February 2021 - "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" by SMOKEY HOGG on Ace Records CDCHD 1588 (Barcode 029667101226) is a 24-Track MONO CD compilation of Remasters (Four Previously Unreleased, Most New To CD) that plays out as follows (67:17 minutes):

1. I Don't Want You (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

2. Worrying Over You (June 1948 US 78" on Modern 596, B-side of "Jivin' Little Woman")

3. Everybody Gotta Racket (1950 US 78" on Modern 20-735, A-side - 1947 Recording)

4. Good Mornin' Little Schoolgirl (from the 1961 US LP "Smokey Hogg Sings The Blues" on Crown CLP 5226 in Mono - recorded in 1947)

5. The Way You Treat Me (I Got Your Picture) (1950 US 78" on Modern 20-758, A-side)

6. I Want My Baby (But My Baby Don't Want Me) (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)  

7. You Can't Tell Where I'm Goin' (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

8. No Matter What You Do (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

9. When The Sun Goes Down (from the 1967 US LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP 5024 in Mono)

10. Coming Back Home To You Again (from the 1961 US LP "Smokey Hogg Sings The Blues" on Crown CLP 5226 in Mono - recorded in 1950)

11. Kind Hearted Blues - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1950 Modern recording

12. What's That You Got - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1950 Modern recording

13. You'll Need My Help Someday (1950 US 78" on Hollywood 130, A-side)

14. Somebody New (1950 US 78" on Hollywood 130, AA-side)

15. Ain't You Sorry Baby (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 131, A-side)

16. Ruby (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 131, AA-side)

17. Penitentiary Blues Part 1 (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 170, A-side)

18. Penitentiary Blues Part 2 (1951 US 78" on Hollywood 170, AA-side)

19. Baby Shake Your Leg (1952 US 78" on Top Hat 1023, A-side)

20. Fortune Teller Blues (1952 US 78" on Top Hat 1023, AA-side)

21. Where Have You Been (1952 US 78" on Combo 11, A-side)

22. My Gal Gave Me Money - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1951 Combo recording 

23. Instrumental - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1951 Combo recording 

24. Too Late Old Man (1953 US 78" on Modern 896, B-side on "River Hip Mama")

The 12-page booklet has new track-by-track liner notes by fan and Smokey Hogg-expert GUIDO VAN RIJN whose 320-page book "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" is published in 2021 by Agram Blues in the Netherlands (the first in-depth book on him). The text here is peppered with hard-to-find 78"s while Page 5 features the Side 2 label of the "Original Folk Blues" LP from 1967 - five of its tracks featured on this CD. It's a typically informative read that pictures labels and album artwork rarely seen outside of specialist circles. 

As most are 1947 to 1952 recordings issued on varying 78's and early 45s (13 cuts in all) - the Audio is of course cackling and hiss on the worse - but mostly DUNCAN COWELL has once again done a stunning job getting such clarity out of these recordings. The listen is at times bare Blues - just the Guitar and Voice - but then there are the wonderful piano shuffles in the more R&B stabs. But I love the 'feel' Hogg gets - real and unpretentious - and Cowell has done wonders on what must have been difficult transfers. 

The themes rarely veer far from cheatin' gals, sugar daddies praying on those double-dealin' hussies and poor Smokey having to leave lest he reaches for that loaded pistol again. The milkmen in these tales of infidelity and woe leave more than an extra pint and mama likes the rattle of their bottle-holders when they approach the front door (papa usually away on some possibly illegal business). It's great fun in a weird way, but I would have to caution that stuff like "Penitentiary Blues..." is covered in crackle that some may think 'too' much. But then the band shuffle of "Where Have You Been" (Track 21) is both clean as a whistle and great fun – the sitting here wondering when will you come back home vibe sailing out of your speakers with a clarity that is shocking. I just wish more were like it. 

"...Everybody gotta rocket...I gotta racket too..." – he sang on "Everybody Gotta Racket" – his woman giving his money to another man on the other side of town (oh dear). You may not know the name the way you do other legends, but if your baby treats you bad like she do, they Smokey and his guitar mojo hand is the pal for you...

SMOKEY HOGG CDs on Ace Records

1. "Angels In Harlem" (August 1992 UK Ace/Specialty Records CDCHD 419 – Barcode 029667141925)

2. "Deep Ellum Rambler" (January 2001 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 780 – Barcode 029667178020)

3. "Serve It To The Right: The Combo And Modern Recordings 1947-52" 

(December 2002 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 866 – Barcode 029667186629)

4. "Midnight Blues" (November 2004 UK Ace Records CDCHD 1019 – Barcode 029667002820)

5. "The Texas Blues Of Smokey Hogg" 

(February 2021 UK CD on Ace Records CDCHD 1588 - Barcode 029667101226)