"Hurdy Gurdy Songs: Words & Music by Donovan 1965-1971" by VARIOUS – Featuring Herman’s Hermits, Terry Reid, Julie Felix, The Standells, Marianne Faithfull, Noel Harrison, Dana Gillespie and more (June 2021 UK Ace Records CD Compilation – Duncan Cowell Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...His Name Is Love..."

I won't come as any shock to collectors that Ace Records of the UK are seriously good at these types of CD compilations (they stumble on occasion, but it isn't often). But then - just sometimes - they genuinely surprise you with a 'knock-em-for-six' winner that opens up your glaucoma-smothered eyeballs very wide indeed. 

Anyone still thinking that England's DONOVAN was only ever about hippy-dippy 60ts peace-and-love man (that was part of his message too, but not all) will realise after hearing this near ninety-minute chock-a-block CD that Donovan's songwriting chops went way beyond that narrow straightjacket. Like Dylan, his songs were not just filled with great melody, but self-examining pain, external circumstances infringement and reaching lyrics - and in the hands of other savvy interpreters - often equalled or even bettered the originals. There's a shedload of known/obscure goodies on offer here to wade through, so let's have at the sunshine supermen and women...

UK released Friday, 4 June 2021 - "Hurdy Gurdy Songs: Words & Music by Donovan 1965-1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1595 (Barcode 029667102025) is a 24-Track CD Compilation that plays out as follows (78:39 minutes):

1. Museum - HERMAN'S HERMITS (July 1967 UK 45-Single on Columbia DB 8235, A-side - also on the 1967 UK Stereo LP "Blaze" on Columbia SCXC 35)

2. Superlungs - TERRY REID (from his November 1969 UK Stereo LP "Terry Reid" on Columbia SCX 6370 – also the A-side of a UK promo-only 1-sided 45-single "Terry Reid Is Superlungs" on Columbia PSRS 323)

3. Sunny Goodge Street - TOM NORTHCOTT (June 1967 US 45-single on Warner Brothers 7051, A-side)

4. The Pebble And The Man - BRIDGET ST. JOHN (from her February 1971 second album "Songs For The Gentle Man" on Dandelion DAN 8007)

5. Sunshine Superman - THE STANDELLS (from their January 1967 US compilation LP "The Hot Ones" on Tower Records ST 5049 in Stereo)

6. Hurdy Gurdy Man - EARTHA KITT (March 1970 UK 45-single on Spark SRL 1039, A-side – also on the May 1970 UK LP "Sentimental Eartha" on Spark Records SRLP 105) 

7. Young Girl Blues - MARIANNE FAITHFULL (from her March 1967 fifth UK LP "Loveinamist" on Decca LK 4854 in Mono)

8. Poor Cow - NOEL HARRISON (from the 1969 UK album "The Great Electric Experiment Is Over" on Reprise RS 6321 in Stereo)

9. Celeste – PAUL JONES (from the November 1969 UK LP "Come Into My Music Box" on Columbia SCX 6347 in Stereo)

10. Season Of The Witch - LOU RAWLS (June 1969 US 45-single on Capitol 2550, B-side of "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)" - also on the 1969 US Stereo LP "The Way it Was, The Way It Is" on Capitol ST 215)

11. Translove Airways (Fat Angel) - BIG JIM SULLIVAN (August 1968 US 45-single on Mercury 72849, B-side of "Sunshine Superman" - also on the 1967 US LP "Sitar Beat" on Mercury SR-61137 - credited as "Sitar A Gogo" when issued January 1968 on Mercury SML 30001 in the UK with different artwork)

12. You Just Gotta Know My Mind - DANA GILLESPIE (November 1968 UK 45-single on Decca F 12847, A-side - also featured on the US Stereo LP "Foolish Season" on London PS 540)

13. Oh Gosh - SANDIE SHAW (from the 1969 UK Mono LP "Reviewing The Situation" on Pye NPL 18323)

14. There Is A Mountain - DANDY (November 1967 UK 45-single on Giant GN 47, A-side)

15. Try And Catch The Wind – THE GOSDIN BROTHERS (from the 1968 US Stereo LP "Sounds Of Goodbye" on Capitol ST 2852)

16. Skip-A-Long Sam - THE SUGAR SHOPPE (July 1968 US 45-single on Capitol 2233, A-side - also on their 1968 US Stereo LP "The Sugar Shoppe" on Capitol ST 2959)

17. Snakeskin - JULIE FELIX (January 1971 UK 45-single on RAK Records RAK 108, A-side)

18. Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) - KEITH SHIELDS (February 1967 UK 45-single on Decca F 12572, A-side)

19. Three King Fishers - GÁBOR SZABÓ (instrumental from the 1968 US Stereo LP "Bacchanal" on Skye Records SK-3 - also March 1969 UK Stereo LP on Fontana STL 5489)

20. Hampstead Incident - BOJOURA (from the 1968 DUTCH Stereo LP "Night Flight Night Sight" on Polydor Special 236 169)

21. Wear Your Love Like Heaven - PEGGY LIPTON (April 1970 US 45-single on Ode '70 ODE-66001, A-side)

22. Jennifer Juniper - THE SANDPIPERS (from the 1968 US Stereo LP "Softly" on A&M Records SP 4147)

23. Legend Of A Girl Child Linda - JOAN BAEZ with JUDY COLLINS and MIMI FARINA (from the 1967 US Stereo LP "Save The Children: Songs From The Heart Of Women" on Women Strike For Peace W-001)

24. Laleña - DEEP PURPLE (from their November 1969 UK Third Stereo LP "Deep Purple" on Harvest SHVL 759) 

NOTES:

Tracks 3, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18 and 21 in MONO - all others in STEREO

The 24-page booklet featuring superlative liner notes on each entry by ANDY MORTEN hosts the usual array of eye-watering images. Album covers like the Dutch sleeve to the model and folky Raina Van Melsen's 1968 "Night Flight Night Sight" (or Bojoura to you and I) alongside Eartha Kitt's 1970 stab at getting-down-with-the-kids modernity "Sentimental Eartha" on Spark Records are not eactly commonplace in your average Blighty secondhand record shop. There are rare foreign picture sleeves for British singles that were only issued in label bags (Julie Felix on RAK and Herman's Hermits on Columbia) sat beside lesser-seen trade adverts for Terry Reid and sheet music to Donovan's own "Catch The Wind" on Pye Records (yours for only 2/6d). It's a typically in-depth and satisfying read accompanied by tasty Remasters from the hugely experienced Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL - the guy who made all those Blue Horizon CD compilations sound so storming (you get 17 Stereo cuts, 7 in Mono). To the tunes...     

An opening trio by 60ts Brits Herman's Hermits and Terry Reid (what a voice never mind superlungs) sidling alongside the largely unknown American Tom Northcott sets the tone - eclectic, period cool and bound to impress. And on it goes... 

Produced by Ron Geesin of Pink Floyd fame, Bridget St. John's ballad version of "The Pebble And The Man" appeared on Side 2 of her second studio album "Songs For The Gentle Man" on John Peel's Dandelion Records 50 years back in February 1971. Coming on a little like a British warbling Nico - it's a lovely, lovely interpretation and has gorgeous production values (see my review for the February 2015 Cherry Red 4CD Box Set "Dandelion Albums And BBC Collection" by St. John). With its 'tripping out' and 'blowing your mind' lyric references, Donovan's supercool and catchy-as-a-cold "Sunshine Superman" had topped the US charts in December 1966 and was hugely popular amongst East Coast underground bands. Not surprisingly then, L.A's The Standells gave it a wallop - issued on their covers compilation LP "The Hot Ones!" which hit US shops in January 1967. Bolstered up by their takes on The Kinks, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, The Lovin' Spoonful and so on - Ace's choice of The Standells over anyone else for this much covered hippy anthem is a clever one - their energy capturing its hooky upbeat edge without ever feeling like their just copying the man. 

Like so many old-school artists boiled-alive in the musical cauldron of the 60ts and 70ts, they were desperately trying to get down with the kids and appear to be on their wavelength - cue Eartha Kitt's getting-with-it cover of "Hurdy Gurdy Man". Gone is the shimmer and curdle of the original, replaced in 1970 with Hair-like yeah-man leopard-spot-trouser arrangements courtesy of Jimmie Haskell - EK purring through the lyrics like an acid pussycat from 'Tommy'. It's not the out-and-out giggle-fest of The Butthole Surfers or Nigel Planer's Neil from The Young Ones, but it will raise a smile on your Covid-jaded visage (she also had a stab at "Catch The Wind" and "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" on the 1970 UK LP "Sentimental Eartha"). 

Hardly surprising that Donovan's "Young Girl Blues" appealed to Marianne Faithfull - a dark materials tune from an upbeat folkie with lyrics that must have chimed with her own personal demons at the time. Fresh from his "Windmills Of Your Mind" top-10 chart success in February 1969 on Reprise Records (which actually had a B-side that referenced Donovan’s surname called "Leitch On The Beach") - deep-throated Noel Harrison continues the 60ts counter-side to female happiness with "Poor Cow" where again the arrangements veer off into an unexpected almost cha-cha-cha rhythm.

Genius choice goes to the David Axelrod production of Soul man Lou Rawls who slipped out "Season Of The Witch" on the B-side of an Isaac Hayes/David Porter tune "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)" in the summer of 1969. Donovan (as you can imagine) was exactly fertile ground for Soul Men or Women - but his voice and Axelrod's heavy-on-the-drama-sauce Production gives his take a fantastically cool ahead of its time vibe.  

Following that we get our first proper whig-out from ace session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan who apart from contributions to a staggering 59 British Number 1 songs had actually played Guitar on Donovan classics like "Catch The Wind" and "Colours". Another B-side, but this time produced by Lou Reizner, Sullivan lets rip on the instrumental "Translove Airways (Fat Angel)" and is surely the kind of flipside collectors lose their mental marbles over (Jefferson Airplane covered "Fat Angel" on their 1969 live album beast "Bless Its Pointed Little Head"). Ace also cleverly picture the rare British LP artwork on Page 14 where it was called "Sitar A Gogo" (exploitation ahoy) when issued January 1968 on Mercury in Blighty (it had been called "Sitar Beat" in the USA in 1967 and came with a different front sleeve). Whatever way you look at it, his "Translove Airways (Fat Angel)" is a tip-top juicy inclusion. 

Time now for two ladies to do well - Dana Gillespie and Sandie Shaw. With both Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones present as session-players on "You Just Gotta Know My Mind" - Gillespie's November 1968 UK 7" single on Decca has been a seriously pricey collectable for decades. The British LP for "Foolish Seasons" was pulled so the American Stereo copies on London PS 540 are the same. Sandie Shaw opted for the relatively obscure "Oh Gosh" instead of his more mainstream hits - first of three songs on this compilation culled from one of Rock's rare early double-albums - Donovan's 1967 box set "A Gift From A Flower To A Garden". 

And as if they weren't clever-clogs enough as choices, we then get Dandy Livingstone giving it some Caribbean Reggae on his take of "There Is A Mountain" - although personally, it feels a tad out of place to me here. This wee sequencing glitch is quickly pushed aside by a fabulous Gosdin Brothers lyric extension - "Try And Catch The Wind". Rex and Vern fill "Catch..." with Byrds and Nilsson type gorgeousness - their West Coast version in keeping with the acoustic original (just such a lovely tune and a real highlight for me). The only slight dip for me is the Keith Shields attempt at "Hey GYP (Dig The Slowness)" – it's a song that's been done by so many others and probably better I'd venture. And the whole shebang ends on Deep Purple getting more than a little "Child in Time" with their uncharacteristically subtle and mellow take on "Laleña" - very cool indeed.

Ace has of course done Donovan proud - "Hurdy Gurdy Songs..." is a wee gem. Between this and Bob Stanley/Martin Green's excellent "Choctaw Ridge" CD compilation covering the lesser-heard side of Southern Rock from 1968 to 1973 (Ace CHCHD 1585) – Pandemic 2021 has seen this British reissuing maverick produce some genuine belters to tempt our traumatised wallets. And I for one am loving these CD paths less taken - brought to us by an independent record company that actually gives a decent damn. Catch the wind; they've captured a hurricane that continues to blow some fifty years on...

"Bad Boy Of Rock 'n' Roll" by LARRY WILLIAMS – US Specialty Recordings from 1957 to 1960 Including Previously Unreleased And His Singles Issued on London American in the UK – Musicians include John 'Plas' Johnson with Jesse James Jones on Tenor Saxophones, Jewell Grant on Baritone Sax, Willard McDaniel on Piano, Rene Hall and Irving Ashby on Guitars with Art Neville of The Neville Brothers (February 1999 UK Ace/Specialty CD Compilation 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 

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"...You Make Me Dizzy Miss Lizzy...The Way You Rock 'n' Roll..."

You can only begin to imagine the mental liberation the hugely clued-in young Beatles must have felt in their Liverpudlian bones when they first heard the Rock 'n' Roll joy of Larry Williams. Those London American UK 45s – sailor-imported Specialty Records US originals jumping off a precious turntable in a mate’s house - yellow labels spinning around - pumping out the raucous naughty sound of  "Boney Maronie", "Bad Boy" and "Just Because". Wow!

I dare say (and likened to that other showboat of the Specialty label Little Richard) - Larry Williams must have come across as one of the original wild children of 50ts Rock 'n' Roll. Certainly this CD compilation from England's Ace Records captures that daring-do as song after song sings of the Heeby Jeebies, Peaches and Cream and Hootchy-Koo (before he even gets to making love underneath the apple tree). Lots to document, so let's have at the "Short Fat Fannies" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzies"...

UK released 1 February 1999 - "Bad Boy Of Rock 'n' Roll" by LARRY WILLIAMS on Ace/Specialty Records CDCHD 709 (Barcode 029667170925) is a 24-track CD compilation of 1957 to 1960 Remasters that plays out as follows (53:52 minutes): 

1. Short Fat Fannie 

2. High School Dance 

Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B-sides of a May 1957 US 45-single on Specialty 608 - also his debut UK 45-single with the same tracks on London American HLN 8472 in August 1957  

3. Bony Maronie 

4. You Bug Me Baby 

Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B-sides of an October 1957 US 45-single on Specialty 615 - also his second UK 45-single with the same tracks on London American HLU 8532 in January 1958  

5. Dizzy Miss Lizzy 

6. Slow Down 

Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B-sides of a February 1958 US 45-single on Specialty 626 - also his third UK 45-single with the same tracks on London American HLU 8604 in April 1958

7. She Said "Yeah" 

8. Bad Boy 

(Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B-sides of a January 1959 US 45-single on Specialty 658 - also his fourth UK 45-single with the same tracks on London American HLU 8844 in April 1959)

9. Let Me Tell You Baby 

10. Just Because 

(Tracks 10 and 9 are the A&B-sides of his US debut 45-single on Specialty 597 in February 1957 – note running order)

11. Hootchy-Koo 

12. The Dummy 

13. Peaches And Cream 

Tracks 11 & 12 are the A&B-sides of a June 1958 US 45-single on Specialty 634 

Track 13 is the A-side only of a September 1958 US 45-single on Specialty 647 

No UK issue 45s for Tracks 11, 12 and 13, however "Peaches and Cream", "Hootchy-Koo" and "The Dummy" did turn up on the 4-track "Larry Williams" EP in the UK on London REU 1213 issued May 1959. The missing track is "I Was A Fool" - B-side of the US 45 for "Peaches And Cream" but not on this CD

14. Little School Girl 

Track 14 is the B-side of "Ting-A-Ling", a February 1960 US 45-single on Specialty 682 - no UK issue

15. Hey Now, Hey Now - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

16. Marie Marie - First Issued 1986 in the USA on the LP compilation "Unreleased Larry Williams", Specialty SP 2158

17. Took A Trip (Take 9) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

18. Jelly Belly Nellie - First Issued 1986 in the USA on the LP compilation "Unreleased Larry Williams", Specialty SP 2158

19. Oh Baby (Take 10) – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

20. Heeby Jeebies (Take 3) – PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

21. Hocus Pocus – first issued on the 1990 US CD Compilation "Bad Boy", Specialty SPCD 7002 as part of "The Legends Of Specialty" Series

22. Steal A Little Kiss 

23. I Can't Stop Lovin' You 

Tracks 22 and 23 are the A&B-sides of his eight US 45-single on Specialty 665 in April 1959 – also his fifth UK 45-single with the same tracks on London HLU 8911 in January 1960

24. Give Me Love 

Track 24 is the B-side of "Teardrops", October 1959 US 45-single on Specialty 677

NOTES: 

Tracks 15, 17, 19 and 20 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

All Tracks in MONO and transferred from original analogue master tapes 

Larry Williams on Piano and all Lead Vocals, John 'Plas' Johnson with Jesse James Jones on Tenor Saxophones, Jewell Grant on Baritone Sax, Willard McDaniel on Piano, Rene Hall and Irving Ashby on Guitars, Ted Brinson and Ralph Hamilton on Bass with Earl Palmer and Edward J. Hall on Drums. Other notable players included Lee Allen and Norman Rich on Tenor Saxophones, Art Neville of the Neville Brothers on Piano with Roy Montrell on Guitar and Richard Payne on Bass. 

Releases by Larry Williams was about party-music and the short but highly informational liner notes provided by STUART COLMAN in the 8-page booklet gets this across with tearful admiration and gusto. There is even a repro of the so-rare UK 78" for "Bony Maroney" on London American Recordings HL-U 8532. Sat next to that are session-notes from the Cosimo Recording Studios in New Orleans where Art Rupe (leading light at Specialty Records) sent Larry to work with a young Art Neville of The Neville Brothers. Presentation-wise - for sure 1999's Ace CDCHD 709 could have done with more photos and memorabilia repros (if it was re-done in 2021, it would be) - but there's enough to be getting on it. 

And the DUNCAN COWELL remasters from original analogue tapes rowdies up proceedings very nicely indeed. These tunes are party time and although the original-recordings aren't admittedly Audiophile by any stretch of your Supertramp imagination, they will rock the proverbial joint in your nightclub/living room just the same. Rough 'n' ready around the cauliflower ears, just like John, Paul, George and Ringo liked them...

The hits are here "Short Fat Fannie" and "Bony Maroney" - but how cool is it to hear "Just Because" and know why John Lennon recorded it for his 'Rock 'n' Roll' album project of 1975. Then there are those forgotten B-sides like "You Bug Me Baby" and of course "Bad Boy" - a tune the Fabs covered and loved. As you listen too to "Slow Down" and even that unreleased cut "Took A Trip" - your hear his R&B influence reaching out over the decades and why those British 45s on the London American label are worth so much dosh. 

"You make me dizzy Miss Lizzy...the way you Rock 'n' Roll...you make me dizzy Miss Lizzy...when you do the stroll..." - Larry Williams sang all those decades ago. And both the Bad Boy and his jivin' troupe of hip-shakin' ladies are doing so still...

"Rockin' The Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 1954 to 1957 45-singles on Groove Records of the USA Including 15 Previously Unreleased Tracks – Featured Artists Include George Benson, Roy Gaines, Beverly Wright, Clayton Love, Sonny Brooks, The Du Droppers, Frank Brunson, Zilla Mays, Maymie Watts, Paul Williams, Johnny Bird Orchestra, Buddy Lucas, The Avalons, The Four Students who later became The Cues and more – Featuring Session Musicians include Budd Johnson, Sam 'The Man' Taylor, King Curtis, Jimmy Brown, Band Leader Jesse Stone and more (February 2016 GERMANY Bear Family CD Compilation of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With Over 215 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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"...Shout, Holler & Scream..."

If you'll forgive the nasally challenged agricultural pun - obscure doesn't always mean manure. 

An ill-fated and commercially unsuccessful label identity begun in February 1954 as a vehicle for RCA Victor - Groove Records of the USA was devoted exclusively to the Rhythm & Blues market of big-shouters, vocal group crooners and gravel-voiced belters trying to entice cash out of the newly emerging youth and teen markets. Legendary keyboard roller Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) saw his first album appear on Groove in 1956. They also signed a then budding talent in the 11-year Jazz guitarist George Benson (he's featured on this CD with two Previously Unissued sides recorded in April 1954) and even persuaded the legendary 30s and 40s band-leader and all-round front man hero Louis Jordan to come on board at one point. 

But their big moment came with the huge hit "Love Is Strange" from Mickey & Sylvia - an R&B chart-topper in 1957 where the November 1956-issued Groove 4G-0175 also dented the Pop lists by peaking at No. 11 (that famous hit is allocated to another CD compilation Bear have issued around Groove - see also my separate review for "Groovin' The Blues" on Bear Family BCD 17411). RCA would eventually wrap up the Groove Records label by the year's end of 1957 due to lack of other successes. 

Collectors will know that Groove was touched upon in the 80s and 90s by largely vinyl-reissuing companies, but this time we get the mighty Bear Family of West Germany giving it a professional stab - those good old reissue bricklayers laying on a trowl-like 35-slices of Rhythm 'n' Blues and Rock 'n' Roll onto one jam-packed CD clocking in at an eye-watering total playing time of just over 87-minutes (15 are Previously Unissued). 

Amidst the recording sessions that all took place in New York, the top quality players contain some great names - McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Ernest Hayes and Freddie Johnson on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor, Budd Johnson and John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Four Students on Backing Vocals (all four guys Ollie Jones, Abel DeCosta, Edward 'Eddie' Barnes and Winfield Scott would become The Cues, amuch loved Vocal Group on Capitol). Others include Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and the mighty King Curtis on Sax - while the quite giant that was Jesse Stone was Band Leader on several occasions. There's a lot of Big Foot Mammas, Humpty Dumpty types and Alabama Sues to get through, so onto the details...

Released February 2016 in Germany - "Rockin' The Groove" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17412 (Barcode 5397102174124) is a 35-Track CD Compilation of Groove Records tracks between 1954 and 1957 (Fifteen Previously Unissued) that plays out as follows (87:06 minutes):

1. Charmaine - FRANK BRUNSON (November 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0173, A-side - for B-side "I Believe In You", see Track 26 - both feature Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

2. Mattie Bee - EMMETT HOBSON (October 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0124, A-side - see also Track 24 for B-side "Where Is Joe?")

3. Right Now - ZILLA MAYS (November 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-127, B-side to "Come Back To Me")

4. Big Foot Mama - PAUL WILLIAMS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1954 recording featuring Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Lead Tenor Saxophone with McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar and Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and Vocals)

5. Hoodoo - ROY GAINES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1956 recording featuring King Curtis on Tenor Sax)

6. Shout, Holler & Scream - GEORGE BENSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1954 recording featuring Wally Richardson on Guitar with Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

7. Blackboard Rock – BEVERLY WRIGHT (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, March 1956 recording featuring John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Students on Backing Vocals)

8. Bye Bye Baby – CLAYTON LOVE ORCHESTRA (August 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0162, A-side)

9. Champ Ale - SONNY BROOKS (July 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0027, A-side - features Johnny Moore on Guitar/Band Leader)

10. The Last Laugh Will Be On You - JOHNNY BIRD ORCHESTRA with Mr. Blue on Lead Vocals (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0155, B-side to "22 Minutes" - for A-side see Track 21)

11. Run A' Long - LIL McKENZIE with The Four Students (August 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0113, A-side)

12. I'm Trapped - BUDDY LUCAS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, October 1953 recording featuring Wally Richardson on Guitar)

13. She's Mine - BIG CONNIE (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1956 recording)

14. Break It Up - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (May 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0105, B-side of "Love Ya Like Crazy" - for A-side see Track 27)

15. Quicksand - MAYMIE WATTS (March 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0103, A-side – featuring The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

16. My Head Goes Round - OSCAR BLACK (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, August 1956 recording featuring Little Willie John on Bass)

17. Good-Bye Little Girl - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (November 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0128, A-side)

18. The Thrill Is Gone - LITTLE TOMMY BROWN (March 1956, Groove 4G-0143, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone, Ernest Hayes on Piano and The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

19. Grab That Thing And Run - SAM 'Highpockets' HENDERSON and His Jumpers (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, April 1954 Instrumental recording featuring Ernie Freeman on Piano, Bud Shank on Saxophone with Shorty Rogers on Trombone/Band Leader)

20. I Gotta Know - BEATRICE READING (February 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0004, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Al Williams on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Saxophone with Jesse Stone as Band Leader)

21. 22 Minutes - JOHNNY BIRD ORCHESTRA with Lillian Childs on Lead Vocals (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0155, A-side - for B-side "The Last Laugh Will Be On You" with Mr. Blue on Lead Vocals see Track 10)

22. That's All I Need - THE DU-DROPPERS (from the 1955 US 4-Track EP "Tops In Rhythm & Blues" on Groove G EP EGA-5, Track 1, Side 1 - featuring Ernest Hayes on Piano with Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

23. Doo Ba Dee – MAYMIE WATTS (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED, March 1955 recording featuring The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

24. Where Is Joe? – EMMETT HOBSON (October 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0124, B-side of "Mattie Bee" - see also Track 2 for A-side)

25. Shake Till I'm Shook - BEVERLY WRIGHT (May 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0153, A-side - featuring John 'Plas' Johnson on Tenor Saxophone with The Students on Backing Vocals)

26. I Believe In You - FRANK BRUNSON (November 1956, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0173, B-side of "Charmaine" for A-side see Track 1 - both feature Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone)

27. Love Ya Like Crazy - CHRIS POWELL & THE BLUE FLAMES (May 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0105, A-side - for B-side "Break It Up" see Track 14)

28. Alabama Sue - ROY GAINES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, February 1956 recording featuring King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone)

29. Oh! Sweetness - THE AVALONS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, January 1956 recording featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar with King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone and Jesse Stone as Band Leader)

30. Since You Went Away - ZILLA MAYS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, October 1955 recording featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Ernest Hayes on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone with The Four Students on Backing Vocals)

31. Crime Doesn't Pay - THE CORONETS (September 1955, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0114, B-side of "I Love You More")

32. Women Are The Root Of All Evil - PAUL WILLIAMS (April 1954, US 45-single on Groove 4G-0014, A-side - featuring McHouston 'Mickey' Baker on Guitar, Freddie Johnson on Piano, Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Tenor Saxophone with Jimmy Brown on Trumpet and Backing Vocals)

33. A Little Boy's Dream - GEORGE BENSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Track 6)

34. Humpty Dumpty - PAUL WILLIAMS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Track 32)

35. Wheel Of Time - MAYMIE WATTS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, same details as Tracks 15 and 23)

Tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 19, 23, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34 and 35 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED (15 in total)

A 62-page feature-packed booklet sits attached to the inner card digipak – the legendary R&B historian and chronicler BILL DAHL pouring on the deep-level info on many names few will know. Dahl breaks it down Artist-by-Artist – biogs on people like Zilla Mays, Frank Brunson and Roy 'Guitar' Gaines alongside bands like The Coronets, The Avalons and probably the label's most famous group - The Du Droppers. It's a typically classy affair from Bear Family and the MARCUS HEUMANN Remasters are clear and kicking. A delight to look at, hold and listen too. 

Much of the unreleased stuff stayed in the can for fairly obvious reasons – both the George Benson cuts contain embarrassingly strained vocals from the young lad badly trying to sound older and failing. But then you get a fabulous dancing instrumental in the shape of "Grab That Thing And Run" from Sam 'Highpockets' Henderson which would set any dancefloor alight then or now. That's followed by the fun and sexy "I Gotta Know" where a blossoming 18 year-old Beatrice Reading wants Mama to explain why all the boys are whistling when she walks by – are their intentions pure like the ice-cream Sundays they keep promising they'll give her if she stops being an angel come next Saturday night. "Love Ya Like Crazy” is a great shuffler from Chris Powell – our poor boy walking in circles – and without her loving – he's gonna blow his stack. 

Lillian Childs gets her lead vocal moment on "22 Minutes" – the Johnny Bird Orchestra bouncing away in the background as she explains that it's only a short journey to her baby's fine hugging and kissing. The Discography doesn't know who the backing vocal group is behind Lillian Childs, but those bop-do-wop vocal punches sure sounds like Ollie Jones of The Four Students who would later become The Cues – a vocal joy in my books. Maymie Watts gives us her best lusty Ruth Brown as she bends her saucy words on "Doo Ba Dee" – happy as she can be because she is in love – Budd Johnson on the Saxophone stamping home the shuffle. Another great bopper is Beverly Wright telling us she's gonna nab herself a he-man that will shed her weary Blues and make her "Shake Till I'm Shook" (good on you girl). 

And on the fun goes – and there's a lot of it too. Beautifully presented, stomping audio, unusual titles that deserve their day in the sun. And while you can hear why Groove Records didn't do it chart-wise (not enough killer hooks like their rivals in Aladdin, Chess, Atlantic and Specialty) - "Rockin' The Groove" does what it says on the digital tin. Give it a whirl and smile at the glorious cover artwork...

"The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954" by T-BONE WALKER (September 1991 US EMI Records USA 2CD Compilation of Ron McMaster 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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"...Strollin' With Bone... "

"...I'm too lazy to work and too nervous to steal..." or how about 

"...It's a coldblooded world when a man has to pawn his shoes..." 

Poor T-Bone Walker, always having it hard with the ladies (if you know what I'm saying). 

It may be old (in July 2021, September 1991 is almost 30 years ago and therefore ancient in the digital domain), but if you'll forgive the loose lips sinks ships gaudy line of chatter-patter, "The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950-1954" is a solid gold one nonetheless. 

The grandfather guitar-playing template for most all of modern-day Blues - T-Bone Walker's tunes were always fun too - a self-deprecating wry social commentator where (guess what) - it always appeared to be her fault - with our hero (oddly enough) blemish-less in the aforementioned shenanigans. As you no doubt catch from the lyrics to "Too Lazy" and "Alimony Blues" quoted above, T-Bone was also an uncannily good wordsmith - like say Chuck Berry was to 50ts Rock 'n' Roll. 

Jammed with Fifty-two tracks in great audio (given their vintage and rarity) - T-Bone Walker was also an accomplished 40 year-old Blues and R 'n' B man in the early 50ts zipping up and down the fretboard of his big daddy of a guitar. There's a whole mess of hustle to be documenting, so let's have at the evil-hearted gals and their cruel-cruel alimony blues...

US released 10 September 1991 - "The Complete Imperial Recordings, 1950- 1954" by T-BONE WALKER on EMI Records USA CDP-7-96737-2 (Barcode 762185124628) is a 52-Track 2CD Compilation of Remasters in the EMI Blues Series that plays out as follows:

CD1: 70:18 minutes, 26 Tracks 

1. Glamour Girl 

2. Strollin' With Bone 

3. The Sun Went Down 

4. You Don't Love Me 

5. Travellin' Home 

6. The Hustle Is On (78 RPM Version)

7. Baby Broke My Heart (78 RPM Version) 

8. Evil Hearted Woman (Alternate Take)

9. I Walked Away 

10. No Reason 

11. Look Me In The Eye (78 RPM Version) 

12. Too Lazy (Alternate Take) 

13. Alimony Blues 

14. Life Is Too Short 

15. You Don't Understand (Alternative) 

16. Welcome Blues (Hey Pretty Baby) 

17. I Get So Weary 

18. You Just Wanted To Use Me

19. Tell Me What's The Reason 

20. I'm About To Lose My Mind  

21. Cold, Cold Feeling 

22. News For My Baby 

23. Get These Blues Off Me 

24. I Got The Blues Again

25. Through With Women 

26. Street Walking Woman

CD2: 68:48 minutes, 26 Tracks

1. Blues Is A Woman 

2. I Got The Blues 

3. Here In The Dark

4. Blue Mood 

5. Every Time 

6. I Miss You Baby 

7. Lollie Lou 

8. Party Girl 

9. Love Is Just A Gamble (No Horns) 

10. High Society 

11. Long Distance Blues 

12. Got No Use For You 

13. I'm Still In Love With You 

14. Railroad Station Blues 

15. Vida Lee (No Horns)

16. My Baby Is Now On My Mind 

17. Doin' Time 

18. Bye Bye Baby 

19. When The Sun Goes Down 

20. Pony Tail 

21. Wanderin' Heart 

22. I'll Always Be In Love With You 

23. I'll Understand 

24. Hard Way 

25. Teen Age Baby 

26. Strugglin' Blues 

Part of the 'EMI Blues Series', the 16-page booklet inside the fat double jewel-case has informative, affectionate and detailed liner notes by PETE WELDING followed by track-by-track session details. His swinging band consisted of Eddie Hutcherson on Trumpet, Edward Hale on Alto Saxophone, Eddie Davis on Tenor Saxophone, Jim Wynn on Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, Zell Kindred on Piano, Buddy Woodson on Bass with Robert Sims on Drums. Other musicians included Wilard McDaniel on Piano, Oscar Lee Bradley and Robert Sims on Rhythm Guitars with T-Bone handling all Lead Guitar and Vocals. That famous shot of him doing his showman-acrobatics by playing the guitar behind his head is synonymous with T-Bone Walker and of course influenced so many Rock Musicians that followed including the big guy - Jimi Hendrix. 

Throughout the songs - most being slow Blues punctuated with dancing R&B shufflers - his guitar playing is that of a more sophisticated B.B. King and the Disc Transfers by RON McMASTER at Capitol Recording Studios brings this out. The first ten to twenty sides feature controlled clicks and pops from those uber-rare 1950 and 1951 Imperial 78s but thereafter, the transfers and Audio is impressively clean. By the time you get down to "Through With Women" on Disc 1 - your speakers are filled with guitar-flicking piano-rolling horn-moaning Blues where the gals are (of course) entirely to blame for T-Bone's woes (the good book says so you know). His "Street Walking Woman" is filled with great fun tales of a gal with a fifth shot of whiskey and a jug full of wine and she don't stop drivin' the boys wild even when the sun goes down.

The kind of artist who deserves a 5CD Bear Family 12" x 12" all-consuming monster hardback book tome Box Set – but if you want your stroll with T-Bone Walker – then settle-in with this early exemplary 2CD anthology. Just know that love is a gamble and she (evil-hearted and gin sozzled) has loaded the dice in her double-dealin' favour (don't they all)...