Early King Records material by Champion Jack Dupree – a hell of a pianist, and a heck of a great singer too – working almost as a raconteur on some of the best songs on this collection! The music has deep roots in New Orleans, where Jack must have really honed his piano skills – but there's also a more northern, more urban presentation of the music on these cuts – a strong current of wit that comes in the way that Jack puts over a tune, and a great mix of jazzy phrasing in both his piano and the electric guitar that sometimes provides strong accompaniment. Jack's vocals are almost more commentary than traditional lyrics – often with an undercurrent of raunch – and titles include "That's My Pa", "Failing Health Blues", "Big Leg Emma's", "Two Below Zero", "Camille", "Me & My Mule", "She Cooks Me Cabbage", and "Silent Partner". CD

A huge batch of material from female R&B singer Mickey Champion – possibly best known for her work with Roy Milton, but presented here in a range of other singles as well! Mickey's got a style that's especially nice on the mellower, bluesier tunes here – tracks sung in a way that's almost a precursor to 60s female deep soul, but still with plenty of R&B overtones. Tracks on the set were originally issued on labels that include Modern, Aladdin, Dootone, RPM, and King – and the CD features mostly numbers done under Champion's name, plus a few more with Roy Milton or The Nic Nacs. 24 tracks in all – including "Bam A Lam", "Good For Nothin Man", "Best Friend", "Two Faced Daddy", "I've Got It Bad", "Lovin Jim", "If That's The Way You Feel", "If You Can't Hold Your Man With A Kiss", "Rockin Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu", "You're Gonna Suffer Baby", and "Don't Say You Love Me". (Soul, Blues) CD

A very cool 60s session – produced for UK Decca by Mike Vernon, with guest work from Eric Clapton and Tony McPhee on guitars, Keef Hartley on drums, and John Mayall on harmonica! CD

... CD

One of the last albums that King Curtis ever recorded – and an unusual session of mostly blues-based material, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Fest with Champion Jack Dupree! In a way, the setting really unlocks some of Dupree's more jazz-oriented modes – in a group that features Curtis on tenor and alto, Jack on piano and vocals, and rhythm from Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums! Things start out rootsy, but really take off as the record moves on – and the setting actually gives Curtis a chance to stretch out a lot more than most of his previous recordings for Atlantic. Titles include "Get With It", "Sneaky Pete", "Junker's Blues", "Everything's Gonna Be Alright", and "I'm Having Fun". (Soul, Blues) LP, Vinyl record album

Plus tracks with Blind Willie McTell, Champion Jack Dupree and Dennis McMillon. CD

A deep look at a blues scene that doesn't always get its due – music not from Chicago, Memphis, or various points south – but some nicely gritty tracks that were cut in New York during the postwar years! Despite New York's fame as a hub of jazz, soul, and other styles – the city also had a surprisingly strong blues scene in the 50s and 60s, which is when most of these tracks were recorded – music that's both in the electric modes that were showing up in other urban centers at the time, and also in some more traditional modes that were sometimes left behind in other cities – but which got a nice revival in New York, thanks to an interest in folk blues from the underground! Material here was originally recorded by a range of different labels – Old Town, Atlantic, Mercury, Prestige, Fire, Apollo, King, and Chess – and as you'd expect from Ace, there's also some unreleased material on the set, all presented with a great assortment of notes and details on every single track. 26 titles in all – with cuts that include "Bad Blood" by Champion Jack Dupree, "Step It Up & Go" by Blind Boy Fuller, "The Guy With A 45" by Allen Bunn & His Trio, "Stormy Monday Blues" by Bob Gaddy, "Kansas City March" by Wild Jimmy Spruill, "Four Women Blues" by Larry Johnson & Hank Adkins, "Idle Hours" by Lonnie Johnson with Victory Spivey, "Hard Times" by Noble Thin Man Watts, "Believe Me Darling" by June Bateman, "Security" by Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, "Jack That Cat Was Clean" by Dr Horse, and "Goodbye Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison. CD

Includes selections by Otis Spann, Speckled Red, Sunnyland Slim, Champion Jack Dupree, Memphis Slim, and Sonny Boy Williamson. LP, Vinyl record album

A great collection – one that mixes American blues with a generation of UK musicians who drew on them for inspiration – featuring work by Eddie Boyd, Robert Nighthawk, John Mayall, Ten Years After, Savoy Brown, and Champion Jack Dupree! LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring Bo Dollis, Champion Jack Dupree, Dr. John, Earl Turbinton, Jr, John Mooney, Monk Boudreaux, Rebirth Brass Band, The Golden Eagles, The Wild Magnolias and Willie Tee. (Soul, Blues) CD