A real classic from blues giant Joe Turner – a singer who burst back to the mainstream
on 50s Atlantic Records, thanks to a host of R&B singles that burned up the charts – but who here returns to his roots, and lays
down a great set of jazzy tunes that
get back to his roots in the Kansas City scene of the 30s! The shift is a bit like that Ray Charles made at the end of the 50s
on Atlantic – R&B to more of a jazz-based groove – and Joe works here with great help from Pete Brown
on alto, Pete Johnson
on piano, Joe Newman
on trumpet, and Lawrence Brown
on trombone. After the raw hard R&B of Joe's bigger hit sides for Atlantic, the album's a compelling change – a reminder that Turner had roots that went much deeper than his rock and roll fame – and a depth of delivery that would keep his career strong, long after some of his 50s R&B contemporaries faded! The mix of modes – R&B and jazz – is a bit like some of the later Ray Charles albums
on Atlantic – and tracks include "Low
Down Dog", "Roll Em Pete", "Cherry Red", "How Long Blues", and "Morning Glories".
(Blues, Soul) (Rockefeller label pressing with Warner rim logo. Cover has light wear, aging, and a cutout notch.)