Amazing sounds from one of the all-time greats – the legendary Little Willie John – not only a key inspiration to James Brown, but one of the formative forces in soul music at the start of the 60s! The material here was cut by King Records at the height of its R&B years, but it also stretches forth towards something new, too – a deeper, more expressive sound that really blows us out of the water, even all these decades later – vocals that are incredible, and virtually a blueprint for the style that would come to be known as deep soul in later years. The package brings together all of Little Willie John's hit singles for King, but also features the much more obscure b-sides too – making it an essential document of these legendary years – with a whopping 32 tracks that include "Now You Know", "Flamingo", "Spring Fever", "I'm Sorry", "My Nerves", "Do Something For Me", "Leave My Kitten Alone", "Let Nobody Love You", "Fever", "Tell It Like It Is", "Letter From My Darling", "Don't Leave Me Dear", "Right There", and "All Around The World". CD

James Brown's always cited Little Willie John as one of his biggest vocal influences – and on this CD, you'll definitely hear why! In a world of R&B shouters and screamers, Willie had a talent for subtle soul that was quite unique. He still had as much vocal power as some of his contemporaries, and could use it when he wanted to – but at the drop of a hat, he could also shift into a sadder, mellower mode that was extremely compelling, and which showed a sophistication in R&B that was normally the province of jazz singers. This nicely-done 20-track set pulls together loads of gems from Willie's classic years at King – including his famous version of "Fever", plus "All Around The World", "Spasms", "Leave My Kitten Alone", "Talk To Me, Talk To Me", "My Nerves", "Person To Person", "Sleep", "Home At Last", "My Baby's In Love With Another Guy", and "I Like To See My Baby", a nice duet with Hank Ballard. CD

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Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". CD

The title gets it right – as these recordings are definitely some of the first-ever by Miles Davis – some done under his own name, some as a key sideman with other artists! The first 8 cuts feature Davis with group of his own, featuring his famous boss of the time, Charlie Parker, on alto sax – plus John Lewis on piano and Max Roach on drums. Most tracks have a few versions, and titles include "Half Nelson", "Little Willie Leaps", "Milestones", and "Sippin At Bells". Next are 7 more tracks done on sessions that feature vocalist Rubberlegs Williams and reedman Herbie Fields – tunes that include "That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch", "Pointless Mama Blues", and "Bring It On Home". Last up is a bonus Charlie Parker tune – a classic 1945 recording of "Now's The Time", with Miles on trumpet. CD

Music from Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, the Five Satins, Shirley & Lee, the Teen Queens, Chuck Berry, the Platters, Little Richard, the Cadets, Sonny James, Little Willie John, Ivory Joe Hunter & more. CD

Music from Tyrone Davis, Mel & Tim, Barbara Lynn, Lee Dorsey, Little Willie John, the Delfonics, the Intruders, Peaches & Herb, Jackie Wilson, the Isley Brothers, Joe Henderson, Joe Tex, Brenda & The Tabulations, OC Smith, and more. CD

A treasure box of early 60s R&B 45s – a top shelf collection of singles cut for the King & Federal labels from 1960 to 1964 – amazing numbers from Hank Ballard, Freddy King, The Drivers, Little Bobby Moore, Willie Dixon & The Big Wheels, Johnny Guitar Watson, Carol Ford, Little Willie John and more. Early 60s soul and rollicking R&B sides to rival the best and most exciting sounds of the era – compiled by DJ Mr Fine Wine, most of which have never been reissued before now! Includes "Gibble Gobble" by Willie Wright & His Sparklers, "Broadway" by Hank Ballard, "What Makes You So Cold" by Lulu Reed, "My Nerves" by Little Willie John, "The Slummer The Slum" by The 5 Royales, "I Don't Know About You" by Lloyd Nolan, "Where You At Jack" by Little Mummy,, "That's It Man" by The Valentines, "Mind Your Own Business" by Eugene Church, "Regardless" by Charles Brown,, "Texas Oil" by Freddie King", "One Zippy Zam" by Roy Mildton & His Orchestra, "Mom, Won't You Teach Me To Monkey" by Little Emmett Suttoon, "Hog Killin Time" by Eddie Kirk and more. CD

A nice little album – despite what might be a gimmicky concept! The set offers up Latin versions of Jewish tunes – but even that's not much of a gimmick, when you consider how important the Jewish audiences were to the growth of Latin music in the New York in the 50s and 60s. From DJs like Symphony Sid, to vacationers at the Catskills, to dancers in classes at Arthur Murray on Long Island or the Palladium in Manhattan, the Jewish audiences were some of the strongest for the New York Latin acts – and it's no surprise that you get albums like this cropping up to address the situation! Calle's group is a fine Latin jazz ensemble, and they've got a clarinet in the mix on a few tracks, snaking away in an almost klezmer-like fashion over the piano/percussion grooves of the album. Players include a rock-solid batch of Latin and jazz musicians – including Charlie Palmieri on piano, Ray Barretto on congas, Willie Rodriguez on timbales, Clark Terry on trumpet, and Doc Cheatham on trumpet – plus John Cali on lute – the real name of Juan Calle, who also did all the arrangements. Ed Powell sings a bit of vocals, but most of the action here is instrumental – and very much in the best Riverside Latin mode of the time, but with a Jewish twist! Titles include "Papirossen", "Beltz Mein Shetele Betlz", "Die Greene Koseene", "Frilach A Nacht", and "Yossel Yossel". CD

A strong outing from the Joe Lovano nonet – recorded live at the Village Vanguard, with the feel of other classic work recorded in the legendary club! The album's stepped in traditions of large group work of the 50s and 60s – albums by artists like Tadd Dameron, Dizzy Gillespie, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra – with Lovano on tenor, working as a key part of 8 other musicians that include Steve Slagle on alto, Larry Farrell on trombone, and John Hicks on piano. Orchestrations are by Lovano, Slagle, and Willie Smith – and titles include "After The Rain", "Good Bait", "Laura", "On This Day", "At The Vanguard", and "My Little Brown Book". CD

Older Charlie Parker material – originally recorded as 78rpm releases for Savoy, packaged up here in full LP form, along with alternate takes and a great cover, in the years after his early death! Players include Miles Davis on trumpet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and piano, Duke Jordan and John Lewis on piano, and Max Roach on drums – and titles include "Red Cross", "Sippin At Bells", "Little Willie Leaps", "Donna Lee", "Chasing The Bird", and "Half Nelson". CD

A great little collection, mostly with vintage work from the late 40s through the 60s – including performances by Texas Johnny Brown, Sticks McGhee, John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie McTell, T-Bone Walker, Guitar Slim, Al King, Cornell Dupree, and Chuck Norris! CD

Includes 23 songs from Jimmy Yancey, Little Brother Montgomery, Jack Dupree, Professor Longhair, Vann "Piano Man" Walls, Joe Turner, Jay McShann, Meade Lux Lewis, Ray Charles, Floyd Dixon, Texas Johnny Brown, Doctor John, and Willie Mabon. CD

A dozen tracks from Billy Stewart, Little Walter, Lowell Fulson, Larry Williams, Eddie Boyd, Willie Mabon & His Combo, Betty James, Muddy Waters, TV Slim, Memphis Slim & The House Rockers, and John Lee Hooker. CD

Music from Muddy Waters, Little Johnny Jones, Jimmy Rogers, John Lee Hooker, Eddie Boyd, Little Walter, Lowell Folson, JB Lenoir, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon – 16 tracks total. CD

Music from Buster Benton, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Lightnin' Hopkins, Ike Turner, Willie Dixon, Little Joe Blue, Lowell Fulson, John Lee Hooker, Magic Sam, and Earl Hooker. CD

Raw, raunchy sounds – all pulled together from a time before soul and rock even existed! Most of the work here is from the classic catalog of King Records – a killer imprint in the postwar R&B market, and a company who wasn't afraid to do what it took to make a knockout record! In the case of these tracks, the singers often hit some fairly suggestive material – often hidden in early 50s innuendo, but barely so – with a vibe that's often nastier than even the most hardcore rockabilly sounds to come! The music here has its roots in blues, but is inflected with plenty of jazz, and the presence of the singers often point the way towards soul music – especially the James Brown crowd that would later rise at the same label. Titles on this volume include "Sexy Ways" by Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, "Lolly Pop Mama" by Wynonie Harris, "I Want A Bowlegged Woman" by Bull Moose Jackson, "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" by Billy Ward & The Dominoes, "Will You Be Mine" by The Swallows, "Leave My Kitten Alone" by Little Willie John, "Sixy Minute Man" by Billy Ward & The Dominoes, and "Lovin Machine" by Wynonie Harris. CD

Music from Sweet Honey In The Rock, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Little Richard With Fishbone, Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Brian Wilson, and more. CD