Dark and sophisticated vocals from Lee Wiley – cut with a slightly more traditional feel than some of her other albums from the time, partly because the backings are handled by Billy Butterfield! Yet despite a slightly traddish bent, there's also a slightly modern feel too – a nice melding of modes that's very much in the best 50s RCA spirit – fresh and sultry enough to live up to the streetwise image on the cover. Arrangements are by Al Cohn and Bill Finegan, and titles include "Blues In My Heart", "The Memphis Blues","A Hundred Years From Today", "Make Believe", "A Touch Of The Blues", and "I Don't Want To Walk Without You". CD

A beautiful little concept for a beautiful little album – a "duologue" in which Lee Wiley sings one track, then Ellis Larkins plays the next, and so on – making for a split LP, but one with a lot of variety along the way! Wiley sings on about two thirds of the tracks on the set – working with a small combo that features Jimmy Jones on piano, Ruby Braff on trumpet, Jo Jones on drums, and Bill Pemberton on bass – all of whom provide gentle accompaniment to Lee's traditionally styled vocals. Ellis Larkins plays piano on the rest of the tracks – solo, with that wonderful late nite style of his – an approach that's more complicated than cocktail piano, but a bit more laidback than straighter jazz. Wiley numbers include "My Heart Stood Still", "Give It Back To The Indians", "My Romance", "You Took Advantage Of Me", and "My Funny Valentine". Larkins numbers include "Perfume & Rain", "By Myself", "Looking At You", and "Then I'll Be Tired Of You". CD

Features Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier, Tommy Dorsey, Earl Hines, Sid Weiss, Wild Bill Davison, Pee Wee Russell, and Woody Herman – plus vocals from Lee Wiley. 34 tracks on two CD's. CD

Music from Sam Collins, Gus Cannon, Papa Harvey, Rube Lacy, Bo Carter, Furry Lewis Son House, Geeshie Wiley, Jim Thompkins, Skip James, King Solomon, Otto Virgial, Roberet Johnson, Muddy Waters, and more – 40 tracks in all! CD

Includes 33 tracks featuring Muggsy Spanier, Pee Wee Russell, Hot Lips Page, Benny Morton, and Lee Wiley! CD

One of the few 50s albums ever cut from singer Barbara Lea – a great vocalist who seemed to get a bit more of a chance in the studio much later in her life! This session's got a slightly unusual feel – in that it's not really torchy, but also not as outrightly swinging either – and part of that feel might have to do with the backings, which are by 2 different small groups led by trumpeter Johnny Windhurst, who swings things along on the record, but never in a way that's too over the top. Barbara herself has a style that's expressive, but not overly emotive – a bit like Lee Wiley or some of her contemporaries, but slightly "cooler" at points. Titles include "I've Got A Pocket Full Of Dreams", "I Had Myself A True Love", "Baltimore Oriole", "Blue Skies", "My Honey's Loving Arms", and "Nobody Else But Me". CD features 2 bonus tracks! CD

Music from Garfield Akers, Kid Bailey, William Harris, Blind Willie Reynolds, Arthur Petties, Blind Joe Reynolds, Mississippi Jook Band, Geeshie Wiley, Jelly Jaw Short, King Solomon Hill, Freddie Spruell & more. CD

Pastor Wiley Champion is a gospel singer with a hell of a voice – the sort that could have instantly made him a huge soul singer, if he ever chose to leave his faith – but which is maybe even more powerful here directed towards a spiritual sort of setting! The album's a very lean effort, especially for a contemporary album – recorded to two track analog tape in a church in Oakland, but with crisp fidelity that lets the vocals really come to life once the songs begin – as Champion sings with light backings from his own guitar, plus a bit of keyboard, bass, drums, and tenor. The whole thing is wonderfully without any sense of cliche – and has none of the slavish attempt to sound "authentic" that you might fear from a contemporary record like this – just the pure, unadulterated power of a singer who's worked in obscurity for decades, finally getting his due. Titles include "To Be Used By You", "Storm Of Life", "I Know That You've Been Wounded", "He'll Make A Way", "I Just Want To Be A Good Man", and "Who Do Men Say I Am". CD

Music from Ruth Etting, Hleln Morgan, Greta Keller, Ethel Waters, Annette Hanshaw, Connie Boswell, the Boswell Sisters, Frances Langford, Alice Faye, Lee Wiley, Helen Ward, and more. CD