The best-ever collection of
work we've seen by Johnny Ace – a key figure in the Memphis scene of the 50s, and one of the first great casualties of rock and roll! Johnny was one of the first singers to record for the legendary Duke label, and
worked in a mode that helped transform the smoother style of the west coast postwar R&B singers into a rougher, rawer mode that would pave the way for Memphis soul in years to come. And although Johnny died a tragic early
death (and partially because of it), the impact of his
work was tremendous, even in the few short years for which he recorded for Duke – leading to countless posthumous collections, mostly illegitimate, which often presented Johnny's
work in less-than-superior conditions. This set more than corrects that problem – by presenting the 20 tracks that Ace recorded for the Duke label, along with full notes on players and sessions, as well as a nice essay on Johnny's music and all-too-short career! Titles include "How Can You Be So Mean", "My Song", "The Clock", "Burley Cutie", "Cross My Heart", "Anymore", "No
Money", "Don't You Know", "Saving My Love For You", "Please Forgive Me", "So Lonely", and "Pledging My Love".