An excellent overview
of the second half
of the short run
of the Ric & Ron labels – tiny imprints from New Orleans in the early years
of soul music, but a crucial
force in the development
of the Crescent City sound! The work here is mostly from the early 60s, and really shows New Orleans soul coming into its own – finding a way to fuse together all the rich array
of sounds, styles, and cultural influences that made the sound
of the city so unique – with lots
of romping rhythms, deeply soulful vocals, and some mad piano lines that really add that sig
nature New Orleans touch! Nearly every cut here is a winner, and this Ace Records presentation
of the label's legacy is easily the best treatment
of Ric & Ron we've ever seen. The set features 24 tracks – including some rare and unissued numbers – and titles include "Send Me Your Picture" by Bobby Mitchell, "A Losing Battle" by Johnny Adams, "Unemployed" by Warren Lee, "Check Mr Popeye" by Eddie Bo, "Honest I Do" by Tommy Ridgley, "I Guess I Always Will" by Jimmy Easterling, "I Don't Talk Too Much" by Martha Carter, "The Git Back (part 1)" by Guitar Joe Morris, "Question
Of Love (demo)" by Barbara Lynn, and "Carnival Time (demo)" by Al Johnson.