A pair of Hammond jazz classics from organist Sam Lazar – back to back on a single CD, with rare bonus tracks too! First up is Space Flight – a tight batch of organ groovers with a raw R&B feel, recorded by the obscure St Louis organist Sam Lazar – with a very young Grant Green on guitar! The album's a bit different than Sam's other records for Argo – in that the tunes are all quite short, with a tight fast sound that's almost more R&B at times than jazz – a very unusual setting especially for Grant Green! The guitar is nice and loud – really racing to keep up with Lazar's fast work on the Hammond – and other members of the group include Willie Dixon on bass and Chauncey Williams on drums. Titles include "Mad Lad", "Space Flight", "Caramu", "Funky Blues", and "Big Willie". Playback is one of a few rare albums from Hammond player Sam Lazar – a lesser-known artist from the same searing generation as Baby Face Willette and Jack McDuff, but a musician who never full got his due! This record was done for the Argo side of Chess Records, and it's got a raw sound that's equal parts soul jazz and R&B – with Sam doing some great work on the keys, and the obscure tenorist Miller Brisker in the group too – a really great musician who works with lots of unique twists – and spurs Lazar onto new heights of playing, with maybe an even farther reach on the keys than his other albums. Lazar wrote most of the set, and the tracks include "Deep", "Fuzz Buzz", "S&S", "Scootin", and "Long Gone". A nice bit of soul jazz, with a deep rootsy sound all the way through! CD also features the bonus two-part 45rpm single of "Space Flight". CD

A great look at The Majors – a set that features their sole album for Imperial Records, plus lots more bonus material too! The set begins with the full Meet The Majors album – the only full album ever cut by The Majors – a hell of a vocal group from the Philly scene of the early 60s, and one with a fantastic approach that's a bit unlike anyone else we can think of! The group sports soaring lead vocals from singer Ricky Cordo – a singer with a range that's really amazing, and used in these ways that can be really dynamic, even on the mellow cuts – as he's backed by the group's three guys and one gal, who sometimes get a bit more spotlight in the lead – amidst this wonderful palette of instrumental touches, which includes bits of vibes, organ, and other nice touches that really keep things interesting. Titles include "Oh Wee Baby", "Time Will Tell", "She's A Troublemaker", "Don't You Lose Your Cool", "Come One Come On", "What In The World", "A Wonderful Dream", and "Anything You Can Do". The set then moves into 10 more tracks from singles for Imperial and Ro-Cal – titles that include "Tra La La", "One Happy Ending", "What Have You Been Doin", "Get Up Now", and the cuts "Whisper In Your Ear" and "Lundee Dundee", both cut by the earlier version of the group, as The Versatiles. CD

A killer collection, and one that might well be called "the roots of New Orleans soul" – given how important these recordings were to the sound of Crescent City in years to come! Bobby Marchan is completely on fire throughout – already working in that slow-stepping Nola groove right from the start of his career – moving through R&B modes to the growing soul styles of the 60s – as he shifts from labels that include Ace, Gale, Fire, and Sphere Sound! And yes, some of those later cuts weren't recorded in New Orleans, but Bobby's got a classic sound throughout – raw vocals, rolling grooves, and a standard-setting style on cuts that include "Pity Poor Me", "Give A Helping Hand", "Chickee Wah Wah", "Snoopin & Accusin", "Rockin Behind The Iron Curtain", "You Can't Stop Her", "You're Still My Baby (parts 1 & 2)", "I Miss You So", "What You Don't Know Don't Hurt You", "Things I Used To Do (parts 1 & 2)", "Look At My Heart", "Yes It's Written All Over Your Heart", "I Know", "Don't Take Your Love From Me", and the unissued "Little Girl Of Mine". CD

... CD

Great work from Lattie Moore – one of the most obscure hillbilly artists to record for King Records in the postwar year – and an artist who's also presented here on a range of cuts from other small labels too! Moore's music has that rough, raw quality that always made King material from the time such a great contrast to more polished productions on bigger labels – really perfect for Lattie's vocals, which have this really heartbreaking twang that really makes the songs sparkle! We're not entirely sure, but this may well be the first-ever full collection of Moore's material from the time – long overdue, given the quality of cuts that include "One Hundred Thousand Women Can't Be Wrong", "Don't Trade The Old For The New", "Foolish Castles", "My First Love", "Juke Box Johnnie", "Why Did You Lie To Me", "They're Not Worth The Paper They're Written On", and "Under A Mexico Moon". CD

An insane amount of work from drummer Sandy Nelson – the cat who was to the drums what The Ventures were to the guitar – carving out a whole host of hit instrumental records in a non-stop flurry of action at the start of the 60s! The work here is definitely from a very productive time in Sandy's career – as the set features all work done in 1962, a stunning amount of music for one short year – given that the 2CD set features 59 tracks in all, pulled from the albums Compelling Percussion, Teen Age House Party, Drums Are My Beat, Country Style, and Drumming Up A Storm – plus other hit singles too! The drums are only part of the charm here too – because although Sandy's got a tight sound, and gets in plenty of solos, the overall Liberty Records production and arrangements really help the tunes shine too. Titles include "Sandy", "Castle Rock", "Dumplins", "Junior Jive", "North Wind", "Drums Are My Beat", "Birth Of The Beat", "Drum Roll", "Day Drumming", "Drum Stomp", "Hum Drum", "Be Bop Baby", "Night Train", "Let The Good Times Roll", "Drums For Drummers Only", and "Drums For Strippers Only". CD

Three gals, one guy, and a really important group on the Philly scene in the early years of soul music – as you'll hear on this collection of seminal tracks from first few years of the 60s! The Orlons have a way of mixing familiar female harmony soul sweetness with a slightly deeper vibe – equally great on heartbreaking ballads as it is on some of the groovers that the group would really make a mark with – cuts that were crucial in breaking barriers in the world of pop music at the time they were released. The set features 28 tracks by the group – a mixture of album cuts and singles – and also adds in 4 more numbers that have The Orlons backing up Dee Dee Sharp. Titles include "Holiday Hill", "Please Let It Be Me", "I'll Be True", "The Conservative", "Release Me", "Chains", "Ride", "Guitar Man", "Don't Hang Up", "Let Me In", "He's Gone", "Gravy", "The Plea", "The Cha Cha Cha", and "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby". CD

Featuring Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro, and Red Rodney. CD

Seminal work from the great Todd Rhodes – a talent who was huge in the postwar years, but never fully got his dues! Rhodes was a bandleader with experience that already stretched for years in jazz before making these cuts – and his style was seminal in the development of R&B in the 50s, with a top-shelf quality that holds up strongly over the years! In some way, Rhodes is a lot like Tiny Bradshaw – an artist who might have made swing records in the 30s, but who was more than able to work in a tight, raw vibe by the late 40s – also, like Bradshaw, graced with a great ear for a singer – as you'll hear in work on the collection that includes early contributions from Lavern Baker, Lonnie Johnson, Wynonie Harris, and others. Rhodes was a real powerhouse during these years, and finally gets presentation of the full scope of his talents – on tracks recorded for both the King and Sensation labels – 30 titles that include "Can't Sleep Anymore", "That Ain't Right", "Blues For The Red Boy", "Pot Likker", "Good Man", "Walkie Talkie", "Lost Child", "Beulah", "Here Comes The Night", "Pig Latin Blues", Gin Gin Gin", "Lovin Machine", and "Your Daddy's Doggin Around" CD

A pair of albums from the legendary Shakey Jake – with bonus tracks too! First up is Good Times – a stunner from Shakey Jake – and a set that's got a surprising jazz element as well – given that the singer/harmonicist works here with Jack McDuff on Hammond and Bill Jennings on guitar! Jack and Bill were working together on other soul jazz sessions for Prestige Records during the same period – but they sound completely different here, as they recast their mighty powers to create spare grooves for Shakey Jake! Jake sings throughout – often with a raw, unbridled style that's a lot more powerful than you'd guess from his name – and he also alternates with some harmonica solos too, but still leaves room for Jack and Bill to solo a bit as well. The album's a unique gem that really brings together both sides of the Prestige sound of the period – and titles include "Worried Blues", "Tear Drops", "You Spoiled Your Baby", "Still Your Fool", "Good Times", "Huffin & Puffin", and "Call Me When You Need Me". Next is Mouth Harp Blues – one of the coolest records ever in the Prestige Records blues catalog of the early 60s – a great little set that provides a folksy sort of setting for the legendary Shakey Jake – but which has a way of getting past some of the partially-baked modes of some other folk blues records of the time! The production is wonderful – nice and clear, as Jake delivers both vocals and harmonica – working with a laidback combo that features Jimmie Lee on guitar, Robert Banks on piano, Leonard Gaskin on bass, and Junior Blackmon on drums! Titles include "Jake's Cha Chas", "It Won't Happen Again", "Things Is Alright", "Gimme A Smile", "Love My Baby", and "Mouth Harp Blues". CD also features an earlier Chicago single on the Artistic label, recorded with the band of Willie Dixon, which includes Magic Sam – the cuts "Call Me If You Need Me" and "Roll Your Money Maker". CD

A great overview of the early career of country singer Charlie Walker – an early king of the honky tonks, and an artist who may well at his best with the material on this collection! Charlie was brought to Columbia Records – where most of these tracks were recorded – introduced to the label by Ray Price, and working here with a sublime style that's often very similar to that high point of Price's recordings around his Night Life album at the start of the 60s. Instrumentation is classic, but attitudes are more contemporary in the lyrics – thanks to material by Harlan Howard, Bill Anderson, Ray Price, and Charlie himself – and the delivery is nicely compact, to really send home the tunes. Titles include "Two Empty Arms", "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down", "When My Conscience Hurts The Most", "Facing The Hill", "Take Back Your Love Letters", "A Way To Free Yourself", "Good Deal Lucille", "Louisiana Belle", "Life Goes On", "I Only Meant To Borrow", "I'll Catch You When You Fall", and "I Don't Mind Saying". CD also features some of the very rare pre-Columbia material by Walker – titles that include "Only You Only You", "Tell Her Lies & Feed Her Candy", "Dancing Mexican Boy", "Cheaters Never Win", "Stepping Stones", "You Can't Get There From Here", "Take My Hand", and "I'll Never Let It Show". CD

Danny Williams is a singer who never broke that big on our shores, but he's a heck of a vocalist with a really great range – a mature, sophisticated song stylist who's maybe in the same territory as a young Johnny Mathis, or maybe Tony Williams of The Platters – born in South Africa, but recorded here on a strong range of singles for the British market! The music is equal parts soul and jazz – and like Mathis, Williams opens the door for much more adult singers in years to come – modes that allow for a different range of expression than earlier blues and R&B. The set features both sides of Danny's ten singles for HMV, plus some tracks from EP releases and rare album tracks – 29 titles in all, including "Tall A Tree", "Stay As Sweet As You Are", "Lonely", "Moon River", "Weaver Of Dreams", "Jeannie", "Something's Gotta Give", "Get Happy", "Tiara Tahiti", "Tears", "The Wonderful World Of The Young", "So High So Low", and "Youthful Years". CD

A great overview of the early days of soul music on the Philly scene – work that's very different than the smooth, sophisticated sounds the city was giving the world in the 70s! At the time of these tracks, Philly was a crucial crossroads in popular music – home to important labels, distributors, and radio stations – and a key force in turning America on to the best up-and-coming talents in rock, pop, and R&B – as well as the young soul artists you'll hear on this set! The Philly approach often makes for well-recorded, catchy tunes that still maintain a great sort of edge – the kind of singles that would instantly warrant repeated play on the jukebox, and which would sound great booming out of the speakers when they did. The set's got 29 tracks in all – with titles that include "Pop Pop Pop Pie" by the Sherrys, "The Push & Kick" by Mark Valentino, "The Popeye Waddle" by Don Covay, "If It Wasn't For Pride" by Jimmy Dee & The Universals, "She's So Fine" by Big Boy Myles, "Party Lights" by Claudine Clark, "If I Should Lose You" by The Dreamlovers, "Did We Go Steady Too Soon" by Farris Hill & The Madison Brothers, "No Time To Cry" by Bernard Byers, and "The Hunch" by Bobby Peterson Quintet. CD

A great overview of the early days of soul music on the Philly scene – work that's very different than the smooth, sophisticated sounds the city was giving the world in the 70s! At the time of these tracks, Philly was a crucial crossroads in popular music – home to important labels, distributors, and radio stations – and a key force in turning America on to the best up-and-coming talents in rock, pop, and R&B – as well as the young soul artists you'll hear on this set! The Philly approach often makes for well-recorded, catchy tunes that still maintain a great sort of edge – the kind of singles that would instantly warrant repeated play on the jukebox, and which would sound great booming out of the speakers when they did. The set's got 29 tracks in all – with titles that include "Pop Pop Pop Pie" by the Sherrys, "The Push & Kick" by Mark Valentino, "The Popeye Waddle" by Don Covay, "If It Wasn't For Pride" by Jimmy Dee & The Universals, "She's So Fine" by Big Boy Myles, "Party Lights" by Claudine Clark, "If I Should Lose You" by The Dreamlovers, "Did We Go Steady Too Soon" by Farris Hill & The Madison Brothers, "No Time To Cry" by Bernard Byers, and "The Hunch" by Bobby Peterson Quintet. CD

Famous hits, but in versions that you might not recognize – as they're the original recordings of the tunes, some of which are a lot more obscure than the bigger later versions! The package is a great romp through a range of different styles – rock, soul, and a little bit more – all from the glory days of the 7" single, when all sorts of artists were trying out all sorts of great material – so much so that even gems like these didn't always hit the charts! Consider the whole thing as a great "whodunit" of rock and roll – with a set list of 33 titles that includes "I Found You" by Yvonne Fair, "Pony Time" by Don Covay, "The Pale Faced Indian" by Marvin Rainwater, "Last Kiss" by Wayne Cochran, "Come Tomorrow" by Marie Knight, "Rave On" by Sonny West, "Johnny Angel" by Georgia Lee, "He's A Rebel" by Vikki Carr, "Ring Of Fire" by Anita Carter, "I Wanna Go Home" by Billy Grammer, "I'm All Shook Up" by David Hill, "Endlessly" by Johnny Ray, "Go Away Little Girl" by Bobby Vee, and "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On" by Big Maybelle. CD

Famous hits, but in versions that you might not recognize – as they're the original recordings of the tunes, some of which are a lot more obscure than the bigger later versions! The package is a great romp through a range of different styles – rock, soul, and a little bit more – all from the glory days of the 7" single, when all sorts of artists were trying out all sorts of great material – so much so that even gems like these didn't always hit the charts! Consider the whole thing as a great "whodunit" of rock and roll – with a set list of 33 titles that includes "I Found You" by Yvonne Fair, "Pony Time" by Don Covay, "The Pale Faced Indian" by Marvin Rainwater, "Last Kiss" by Wayne Cochran, "Come Tomorrow" by Marie Knight, "Rave On" by Sonny West, "Johnny Angel" by Georgia Lee, "He's A Rebel" by Vikki Carr, "Ring Of Fire" by Anita Carter, "I Wanna Go Home" by Billy Grammer, "I'm All Shook Up" by David Hill, "Endlessly" by Johnny Ray, "Go Away Little Girl" by Bobby Vee, and "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On" by Big Maybelle. CD

... CD

A pair of Hammond jazz classics from organist Sam Lazar – back to back on a single CD, with rare bonus tracks too! First up is Space Flight – a tight batch of organ groovers with a raw R&B feel, recorded by the obscure St Louis organist Sam Lazar – with a very young Grant Green on guitar! The album's a bit different than Sam's other records for Argo – in that the tunes are all quite short, with a tight fast sound that's almost more R&B at times than jazz – a very unusual setting especially for Grant Green! The guitar is nice and loud – really racing to keep up with Lazar's fast work on the Hammond – and other members of the group include Willie Dixon on bass and Chauncey Williams on drums. Titles include "Mad Lad", "Space Flight", "Caramu", "Funky Blues", and "Big Willie". Playback is one of a few rare albums from Hammond player Sam Lazar – a lesser-known artist from the same searing generation as Baby Face Willette and Jack McDuff, but a musician who never full got his due! This record was done for the Argo side of Chess Records, and it's got a raw sound that's equal parts soul jazz and R&B – with Sam doing some great work on the keys, and the obscure tenorist Miller Brisker in the group too – a really great musician who works with lots of unique twists – and spurs Lazar onto new heights of playing, with maybe an even farther reach on the keys than his other albums. Lazar wrote most of the set, and the tracks include "Deep", "Fuzz Buzz", "S&S", "Scootin", and "Long Gone". A nice bit of soul jazz, with a deep rootsy sound all the way through! CD also features the bonus two-part 45rpm single of "Space Flight". CD

Maybe the first-ever collection to bring together the work of the great Red Saunders – a jazz drummer and a seminal figure on the Chicago music scene of the postwar years – a player who not only helped bridge the worlds of jazz and R&B, but who also was the leader of the house band at the legendary Club DeLisa – also known as the initial launching pad for the Sun Ra Arkestra! Red's music is nothing like Ra's – but it does show a similar Chicago ear for new ideas and musical combinations – as Saunders is working here in modes that are way more than the bebop promised by the title – which might be thought of more as an indicator of the modern sensibilities of Saunders. Performances are from a variety of rare 78s – a format in which most of Red's music was issued – and are filled with overlooked players who include Sonny Cohn on trumpet, Earl Washington and Porter Derico on piano, Leon Washington on tenor, McKinley Easton on baritone, Porter Kilbert and Nat Jones on alto, Ike Perkins on guitar, and John Avant and Harlan Floyd on trombones. There's a bit of vocals on the set – from a young Joe Williams, plus Bunky Redding and Buster Bennett – on titles that include "Red The Bebop Guy", "Memories Of You", "Hallelujah", "Card Playing Blues", "DDD", "Ridin Boogie", "Synthesis", "Jitterbuggin", "Legs Getting Bigger & Bigger", "Week Day Blues", "Hey Bartender", "Boot Em Up", "Sugar Bounce", "Lyin Girl Blues", and "Blow Mr Low Blow" – and a number of tracks were arranged by Sonny "Sun Ra" Blount! CD

Saxophonist Paul Williams may not be one of the best-remembered figures of the postwar years – but at the time, his work as a leader was crucial in bridging the worlds of jazz and R&B – very similar to that of artists like Hot Lips Page or Tiny Bradshaw, as you'll hear on the singles in this well-done set! Williams blows both alto and baritone on the selections – but his work as a leader is even more important – as he cooks up combos with a very lively vibe – heavy on rhythm, and topped with occasional vocals from artists who include Connee Allen, Little Willie John, and Bobby Parks – on singles recorded for Savoy, Jax, Rama, and Mercury Records. Titles include "Way Late", "Come With Me Baby", "The Twister (parts 1 & 2)", "Pop Corn", "He Knows How To Hucklebuck", "Spread Joy", "Shame Shame Shame", "Young Man Blues", "Miami Drag", "Suggie Duggie Boogie Baby", "Once Upon A Time Long Ago Last Night", "Betty Ann", and his own hit version of "The Hucklebuck". CD

Maybe the most overstuffed collection of work we've ever seen from early New Orleans soul legend Eddie Bo – a set that not only includes his early classics for the Ric label, but also more obscure material for Apollo, Chess, Ace, and Swan – all brought together here with a number of unissued tracks from the time! If you don't know Eddie, you're in for a treat – as the singer first began in a more familiar New Orleans R&B mode, but already had a gritty style that helped him first pave the way towards Crescent City soul, then some even more important funk territory as the 60s moved on! This set focuses on six key years in Bo's early career – clearly a very fruitful time, as the package features 43 tracks in all – titles that include "Baby", "I'm Wise", "Happy Tears", "I'll Be Satisfied", "Walk That Walk", "Oh Oh", "My Dearest Darling", "I Love To Rock & Roll", "So Glad", "I'm So Tired", "Hey There Baby", "I Need Someone", "Tell It Like It Is", "Every Dog Got His Day", "Roamin-titis", "Now Let's Pop Eye", "Hep Hep Hooray", "I Cry On", and lots lots more! CD

... CD

... CD

... CD

Includes tracks by Brook Benton, Ruth Brown, Tarheel Slim & Little Ann, Carol Fran, Larry Bridsong, Arthur Alexander, Fred Lowery, Roscoe Shelton, Buddy Ace, Bobby Bland, Jimmy Dotson, The Canes, Willie Harper, Betty Lavette, and more – 60 tracks total! CD

A double-header of a set – one that brings together rare work from two great 50s singers on the Duke/Peacock label – both of whom get a fair bit of space in the collection! Buddy Ace was actually named James Land at the start, but was dubbed Buddy Ace after the death of Johnny Ace – one of the first big Duke records stars, and a key force in the early years of rock and roll. Buddy's style is maybe a bit warmer at times than Johnny, but he also gets all the fantastic Duke Records production that made Bobby Blue Bland so great at the start – core blues augmented with larger arrangements, and jazz currents that can make the music a lot more sophisticated than on other labels! There's definitely plenty of blues in the mix, including strong guitar leads on some tunes – and titles include "Screaming Please", "This Little Love Of Mine", "From These Roots", "It Can't Be True", What Can I Do", "Back Home", and "Won't You Reconsider". The set then moves onto a great batch of work from Al TNT Braggs – a singer who definitely earns the explosive part of his name – especially on the upbeat numbers that are equal parts R&B and early rock and roll! Al's got a very distinct, dexterous approach to the music – one that's also really pointing the way towards 60s soul – on titles that include "Chase Em Tom Cat", "A Little Bit Closer", "We Belong Together", "Easy Rock", "You're Something Else", and "Cigarettes & Coffee". CD

A wonderful collection – one that features the legendary album by Eden Ahbez, plus other tracks that show his influence on postwar music! First up is the core Eden's Island set – an incredibly evocative record – one of the strangest of its kind, and an audio treasure that we've loved for years! Eden Ahbez first came into public prominence as the man who wrote "Nature Boy" for Nat King Cole – a dark, moody tune that was as mysterious and earthy as the man who wrote it! This album was recorded nearly a decade after Cole's original hit, and features Ahbez almost in Moondog-like territory – working in an amazing setting of odd instruments and exotic percussion – but also singing in this almost spiritualist kind of way! The record's got plenty of ties to the exotica scene of the late 50s – but also stand out from the pack with a mad vision that's all its own – a strange intersection of lines that one might draw between Moondog, Martin Denny, and Anton La Vey! Tracks include "The Wanderer", "Eden's Island", "Tradewind", "Full Moon", "Mongoose", "Market Place", "The Old Boat", "Island Girl" and "La Mar". CD then features 16 more bonus tracks – all compositions by Eden and work that shows others taking up his helm – titles that include "Palm Springs" by Ray Anthony, "Wine Women & Gold" by The Carsons, "Hey Jacque" by Eartha Kitt, "Frankie's Song" by Anita Ray, "Let Me Hear You Say I Love You" by Vicki Young, "End Of Desire" by April Stevens, "Sahara" by Bob Romeo & The Jungle Sextet, and "Song Of The Fool" by The Crew Cuts. CD

An excellent collection of work from Pia Beck – a Dutch pianist who first burned things up with some stunning instrumental tracks in the postwar years, then developed into a great singer too! As you might guess from the title, Pia began with a boogie woogie approach – blinding work on the piano that rivaled some of the American greats of the time – and as the years went on, she moved into jump blues and bebop too – handled with a great sense of charm, and chops that make her way more than a European player just dabbling in styles. There's never been a good collection of Beck's work from the time before – and this CD brings together 27 singles recorded for Philips, including work with Cor Steyn – a mixture of vocal and instrumental tunes, with cuts that include "I Didn't Slip I Wasn't Pushed I Fell", "Beck's Boogie", "Bop Kiss", "Botch A Me", "Haven't Got A Worry", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "I'm Feeling Blue At The Blue Note", and "Chickery Chick". CD

That's Billy Bland, not Bobby Bland – a really great singer who's got a wonderful range of material – equally able to sing jump blues, R&B, and even a bit of New Orleans soul – all of which is featured in this excellent collection of his work for the Old Town label – plus a few rare cuts for the Imperial label too! Billy cut most of these tracks at the end of the 50s and start of the 60s – after he'd spent time singing in the bigger groups of Lionel Hampton and Buddy Johnson – where he learned the care that comes to singing in a jazz based environment, and probably developed the powerful lead that really shines through here! In true Old Town style, there's a mix of modes throughout – especially as the work moves into the 60s – but Bland's able to shine with it and has this amazing, arching style of singing that should have made him huge. The package begins with 4 cuts that have Billy in the group The Bees – then moves into another 28 tracks that feature the singer solo – on titles that include "Uncle Bud", "Do The Bug With Me", "Pardon Me", "Harmony", "Snatchin Back", "I Want To Be Loved", "Chicken In Basket", "The Fat Man", "Chicken Hop", "Grandmaw Gave A Party", "Sweet Thing", and "How Many Hearts". CD

A great overview of the early career of Eddie Burns – a Detroit guitarist who also plays harmonica on a fair bit of these sides – coming across with the gritty blend of urban and rural modes that made Burns a key contemporary of John Lee Hooker in the city! Hooker's actually on a few of these tracks, and you'll hear appearances from other talents who include John T Smith, Joe Hunter, Little Sonny, and even a few early Motown artists too – in a set of tracks that include singles for the Gotham, Palda, Kent, Deluxe, and Harvey labels – plus unissued titles too. In later years, Eddie was recorded more heavily on full albums – but this 27 track set is a great look at these early days – with titles that include "Hello Miss Jessie Lee", "Sittin Here Wonderin", "Grieving Blues", "Squeeze Me Baby", "Notoriety Woman", "Love Shock", "I Gotta Find My Baby", "Orange Driver", "The Thing To Do", and "Mean & Evil". CD

The were plenty of singers who made the transition from gospel music to secular sounds during the 60s soul years – but Marie Knight followed that path a generation before – by starting out with some superb gospel material in the late 40s, then moving more strongly into R&B during the following decade! That long journey is served up beautifully in this set – which pulls together singles that Knight cut for a wide variety of labels – Mercury, Baton, Carlton, Decca, Okeh, and others – in settings that include gospel groups, small combos, and even few duets with other singers too. Throughout it all, Marie's got a hell of a voice that just gets better as the years go on – very adaptable to new material, and always full of feeling, on titles that include "I'll Let Nothing Separate Me From The Lord", "I Can't Sit Down", "Look At Me", "I'm The Little Fooler", "Gospel Train", "My Journey To The Sky", "Up Above My Head", "Precious Memories", "Trouble In Mind", "Stand The Storm", "Who Rolled The Stone Away", "I Thought I Told You Not To Tell Them", "I Was Born Again", and "Grashopper Baby". CD

A huge overview of the early days of saxophonist Mike Pedicin – a player who'd later become part of the Philadelphia International sound in 70s soul – but who here is a dedicated rocker, from a time when the sax was every bit a big part of the new sound as the guitar! The tracks here are mostly small combo sides recorded for a variety of indie labels, plus a few more for RCA – real gems from the time when an energetic cat like Mike could burst out of his local scene in Philly, and cook up a mixture of vocal and instrumental tunes that drew heavily on R&B and jump blues, and which point the way towards rocking sounds to come. The package is the first we've seen to cover this much territory of Pedicin's early years – and features 33 titles that include "Saxi Boogie", "Hey Pop Give Me The Keys", "Disc Jockey's Boogie", "Mmm Boy", "One Potato Two Potato", "The Large Large House", "Jackpot", "Close All The Doors", "I'm Hip", "Mambo Rock", "Devil", "Burnt Toast & Black Coffee", "Closin Out", and "The Dickie Doo". CD

The overlooked country music legacy of Melvin Endsley – an artist who's maybe known for some of the big hits he penned in the 50s, but a pretty great singer on his own – even though he never fully got his due! In a way, Melvin's a bit like Harlan Howard – an artist with a great way with a lyric, and one that folks allowed in the studio for a bit while his fame was riding high – on a selection of records that represent his too-small legacy in the lead as a singer! Endsley's got a nice sort of twang, and a very natural way of putting over his lyrics – as you'll hear on titles recorded here for MGM, RCA, and Hickory – a total of 28 tracks that include "The Search", "Ain't It Fine", "Can I Say Something", "Is It True", "Hungry Eyes", "Lovin On My Mind", "Keep A Lovin Me Baby", "Lonely All Over Again", "Bringin The Blues To My Door", "Getting Used To The Blues", and "Let's Fall Out Of Love". CD

Ernie Freeman was one of those cats who seemed as if he could do anything – a great pianist, a heck of an arranger, and a creative force who touched so many different kinds of music on the LA scene of the postwar years! Ernie's name appeared on countless records – his own big hits for the Imperial label, but also a range of other titles by different artists too – a variety of modes that always made Freeman one of those guys that can be tough to peg at a stylistic level – as you'll find his older records filed in the jazz, soul, and rock racks at record stores! This well-done set does a great job of illustrating the diverse talents of Ernie back in the day – filled with tunes that are mostly instrumental, and which step around genres in a great way – 32 titles that include "The Tuttle", "Leaps & Bounds", "Jivin Around", "Puddin", "Junior Jive", "After Sunset", "Summer Serenade", "Shape Up", "Theme From Igor", "Walking The Beat", "Lost Dreams", "Jamboree", "Conquest", "Swamp Meeting", and "Theme From The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs". CD

Very early work from Buddy Greco – a singer that most folks know from his loungey records of the 60s, but who steps out here in some surprisingly different material from his earliest years on vinyl! As the title implies, these cuts were all recorded for the Coral label – and they feature a number of titles that have backing by the Heathertones vocal group, mixed with material that starts to show Buddy as a stronger lead act – the latter often with arrangements by Don Costa or Dick Jacobs, in the familiar Coral mode. The work is not as jazzy as Greco in later years, and Buddy's phrasing is a bit different too – already graced with a wonderful voice, even while young – but with a style that's more familiar in some postwar chart-oriented modes. There's a great sense of variety here, and it's clear that within a few short years, Coral gave Greco plenty of chance to shine in the studio – as you'll hear on the 29 tracks that include "Don't", "Paris Loves Lovers", "Tonight", "Don't Say Goodbye", "I Predict", "You Belong To Me", "Take Me Back", "I Ran All The Way Home", "What Word Is Sweeter Than Sweetheart", and "Why Don't You Write Me". CD

Fantastic exotica material from Arthur Lyman – initially a percussionist in the group of Martin Denny, but soon to become a hi fi star of his own, thanks to work like this! Lyman handles a nice variety of instruments here – playing vibes, marimba, congas, bongos, and a heck of a lot of other percussion modes – often with the same spare, syncopated exotica groove that he first forged with Denny – but more small combo, with a cool sound that often uses a fair bit of echo in the production, and maybe less of the fake bird calls that were part of Denny's sound! This 24 track set features all the material from the two volumes of the classic Taboo albums – and titles include "Akaka Falls", "Taboo", "Ringo Oiwake", "China Clipper", "Sim Sim", "Love Dance", "Jungle Fantasy", "Moon Of Manakora", "Beautiful Kahana", "Return To Paradise", and "Love Dance". CD

A huge collection of work from the legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba – one that opens up a surprisingly big chapter of material before she started issuing her famous early records in America! The package begins with a big array of 78rpm singles from her homeland – then eventually moves into some of her work for RCA on the second disc – and throughout the package, there's an evolution of sound that's wonderful – music that's maybe more jazzy at the start, but which takes on more of a South African spirit as the 50s move on – then steps into some of the folk-tinged elements that first helped Makeba find an audience here in the US. Early singles include "Orlando", "Vula Amasango", "Hush", "Siyavuya", "Inkomo Zodwa", "Makoti", "Nididliwe Zintabe", "Unyana Wolahleka", "Ngicela Indiela", "Phata Phata", "Miriam's Goodbye To Africa", "Lakutshon Ilanga", "Lovely Lies", and "Pula Kgosi Seretse" – just part of the 32 early tracks on the set – before going into the RCA albums Miriam Makeba and Many Voices Of Miriam Makeba – as well as two tracks with Harry Belafonte. CD