Big Mama Thornton - The Complete 1950-1961 2CD	Le Chant Du Monde 2013	CD	18.00 €
Ike & Tina Turner - It's Gonna Work Out Fine	Jasmine Records 2013	CD	12.00 €
Jimmy Reed - Ain't That Loving You Baby 2CD With his simple, recognisable and accessible sound, Jimmy Reed was perhaps one of the most commercially successful blues artists in the USA in the '50s and '60s, if not of all time. This is the most comprehensive collection of his earliest recordings ever released and is the first time ever on CD that all his A and B sides have been compiled chronologically in one collection. Features all the Jimmy Reed classics that you would expect: 'Baby What You Want Me to Do'; 'Bright Lights Big City'; 'Honest I Do'; 'You Don't Have to Go'; 'Going to New York'; 'Ain't That Lovin' You Baby' and 'Big Boss Man'. Fully Detailed liner notes with biography and career achievements.	Jasmine Records 2013	CD	15.00 €
Jimmy Ricks - At Sunrise The greatest bass singer of all the time!! For the first time on CD de complete recorded output from Jimmy Ricks for the Signature label, with 12 extra bonus tracks featuring his best solo songs recorded right after leaving The Ravens.	El Toro Records 2013	CD	17.00 €
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vols 1 & 2 Merging the sounds of '50s R&B with the power of gospel vocals may have been conceived by some as the devils work, but as we all know, Ray forged quite the career out of it and became a pioneer and a major influence by devising a whole new form of black pop music. It is here though that we have both volumes of 'Modern Sounds in Country Music' with their wonderful, unique and groundbreaking fusion of jazz, R&B and C&W. The first volume topped the US LP charts for 14 weeks, selling an estimated two million copies, and span off two multi-million-selling singles: 'I Can't Stop Loving You'/'Born to Lose' and 'You Don't Own Me'/'Careless Love'. The second volume sold a million copies and yielded three further hits: 'You Are My Sunshine', 'Your Cheatin' Heart' and the million selling 'Take These Chains from My Heart'. Also included are two bonus tracks which include yet another million-seller in the form of 'Georgia on My Mind'. If you only ever bought one Ray Charles compilation, it would have to be this one!	Jasmine Records 2013	CD	12.00 €
Solomon Burke - Soul Arrives! 1955-1961	Jasmine Records 2013	CD	12.00 €
VA: - Cliff Heard Them Here First Although the majority of Cliff Richard’s hits have come with songs written expressly for him, or that he was the first to cut, the outside repertoire that he has recorded throughout his career has been more interesting than the choices of many of his contemporaries. Sir Cliff was not the only home-grown rocker to cover US material but, unlike his peers, he seldom went into a studio and simply made over the latest fast-rising American hit. With the help of his long time A&R man and producer Norrie Paramor, Cliff found a formidable number of fantastic songs hidden away on obscure US 45s and albums unavailable here. Having previously celebrated the good taste in covers of his early hero in “Elvis Heard It Here First”, Ace felt it only fair to follow up with a companion volume that does likewise for the Peter Pan of pop. The tracks selected for “Cliff Heard Them Here First” show just how broad Cliff’s tastes were. Most of his early singles featured original songs, but the material on to his many albums was something else again. “Cliff Heard Them Here First” brings you the original versions of two dozen songs which found their way into Cliff’s discography, ranging from gospel-influenced R&B (Ruth Brown’s ‘Somebody Touched Me’) to rockin’ doo wop (the Jayos’ ‘Tough Enough’), and from ultra-obscure west coast teen pop (Pete Votrian’s ‘We Have It Made’) to a little known Elvis Presley track (‘Angel’). The booklet reflects the importance of the music that’s preserved here, with copious notes, label shots and ephemera for each track. All but one is new to Ace CD and several of them have never been reissued before in any format. Although the majority of our tracks stem from the first ten years of Cliff’s recording career, there are also examples of songs that Cliff came across and recorded in the early 70s, which show that his ear for a good song and a great record have never deserted him. These tracks have stood the test of time as well as Cliff’s own career. “Cliff Heard Them Here First” is our salute to the man and the great taste he showed in embracing these songs. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2013	CD	18.00 €
VA: - Granpa's Gully Rock Vol. 4 25 Dynamic R&B Gems	Floridita Records 2013	CD	15.00 €
VA: - New Breed Blues With Black Popcorn Make way for a brand new selection of collectables, curios and rug-cutters for R&B fans who feel the beat and need new sounds to scratch their itch. Tracks such as Marva Josie’s ‘You Lied’, Sinner Strong’s ‘Don’t Knock It’ and the Idols’ ‘Just A Little Bit More’ seem to have been around for an eternity without being properly comped, whereas ‘Why Oh Why’ by Austin Taylor, ‘Well I Done Got Over It’ from Bobby Mitchell and Dolores Johnson’s ‘What Kind Of Man Are You’ are currently raising eyebrows and overdrafts. J.J. Jackson’s ‘Oo-Ma-Liddy’, Little Johnny Taylor’s ‘Somewhere Down The Line’ and Etta James’ ‘Nobody Loves You Like Me’ are perfect for this CD. Kent’s forte is the previously unissued humdinger and here we have a handful of the best to tempt even the most OVO (original vinyl only) of collectors to shell out for this piquant package. Two gems from earlier Ace CDs can be found in Art Wheeler’s Downey side ‘Baby We’re Through’ and Carl Edmondson & the Charmaines’ Fraternity number ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’, while the more recently issued 45 of ‘I Ain’t Talkin’’ comes from last year’s CD of Kent Harris’ R&B productions. Inevitably it’s the debutantes that will steal the show and attract the more traditional R&B fan. There is a pounding blues by Freddie North from Bob Holmes’ tapes, when he was working with Freddie along with Slim Harpo in Nashville in the late 60s. From Los Angeles there is Adolph Jacobs’ unreleased Class recording ‘Cannibal Stew’ that sounds like the Coasters and might even have them singing behind him (he was their guitarist at the time). Then we have a taster for the forthcoming Ace CD of Richard Stamz’s Chicago blues productions, with a fine mover from Tony Gideon called ‘So Strange’. Finally, there is a track that put me into a state of frenzy, ‘When You See Me Hurt’ by Carl Lester & the Showstoppers – 2 minutes 30 of unadulterated hip-shaking heartbreak. I must have one now! By Ady Croasdell (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2013	CD	18.00 €
VA: - Rhythm 'n' Bluesin By The Bayou “Rhythm’n’Bluesin’ By The Bayou”, the latest in our “By The Bayou” series, features 28 rompin’, stompin’ tracks from the blues men and women of South Louisiana. The tracks have been pulled from the vaults of leading record men J.D. Miller, Eddie Shuler and Floyd Soileau plus Rockin’ Sidney’s first disc – cut by Jake Graffagnino for his Carl label. The sound of South Louisiana’s R&B stemmed from the Cosimo studios in New Orleans and those pioneers of the genre: Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Lloyd Price etc. As it spread west across the state, it gathered in the influences of zydeco, rural blues and the embryonic swamp pop, producing that distinctive amalgam which is enjoying popularity with collectors of today. To help quench that thirst we have delved into the vaults of Miller and Shuler to locate the best previously unknown tracks and alternate takes. Also, with modern studio techniques, our engineers have breathed fresh life into some of the material that was unearthed by Flyright almost 30 years ago. Back in the 50s and into the early 60s, this was the music of working class black people; it was what they drank to, danced to and occasionally brawled to in the bars and clubs of this corner of the USA. It also got played on the area’s black radio stations and was gobbled up by white teenagers who would adapt it into their rockabilly and swamp pop songs. As compiler of this CD, I was as excited listening to these master tapes as I would have been had I been one of those teenagers. The music is as fresh and vibrant now as it was in those far off days. With new tracks from the artists such as Blue Charlie and Mad Dog Sheffield, the first recordings of Rockin’ Sidney, a host of other little known artists (including three numbers from two mystery women) and obscure Zydeco rockers Thaddeus Declouet and C.J. Thierry, this is an exhilarating voyage of discovery. When you listen to the music you’ll be transported back to its heyday – imagine lying on your bed grooving to those sounds on the radio in the sultry Louisiana night, with the bullfrogs croaking in the bayou. These are the sounds of an era that is almost forgotten but is kept alive by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. By Ian Saddler (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2013	CD	18.00 €
Amos Milburn - Rockin' And Drinkin' 2CD A boogie woogie pianist and blues balladeer, Amos Milburn was one of the most consistently popular R&B artists of the pre rock and roll era. This 50 track 2CD set features every one of his Billboard R&B chart hits and includes classic and influential songs such as: 'Chicken Shack Boogie', 'Bad Bad Whiskey' and 'One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer'. This is a must for blues fans and of course the man himself! So pour a drink, sit back and let the 88s ace drown you in his own brand of exuberant, humorous, rowdy and boisterous rollicking fun.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	15.00 €
Brook Benton - A Rockin' Good Way Vol. 1 - The Singer	El Toro Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
Brook Benton - A Rockin' Good Way Vol. 2 -The Songwriter	El Toro Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
Chuck Willis - The King Of The Stroll originally released 1958. Japanese pressing	Warner Music Japan 2012	CD	17.00 €
Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Twice As Nice 1959-1961 2CD Founder of The Drifters and with a successful solo career, Clyde McPhatter was one of the most influential and consistently popular R&B artists of the pre-soul era. This superb 2CD set offers the four original albums: Let's Start All Over Again, Greatest Hits, May I Sing For You and Ta Ta all on one compilation for the first time. Features hit singles including: 'Ta Ta', 'I Told Myself a Lie', 'Let's Try Again'. There are also classic interpretations of American songbook standards including: 'Three Coins in a Fountain', 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing'. Clyde McPhatter was a force to be reckoned with and this is a perfect compilation for fans of him and R&B.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
Eddie Holland - It Moves Me Many artists have fallen into the music business almost by accident, but few as accidentally as the subject of our latest Motown collection: Eddie Holland, who attended an audition with a pal just to keep him company, and ended up the one with a recording contract. And many have had a single hit, and after a few unsuccessful years have given up their recording careers to take up a position in some other part of the business, but few with such spectacular results as Eddie, who together with his brother Brian and Lamont Dozier formed Holland-Dozier-Holland, one of the most successful songwriting teams of the 1960s. Much has been written about Holland-Dozier-Holland’s songs and productions, but little about Eddie’s recording career, which spanned six years and resulted in 15 singles, one LP and a wealth of tracks hitherto unknown to the public. Our aim here is to present all of the records he cut from his 1958 debut through to 1964, when he withdrew from performing to concentrate on writing songs for the Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, the Four Tops etc. Following an extensive trawl of the Motown mastertapes in New York last summer, we’ve included everything we were able to find that Eddie recorded for Mercury, United Artists, Motown and the tiny Kudo label, where he appeared under his brother’s name on a commercial for a brand of wine. The set contains 56 tracks; including 30 new to CD, 18 of which have never been released in any form before. The story of Eddie’s recording career is narrated in the bumper booklet by the man himself. Looking back, often with amazement and sometimes complete lack of recognition of some of the songs in this collection, he commented: “You know what is very clear to me? We were very, very fortunate to have a place where we could record that many pieces of product, and experiment that much, with somebody paying for it. That was like going to school, and somebody’s paying for your classes. That’s what Berry Gordy was doing. Can you imagine recording all those songs, learning your craft, and not even thinking about how much it was costing? I would say to you that Berry Gordy should be given an extraordinary amount of credit, because everybody was always criticising him. But you should pat him on the back and say, You know what? You made that possible.” Watch this space for more Ace/Motown releases in the not too distant future. By Keith Hughes (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
Edna McGriff - Star Movin' In My Direction Bell Recordsings plus - 1954-1959	Bear Family 2012	CD	17.00 €
Falcons - You're So Fine Recordings - 1956-1961 - FEATURING: EDDIE FLOYD, SIR MACK RICE, JOE STUBBS & WILSON PICKETT All the early singles and hits from one of Detroit's greatest vocal groups, The Falcons. One of the acts that was most influential in the coming of soul music and often credited for cutting the first true soul record with 'You're So Fine'. Members of The Falcons included the soon to be major soul stars, Wilson Picket, Eddie Floyd and Sir Mack Rice who went on to write 'Mustang Sally'. Fully detailed liner notes cover their entire career.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
Five Keys - Out Of Sight Out Of Mind 2CD The Five Keys are one of the most revered vocal groups of the 50’s. They started and achieved legendary status with their recordings on Aladdin and Capitol. While their Aladdin recordings have been compiled many times, we found that their Capitol output was not that easy to find in its entirety, just a few albums with the hits, but leaving out many great tracks. Now, for the first time, in this package, you have all the sides they released on Capitol from 1954 until 1958 - 47 tracks, plus seven tracks backing jazz great, Jack Teagarden and two extra bonus recordings of the group on the Alan Freed Radio show. We believe that this is the greatest Five Keys Capitol package ever produced!	El Toro Records 2012	CD	23.00 €
Gene McDaniels - Look To Your Heart 2CD The Gene McDaniels Story 1959-1961 Gene McDaniels was one of the more popular artists to come out of the 1950s R&B scene and here we present his first four LPs in one package for the first time. Includes the popular oldie '100 Pounds of Clay' and also featured are bonus singles from 1960 to 61 including 'Tower of Strength' and 'A Tear Fell' which is featured in the famous '60s movie 'It's Trad Dad' This marvellous 2CD set illustrates perfectly his immense talent to diversify into the ever evolving musical styles of the 20th Century. With fully detailed liner notes covering his whole career this CD is well worth checking out.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
Herb Hardesty & His Band - The Domino Effect - King And Federal Recordings 1958-61 If you grew up listening to R&B and rock’n’roll during the 1950s, you could not have avoided hearing Herb Hardesty. If you own just one of countless Imperial Fats Domino 45s or 78s, you will own at least two examples of Herb’s craft, as he blew tenor saxophone solos on just about every track Fats cut on Imperial from his first session in 1949 to his last in 1962. Herb’s unique sax signature also appeared on a vast amount of other New Orleans productions throughout the 1950s and early 60s. He also toured with Fats’ road band for four decades, appearing all over the world. It’s hardly surprising that Herb’s own recording career as a bandleader amounts to no more than the 20 tracks that make up ‘The Domino Effect’, a well-deserved salute to this giant of New Orleans music that, happily, he is still around to enjoy. While he was on the road with Fats, Herb got noticed and signed as a solo act by the manager of Mercury Records group the Diamonds. Using his in at Mercury, Nat Goodman negotiated a deal for Herb and the other members of the Domino band to cut an album of mostly rockin’ instrumentals for the label’s Wing subsidiary at Cosimo Matassa’s New Orleans studio. For reasons that nobody can remember now, the album was never released – an oversight that Ace is more than happy to rectify 54 years later. Although the tracks are obviously sax-centric, there’s plenty of room for the other members of Herb’s outfit to be heard – it sounds like a Fats Domino album without vocals, which is exactly what it is. The balance of the tracks here were either sold to or cut for King Records’ Syd Nathan and released on the Federal label over a period of a couple of years. Pretty much all of the same musicians participated in the sessions; although the sound is more 60s, there’s plenty for fans of later-period New Orleans R&B to enjoy. The overall listening experience is well summed up by the closing track, ‘Just A Little Bit Of Everything’, which is what Herb Hardesty and his band serve up throughout. The great music is supplemented by a book full of gorgeous pictures from Herb’s own collection and testimonials from many of the great musicians he has worked with in his 60-plus years in music, from Dr John to Allen Toussaint to Herb’s most regular and loyal employer Dave Bartholomew. Herb is delighted with and fully supportive of our CD. We’re sure those who continually ask us for more music from the Crescent City will be too. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	20.00 €
Ike Turner - Real Gone Rocket - Session Man Extraordinaire selected singles 1951-1959. 14 tracks	Jerome Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
Johnny Otis - On The Show - The Johnny Otis Story Vol. 2 1957-1974 Johnny Otis celebrated his 90th birthday on 28 December 2011 – a true landmark for a man who has given most of his life to music. Ace is commemorating the event with the release of this collection, which together with “The Johnny Otis Story Vol 1” (CDCHD 1312) presents a concise overview of his entire career as a composer, musician, singer, producer, talent scout and songwriter. “On With The Show” lives up to its title by picking up Johnny’s story from just before where the first volume left off, and carrying it through to the mid-70s – the point at which he stopped releasing new music and began diversifying his talents into cultural, spiritual and political areas. As did other R&B pioneers, Johnny had a lean time in the early and mid-1960s, at least as far as the charts went, but a string of Capitol 45s – including ‘Castin’ My Spell’, ‘Crazy Country Hop’ and ‘Mumblin’ Mosie’, all featured here – offer as good a representation of rock’n’roll as you’ll find anywhere. Many of Johnny’s King recordings are also invigorating, as those in this package will demonstrate. It’s hardly his fault that people were buying Fabian, Frankie Avalon, the 4 Seasons and the Beatles instead. Johnny gave up recording for a few years before returning with the estimable “Cold Shot” album and the R&B/Pop hit ‘Country Girl’, both featuring the burgeoning talents of his young son Shuggie. They led to a full-on revival of the Johnny Otis Show and to further recordings for Epic, the best of which are featured here. Things began to tail off again in the mid-70s in the wake of the disco boom. The big band funk of his movie-inspired ‘Jaws’ shows that he could have competed in the disco arena, should he have chosen to, but a man with as many things going on as Johnny Otis didn’t have to compete with anyone, and he just expanded his horizons elsewhere instead. Post-‘Jaws’, Johnny has been a radio DJ, ordained minster, artist, author and many other things. Most people would be delighted to have accomplished a fraction of what he has done. Unfortunately, we can’t all be the Godfather of Rhythm & Blues, but we can all enjoy his work for many years to come thanks to the fine compilations available on Ace and elsewhere. If you don’t know Johnny Otis but want to start, this collection and the previous volume will serve as the perfect introduction to the man and his music. Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
King Curtis - Wail Man Wail ! - The Best Of King Curtis 1952-61 3CD The Best Of King Curtis 1952-1961 Saxophone titan King Curtis gets the stellar showcase he deserves on Dave Penny’s latest career-defining set for Fantastic Voyage, continuing the roll which has seen the label raise the benchmark for knowledgeable, expertly-annotated compilations. Over three discs and nearly 100 tracks, Wail Man Wail! traverses the unmistakable tones of the late Curtis Ousley after he arrived from Texas in New York City in 1952, winning amateur night at Harlem’s Apollo before embarking on a recording career which took him to several seminal independent labels and bands with the likes of Lester Young and Lionel Hampton. He settled in New York for 17 years, declaring himself King Curtis and quickly making a name for roaring instrumentals and enhancing countless sessions. With the assistance of K.C. expert Roy Simmonds, Dave Penny has excelled himself in providing both beginner’s guide and record collector’s magnet, starting with Curtis’ riproaring role in the earliest days of rock ’n’ roll on CD1, collating outings under his own name for labels such as RPM, Gem, Apollo, DeLuxe, Atlantic/Atco, ABC-Paramount, Everest and Sue, also encompassing his time with Alan Freed’s rock ’n’ roll orchestra. Titles include his debut, ‘Tenor In The Sky’, ‘Honeydripper’, ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Wicky Wacky’. Discs 2 and 3 chart some of his many memorable recording sessions from between 1952 to 1957, then 1958 to 1961, respectively, names including Solomon Burke, the Willows, Roy Gaines, Neil Sedaka, Wilbert Harrison, Ruth Brown, the Coasters, Waylon Jennings, Lionel Hampton, Bobby Darin, Chuck Willis, the Avons, the Willows, Mickey & Sylvia, the Nitecaps and obscurities such as Washboard Bill. King Curtis was yet another name to fall victim to an early demise, in his case stabbed to death in 1971 after challenging two junkies using drugs outside his Manhattan apartment. Just the groin-rasping solo on ‘Jest Smoochin’’ is enough to convince anyone with a heart and soul that they’re in the presence of greatness. There are scores of similar moments on Wail Man Wail!, the latest instalment in Fantastic Voyage’s The Architects Of Rock ’N’ Roll series, and an exemplary tribute to one of the musical giants of the last century.	Fantastic Voyage 2012	CD	18.00 €
Memphis Slim - Rockin' The House- The Best Of The R&B Years 2CD The Best Of The R&B Years – Dazzling R&B piano pioneer Memphis Slim is the subject of the latest release in Fantastic Voyage’s highly-popular Definitive Collection series of blues sets. Compiled and annotated by blues authority Neil Slaven, the two discs of Rockin’ The House straddle Slim’s post-war years up until he became one of the foremost figures in the early ’60s folk-blues revival, spotlighting his top-notch R&B band. The 50 tracks take in recordings he made for labels such as Hy-Tone, Miracle, Premium, Mercury, Peacock, United, Vee-Jay, United Artists and Strand, and include all seven of his R&B hits Born John L. Chatman in Memphis in 1915, Slim cut his musical teeth playing anywhere from levee camps to Arkansas roadhouses then Beale Street bars, mentored by Roosevelt Sykes. He arrived in Chicago in 1937, initially bootlegging whiskey, said to have been a pimp, playing piano to pay for his gambling until cutting several singles and hooking up with Big Bill Broonzy in 1940. After World War Two, Slim started leading his R&B band, which, at times, boasted the great bassist-songwriter Willie Dixon and future Blues Brother Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy. The compilation starts in 1946 with ‘Mistake In Life’, Slim’s first release on the local Hy-Tone label, followed by further tracks for the label including the rollicking ‘Slim’s Boogie’ and trademark melancholic blues template ‘Cheatin’ Around’. He first encountered Willie Dixon recording for the Miracle label, the pair sparking their relationship on the blistering ‘Rockin’ The House’ and sublime ‘Lend Me Your Love’. From here the highlights come thick and fast: hits for Miracle, including chart-topping ‘Messin’ Around’, ‘Blue And Lonesome‘, ‘Help Me Some’, ‘Angel Child’, sonorous Premium release ‘Mother Earth’, ‘The Come Back’ (predating the stop-start groove of ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’), the autobiographical boogie of ‘Harlem Bound’, sax-enhanced outings such as ‘Train Is Comin’’, ‘Worried Life Blues’ (as covered by Keith Richards), lascivious Nick Cave fave ‘Grinder Man Blues’, the steaming vamp of ‘Steppin’ Out’ (later Eric Clapton’s showstopping showcase with John Mayall) and aching ‘Nobody Loves Me’ (the original title by which he first recorded the classic ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’, as made famous by B.B. King). The early 1950s tracks with Murphy’s riveting guitar to the fore are also represented, through to later sessions for Vee-Jay and three tracks from the 1959 Carnegie Hall concert with Muddy Waters which marked the start of the blues’ burgeoning acceptance by white audiences. From levee camps and roadhouses to Beale Street and white clubs, Slim was working his way up and was early in the charge as blues ambassador to Europe, recording several albums there before returning to Chicago to cut an exemplary batch of songs including ‘Lonesome (Blue Blues)’, ‘Four Walls’, ’Big Bertha’ and ’I’ll Keep Singing The Blues’. Based in Paris from 1962 until his death in 1988, he left a voluminous and captivating recorded legacy, of which one of its most fertile and seminal stretches is featured on this stellar set.	Fantastic Voyage 2012	CD	13.00 €
Sam Cooke - Tribute To The Lady LP + CD 180 gram HQ vinyl featuring a FREE bonus CD of the album. The first ever vinyl reissue of Tribute To The Lady, Sam Cooke's tribute to the great Billie Holiday! This LP, originally rleased in 1959, features 11 songs famously recorded by Lady Day during the course of her brilliant career. When asked why he wanted to do this album, Cooke simply replied, "She was, and still is, the greatest that ever lived for my money," no small praise from a man who himself ruled the charts with over 30 Top 40 hits from 1957 until his death at age 33 in 1964.	Doxy Music 2012	CD	20.00 €
Steve Gibson And The Red Caps - Boogie Woogie Ball 1943-1955 2CD If you like The Ink Spots or The Mills Brothers you will not be able to resist the harmonies that this collection of 57 original tracks has to offer! Rocking recordings such as, 'Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night' are abundant throughout this set and later recordings feature the lead vocals of R&B diva Damita Jo before she went on to her solo career. Steve Gibson & The Red Caps were a top R&B group for decades and this wonderful 2CD set is a great introduction for the uninitiated and must have for fans alike.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
Tommy Edwards - It's All In The Game - The MGM Recordings 2CD Tommy Edwards shot to fame in 1958 with his ‘beat ballad’ update of the old standard It’s All In The Game, which topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the R&B chart and the UK singles chart, selling 3.5 million copies worldwide. It made a star out of the singer/songwriter from Richmond, Virginia, who was then 36 years old. Edwards had first recorded the song for MGM in 1951 but this remake for the rock’n’roll era transformed his career. Edwards first made an impact as an R&B artist as early as 1946 when he penned ‘That Chick’s Too Young To Fry’ for Louis Jordan. Subsequently, his songs were recorded by Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, the Four Tops and even Donny & Marie Osmond. Tommy sadly passed away at the tender age of 47 but 15 October is now ‘Tommy Edwards Day’ in his home town as a mark of respect. This 2-CD set offers four albums and several singles A’s and B’s from Tommy Edwards’ ‘purple patch’ with MGM, following the global success of It’s All In The Game. All are taken from the original master tapes in the US MGM vaults, resulting in the majority of the tracks being presented in true stereo and have been re-mastered. Accompanied by a fully illustrated and annotated colour booklet. The package includes his subsequent US hits: Please Love Me Forever (#61), Love Is All We Need (#15), remakes of two more of his earlier hits – Please, Mr. Sun (#11), The Morning Side Of The Mountain (#27) – Mr Melancholy Baby (#26), It’s Only The Good Times (#86), I’ve Been There (#53), I Looked At Heaven (#100), (New In) The Ways Of Love (#47), Honestly And Truly (#65), Don’t Fence Me In (#45), I Really Don’t Want To Know (#18) and It’s Not The End Of Everything (#78).	Shout Records 2012	CD	18.00 €
Tommy Edwards - The Hits And More 2CD Tommy Edwards was a vocalist, pianist and composer who made an impact in early R&B circles. Features all 21 of his chart hits including, 'Please Mr Sun', 'My Melancholy Baby' and his biggest hit 'It's All in the Game' which became an R&B and pop staple. His version of, 'A Fool Such As I' went on to be recorded by Elvis Presley for whom it sold millions. Although Tommy died in 1969, his material hasn't been readily available but the 53 tracks here stand out and show what a great vocalist he was. This is a fine mixture of standards and hits from one of R&B's early stars.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
VA: - Ace Story Vol. 4 The five original volumes of “The Ace (MS) Story” were part of the backbone of our catalogue during our early days. They disappeared for a long while after our licensing agreement with Johnny Vincent expired, but we were delighted to restore three of the original five to catalogue in 2010 and 2011. Judging by their sales figures, we were not the only ones to be delighted. This fourth volume more than matches the quality of the first three. Some of its inclusions are among the rarest singles on any of Vincent’s labels. The advent of eBay and GEMM might have made some of them a little more accessible than they used to be, but the tracks by Johnny Angel, Dicky Williams, Albert Scott and Jesse Allen still command high prices. Among the less rare (but no less good) sides are seldom reissued cuts by New Orleans mainstays Huey Smith, Alvin “Red” Tyler and Eddie Bo, as well as no less than three classic Joe Tex cuts in best-ever sound! As with previous volumes in this series, the original 16 tracks of the vinyl edition have been augmented by eight other gems from Vincent’s vaults. These include Ace’s debut release (and the original of Little Richard’s ‘Slippin’ And Slidin’’), Al Collins’ ‘I Got The Blues For You’ and the label’s first-ever hit in Earl King’s ‘Those Lonely, Lonely Nights’. Collectors will also be thrilled to hear Huey Smith’s ‘Don’t You Know Yockomo’ at the same speed as the vinyl 45 for the first time on CD and the single master of Bobby Marchan’s ‘You Can’t Stop Her’ from a recently located tape source. In fact, all but three of these tracks are appearing here from transfers of the original tapes, some of which have only previously appeared from second or third-generation copy tapes. Great music in its greatest ever fidelity – what’s not to love? The original vinyl series concluded with a fifth volume, the expanded version of which should be with you towards the end of this year. The good news is that the CD series will be extended to incorporate a sixth and final volume containing rarities and unissued material that was not available to the compilers of the original vinyl series. Betcha can’t wait for that! By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - Criminal Records Ello, ’Ello, ’Ello, what’s all this, then Crime and punishment have always gone hand in hand in the worlds of rock’n’roll, R&B and country and western music. For decades, goodies and baddies have provided us with a life sentence of chronicling of man’s misdemeanours and subsequent incarceration. When top Ace fan Tony Watson suggested that a compilation of songs about obeying and breaking the law would be right up the street of most of those who buy our CDs, we didn’t need to be read our reissue rights to agree. With that in mind, your honours, I hereby present the case for “Criminal Records” Our line-up of heroes and villains runs the whole gamut of lawbreaking and law enforcement. Within its 60 minute audio sentence (and no time off for good behaviour) we cheer western heroes such as Gunsmoke’s “Mister” Matt Dillon and boo villains such as the fictitious (and let’s be very glad he is) ‘Bad Dan McGoon’. Our helmets are doffed to radio and TV ’tecs of the calibre of Dragnet’s Sgt Joe Friday and the legendary iron-jawed Dick Tracy, as well as some of those smoother newer fellas that came later such as 77 Sunset Strips Stu Bailey and, from the TV show of the same name, Peter Gunn. Bob Luman tells us how much he wishes he was a ‘Private Eye’ which a pre-twistin’ Chubby Checker moans that he can’t get any girl reaction, because his lady love is too busy drooling over the kind of ruggedly handsome television PIs that Luman aspires to be. Other legendary enforcers of the TV screen from the years between Friday and Bailey are also on your case and on your trail, from Alaska (Sgt Preston Of the Yukon) to Chinatown (Charlie Chan, in the Coasters’ ‘Bad Detective’). If you grew up watching the small screen when it really was a small screen, you’ll remember most of these upstanding lawmen and their relentless pursuit of justice at all costs as they came into your homes on a weekly basis. Less savoury characters that we hear from include alimony dodgers Richard Berry and Wynonie Harris; hardened lifers Jumpin’ Gene Simmons, George Jones and Hylo Brown; denizens of DWI Benjamin “Scat Man” Crothers and, with some help from Cliff “King” Solomon’s orchestra, Gigi Gryce; chain gang toiler Billy Boy Arnold and the perpetually in-the-wrong-place-at-the-wrong time Bobby Nunn of the Robins. And lest anyone think we’ve gone soft on lady lawbreakers, vivacious Vicki Young puts a Prisoner Of Cell Block H perspective on what it’s like to ‘Riot In Cell Block #9’. Personally I reckon that at least some of these guys and gals ought to have been let off with a caution. Failure to support this project will result in a visit from the no-fun police and a lifetime of listening to R and B (that’s Rihanna and Bieber) for your sins. It’s a fair cop, guv, but society is to blame. Evenin’ all. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - Elvis Heard Them Here First From his debut recording session to his last, Elvis Presley loved to reinterpret. The first song he ever cut, ‘My Happiness’, was one he probably learned from the 1948 recording by John and Sondra Steele. The last song, ‘He’ll Have To Go’, probably came via Jim Reeves (although Jim was not the first to record it – that honour went to one Billy Brown). In 24 years of studio and stage activity, Elvis cut over 150 songs that had been recorded previously – and put his own stamp on all of them, regardless of who sang them first. All of which makes him a guaranteed shoo-in for his own ‘special edition’ in Ace’s popular “You Heard It Here First” series. Most people who buy Ace CDs will already know what the originals of songs such as ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘One Night’, ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Moon Of Kentucky’ sound like. We could have gone the obvious route with this project and stuck to Elvis’ revivals of R&B, blues and hillbilly material, but we’ve elected to compile “Elvis Heard Them Here First” from songs he cut after his military service put his career on hold for a while. We’ve tailored our selection to embrace the originals of some of his biggest hits – ‘Always On My Mind’, ‘Girl Of My Best Friend’, ‘Guitar Man’ – and some of his most obscure B-sides and albums cuts. Believe us, they don’t come much more obscure than Duane Dee’s ‘True Love Travels On A Gravel Road’, the Bards’ ‘Goodtime Charlie’s Got The Blues’ or Roger Douglass’ ‘Never Ending’. In doing so, we hope more than a few of even the most hardcore Elvis collectors will discover some original versions of songs they may not have even suspected were ever recorded by anyone other than Elvis. We can’t say with 100% certainty that Elvis did hear these versions first, and we’re pretty sure that, in one or two cases, he definitely didn’t. Throughout his life, Elvis grabbed music from everywhere. A voracious collector and listener, he loved nothing more than to put his own stamp on a song that he loved, particularly in the years following the ’68 Comeback Special when he was no longer bound by the constraints of what his notorious management insisted he record. The beautiful vintage Alfred Wertheimer cover shot of the young Elvis, an inevitably jam-packed booklet featuring the usual wealth of rare labels and ephemera, and a detailed sleeve note chronicling the songs in the order he cut his versions, it’s a package no Elvis fan will want to be without, even though he doesn’t sing one note. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - Fender - The Golden Age 1950-1970 Leo Fender’s contribution to the sound of modern music is immeasurable. The pop music explosion of the 1950s and 60s would not have happened without the electric guitar and, perhaps more importantly, the electric bass.” So begins Martin Kelly’s notes for the CD of his book about Fender guitars. A book about music of course lacks the medium that it describes, so Martin came to Ace with a proposal to produce an accompanying CD that would make his pages even more vibrant. We were more than happy to celebrate the great sounds that Leo Fender helped conceive through his inspirational instruments. As overseer of this CD, I was out of my depth in guitar minutiae, but was able to assist on the technical end and enjoyed a sharp learning curve in great guitar sounds. I thoroughly dug those ringing twangs of Bob Wills and Tennessee Ernie Ford. With Ike Turner and Otis Rush I was in more familiar music territory. The more poppy Crickets’ track ‘I’m Looking For Someone To Love’ was an inspired choice by Martin. It was the flip to the original ‘That’ll Be The Day’ which I’d managed to miss hearing for 55 years. ‘Suzie Q’ and the original ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ are better known numbers; listening to them in this guitar-based context gives them new relevance. Guitar-led instrumentals were a must for the compilation and it is wonderful to relive the splendour of the Ventures’ signature tune and to hear the mighty Shadows at their most melodic. Breakaway Shadow Jet Harris then moves the spotlight to the renowned Fender bass on ‘Besame Mucho’. Booker T’s ‘Green Onions’ and Dick Dale’s ‘Miserlou’ are at the pinnacle of their genres and Jack Nitzche’s ‘Lonely Surfer’ shows how an inspired producer can use the guitar within a bigger production. It is then back to basics with the Kingsmen’s ‘Louie Louie’, followed by Ronnie Hawkins’ ice-cold take on ‘Who Do You Love’. The Beach Boys and Bobby Fuller Four then demonstrate how to play straight down the middle pop: no frills but pure class. Then representing the awakening of British youth to the American dream, we have the Yardbirds’ take on Billy Boy Arnold’s ‘I Ain’t Got You’, a song that failed to score for its creator but became a belated blues classic once Eric Clapton had stamped his seal of approval on it. Speaking of the blues, ‘Rock Me Baby’ by Otis Redding reminds us all that the world lost a brilliant blues singer, as well as the ultimate soul man, when his plane crashed in December 1967. By the time of this recording, Lewis Steinberg had been replaced by Duck Dunn on Fender Precision Bass duties. As reflected by the Nashville-recorded Fender jingles, country music was always dominated by the guitar sounds of Fender. Buck Owens & the Buckaroos’ ‘Buckaroo’ features not only Fender electric and bass but acoustic too. The switch to the soul perfection of King Curtis’ ‘Memphis Soul Stew’ is surprisingly seamless and that city’s home-grown Willie Mitchell sound on ‘Soul Serenade’ shows how long-lived top flight R&B was down there. It is then just a year’s jump, but a small world away, to 1969 and the Velvet Underground’s 12-string Fenders. That is neatly followed by ex-Yardbird Jeff Beck on his Stratocaster and Stone-to-be Ron Wood playing a Telecaster bass; all in the admirable cause of helping Donovan’s ‘Goo Goo Barabajagal’ make musical if not literal sense. I still may not be able to pick a Fender out in a crowd, but I now know how much listening pleasure I have derived from them. Ady Croasdell (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - Handy Man - The Otis Blackwell Songbook Arguments over who the greatest rock’n’roll songwriter is will abound long after those reading this have gone to meet their maker. But surely near the top of everyone’s list of contenders would have to be Otis Blackwell, a one-man hit factory whose catalogue includes more classic rock’n’roll songs than any other single songwriter of his time. His compositions for Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis alone would guarantee his entry into every music Hall Of Fame. “Handy Man”, named after the song that brought worldwide chart fame to Jimmy Jones in 1959, is a worthy tribute to a man who, if he’d only written ‘Fever’, would still be regarded as one of the foremost composers of the rock’n’roll era. Compiled in the spirit of previous entries in our songwriter series, it’s much more than merely a collection of Otis’ 24 greatest hits, sung by those who recorded them first. We like to mix it up a bit, so the title track is heard in Del Shannon’s stomping 1964 version, while Jimmy Jones is represented with another fine Otis Blackwell song. Those interested enough to purchase will have more than a passing familiarity with Elvis’ version of ‘All Shook Up’, so rather than reissue that for the gazillionth time, we instead bring the song to you by David Hill, whose rare original makes its first legitimate CD appearance here. Likewise ‘Don’t Be Cruel’: rather than Elvis we bring you Jerry Lee Lewis’ uproarious take, in preference to any of the Otis Blackwell compositions generally associated with him. As for Elvis, being spoilt for choice made us opt for his first, and one of his very best, post-Army recordings; ‘Make Me Know It’ reignited his recording career and was deemed potent enough to kick off his “Elvis Is Back” album. The songs featured in “Handy Man” cover roughly from around 1953 to 1963. Later offerings by Solomon Burke and Sam Butera show that, unlike some of his peers, Otis easily adapted to the changes in music as the 1960s unfolded. How durable his compositions were are demonstrated by Derek Martin’s classic 1962 cut of ‘Daddy Rollin’ Stone’, which Otis had recorded as a menacing blues almost a decade earlier. Via Martin, the song became a boastful declaration of intent for a new generation of sharp boys, and of English mods in particular. Brace yourself for a masterclass in rock’n’roll songwriting by a man who was much more than merely handy with a pen and paper. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	18.00 €
VA: - Have Mercy! The Songs Of Don Covay This latest addition to our songwriter series focuses on the behind-the-scenes endeavours of Don Covay, provider of great material to some of the biggest stars of the 1960s. Don made his recording debut in 1956 as a member of the Rainbows vocal group. His idol at this time was Little Richard, whom he managed to meet in 1957. Richard took him on as his opening act, bestowing upon him the nickname Pretty Boy, as which Don released his first solo disc. When record sales proved meagre, he channelled his energy into writing songs with John Berry of the Rainbows. Off the bat their compositions were picked by name artists Gene Vincent, Dee Clark and Wanda Jackson. ‘Pony Time’, Don’s first record to bear an additional credit for his backing combo the Goodtimers, saw him enter the Hot 100 for the first time in 1961. The same week, a cover by Chubby Checker debuted on the charts on its way to #1, leaving Don stuck at the lower end. Convinced that financial security would come from writing rather than recording, he signed with song publishers Roosevelt Music in New York’s famous Brill Building, where he shared a cubicle with his cousin, ace arranger Horace Ott. Gladys Knight & the Pips delivered Don’s ‘Letter Full Of Tears’ into the Top 20 in 1962. His profile raised, Don was sought out by Atlantic Records’ Jerry Wexler on the hunt for material for Solomon Burke, thus beginning a long and fruitful relationship that would see the name Don Covay grace the record labels of many of the company’s major soul stars. In 1964 Goodtimers’ guitarist Ronnie Miller came up with a catchy lick that evolved into ‘Mercy Mercy’, which saw Don finally crack the Top 40. The number would be a cream cut on the Rolling Stones’ “Out Of Our Heads” album in 1965, swelling Don’s coffers further. Meanwhile, he was added to the roster of Atlantic, who dispatched him to Stax Records’ studio in Memphis to record. The trip did as intended, returning him to the charts with the blistering ‘See Saw’, co-written by guitar genius Steve Cropper. 1965 also saw Little Richard enjoy the biggest hit of his post-50s career with Don’s masterpiece ‘I Don’t Know What You’ve Got But It’s Got Me’. Don continued to record prolifically for Atlantic, but of his subsequent singles for the company, not one reached the Hot 100. Fortunately, the fallow period was offset by the massive success of Aretha Franklin’s version of Don’s ‘Chain Of Fools’ and her revival of ‘See Saw’. Don remains best remembered as a performer. Given that his catalogue runs to several hundred songs and his client list as a writer includes – in addition to those already mentioned – Connie Francis, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Joe Tex, Ben E King, Jerry Butler and dozens more, the man deserves to be a household name, regardless of his great body of recorded work. By Malcolm Baumgart (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	20.00 €
VA: - Jukebox Mambo Rumba and Afro-Latin accented R&B 1949-1960. Compiled by Liam Large. 22 tracks.	Jazzman Record Co 2012	CD	18.00 €
VA: - Kent Harris' R&B Family Kent Harris’ strong point was undoubtedly his witty and topical lyrics, allied to having his ear to the ground for the latest trends in black music. His most famous work – ‘Clothes Line’, recorded under his alias Boogaloo & His Gallant Crew – was plundered by Leiber and Stoller for the Coasters’ ‘Shoppin’ For Clothes’ and is already out on an Ace compilation. All four of his Crest sides are humorous, streetwise and down with the groove of the day. ‘Big Fat Lie’ concerns a visit to the pawnbrokers, which a lot of black audiences could relate to in the 50s. Other novelty songs include ‘Big Chief Hug-Um An’ Kiss-Um’ by James Shaw, later to be known more grandly as the Mighty Hannibal, and the newly-discovered Boogaloo recording ‘I’m In The Dog House Again’. He’s so late back his woman won’t let him into the house and he has to kip down with the dog. ‘Double Locks’, which Kent wrote for Johnny Gosey, deals with an angry landlady putting locks on the tenant’s crib until the back rent is paid. Kent’s arrangements were innovative too. On the Francettes’ ‘He’s So Sweet’, he and group manager Frances Gray combined to get the backing girls calling and responding and throwing in their own seemingly ad-libbed comments rather than just filling in the harmony. The CD embraces the whole of the Harris family and the notes describe what an influential Los Angeles clan they were. The much missed sister Dimples is a major contributor, rocking it up with her sisters on ‘Kissin’ Bug’ from 1955 and also recording solo and accompanying her big brother under his pseudonym of Ducky Drake. She cut as a solo under her married name of Dimples Jackson in 1960 and with her new husband Harold, helping him out on his astonishing ‘The Freedom Riders’ 45. New Breed R&B lovers will appreciate Dimples’ ‘Love Came Tumbling Down’, while the new version of Donoman’s ‘I’m The Only One’ by the Phillips Sisters is a big bonus. The whole mysterious Donoman / Cry Baby Curtis story is related in the booklet. His ‘Monday Is Too Late’ has a New Orleans meets ‘Turn On You Lovelight’ vibe that will thrill traditional R&B lovers. Though Kent Harris had many high quality soul productions (they’ll feature on a future Kent CD) he always had a bias towards the blues and you feel that the ‘You Ain’t Right’ wailer from Faye Ross was the side the musicians had their hearts in, rather than the Motown-esque ‘Faith, Hope And Trust’. Kent’s partner, and love of his life, Ty Karim, was primarily a soul singer but when they worked on a blues like ‘Take It Easy Baby’, it was as intense as anything they cut together. Vocal group collectors will be pleased with the new version of ‘Diddy Bop’ that predates the Valaquons’ Rayco release and the splendid Lon-Genes provide an incredibly rare harmony ballad as well as a new twist on an old dance craze. We have chased tapes, 45s and label scans all across the world to get the productions and recording facts of a seriously overlooked R&B producer into an accurate history. Though a large amount of information has been discovered, we are positive there are more obscure 45s out there featuring Kent’s work. If you know of any, please do let us know. Footnote: I’ve been chasing the missing Romark 103 release by the Phillips Sisters ‘After Tonight’ / ‘The Wiggle’ for months but only tracked down a copy after this CD’s deadline had gone. I clicked on the soundfile with great hope of finding a previously unissued R&B gem, but sadly it was a disappointment. The vocals on ‘After Tonight’ leave a lot to be desired on an, at best, average song while the flip is an instrumental; at least it’s not a crucial omission on here. By Ady Croasdell (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - King New Breed Rhythm & Blues Vol. 2 In the ten years it’s taken for this second volume of “King New Breed R&B” to come to fruition the R&B collecting scene has gone from strength to strength. Many great sounds have been discovered languishing in shops and collections and the phenomenon has become truly international. A lot of these records have crossed over to the Northern soul, popcorn and mod music scenes. Mike Pedicin’s ‘Burnt Toast And Black Coffee’ and Little Willie John’s ‘I’m Shakin’’ from our first King volume have become mainstream retro music classics, outselling even the biggest Northern soul 45s we’ve issued in this period. I’m guessing that our opening track is going to be a rising star of the vintage black music world. Hal Hardy’s ‘Love Man’ is best known for its Northern soul flip ‘House Of Broken Hearts’. I found ‘Love Man’ on YouTube and immediately fell in love with it. It’s a record that defies the blues, soul or funk tags and powers this CD off with a blast. More familiar territory comes with the blues classics ‘I’m Tore Down’ by Freddy King, Little Willie John’s ‘All Around The World’ and Johnny Watson’s ‘Gangster Of Love’. They’ve all been comped before, but sound terrific strategically placed throughout this CD. 1955 is an early starting point to what is, in the main, an early 60s sound but Mel Williams’ ‘Send Me A Picture, Baby’ fits snugly next to the blues grooves of its later vintage companions. The 1957 offerings from Donnie Elbert and Dolph Prince have a ‘Fever’ groove that epitomises the Popcorn end of the scene’s sounds. The earliest-sounding numbers are the doo wop-inspired 1960 recordings from the Hi Tones and Lee Williams & the Moonrays. We were hoping to feature ‘Just A Little Bit Of Everything’ by Herb Hardesty but had tape problems that need a little more time to sort. (The track will definitely be on Herb’s solo CD out later this year.) In its place we opted for ‘Why Did We Have To Part’, featuring a full vocal from Herb’s co-writer Walter Nelson. The “5” Royales are here with their swaying ‘It Hurts Inside’ featuring the soulful vocals of Lowman Pauling, who also teams up with the band’s guitarist Royal Abbit on ‘I’m A Cool Teenager’, a blueprint for the well-groomed youth cults to come. Lowman Pauling also co-wrote the Hi Tones’ song. There is a Willie Wright track not previously issued on CD and a great Eddie Kirk side co-written with future Stax/Volt singer Oscar Mack. Eugene Church describes his girl Geneva’s charms so effectively that I was blushing at one point and the King Pins’ update of the Charms’ ‘Two Hearts’ simply rocks the joint. In researching this CD I was turned on to a wealth of good music and I’m sure the majority of these will be new to the ears of most black music aficionados. By Ady Croasdell (ACE Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
VA: - London American Label Year By Year 1956 Most Ace customers will know by now that both my grandfather and father had general (and considerable) influence on my collecting habits, thanks to the records they introduced me to even before I was old enough for school. Needless to say, I’m eternally grateful to them for showing me the value of music at an incredibly early age. Grandad bought 78s up to the point where the major labels announced their imminent discontinuance in late 1959. He then continued to buy two 45s each week from theUKcharts, all the way though to 1980 when he turned 78. Dad was somewhat quicker to adapt to the newer medium; the first 45 that ever came into our house arrived three years earlier. It’s almost inevitable somehow that said 45 was on London. Andy Williams’ ‘Canadian Sunset’ joined 78s by Tennessee Ernie, Hank Williams, Bill Haley, Guy Mitchell, Frankie Laine and other family favourites in 1956, and was quickly followed by others that fascinated me almost as much for their size and for their tri-centres as for the music they contained. The family Dansette regularly rocked to the sounds of ‘Rip It Up’, ‘When My Dreamboat Comes Home’ and other great records. I’m not sure where ‘Canadian Sunset’ fitted into all this – it may have been a purchase for my mum – but I liked it as much as anything else from Dad’s fast growing collection of 45s by Fats Domino, Little Richard and that bloke with the crazy name of Elvis something. More than 50 years later I still like ‘Canadian Sunset’, and it’s pleasing to be able to include it on the latest in our London American series. which overviews 1956. It’s also good to include the aforementioned Fats and Richard singles, as well as others that a number of Ace buyers will also have grown up on – plus even more that most of us didn’t hear until long after the event, thanks to the limited exposure pop music received in the UK in the mid-50s. Many of the greatest rock’n’rollers debuted on London during 1956, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Mr. Penniman being just three. It was also the year that the London A&R team slipped the likes of Werly Fairburn and Faye Adams past their bosses, who may have been less pleased with those sales than with ‘Rip It Up’ and the ubiquitous ‘Davy Crockett’! As ever, most of our inclusions sound as they did on their original London releases, having been mastered from the same tapes. Several have never been legally reissued in the UK before, and others have never been reissued at all. Ace’s beloved founder Ted Carroll shares his own memories of London’s musical impact on his youth and life in the foreword, and as always there’s copious track-by-track annotation and at least one scan of every 45 (or 78) featured in our programme. Move over London 2012 – here comes London 1956! By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	18.00 €
VA: - Oh Boy ! The Brunswick Story 2CD	One Day Music 2012	CD	9.00 €
VA: - Pink Cadillac 2CD Here are 2CDs of the very best Rock ‘n’ Roll driving songs of all time! Featuring legendary performances by Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and many, many more…	Union Square Music 2012	CD	10.00 €
VA: - Road To Soul 2CD A selection of 55 songs which present the intensity of African American church music and R&B sounds which helped to shape soul music in the '60s. Includes such major stars as: James Brown, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Etta James, Tina Turner and more! Features hit singles like: 'What'd I Say', 'You Send Me', 'Money' and 'Hit the Road Jack'. Fully detailed liner notes on the roots of soul with even more extensive notes available here.	Jasmine Records 2012	CD	13.00 €
VA: - Roots Of British Beat 2CD	Fantastic Voyage 2012	CD	15.00 €
VA: - The London American Label Year By Year 1957 Our London American series continues to win praise from all corners, particularly from UK residents whose record collecting habits sprang from the purchase of one or more of the London label’s many fantastic 78s or tri-centre 45s. We’ve reached 1957 later than planned due to having to replace a track at the very last minute, but we expect to deliver three volumes in 2012 – those who are collecting the series will be glad to know that 1956 and 1964 are well under way. 1957 was a truly vintage year for youth-aimed American music, and its best overall representation in the UK came via London. A great number of the 178 singles the label issued that year are already available somewhere in the Ace catalogue, but the overview presented here is highly formidable and really does show all facets of their release schedule. Only a couple of the 28 tracks here are currently available on other Ace CDs, and I make no apology for including one of them: my all-time favourite record, Little Richard’s ‘Keep A Knockin’’ (a compiler’s perk that surely nobody will deny me). As ever, we have been lucky enough to have many of the original London production masters at our disposal, and more than 70% of the music you’ll hear here comes from those very same tapes. The music speaks for itself. What’s not to love about a CD that brings you tried and trusted classics such as ‘Blue Monday’, ‘Great Balls Of Fire’, ‘Your True Love’, ‘I Walk The Line’ and – in its UK single version, of course – ‘Twenty Flight Rock’, alongside seldom reissued hits such as ‘White Silver Sands’, curios of the calibre of the UK-only overdubbed version of ‘A Rose And A Baby Ruth’ and the usual selection of “What made them issue that? But let’s be glad they did”s, a category that would have to include Merle Kilgore’s ‘Ernie’, Dean Beard’s ‘Rakin’ And Scrapin’’ and Ernie Chaffin’s ‘Feelin’ Low’. Along the way you’ll also find sisters Patience & Prudence stating the obvious in ‘We Can’t Sing Rhythm & Blues’, the deranged Nervous Norvus instructing the world how to do ‘The Bullfrog Hop’ and all manner of other musical delights, lovingly sequenced in much the same way they might have appeared in the London American catalogue. By Tony Rounce (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2012	CD	17.00 €
Big Joe Turner - Rocks 1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with comprehensive booklet, 28 tracks, playing time: 70:35. -- Contains 'Roll 'Em Pete' with Pete Johnson, a record that propelled bobby-soxers into a boogie-woogie frenzy. 'Shake, Rattle And Roll' helped jump-start the rock 'n' roll revolution. It's here along with a truck-load of R&B hits including 'Honey Hush', 'Flip, Flop And Fly', 'Hide And Seek', 'Corrine Corrina', 'Lipstick, Powder And Paint' and many more. These immortal rock-till-it-hurts classics inspired an uncountable number of rockabilly covers from Elvis Presley to Jerry Lee Lewis to Shakin' Stevens. 'The quintessential American singer' said Doc Pomus. 'Rock 'n' roll would never have happened without him'. -- Big Joe Turner first shouted timeless blues couplets in the Kansas City of the '30s, partnering stomping pianist, Pete Johnson, for almost two decades. Together they ignited the boogie-woogie craze that led to the post-war emergence of R&B and ultimately, the revolution that was rock 'n' roll. This set, compiled by Trevor Cajiao, Editor of 'Now Dig This,' embraces all phases of Joe's career but concentrates, inevitably, on the hard-rocking records which made Joe a rock 'n' roll star and unlikely teen idol at the age of 43. Discs like 'Honey Hush', 'Shake, Rattle And Roll' (bowdlerised by Bill Haley), 'Flip, Flop And Fly', 'Boogie Woogie Country Girl', 'Teen Age Letter' and 'Lipstick, Powder And Paint' were among the most exciting records of the '50s and led to literally hundreds of covers by legions of rockabilly singers. -- Jump blues veteran turned rock 'n' roll patriarch, Big Joe Turner out-rocked them all!	Bear Family 2011	CD	20.00 €
Billy "Red" Love - Gee... I Wish - The Sun Years Plus 1-CD Digipak (4-plated) with 48-page booklet, 26 tracks. Playing time approx. 73 minutes. -- A landmark first CD reissue of one of the best... but least known... R&B singer-pianists from Memphis! Twenty six high class boogie, blues and R&B sides recorded between 1951 and 1954 by Sam Phillips at Sun Records! Includes all 4 Billy 'Red' Love sides recorded by Sun and issued by Chess Records in 1951 and '52 including the extremely rare, never before reissued - 'My Teddy Bear Baby/Poor Man' ! Few collectors have even SEEN this record! Includes Love's classic recording of 'Juiced', issued under the name of Jackie Brenston as the follow up to 'Rocket 88', plus both sides of the Sun single that never was - 'Hey Now/Way After Midnight'. Includes the rare promotional disc for Hart's Bakery in Memphis - 'Hart's Bread Boogie' ! 10 tracks not originally issued in the 1950s and 10 more tracks issued here for the first time! Features the cream of Memphis R&B musicians. The booklet by Martin Hawkins contains the first ever biography of Love's unusual career and amazing life. Rare photographs including the first ever solo shot of Billy Love! -- Bear Family has carved out an amazing niche: issuing CDs by Sun Records artists who didn't record enough for Sun to fill a CD. Bear Family looks high and low for other recordings, rarities, and test pressings... all the stuff collectors love! This time, it's Billy Love, and his story fills a void in the story of Memphis music. Love was Sun's R&B session pianist and led Rosco Gordon's road band for some years. In and out of the forces, in and out of employment, in and out of jazz clubs, and in and out of the attention of law enforcement officers, Billy Love led a full, short, frustrating and strange life. But in his singing, songwriting, arranging and piano playing he was up there with the best. This CD tells it all!	Bear Family 2011	CD	17.00 €
Bobby "Blue" Bland - It's My Life, Baby - The Singles A's & B's 2CD One of the greatest of all American R&B singers and still performing and recording today at the age of 80. This is the first ever collection to compile all of his singles A and B sides on one 2CD set from his first in 1951 to the end of 1960. Includes many of his greatest hits like, 'Further on up the Road', 'I Pity the Fool' and 'I'll Take Care of You'. Fully detailed liner notes detail Bobby's rise to fame.	Jasmine Records 2011	CD	12.00 €
Etta James - Tough Woman - The Early Recordings 1955-1960 2CD Etta James is no shrinking violet and this is the first CD release for this iconic artist that covers her earliest recordings with her classic Chess recordings. Disc 1 features her '50s Los Angeles rock and blues repertoire, including the No. 1 hit 'Roll With Me Henry'. Disc 2 presents her earliest Chicago recordings for the Chess label, including her version of 'I Just Want To Make Love To You'. Also on disc 2 is her complete 'At Last' album which is considered one of early '60s most important R&B albums. Etta James is every inch a no-holds-barred performer. Mix that in with her troubled past and the undoubted fact that she is a true R&B pioneer, she has certainly paid her dues! If you are not one of the initiated then prepare to be shocked!	Jasmine Records 2011	CD	15.00 €
Fats Domino - Imperial Singles Vol. 4 1959-1961 The first three volumes of the Fats Domino Imperial Singles series (CDCHD 597, 649 and 689) saw New Orleans’ finest ascend from neophyte blues and boogie-woogie stylist to bona fide rock’n’roll star. With gold-plated hits of the calibre of ‘Ain’t That A Shame’, ‘Blueberry Hill’, ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘I’m Walkin’’ receding into history, it was assumed that Fats had peaked artistically. Wrong: One spin of this release will dispel that notion handsomely. In the period 1959-1961, Domino had 13 US Top 30 pop hits. Leading the way were ‘I Want To Walk You Home’ (#8), ‘Be My Guest’ (#8) and ‘Walking To New Orleans’ (#6). Indicating Fats’ absurdly high standards, of the 26 tracks presented here only two failed to chart pop or R&B (‘I Just Cry’ and ‘Good Hearted Man’). To put the era into perspective, rock’n’roll was taking an involuntary breather but R&B was brimming with self-confidence through the records of not only Fats Domino but also Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, the Drifters, Jackie Wilson and an upcoming James Brown. Even Chubby Checker’s twist craze was R&B under another name. With longtime producer and songwriter partner Dave Bartholomew (see CDCHD 1303) still firmly in control of the sessions at Cosimo Matassa’s studio, Fats was subtly ringing the necessary changes: New Orleans parade rhythms were blended with South Louisiana swamp-pop songs from Bobby Charles and Jimmy Donley; bigger bands were drafted in, with young Wardell Quezergue writing arrangements; and occasional overdubs of orchestral accompaniment (surprisingly successful) and choruses (not so) were utilised. The standout studio musicians included Domino’s trusty road-band members Lee Allen and Herb Hardesty (tenor saxophone); Walter “Papoose” Nelson and Roy Montrell (guitar); and Cornelius Coleman (drums). Bartholomew added fiery trumpet when required, while Fats’ imperious piano was ever present. In order to recapture the hit sound of the original Imperial 45s as heard over the radio, on jukeboxes and on home record players, this release is mono only. What of Fats today? As an octogenarian, he has ageing problems and no longer performs. But his stock is higher than ever following his dramatic rescue during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was honoured, with Dave Bartholomew, by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at its American Music Masters event in Cleveland last November. And Rick Coleman’s Domino biography, Blue Monday, has been published. Fats’ Imperial recordings have now assumed classical proportions. I confidently predict that “The Imperial Singles Vol 4” will be seen as one of his best – and most enjoyable – compilations. There is still one more volume in this important series to come. (John Broven’s first book, Walking to New Orleans – with its title, of course, based on Fats’ hit song – was inducted recently into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis, Tennessee. The US edition, entitled Rhythm & Blues in New Orleans, is still in print.) By John Broven (Ace Records)	Ace Records 2011	CD	17.00 €
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin' - The Best Of Howlin' Wolf 2CD 2CDs = 48 tracks of hard-hitting inspirational blues.	Spectrum Music 2011	CD	13.00 €

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Blues / Rhythm & Blues - 1950-luku (CD)