29 tracks including all known surviving recordings from 1949 - 1956. - 2 recently discovered sides from his first recording session for Star Talent. - all 8 original 78 rpm discs for Star Talent, Bullet, Chess, Sun, and Meteor. Some of these now for the first time ever from the first generation-tape. - 3 recordings from the Memphis Recording Service, not originally issued. - 2 original versions of songs Rufus covered (1 by Joe Hill Louis, 1 by Rosco Gordon; previously unissued). - The original version of Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton. - 2 bonus recordings by Rufus's fellow DJ, Moohah Williams. - 2 extracts from Rufus on radio WDIA in the 1950s. - A rare radio interview with Daddy Cool. Mastered as only Bear Family can do it. A newly researched 68-page booklet by Martin Hawkins largely based on interviews by himself and Dave Booth, plus rare photos and adverts. Rufus Thomas was a one-off: a larger than life character who made as great a contribution to the performance and style of American music as he did to the recording of it. He saw it all from black vaudeville to rap... and played a major role in the evolution of African American music. His earlier R&B recordings have been unjustly obscured by his later role in the development of Stax Records and his string of soul hits. But Rufus was – though he always played it down – a damn fine blues and R&B singer in the 1950s. And this is one of the best cross-sections of African American music you'll hear from the period. Rufus sings with the Lionel Hampton band, several Memphis R&B dance bands, and with Sun studio session groups. And, in case we forget, he gave Sun Records its first hit, Bear Cat.

1. I'll Be A Good Boy
2. I'm So Worried
3. Who's That Chick
4. Double Trouble
5. Beer Bottle Boogie
6. Gonna Bring My Baby Back
7. Night Workin' Blues
8. Why Did You Deegee
9. Crazy About You Baby
10. No More Dogging Around
11. Decorate The Counter
12. Decorate The Counter
13. Juanita
14. Married Woman –1
15. Married Woman –2
16. I'm Off That Stuff
17. Hound Dog
18. Bear Cat (The Answer To Hound Dog)
19. Walkin' In The Rain
20. Tiger Man (King Of The Jungle)
21. Tiger Man (King of the Jungle)
22. Save That Money
23. Intro patter to Sepia Swing Club
24. Pink Pussycat Wine
25. All Shook Out
26. Candy
27. The Easy Livin' Plan
28. I'm Steady Holdin' On
29. Rufus Thomas on Daddy Cool show

17.00 €