"MORE GREAT MOMENTS OF VINYL HISTORY"

In 1987 Andy Kershaw assembled, from his personal collection, a splendid compilation of musical curios, rarities and downright oddities which he entitled 'Great Moments In Vinyl History'. This album, now long -deleted, was a great success and has itself become a much sought-after item. Now, seventeen years later, doubtless in a shameless attempt to cash in on this initial success he has put together a second volume. Thankfully this unseemly haste has in no way detracts from the overall quality of this new selection, most (though not all) of which has until now been largely unobtainable but which Andy has sought out and with typical enthusiasm he now wants to share. Kershaw has always been first and foremost a music fan - not for him rarity for raritys sake. Hence the presence among this somewhat arcane selection of Joe Tex's sublime 'Buying A Book' for, I suspect, no other reason than it is a damn fine track which sits rather comfortably inthis mixture of blues, folk, country and pop from all points of the compass, wonderful stuff. (wrasserecords.com)Seventeen years after releasing his first compilation, BBC radio jockey Andy Kershaw pieced together a new mishmash of songs from around the world. The idea isn't particularly to collect "world music" per se, but instead simply to collect worthwhile singles without boundaries, and this approach seems to work well, providing an album of relative rarities and interesting pairings. Opening the disc is Shiyani Ngcobo, a maskanda musician only recently given an album on World Music Network. A pre-Clash Joe Strummer heads up the 101'ers, and country almanac Dale Watson provides an old Merle Haggard number. Some southern soul is presented by Joe Tex, an ultra-rare Dorothy Masuka number is tossed in, and the Magic Black Men, random rappers from Bamako, provide some less slickly produced (than the usual Dakar-Parisian sound) African rap. A bit of experimental British dub follows (complete with a pre-Genesis Phil Collins), as does Miracle Legion, with a sound similar to early R.E.M. More southern soul from Stanley Winston precedes some gutbucket country from the Butlers and Dan Pickett. Ali Farka Touré introduces a fine Malian songstress along with his trademark guitar playing, Parisian/Algerian Youcef Boukella provides a bass heavy loop, and English folk, speech, and Punjabi aesthetics are fused together by a collective headed by the Angel Brothers. Ethno-trance is represented by Kristi Stassinopoulou, South African reggae is represented by the MK Platoon (actually affiliated with the Spear of the Nation movement), and fiddler Jim Eldon covers some Springsteen surprisingly ably, if rather unorthodoxically. The album finishes on the somewhat unknown but seminal Surfin' Dave, with some proto-alt. The album is full of oddities, but the bulk of the music is entirely listenable. Casual listeners may be put off a bit by the sheer indie-record-store elitism of the liner notes and the attitude taken toward the music, but there are plenty of treats to be had for all listeners regardless of such. (Allmusic)

trax:
1. uMendo - Shiyani Ngcobo 2. Motor Boys Motor - The 101'ers 3. Mama Tried - Dale Watson 4. Buying A Book - Joe Tex 5. Ghana - Dorothy Masuka 6. Can 2002 - Magic Black Men 7. Johnny Too Bad - John Martyn 8. I'll Get By In Pittsburgh - Jona Lewie 9. The Backyard - Miracle Legion 10. No More Ghettos In America - Stanley Winston 11. Sundown in Nashville - Carl & Pearl Butler 12. 99.5 Won't Do - Dan Pickett 13. Patience - Ali Farka Toure & Hayra Arby 14. Salam (Peace) - Youcef Boukella 15. Captain Beefheart and Mr Neal - The Angel Brothers & Ian McMillan 16. General Synopsis - The Rootsman 17. We Are Flying - Kristi Stassinopoulou 18. Apartheid Dead (We Stop Use Lead) - MK Platoon 19. Dancing In The Dark - Jim Eldon 20. Grey Skies - Surfin Dave 21. Motor - MOTOR
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"SIR DOUGLAS PRESENTS LONE STAR JUKEBOX" Two Decades Of Texas Treats (disc 1)

Excellent collection from the great Crazy Cajun label - don't miss this! (Very hard to find now)There are no hits on WestSide's double-disc, 40-song set Sir Douglas Presents Lone Star Jukebox: Two Decades of Texas Treats. That doesn't mean that it's not worth hearing, or even owning, however. The collection draws from Huey P. Meaux's Crazy Cajun label, finding highlights that range from pounding rock & roll and greasy blues to tear-in-my-beer honky tonk and soulful stomps -- or the occasional track that brings it all together. None of this made the national charts, but that's the charm of it. This is pure Tex-Mex music, and while nothing here might be among the most seminal works in the genre (even if it does feature such heavy-hitters as T-Bone Walker, Doug Sahm & the Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head, Barbra Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, Ivory Joe Hunter, Freddy Fender, Mickey Gilley, and Moe Bandy), it's all really enjoyable, especially for listeners that already have a fondness for Tex-Mex. Yes, this collection is for the already converted, since it doesn't just collect lesser-known cuts from the '60s and '70s, it never gives specific recording or release dates. This is the kind of thing that will frustrate collectors, but they'll still like having these songs, since they're all very good. It may not be perfect, but it sure is fun. (Allmusic)

trax:
1. All Night Long - T-Bone Walker 2. One Way Out (It'S A Man Down There) - Him (Sir Douglas Quintet) 3. I Can'T Stand It - Roy Head & The Traits 4. You Left The Water Running - Barbara Lynn 5. Think It Over - Jimmy Donley 6. I Know It'S Wrong - B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs 7. Hello Mary Ann - Ronnie Milsap 8. There Is Something On Your Mind - Freddy Fender 9. It Makes No Difference Now - Floyd Tillman 10. Ask You For The Last Time - Ivory Joe Hunter 11. The Image Of Me - Sir Douglas 12. I Settled For Less - Gloria Edwards 13. It Wasn'T God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels - Mickey Gilley 14. Without You - Delbert McClinton 15. Colinda - Rod Bernard 16. In The Still Of The Night - Freddy Fender 17. Don'T Make Promises You Can'T Keep - T-Bone Walker 18. Mama - B. J. Thomas & The Triumphs 19. I'm Going To Make My Home Where I Lay My Hat - Johnny Copeland 20. You Send Me - Sunny & The Sunliners
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JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT "You're Holding Me Down" 30 FREAKBEAT, MOD AND R&B; NUGGETS

JOE MEEK'S FREAKBEAT: 30 FREAKBEAT, MOD AND R&B NUGGETS is a great place to sample Meek's big-sounding, hard-driving pop projects. With huge, booming sonics and a fair amount of echo, effects, and proto-psychedelic atmosphere, Meek keeps the beat in the foreground, making this comp an electrifying trip through early-'60s British rock.
Subtitle: You're Holding Me Down. Whether you are hip to the jive or not, Joe Meek remains one of the most celebrated producers of '60s and this compilation shows why. Featuring 30 Freakbeat, Mod and R&B nuggets from the Meek vaults, all produced by the magical fingers and twisted mind of one of the most creative (and crazy) British Rock 'N Roll icons of all time. Artists include The Blue Rondos, Buzz, The Cryin' Shames, Birds Of Prey, Riot Squad (not the Punk band of the same name), The Tornados, Heinz & The Wild Boys and more. - Castle. 2006.

trax:
1. You're Holding Me Down - The Buzz 2. Come On Back - Paul Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames 3. Baby I Go For You - The Blue Rondos 3. What Can I Do - The Blue Rondos 4. Crawdaddy Simone - The Syndicats 5. She Conforts My Sorrow - The Bystanders 6. Love Gone Again - The Birds Of Prey 7. Little Baby - The Blue Rondos 8. I Love To See You Strut - David John & The Mood 9. What'cha Gonna Do Baby - Jason Eddie & The Centremen 10. It Ain't Right - The Saxons 11. Let Me In - The Cryin' Shames 12. I Take It That We're Through - The Riot Squad 13. Diggin' For Gold - David John & The Mood 14. Summer Without Sun - Charles Kingsley Creation 15. Walking On Ice - The Riot Squad 16. Big Fat Spider - Heinz & The Wild Boys 17. Come On Baby - Jason Eddie & The Centremen 18. What's News, Pussycat - The Cryin' Shames 20. City Lights - The Birds Of Prey 21. No More You And Me - The Tornados '66 22. Too Far Out - The Impac 23. Shake With Me - The Puppets 24. Leave My Kitten Alone - The Syndicats 25. Bluebirds Over The Mountain - Shade Joey & The Night Owls 26. Bring It To Jerome - David John & The Mood 27. I Gotta Buzz - The Buzz 28. I Don't Love Her No More - Hotrod 29. I'm Not A Bad Guy - Heinz & The Wild Boys 30. Singing The Blues - Jason Eddie & The Centremen
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"THE ROOTS OF TAJ MAHAL"

An interesting concept to say the least, here's an exemplary collection of blues tunes all covered by Taj Mahal at one point or another. But here's the original versions of classics by Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Leadbelly, Sleepy John Estes, Son House, Washboard Sam, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Blind Boy Fuller and they sound every bit as fine -- if not infinitely superior -- as Taj's later covers. If you want to know where it all really came from, here's a perfect starting point, and one hell of a blues collection bargain. (Cub Koda, Allmusic)

trax:
1. Milk Cow Blues - Sleepy John Estes 2. Come On In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson 3. Sugar Mama - Sonny Boy Williamson 4. Statesboro Blues - Blind Willie McTell 5. John The Revelator - Blind Willie Johnson 6. Lining - Lead Belly 7. Corinna Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson 8. Everybody Ought To Make A Change - Sleepy John Estes 9. Stack O'Lee Blues - Mississippi John Hurt 10. Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson 11. Sophisticated Mama - Washboard Sam 12. Good Morning Little School Girl - Sonny Boy Williamson 13. Fishing Blues - Henry Thomas 14. Keep Your Hands Off Her - Lead Belly 15. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond - Blind Willie Johnson 16. Railroad Bill - Will Bennett 17. Divin' Duck Blues - Sleepy John Estes 18. Dust My Broom - Robert Johnson 19. Motherless Child - Barbecue Bob 20. Sittin' On Top Of The World - Mississippi Sheiks 21. Walkin' Blues - Son House 22. Frankie And Albert - Mississippi John Hurt 23. Piccolo Rag - Blind Boy Fuller
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"BLACK TOOTSIE ROLL" Early Rockin' Rhythm & Blues

Original early rare and wild R&B recordings. Wacky title, but great music, most never before on CD.trax:
1. Oh Yeah - Dean & Jean 2. Jumping This Morning - Tippo Lite & The All Stars 3. Farewell Blues - Rosette Perry & Milliard Lee Orch. 4. Bermudas - Big Jay Mercer & Joe Anderson & THe Groovers 5. Tootsie Roll - Bobby Martin 6. Pretty Little Baby - Modest "Show Stopper" Clifton 7. The Rock And Stomp - J. Mercy Baby 8. Snatching Back - Rayfield Brown 9. Shonuff' Miss Brown - Bob Mackey & King Alex Band 10. Kissin' Boogie - Beverly Wright & Preston Love Orch. 11. Good Jax Boogie (Beer) - Dave Bartholomew 12. Long Tall Sally - Bobby & The Troubadours 13. Flipping Their Top - The Egyptians 14. Tootsie Roll - L.D. Ludy 15. Weird (Inst.) - Albert & Charles & Gus Jenkins Orch. 16. Boss Chick - Shortie Billups 17. Come Dance With Rudy - Monroe Chapman & Bob Fenville Orch. 18. Flu-bug (Inst.) - The Asiatics 19. She Fooled Me - T.C. Crumpler & Bobbie Richard & Band 20. T.C. Boogie (Inst.) - T.C. Crumpler & Bobbie Richard & Band 21. Touch Of Your Love - Eddie Moore 22. No, No Baby - Carmen Davis & Ernie Freeman's Combo 23. Runnin' (Inst.) - The Fortunes 24. Boogie In The Bones - Laurel Aitken 25. Telegram - Charles Kelly/The Three-Of-Us Trio & The Dillard-Kelly Orch.
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The Bongos "Beat Hotel" 1985

Produced by John Jansen (Lou Reed, Television), Beat Hotel is the Bongos' most rocking record, a sparkling explosion of guitar pop. "Space Jungle" has a nagging hook and a full-blown arrangement; "Apache Dancing" is similarly ambitious in a different vein; "Come Back to Me" and "A Story (Written in the Sky)" hark back to the band's simpler days; "Totem Pole" sounds a bit like the dB's except for the overblown big-band finale. Given the best audio treatment of their career, the Bongos prove their mettle, simultaneously exposing their main inadequacy: inconsistent songwriting. - trouserpress

trax:
01 Space Jungle 02 Apache Dancing 03 Brave New World 04 A Story 05 Beat Hotel 06 Come Back To Me 07 Splinters 08 She Starts Shaking 09 Totem Pole 10 Blow Up 11 Barbarella

THE PLAYBOYS "Feelin' Good" 1996

The Playboys' 1996 album features some of the wildest Rock 'n' Roll and Bluesabilly Bop.trax:
01 Feelin' Good 02 T.Bone Blues 03 Holy Mackeral 04 Mean Ol' Frisco 05 Looking For My Baby 06 I Ain't Gonna Take It 07 Eyes Like A Cat 08 Baby Please Don't Go 09 Rockin' In The Coconut Top 10 Rip It Rip It Up 11 Slippin' The Strings 12 Little 'Lil
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LEW LEWIS REFORMER "Save The Wail"

Lew Lewis, one of the maverick characters of the British pub rock boom, first came to prominence as a member of Eddie and the Hot Rods. An electrifying live act, the Hot Rods were well established on the London circuit by the time of the advent of Punk. In March 1976, they found themselves being supported at the Marquee by a young band called The Sex Pistols.
Lewis left the Hot Rods the following year and set about putting together the first line-up of the Lew Lewis Band. After initially signing to United Artists, they then released a single on Stiff Records, 'Boogie on the Street'/'Caravan Man', which is featured here.
He then put together a second band called Lew Lewis Reformer which released an LP, 'Save The Wail' on Stiff Records in 1979. The whole of the original LP appears on this compilation. The band then appeared on Top of the Pops, performing their most famous song, 'Lucky Seven'. One final single on Stiff, '1-30 2-30 3-35'/'I'm In the Mood I'm In' (also featured here), was released the following year.
Essentially a 'Best Of', this compilation is brimming with taut R&B; energy. The live bonus tracks were recorded in June 1977 (tracks 15-18) and July 1979 (tracks 19-21).

trax:
01 Do Just What You Want 02 Wait 03 Win Or Lose 04 High Temperature 05 Mr. Bartender 06 Lucky Seven 07 Hometown Blues 08 Photo-Finish 09 Night Talk 10 Rider 11 Boogie On The Street 12 Caravan Man 13 1-30 2-30 3-35 14 The Mood I'm In 15 Watch Yourself 16 One Stop Town 17 Messin' With The Kid 18 Out For A Lark 19 Shake & Fingerpop 20 Romance 21 Long Grey Mare
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"CAJUN DANCE PARTY" - Fais Do-Do

This album is a bit misleadingly titled. What you get is a collection of some of the absolutely earliest and most important commercial recordings of Cajun music. The biggest price of the whole thing, however, is that you get the first four recordings of Amede Ardoin with Dennis McGee, which is in itself worth the CD, but doesn't exhaust it. A definitive recording. (Amazon)The title of this stirring if low-fi collection may be misleading (it actually consists of vintage 78s recorded between 1929 and 1934), but the emotional heft is undeniable. Like country music and the blues, Cajun music expresses the sorrows and regrets of daily life in a celebratory catharsis. Cajun is arguably the world's most familial music, and the majority of the tracks here are devoted to the three Breaux brothers and their wonderful sister, Cleoma, whose prickly pear of a voice cuts clean through husband Joseph Falcon's accordion accompaniment. The music is recorded in duet or trio formats, and all these performers made a mighty passionate and free-ranging racket for their time. You can hear French, Celtic, Appalachian, and Western swing influences in tracks by Dewey Segura, a singer regarded as highly for his bootlegging as for his accordion skills. And Creole accordionist Amedee Ardoin's duets with white fiddle legend Dennis McGee demonstrate an early and inspiring cultural exchange. --Richard Gehr, Allmusic

trax:
1. Ma Blonde Est - Amedee Breaux 2. Les Tracas Du Hobo - Amedee Breaux 3. Two Step De Mama - Amédé Ardoin 4. La Valse Ah Abe - Amédé Ardoin 5. Two Step De Eunice - Amédé Ardoin 6. Two Step De Prairie Soileau - Amédé Ardoin 7. Rosalia - Dewey Segura 8. You're Small And Sweet - Dewey Segura 9. Far Away From Home Blues - Dewey Segura 10. Fais Do-Do Negre - Breaux Freres 11. Tiger Rag Blues - Breaux Freres 12. One Step A Marie - Breaux Freres 13. Mazurka De La Louisiane - Breaux Freres 14. Le Vieux Soulard Et Sa Femme - Cleoma Breaux 15. Marie Buller - Cleoma Breaux 16. Mon Coeur T'appelle - Cleoma Breaux 17. C'est Si Triste Sans Lui - Cleoma Breaux 18. Madam Atchen - Amédé Ardoin 19. Taunt Aline - Amédé Ardoin 20. Le Blues Du Petit Chien - Breaux Freres 21. La Valse Du Vieux Temps - Breaux Freres 22. La Valse D'Auguste - Breaux Freres 23. La Valse D'Utah - Breaux Freres
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"THE BEST OF PROFILE RECORDS"

This Cd is an excellent mixture of Rock & Roll, Blues and R&B groups that recorded for the Chicago-based Profile Record label during the 50's & 60's.trax:
1. Bip Bop Boom - Mickey Hawks & The Night Raiders 2. You Don't Care - Junior Wells 3. Trust In Me - The Foster Brothers 4. It's A Fad, Ma - Bobby Dean 5. Oh What A Feeling - Lil' June & The Januarys 6. Dirty Robber - The Noblemen 7. So Weak - Jessie & The Sequins 8. Little By Little - Junior Wells 9. Rock And Roll Rhythm - Mickey Hawks & The Night Raiders 10. Shirley - Dick & Jack w/The Politicians 11. Come On In This House - Junior Wells 12. Oh My Love - Lil' June & The Januarys 13. I'm Lost - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 14. Forever Lonely - The Noblemen 15. Prison Bars All Around Me - Junior Wells 16. Hold My Hand - Jessie & The Sequins 17. Hidi Hidi Hidi - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 18. Just Between Teens - Bobby Dean 19. Scatterbrain - Dick & Jack w/The Politicians 20. Cha Cha Cha In Blue - Junior Wells 21. Why Yi Yi - The Foster Brothers 22. Screamin' Mimi Jeanie - The Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 23. Cottonpickin' - Night Raiders w/Mickey Hawks 24. I Could Cry - Junior Wells
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"IT'S OKEH UP NORTH" - A Collection of 24 Classic Northern Soul Monsters From The Vaults of Okeh

This magnificent compilation comes from Okeh Record sides, the Windy City company that produced some of the best soul music of the '60s. Offering over 20 tracks, the CD is top heavy with seven Major Lance songs. The romantic "Call Me Tomorrow," an early track by Major "Love Won't Let Me Wait" Harris, is also featured, along with contributions from the hard-singing Tommy Tate with the aching "I'm Taking On Pain," and Larry Williams and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, who wail on two saucy duets: "Too Late," and "A Quitter Never Wins." Included as well are Billy Butler's most famous song "Right Track," the Artistics' biggest Okeh release "This Heart of Mine," a soulful Little Richard on "I Don't Want to Discuss It," two tear jerkers from Walter Jackson, and more. by Andrew Hamilton, Allmusic

trax:
1. I Don't Wanna Discuss It - Little Richard 2. I'm Coming To Your Rescue - The Triumphs 3. Don't Fight It - Major Lance 4. Right Track - Billy Butler 5. This Heart Of Mine - The Artistics 6. Investigate - Major Lance 7. A Quitter Never Wins - Williams & Watson 8. He Who Picks A Rose - The Carstairs 9. You Don't Want Me No More - Major Lance 10. You're Gonna Make Me Love You - Sandi Sheldon 11. This Old Heart (Is So Lonely) - Larry Williams 12. Fiding Out The Hard Way - The Vibrations 13. I'm Taking No Pain - Tommy Tate 14. (Get My Hat) Nothing Can Stop Me - Major Lance 15. Too Late - Williams & Watson 16. Where Have All The Flowers Gone - Walter Jackson 17. Gonna Get Along Without You Now - The Vibrations 18. I Still Love You - Seven Soul 19. Everybody Loves A Good Time - Major Lance 20. I Can't Do It - The Autographs 21. Call Me Tomorrow - Major Harris 22. The Beat - Major Lance 23. It's An Uphill Climb To The Bottom - Walter Jackson 24. Ain't No Soul (In These Old Shoes) - Major Lance
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The Bongos "Numbers With Wings" 1983

This five-song EP (now available, along with Beat Hotel, on a single CD) marks several upgrades in the Bongos' career. They have added second guitarist James Mastro, moved up to RCA Records, and brought in producer Richard Gottehrer. Gottehrer, who has a sharp sense of rock & roll dynamics (listen to his work on the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back"), is a felicitous choice, and the added instrumentation (and no doubt better-budgeted recording and mixing) allows the Bongos to better realize their pop sound. As a result, songs like "Numbers with Wings," with its echoed vocals and full sound, have the kind of epic sweep Richard Barone's compositions have always suggested without achieving before. Not that the band has become overblown--just fulfilled. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

trax:
01 Numbers With Wings 02 Tiger Nights 03 Barbarella 04 Skydiving 05 Sweet Blue Cage

"YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!" VOL 2

Rare and Modern Soul Gems From The Vaults of Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, Reprise, and Warner Brothers 1967-1979English DJ Richard Searling has painstakingly compiled this most perfect AMAZING collection. There are rarities galore on this disc!!!! You will be in awe!! (Amazon)

trax:
1. I'm About Loving You - Al Hudson & The Soul Partners 2. Behind Closed Doors - Jackie Moore 3. We're On Our Way - Frankie Newsome 4. If Only (We Had Met Sooner) - Linda Jones 5. Girl, You're My Kind Of People - The Olympics 6. I Want Sunday Back Again - Bettye Swann 7. Rising Cost Of Love - Darrow Fletcher 8. If You Want Me To Be More Of A Woman (You Got To Be More Of A Man) - Lorraine Johnson 9. Strangers In The Dark Corners - Johnny Bristol 10. Only The One You Love - Dee Dee Warwick 11. You're All I Got In This World - Prince Phillip Mitchell 12. Don't Try To Take The Fifth - The Pointer Sisters 13. Bitter With The Sweet - Tony & Tandy 14. Plain And Simple Girl - Garland Green 15. You Make Me So Hot - Barbara Lynn 16. Girl, You Know That I Love You - The Hypnotics 17. Cancel My Subscription - Mary Wells 18. Hey It's Over - The Windy City 19. I'm So Thankful - Barbara Lewis 20. Signed Miss Heroin - Sam Dees 21. Waiting For Tomorrow - Bettye LaVette 22. If You Do Love Me - The Duponts 23. Coldest Days Of My Life - Walter Jackson
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"HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU" The Best Of Jubilee Gospel 1949-1969

Rare precious and extremely soulful Gospel from jubilee records most of which was never issued anywhere prior to this CD. Artists featured include many of the genres biggest names. (Amazon)This excellent collection from 1949-69 contains many never before released cuts & a whole 10-track collection by the Selah Singers, who later found fame as the Larks; album also features Della Resse & the Meditation Singers, Alex Bradford, Edna McGriff & others. Includes liner notes by Opal Louis Nations. (Allmusic)trax:
1. The Lord'S Prayer - The Orioles 2. In My Heart - The Jubilators (Selah Singers) 3. Your Family Prayer - The Jubilators (Selah Singers) 4. (Die Right) Heaven Belongs To You - The Selah Singers 5. Don'T Drive Your Children Away - The Selah Singers 6. Downward Road - The Selah Singers 7. Tree Of Level (Tree Of Lebanon) - The Selah Singers 8. Why Not Today? - The Selah Singers 9. All Right Now - The Selah Singers 10. Down Here I'Ve Done My Best (I Want To Go To Heaven And Rest) - The Selah Singers 11. I'm On My Way - The Selah Singers 12. Certainly Lord - The Meditation Singers 13. Hard To Get Along - The Meditation Singers 14. Jesus Will Answer Prayer - The Meditation Singers 15. Amen - The Meditation Singers 16. In The Chapel By The Side Of The Road - Edna McGriff 17. It Will Be Grand - Traveling Innerlights 18. Get Your Heart Right With God - Alex Bradford & Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir (Vocalist Unidentified) 19. I Found A New Doctor - Alex Bradford & The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir 20. Too Close To Heaven Parts 1 & 2 - Alex Bradford & The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir
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The Bongos "Time And The River" 1982

Led by enthusiastic guitarist/singer Richard Barone, this Hoboken, New Jersey pop band makes no effort to conceal its roots. Mixed among the original songs on Drums Along the Hudson (an expanded version of the Time and the River mini-album, itself a compilation of singles) is a breathy cover of T. Rex's "Mambo Sun"; elsewhere, Barone spins out streamlined Byrds guitar licks and maintains a brisk pace throughout. Tuneful originals like "In the Congo" and "Video Eyes" may trade a certain amount of substance for easy appeal, but there's no better musical equivalent of whipped cream anywhere. - trouserpressHoboken's Bongos -- founded as a trio consisting of Richard Barone (guitar, vocals), Rob Norris (bass), and Frank Giannini (drums, vocals) -- made no pretense of being anything other than a pop band; fortunately, they were a good pop band, covering guitar pop from the Byrds to T. Rex, all of it pulled together by Barone's original songs. Although he was the focal point, the other members were by no means peripheral. After their first full-length album, Drums Along the Hudson (1982), James Mastro joined and contributed some stellar hooks. After releasing a series of singles and an EP on tiny Fetish Records in 1980 and 1981, the Bongos signed to independent PVC Records. Drums Along the Hudson compiled all their previously released tracks. They then moved up to major label RCA and released the five-song Numbers With Wings (1983) and the album Beat Hotel (1985), before leaving RCA and splitting up. (Later, Drums Along the Hudson and a two-fer of Numbers With Wings and Beat Hotel were reissued on CD by Razor & Tie.) At their best, the Bongos made some irresistible guitar pop. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

The Bongos:
Bass, Sitar, Vocals – R. Norris / Guitar, Vocals – R. Barone / Percussion – F. Giannini

traxfromwax:
01 Question Ball 02 Clay Midgets 03 Burning Bush 04 Certain Harbours 05 Speaking Sand 06 Video Eyes 07 Zebra Club 08 Three Wise Men

"YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!" Vol 1

Rare and Modern Soul Gems From The Vaults of Atco, Atlantic, Cotillion, Reprise, and Warner Brothers 1967-1978English DJ Richard Searling has painstakingly compiled this most perfect AMAZING collection. There are rarities galore on this disc!!!! You will be in awe!! (Amazon)trax:
1. If You Can't Give Her Love (Give Her Up) - Mary Wells 2. You'll Never Be Sorry - Gerald Sims 3. I've Got To Come In - Jean Battle 4. Smooth Sailing - Ben E. King 5. Paint Yourself In A Corner - The Classic Sullivans 6. Without A Doubt - Major Lance 7. Save Your Love For Me - Vivian Reed 8. Free (I'm Coming Home) - The Cool Sounds 9. Let's Get Together Now - The Aristocrats 10. One On One - Prince Phillip Mitchell 11. Kiss My Love Goodbye - Bettye Swann 12. I L.O.V.E. Y.O.U. - Terry Collins 13. Nice And Easy - Barbara Lynn 14. When You Left Heartache Began - Archie Bell & The Drells 15. Always Be My Baby - The Duponts 16. Beware Of The Stranger - The Hypnotics 17. Love, Love, Love (Alternate Mix) - Donny Hathaway 18. Calling For Your Love - The Enticers 19. Better Believe It - Brenton Wood 20. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream - Aretha Franklin 21. Fragile, Handle With Care - Sam Dees 22. Let Me Prove That I Love You - The Dynells 23. I May Not Be What You Want - Bobby Sheen 24. So Very Hard To Go - Tower Of Power 25. Nobody's Gonna Get Your Mama - Peggy Scott
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ROBERT JR. LOCKWOOD "Steady Rollin' Man" 1970

Guitarist Robert Jr. Lockwood had Robert Johnson not only as a stepfather but also as a guitar tutor. What Johnson couldn't have taught him, however, was how to come by ears big enough to take in the playing of Charlie Christian, but the fact that he did gives this music an edge it might otherwise have lacked. Where Lockwood could have fallen back on every blues cliché in the book, he instead produces lines of exceptional fluidity that are arguably as much a product of a jazz musician's sensibility as it's that of a dyed-in-the-wool bluesman.
Recorded in 1970, this was remarkably Lockwood's first session as a leader, and it makes for deeply satisfying listening. His guitar work, by comparison with his efforts on Walking The Blues (Candid, 1972) and Otis Spann Is The Blues (Candid, 1960), both cut under Spann's leadership on the same day in 1960, has here a mellow edge informed perhaps by the passing of years.
Happily however it doesn't dilute his fervor on the likes of "Mean Red Spider," where he shows just why he was the right choice for one of the guitar places on Sonny Boy Williamson's Nine Below Zero (Indigo, 2006), recorded in the same period as the Spann dates referred to above. His evocation of the Mississippi delta in the intro is also more than timely, reminding listeners of that place even in the midst of his big city sophistication, two considerations that are pleasingly reconciled on both takes of "Lockwood's Boogie."
Whilst Lockwood's voice might lack a certain authority, its edge of world-weariness on "Ramblin' On My Mind" is far more apt than any amount of polish, especially when his guitar meshes with that of Louis Myers' in a manner that could almost be telepathic.
That area of Mississippi comes to mind again on "Kind-Hearted Woman," where Lockwood muses lyrically on one of the great preoccupations of the blues over a bed of guitars, bass and drums that's clearly the product of countless sessions together and the empathy that those have engendered.
All in all, the title of this one just about sums it up, and by way of underscoring the point there is a fundamental honesty to this music that simply doesn't seem to be out there these days. It could just be one of the many things that makes it so special. (Nic Jones, All About Jazz)

Personnel:
Robert Jr. Lockwood: vocals, guitar; Louis Myers: guitar; Dave Myers: bass; Fred Below: drums.

trax:
01 Steady Rollin' Man 02 Western Horizon 03 Take A Walk With Me 04 Steady Groove (Instrumental) 05 Mean Red Spider 06 Lockwood's Boogie (Instrumental) 07 Ramblin' On My Mind 08 Blues And Trouble 09 Worst Old Feeling 10 Kind-Hearted Woman 11 Can't Stand The Pain 12 Tanya (Instrumental) 13 Worst Old Feeling (Alternate) 14 Lockwood's Boogie (Alternate)
...served by Gyro1966...

THE DIRECT HITS "Blow Up" 1984

ONE OF THE BEST MOD ALBUMS FROM THE 80s. ORIGINAL RELEASED ON THE HIGHLY COLLECTABLE "WHAAM" LABEL IN 1984 AND HAS BECOME A VERY COLLECTABLE ALBUM."Good band, played my local, The Bridge House, Elephant & Castle once to about 12 people. As Monkey says, more 60's orientated rather than Mod. Colin used to play one of those Hofner Basses ala McCartney, the size of him made it look like a Ukelele! Prior to the Direct Hits, they were known as the Exits releasing a single called Fashion Plague c/w Cheam in 1978 on Lightening Records, though Brian wasn't in them at this stage." - Dave eTHE DIRECT HITS:
Geno Buckmaster - guitar,vocals / Colin Swan - bass, kybds,vocals / Brian Grover - drums / guest appearences: Dan 'Mr. Personality' Treacy: piano / Ron 'Liberace' Lewis: keyb / 'Robbo' and his amazing psychedelic tambourine

traxfromwax:
1. Ever Ready Plaything 2. A Place in The Eighties 3. Naughty Little Boy 4. Miranda Berkley 5. What Killed Aleister Crowley 6. The Old Curiosity Shop 7. Too Shy 8. This Was Marc Deans 9. My Back Pages 10. Henry, The Unhappy Inventor

GLORIA EDWARDS "The Soul Queen Of Texas" (The Crazy Cajun Recordings)

trax:
01 Money (That's What I Want) 02 I Don't Need Nobody (To Help Me Keep Up With My Man) 03 Settled For Less 04 Blues (Part 2) 05 Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool For You Baby) 06 Real Love 07 Don't Mess With My Man 08 Lonely Girl 09 My Love Keeps Getting Stronger 10 You Ain't Enough Woman To Take My Man 11 I Can't Take Another Heartache 12 Just Enough Woman 13 Anything You Want 14 Something You Couldn't Write About 15 Our Love's Not For Three 16 Come On Over 17 Pushover 18 Tell You About A Feeling 19 I Really Got It Bad For My Baby 20 Blues (Part 2) (Alternate Take) 21 Real Love (Alternate Take)
...served by Gyro1966...

"THE LANOR RECORDS STORY" 1960-1992

Retrospective of Louisiana producer Lee LaVergne and his Lanor label features Shirley Bergeron, Charles Mann, Donald Jacobs, Elton Anderson, Drifting Charles and many others. Re-mastered from the original analog tapes, this collection takes the listener through swamp pop, R&B, soul and zydeco. Slipcased CD includes a 28-page full color booklet, historic photographs and a fully researched story. (Amazon)Lanor Records was founded in 1960 to capitalize on the burgeoning Cajun music market emanating from Louisiana's bayou region. In its first decade, the label is credited with launching the careers of countless Crescent City artists. Following the death of Lee LaVergne in 1998, Lanor's back catalog was eventually acquired by the heir of New Orleans' All South Distribution Company, Warren Hildebrand. The imprint presently operates out of Jennings, Louisiana along with its sister companies, Sound Center Recorders, Swimal Music BMI, & The Sound Center.

trax:
1. J'ai Fait Mon Ede'e - Shirley Bergeron 2. Parlez Vous Francais - Bill Matte 3. I Love My Baby - The Eltradors 4. Life Problem - Elton Anderson 5. Can't Stop My Loving You - Little Victor 6. Drifting Cloud - Drifting Charles 7. Keep Your Arms Around Me - Charles Mann 8. You're No Longer Mine - Charles Mann 9. I'll Be Your Jim - Willie Mallory 10. Running Out Of Fools - Hugh Boynton 11. Love Don't Love Nobody - Ella Brown 12. Red Red Wine - Charles Mann 13. Crazy Face - Jay Randall 14. Hot Hot Lips - Ralph Prescott 15. I Found My Woman - Roy Carrier 16. Chewing Gum - Donald Jacob 17. Walk Of Life - Charles Mann 18. Accordion Players Waltz - Tim Broussard 19. Drop That Ego - The Generation 20. Zydeco All Night - Joe Walker 21. My Name Is Beau Jocque - Beau Jocque
...served by Gyro1966...

CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 3

trax:
1. You Got Me Walking - Cicero Blake 2. Too Late to Turn Back Now - The Chi-Lites 3. Somebody I Know - Wales Wallace 4. Someone Else's Arms - Channel 3 5. There It Is - Lionel Hampton 6. I'll Bake Me A Man - Barbara Acklin 7. What Goes Up (Must Come Down) - Tyrone Davis 8. Living in the Footsteps of Another Girl - The Promises 9. It Only Happens (When I Look At You) - Jackie Wilson 10. Broken Home - Ben Monroe 11. It's Worth a Whippin' - Margie Alexander 12. I Don't Do This (to Every Girl I Meet) - Sidney Joe Qualls 13. Especially for You - Manchild 14. Let Me Make Love to You - Gene Chandler 15. I Still Love You - Windy City 16. I Choose You - Paris 17. All About the Paper - The Dells 18. All I Want to Do Is Make Love to You - The Impressions 19. I'll Make the Living If You Make the Loving Worthwhile - Gene Chandler 20. Touching in the Dark - Walter Jackson
...served by Gyro1966...

JOHN EDWARDS "Careful Man"

Once an extremely popular regional attraction, John Edwards moved from the chitlin circuit to the big time when he joined the Spinners. Born in St. Louis, Edwards began singing in men's clubs while stationed in Germany during his Army days. When he was discharged, Edwards came to Columbus, GA. He appeared once with Wilson Pickett and then did several dates in Chicago, where he met Curtis Mayfield in 1968. Mayfield got Edwards a session at Weis Records and Jo Armstead produced "If I Don't Lose My Head" in 1969. Armstead produced other singles for Weis and Twin Stacks before Edwards moved to Bell in 1972. Floyd Smith co-wrote and produced "The Look on Your Face," after which Edwards moved again to Aware, in 1973. Smith produced his LP John Edwards, and "Messing up a Good Thing" generated some attention. But it was "Careful Man" in 1974 that got Edwards his first and only hit as a single act; it reached number eight. When Aware folded, Edwards did a few dates with The Spinners in 1973, but continued his solo career with Cotillion. His 1976 LP Life Love and Living contained some excellent deep soul tunes, particularly "Baby, Hold on to Me," but didn't get much attention. Edwards joined The Spinners full-time in 1977 and remains with them currently. "Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time" in 1980 are the biggest Spinners hits featuring Edwards to date. (Dusty Groove)

trax:
01 Cold Hearted Woman 02 How Can I Make It Without You 03 Vanishing Love 04 Tin Man 05 The Look On Your Face 06 It's Those Little Things That Count 07 It's Got To Be The Real Thing This Time 08 Ain't That Good Enough 09 Time 10 We Always Come Back Strong 11 I Had A Love 12 Everybody Don't Get A Second Chance 13 The Way We Were 14 Stop This Merry-Go-Round 15 Spread The News 16 Careful Man 17 Claim Jumpin' 18 I'll Be Your Puppet 19 You Were Made For Love 20 You're Messing Up A Good Thing 21 It's A Groove 22 Excercise My Love 23 Danny Boy
...served by Gyro1966...

The Prisoners "In From The Cold" 1986

"The Prisoners spearheaded an early '80s Medway garage scene..."You love THE SOLARFLARES?? Well..listen to this!! Of course..most of you know THE PRISONERS, but to those, who are new to this band, just listen to my words: This band was one of the best Mod & 80's Revival bands ever! Their sound was something like mixing up 6t's garagepunk with Soul & Psychedelic Pop! Incl. the young & energetic Graham Day!! their 1986 Album for Stiff Records & includes such classics as "the more that I teach you" & one of the best ballads EVER "mourn my health"! from soundflat
The Prisoners:
Jamie Taylor - organ, piano, mellotron, harpsichord, vibes, marimba, wurlitzer / Allan Crockford - bass, voc / Johnny Simmons - drums / Graham Day - voc, guitars, flute

traxfromwax:
1.All you gotta do is say 2.Come closer 3.The more that I teach you 4.Mourn my health 5.I know how to please you 6.Deceiving eye 7.In from the cold 8.Wish the rain 9.Be on your way 10.Find and seek 11.Ain't no telling 12.Main Title Theme (The lesser evil)

CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 2

trax:
1. Is It Something You've Got - Tyrone Davis 2. Have You Seen Him - Dana Valery 3. Troubles' A-Comin' - The Chi-Lites 4. Baby Jane - Otis Clay 5. You're So Young, But You're So True - The Lost Generation 6. Let This Be A Letter (To My Baby) - Jackie Wilson 7. You Babe - Dana Valery 8. I Forgot To Tell You - Chuck Jackson 9. You Brought Out The Good In Me - Otis Leavill 10. I'll Belong To You - Jean Shy 11. Let Me Come Back - Walter Jackson 12. Love Uprising - Mister "T" 13. All The Waiting Was Not In Vain - Tyrone Davis 14. Sweeter As The Days Go By - Major Lance 15. You Hurt Me For The Last Time - Otis Clay 16. The Man And The Woman - Chuck Jackson 17. I'll Be Right Here - Mighty Doug Haynes 18. The Young, Tough And The Terrible - The Lost Generation 19. Stop! I Don't Need No Sympathy - Lyn Roman 20. Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Jackie Wilson 21. Run To Me - Sidney Joe Qualls 22. Turn Back The Hands Of Time - Lionel Hampton
...served by Gyro1966...

EARL GAINES "Lovin' Blues" (The Starday/King Years 1967-1973)

The years covered on WestSide's 1999 compilation Lovin' Blues: The Starday-King Years 1967-1973 are not necessarily among Earl Gaines' best-known or most-celebrated sides. The singles he cut in the late '50s and early '60s, primarily for Excello, form the core of his legacy, but this music is high-grade Southern soul all the same. It's in a similar vein as the Excello recordings, but it's clear that this is post-Stax material with the punchy horns and gritty rhythm section. The first part of the compilation is devoted to the 1969 album Lovin' Blues, which is a tight, passionate, unheralded minor gem of soul-blues, and then the rest of the compilation is devoted to singles and unreleased tracks. Some of this material is a little generic and faceless, while others are simply serviceable covers of R&B; standards like "Sixty Minute Man," but it's all listenable and its completeness is certainly a boon to collectors. But the real reason to get this compilation (once you've already absorbed the Excello recordings, that is) is that Lovin' Blues is a fine Southern soul-blues record, worth seeking out by aficionados. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusictrax:
01 My Woman 02 The Things I Used To Do 03 Three Wishes For A Fool 04 Fruit From Another Man's Tree 05 From Warm To Cool To Cold 06 It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day) 07 My Pillow Stays Wet 08 The Door Is Still Open 09 The Meaning Of A Sad Song (Medley) 10 Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) 11 Everyday I Have The Blues 12 Have Faith (In Me) 13 Tell Me Tonight 14 You Belong To Me 15 Good Good Lovin' 16 Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go (Thrill On The Hill) 17 What In The World (Can I Call My Own) 18 Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) (Overdubbed Version) 19 I'm The One You Need 20 House Full Of Rooms 21 Sixty Minute Man 22 Little Boy Blue 23 Finger Lickin' (Instrumental)
...served by Gyro1966...

THE PRISONERS "WiserMiserDemelza" 1983

..one more of the most important Mod/Garage Beat Albums ever!!!In the early 80s the Medway sound was born with a flurry of records from The Milkshakes and The Prisoners. The Prisoners produced a tough version of the sound of the 60s played with great enthusiasm and lots of GoGo. The Prisoners are the definitive psychedelic garage band, clearly influenced by the likes of the Small Faces, and cited as an influence for The Charlatans and -although not cited so openly- the entire brit pop and acid jazz scenes. Sixties/Garage/Psychedelic/Punk music with equally loud and up front guitar and keyboard sounds bursting with rawness. The band broke up in the late 80s after an ill-starred deal with Stiff Records. Drummer Johnny left the music business, guitarist Graham Day and bass player Allan Crockford had success with the mod band The Prime Movers, and the organist, JAMES TAYLOR formed his own ensemble and has enjoyed fame and success since then with his amazing THE JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET. This album was originally released on CD by Big Beat Records in 1990 and is a re-release of the 1983 vinyl album of the same name plus 7 bonus tracks recorded by the group and released on singles/compelations around 1984. TheWiserMiserDemelza (1983), which makes up the bulk of this double 10², was produced by one time Radiator, and ex-Pogue, Phillip Chevron. The ³plus 7² consists of the non-album flip of the single from the album alongside the 4 cuts from the 'Electric Fit' E.P., 'Reaching My Head' from the 'Four On 4' E.P. (a compilation from the T.V. programme The Tube), the rare song 'Coming Home' and a third 'Go Go' piece. Of the original album stuff, the track that leaps out and hits you where you get most pleasure is "Hurricane". "Unbeliever" is also great, and oh don't you just wish "Go Go" would get the full 3 minute treatment - Ah well!! Bonus tracks "Melanie", "Coming Home" and "Reaching My Head" are much treasured additions for the dedicated fan. Ted Kessler/Roger Sargent, NME (7 June '97): "The toughest and coolest platoon to ever emerge from this isle's only true punk outpost". "If you're a fan of either The Charlatans or Kula Shaker, then you owe your allegiance to these bands to The Prisoners because they invented them".THE PRISONERS:
Jamie Taylor - organ, piano / Allan Crockford - bass, voc / Johnny Simmons - drums / Graham Day - voc, guitars

traxfromwax:
1. Go Go 2. Hurricane 3. Somewhere 4. Think Of Me 5. Love Me Lies 6. Tonight 7. Here Come The Misunderstood 8. The Dream Is Gone 9. For Now And Forever 10. Unbeliever 11. Far Away 12. Go Go

CHICAGO COOL BREEZIN' - A Windy City Rhythm 'n' Soul Compendium 1966-1983 - Vol 1

trax:
1. I've Lost You - Jackie Wilson 2. Keep Your Chin Up - Jackie Ross 3. Have More Time - Marvin Smith 4. Glad I Met You - The Artistics 5. Whispers (Gettin' Louder) - Erma Franklin 6. Wrong Number - Lee Charles 7. The Chase Is On - Johnny Howard 8. Love Grows Bitter - Billy Butler 9. Hope We Have - The Artistics 10. I'm the One to Do It - LaVern Baker 11. Those Were the Good Old Days - Gene Chandler 12. I'm in Danger - The Visitors 13. It's All Over Between Us - Lee Charles 14. You Brought About a Change in Me - Jackie Wilson 15. Price of Love - Marshall & The Chi-Lites 16. Anywhere But Nowhere - Gene Chandler & Barbara Acklin 17. I'll Bet You - Billy Butler 18. 24 Hours Of Sadness - The Chi-Lites 19. Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind - Johnny Sayles 20. Getting Nowhere Fast - Floyd Smith 21. After You - Barbara Acklin 22. California Montage - Young-Holt Unlimited
...served by Gyro1966...

JERRY WILLIAMS JR. aka Swamp Dogg "Swamp's Things" (The Complete Calla Recordings, Plus!)

A collection of Swamp Dogg's '60s Calico sides, making their first time on CD appearance with the bonus of a whole album's worth of new-to-CD '70s recordings. The first ten tracks were released as Jerry Williams or Little Jerry Williams while the remainder came out under the sobriquet of Swamp Dogg. Highlights include "Eat the Goose (Before the Goose Eats You)," "Call Me Nigger," "Paradoxical (No Bugles)," "Baby, Bunny, Sugar, Honey," "Philly Duck," and "Baby You're My Everything." A stellar collection of '60s and '70s soul-funk. (Cub Koda, Allmusic) read more about Swamp Dogg here:
http://sinkfullofdishes.wordpress.com/2011/06/03/swamp-dogg-swamps-things-the-complete-calla-recordings-plus/trax:
01 If You Ask Me 02 Yvonne 03 Just What Do You Plan To Do About It 04 Baby You're My Everything 05 What's The Matter With You Baby 06 Baby Bunny 07 Philly Duck 08 Your Man 09 Kiss Me 10 Baby You're My Everything 11 Paradixical 12 Buzzard Luck 13 Ebony And Jet 14 Eat The Goose 15 Don't You Try To Be My Man 16 Call Me Nigger 17 I Can't Stand To Hear Her Say Please 18 I'm Still In Love With You 19 Or Forever Hold Your Peace 20 I've Never Been To Africa
...served by Gyro1966...

The Prisoners "A Taste Of Pink" 1983

..one of the most important Mod/Garage Beat Albums ever!!!Lesser-known purveyors of the "Medway Delta" sound, Graham Day's Prisoners/Prime Movers, alongside Billy Childish's myriad combos, butted their way into prominence through sheer persistence in the '80s Chatham (the city between London and Canterbury where the Medway River meets the North Sea) chapter of the Great Garage R&R Manifesto. Less spontaneous than Mr. C and considerably more of a popsmith (in the Jeff Conolly sense), Day's songs are uniformly well crafted, with fully dynamic backing as opposed to Billy's headlong drunken bashing. The sixteen-hours-in-a-studio extravaganza A Taste of Pink! comes closest to a melding of the two Medway styles, both raw/immediate and hooky/heady.The Prisoners:
Jamie Taylor - organ / Allan Crockford - bass, voc / Johnny Simmons - drums / Graham Day - voc, guitars

traxfromwax:
1. Better in Black 2. Taste of Pink 3. Maybe I Was Wrong 4. Creepy Crawlies 5. There Can't Be a Place 6. Pretend 7. Coming Home 8. Threw My Heart Away 9. Come to the Mushroom 10. Till the Morning Light 11. Say Your Prayers 12. Don't Call My Name

Don Haven & His Hi-Fi's (Gotham Rock 'n' Roll)

Originally an LP on the English Krazy Kat label. A set of 14 sides from Gotham's rock 'n 'roll subsidiary 20th Century. Most of the tunes are in a Bill Haley-ish rockaphilly jive style featuring brass sections, sax solos and forced-sounding "teenaged" lyrics. The best here are the 5 earliest Charlie Gracie sides, pre-Cameo, backed by The Wildcats - helped quite a bit by Charlie's great guitar solos - Honey Honey/ Wildwood Boogie + 3. There's a couple alternate takes by Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers, unissued material by The Playboys and coverboys Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's (which may also be The Playboys, The Nu-Tones, heard here on Jump Figaro Jump and The Bombers) and finally 2 by Mike Pedicin Quintet including his hit cover of Shake A Hand. (Roots 'n' Rhythm)

trax:
1. My Baby Loves Me - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 2. Head Home Honey - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 3. Wildwood Boogie - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 4. Honey Honey - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats 5. Shake A Hand - Mike Pedicin Quintet 6. Mambo Boogie - The Playboys 7. Everybody'S Going Crazy - The Playboys 8. Jump Figaro Jump - The Nu-Tones 9. Have Yourself A Ball - Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's 10. Everybody's Going Crazy - Don Haven & The Hi-Fi's 11. Rockin' And Rollin' The Blues - Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers 12. Dilly Dally - Bobby Boyd's Jazz Bombers 13. Disc Jockey's Boogie - Mike Pedicin Quintet 14. Frankie And Johnny - Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats
...served by Gyro1966...

BETTY HARRIS "The Lost Soul Queen"

Betty Harris' solid 1960s work with New Orleans songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint certainly deserved more audience and attention than it got at the time, and this fine compilation is the proof of that. Songs like "I Don't Want to Hear It," "Sometime," "Nearer to You" (which was a Top 40 R&B hit), and the stone-driving, funky "There's a Break in the Road" all show a solid soul singer working with top-notch material and the production by Toussaint is appropriately spooky, atmospheric, and dripping with New Orleans soulfulness. Also included here is Harris' pre-Toussaint cover of Solomon Burke's "Cry to Me," which she recorded in 1963 for Jubilee Records, and her version is definitive, no easy accomplishment when you're up against a singer as good as Burke. ~ Steve Leggett, Allmusic

trax:
01 Cry Baby 02 I Don't Want To Hear It 03 The Trouble With My Lover 04 Nearer To You 05 I'm Evil Tonight 06 What Did I Do Wrong 07 I'm Gonna Get You 08 Mean Man 09 Hook Line And Sinker 10 Twelve Red Roses 11 Lonely Hearts 12 Ride Your Pony 13 I Can't Last Much Longer 14 I'll Be A Liar 15 Sometime 16 All I Want Is You 17 What A Sad Feeling 18 Bad Luck 19 Break In The Road 20 Take Care Of Our Love 21 Love Lots Of Lovin'
...served by Gyro1966...

The Prisoners "The Last Fourfathers" 1985

Third album from the much loved (and criminally overlooked) Prisoners and it's a scorcher...every track worth the purchase price alone. Indeed, even if you already have this album the extra tracks (8 in total, 6 previously unissued demos and 2 blistering live tracks) not only make this a must buy but help in the 'trying not to wear my vinyl out' stakes too!! - By Headcoatson "Action...Time....Vision!" (Swansea United Kingdom)At long last the Prisoners back catalogue has been released on CD. Not quite the same as vinyl but with the extra tracks a definite must! This was the most elusive of the four albums and is undoubtedly the best. The raw guitar backed by the Hammond is pure 60's type energy. The whole album is a melting pot of Small Faces crossed with Deep Purple crossed with late 60's American Garage. The Prisoners always had a unique sound which although their influences are obvious, there has never been another band which has had the same ability to carry it off so well. The tracks on the original album are originals but could so easily have been written in 1966/67 a la Marriot/Lane. Raw energy? Oh yes. Technical ability? Most definitely. Sheer brilliance? Most definitely so!!!!
If you buy one CD this year make it this one. This is without a shadow of a doubt a classic for anyone into the 60's revival genre. Never an advocate of "revivalist bands" the Prisoners were outstanding in that they captured the sound of what we hold so dear.....
Highlight of the album... "Explosion On Uranus". Absolutely superb. Small Faces meet the Ventures to produce one of the most outstanding tracks I've heard for a film that should have been made. On the track alone I'd go and see it! Play this album at maximum volume. Your neighbours need to hear it too! - By erichvon

trax:
1. Nobody Wants Your Love 2. Night of the Nazgul 3. Thinking of You (Broken Pieces) 4. I Am the Fisherman 5. Mrs Fothergill 6. Take You for a Ride 7. The Drowning 8. FOP 9. Whenever I'm Gone 10. Who's Sorry Now 11. Explosion on Uranus 12. I Drink the Ocean 13. The More That I Teach You 14. All You Gotta Do Is Say 15. Find and Seek 16. Whenever I'm Gone 17. Deceiving Eye 18. Wish The Rain 19. Nobody Wants Your Love 20. Hush

TOM THUMB "Ludgate Hill" - The Singles, A & B Sides

In 1968, the music scene in Wellington was starting to change. Pop was beginning to fragment and rock music began to emerge as a distinct form, and right in the middle of it all was Tom Thumb, a band who could be found on stage at two of Wellington's top clubs, The Place and Ali Baba's, pounding out their own brand of music to packed audiences. They were the first real rock band that Wellington produced. Why they were never able to achieve national stardom is a mystery, their music was good enough, but perhaps it was to do with the "bad boy" image they were trying to portray. The Tom Thumb story began in 1964 with a school band called the Electrons. This group included Rick White on rhythm guitar and also Onny Parun, later to find fame as one of New Zealand's better tennis players, on bass guitar. After a number of personnel changes, this group evolved into the Relics. The Relics went their separate ways in 1966, but Rick was determined to stick with rock music and set about forming a new band. He recruited Graeme Thompson as lead guitarist, Warren Willis as organist and Sammy Shaw on drums. David Chappell was the first bass player, but within a few months he had left the line-up and was replaced by Paul Newton. Rick called the group Tom Thumb Music, but soon shortened it to just Tom Thumb. Both Shaw and Newton had musical experience from Great Britain, before relocating to Wellington. In late 1968, HMV producer Peter Dawkins offered them a recording deal, and their first release came as a complete surprise to their live audience, it was nothing like anything from their live act. "Witchi Tai To", a North American Indian love chant, is a strange choice for a heavy outfit such as Tom Thumb were, but it became one of their biggest selling singles. It was backed with "Meet On The Ledge". Next up was a solid cover of the Beatles "Hey Bull Dog", much closer to what you would expect if you saw them live. It was backed with "Everybody Sing A Song". It charted locally, but didn't make much of a dent in the National charts. In an effort to gain better recognition, the band toured further afield and appeared on the top TV shows of the day, "C'mon" and "Happen Inn". Heartened by the rave reviews their act got from the critics and fans alike, they lost no time in getting back into the studio to record their follow-up single, "If I Were A Carpenter" / "Stoney". Once again they only managed to score on the local charts. (Kiwi Classics)

trax:
01 Hey Bulldog 02 Stoney 03 It'll Be Me 04 Witchi Tai To 05 Everybody Sing The Song 06 Meet On The Ledge 07 If I Were A Carpenter 08 Still As Stone 09 When The First Tear Shows 10 Heartbeat 11 Ludgate Hill 12 Respect 13 Got Love 14 I Need You 15 Midnight Snack 16 Sorry She's Mine 17 Little Girl 18 The Hammer Song 19 Tired Of Trying 20 Naggin' Woman 21 Whatcha Gonna Do About It 22 You're Gonna Miss Me
...served by Gyro1966...

FRED HUGHES "Baby Boy" & JOHNNY SAYLES "Man On The Inside"

In 1999, Westside released Baby Boy / Man on the Inside, which contained two complete albums -- Baby Boy by Fred Hughes (1970, originally released on Brunswick) and Man on the Inside by Johnny Sayles (1973, originally released on Dakar) -- on one compact disc. Many singers passed through Brunswick's doors that deserved more acclaim, and these men made one well-crafted album for the label before moving on. Neither of these albums sold well.~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

trax:
Fred Hughes
1. Ooh Wee Baby I Love You 2. The Son Of Hickery Holler's Tramp 3. In My Time Of Need 4. Georgia On My Mind 5. Baby Boy 6. I Understand 7. San Fransisco Is A Lonely Town 8. Don't Let This Happen To Us 9. Who You Really Are 10. People
Johnny Sayles
11. Snake In The Grass 12. Good Golly 13. Troubles A Comin' 14. My Love (Ain't No Love Without Your Love) 15. Voices From The Inside 16. Ooh Wee Baby I Love You 17. I Understand 18. Feeling Is Believing 19. You're So Right For Me 20. Somebody's Changing My Sweet Baby's Mind
...served by Gyro1966...

Sol Hoopii "Master of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar" Vol. 1

Sol Hoopii (or Ho'opi'i, which indicates the correct pronounciation) was one of the first and most influential hawaiian steel guitarists to become famous in the u.s., in fact, beside some others, it was his recordings who started the hawaiian music craze in the late 20's/early 30's. Many (continental) u.s. musicians of that era have cited him as an important influence on their music while on the other side, Hoopii was combining traditional hawaiian music styles with influences he got from popular styles as jazz, swing, blues, country and folk.In my opinion this record, which includes some of his finest recordings from '26 to '29 is essential for any music historian as well as for any aficionado of relaxed, rootsy kind of music. If you like Django Reinhardt or Robert Johnson you should give Mr. Hoopii a listen. If you want to know where the steel guitar sound of, say, Hank Williams came from - here's what i have to offer. Fix yourself a nice drink (a reefer won't do any harm, too), download, and ENJOY!!

trax:
1) Twelfth Street Rag 1927 2) I Ain't Got Nobody 1928 3) Hula Blues 1927 4) Chimes 1927 5) Sweet Lei Lehua 1927 6) Most Of All I Want Your Love 1926 7) Feelin' No Pain 1928 8) Kilohana 1929 9) Stack O'Lee Blues 1926 10) St. Louis Blues 1927 11) Patches 1928 12) Alekoki 1928 13) Farewell Blues 1926 14) Singing The Blues 1928 15) Hilo 1929 16) Tin Roof Blues 1927
...served by TV Age...

"MR. TOYTOWN PRESENTS: OBSCURE PSYCHEDELIC, POPSYKE & SOFT - POP 45'S , 1969-1974"

Soft-Pop 45s 1969 -1974.' 2009 repress. "Mr. Toytown Presents... focuses on singles by mostly European bands from the early 70s, originally published on small Spanish cult labels like Opalo, Accion, Poplandia, Bocaccio, Top, Goma ... Music ranges from heavy guitar psych (Honest Men doing a psychedelic cover of The Beatles 'Help', Schizo, featuring a young Richard Pinhas on fuzz guitar) to twee UK pop-psych a la Mark Wirtz ('Brother Jack' by ex-Majority One Barry Wigley, White, The Panics, Dorians, Mike & Toti doing a superb Spanish cover version of 'Ice Cream Man', from Circus Days fame), nice orchestrated toytown syke (Napoleon, Morning Glory, ex-The End guys Tucky Buzzard with an Spanish only 45), mellow folk-psych from Demsey & Dover and Jumbo, weird studio psych (Big Cherry, Electric Machine, Christophe, Children Of The Morning...) and much more. 21 tracks with remastered sound, 8 pages booklet with informative linernotes in English about each band and amazing sleeve design. Limited edition of 500 copies.trax:
1. Da Da Song Part 1 - Christophe 2. Schizo & The Little Girl - Schizo 3. Alice - J. Bastos 4. Help - The Honest Men 5. Samanta Vien A Casa (Samantha's Coming Home) - Electric Machine 6. Come In Bonzo - Big Cherry 7. Go Where The Rain Goes - Black Swan 8. Sing Little Bird Sing - White 9. De Nata, Fresca Y De Limon - Mike Y Toti 10. Brother Jack - Barry Wigley 11. Jimmy Joe - Napoleon 12. Marjory Daw - Morning Glory 13. Sugar Suzy - Ginger Ale 14. Torch Song - Dorians 15. I'm Leaving Today - Jumbo 16. Emptiness Of Mind - Demsey & Dover 17. You're All Alone - Tucky Buzzard 18. Worshippin' The Sun At Dawn - Sunshine 19. Children Of The Morning - Children Of The Morning 20. Sunday - Edel & Weiss 21. Come With Me - The Panics
...served by Gyro1966...