Women, Whiskey & Fish Tails
Artist: Wynonie Harris

Ace's Women, Whiskey & Fish Tails spotlights some of the famous blues-shouter's latter-day work (1952-1957) for independent R&B label King. Now joined by Ace's '50s-centric Harris survey, Lovin' Machine, this 21-track disc takes the somewhat more obscure path through the catalog, substituting the still-electric likes of "Greyhound" and "Drinkin'... Read More

Since I Met You Baby: The Best of Ivory Joe Hunter
Artist: Ivory Joe Hunter

The definitive pop compilation of the urbane postwar crooner and oldest rock & roller, Since I Met You Baby: The Best of Ivory Joe Hunter compiles 25 of his sides for MGM and Atlantic from 1949 to 1958. Best of all are his two big hits, "I Almost Lost My Mind" and "Since I Met You Baby," as sheepish and love-struck a pair of pop performances as... Read More

The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-55
Artist: Big Maybelle

Maybelle's entire OKeh output -- 26 tracks -- including her three R&B chart items, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and the risqué slow blues "I'm Getting 'Long Alright." "Gabbin' Blues," her 1952 OKeh debut smash, is a humorous dialogue between Maybelle and gossiping rival Rosemarie McCoy, the tune's co-writer. Maybelle was no mere copyist; her... Read More

Bloodshot Eyes: The Best of Wynonie Harris
Artist: Wynonie Harris

Rhino's 1994 collection, Bloodshot Eyes: The Best of Wynonie Harris, chronicles his hits for King Records, beginning in 1947 with the seminal "Good Rockin' Tonight" and concluding in 1954 with "Git to Gittin' Baby." Lots of hits come between those two songs, but there were a lot of recordings that appeared before and after, so why choose... Read More

Jumpin' with Joe: The Complete Aladdin & Imperial Recordings
Artist: Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner's remarkable recordings for Atlantic and Decca have been frequently reissued and evaluated. But his singles for other labels haven't gotten similar treatment, which makes this 18-cut single-disc anthology of Aladdin and Imperial material so welcome. These were recorded in the late '40s and early '50s and were closer to the Kansas... Read More

Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
Artist: Roy Milton

Certainly this is the place to go for Milton's most popular and influential material -- a whopping 18 of the 25 cuts made the R&B Top Ten in the late '40s and early '50s. These include such classics as "R.M. Blues," "The Hucklebuck," and "Hop, Skip & Jump" (given a great rockabilly treatment in the 1950s by the Collins Kids). All of the tracks... Read More

Groovy Blues, Vol. 2
Artist: Roy Milton & His Solid Senders

The rarities and unissued material begin to pop up on Vol. 2, making it even more of a feast for collectors. Milton's Solid Senders, featuring pianist/singer Camille Howard, guitarist Johnny Rogers, and a crew of roaring saxmen, were one of the tightest and most respected on the Coast. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide Read More

Good Rockin' Tonight - KING
Artist: Wynonie Harris

This compilation of the ribold shouter's blasting jump blues classics for King is essential. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide Read More

Goin' Down Slow (Blues, Soul & Early R 'n' R, Vol. 14)
Artist: Billy Wright

Crying and pleading the blues, Wright's early-'50s Savoy output was very influential. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide Read More

Playful Baby
Artist: Wynonie Harris

Playful Baby contains a cross section of Wynonie Harris sides from 1945-1954, covering his early Aladdin and Philo years through the hugely successful run he had at King. Even though his big King hits are not included, there still are plenty of fine, obscure cuts here. Of special interest are the early tracks from 1945; the jump blues numbers... Read More

1945-1947
Artist: Wynonie Harris

The second Classics CD to feature blues singer Wynonie Harris' recordings as a leader finds him in the period right before he signed with the King label. The five four-song sessions on this disc (all quite jazz oriented) were cut for Hamp-Tone, Bullet, and Aladdin. First, Harris (who sounds quite enthusiastic in every setting) sings three... Read More