Something Gonna Jump out the Bushes
Artist: Nappy Brown

Ultra-solid support from guitarists Anson Funderburgh, Eugene Ross, Ronnie Earl, and Earl King and Black Top's superb house horn section make this Dallas-cut set Brown's best contemporary album to date. His lusty shouting style works well on covers of the Dominoes' "Have Mercy Baby," the "5" Royales' title track, a pair of Earl King-penned... Read More

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

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

Big, Bad & Blue: The Big Joe Turner Anthology
Artist: Big Joe Turner

This three-record anthology shows how Turner, without really ever changing his style, moved from strict Kansas City swing to pioneering rock & roll and back to basic jazzy blues. It contains 62 songs, everything from treasured hits to slow, sweltering ballads, strident up-tempo wailers, moaning blues, novelty tunes, and fiery pieces with lyrics... Read More

Flip, Flop & Fly
Artist: Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner's first of many recordings for Pablo was not initially released until 1989. In the spring of 1972, the 60-year-old blues singer toured Europe with the Count Basie Orchestra and this CD has music from two concerts. Turner's repertoire offered few surprises at that late date (he mostly performs remakes of earlier hits), but his... Read More

Bosses of the Blues, Vol. 1
Artist: Big Joe Turner

Two BluesWay albums recorded on consecutive days are reissued in full on this single CD. Big Joe Turner sings eight numbers while T-Bone Walker stretches out on seven; both mix together remakes of earlier hits with some newer material. While Turner is accompanied by an orchestra, Walker is joined by a crack studio group with some space allocated... 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

I've Been to Kansas City
Artist: Big Joe Turner

This excellent 1990 CD reissues singer Big Joe Turner's first eight recordings for Decca and the six songs (plus two alternate takes) that he made with the remarkable pianist Art Tatum. Turner is joined by trumpeter Hot Lips Page and a top Kansas City group (including pianist Pete Johnson) for "Piney Brown Blues," has four surprisingly effective... Read More

Big Joe Turner's Greatest Hits
Artist: Big Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner's music is the aural equivalent of a rare Porterhouse steak -- oversized, juicy, and a glorious overload for the senses, and if isn't always good for you, that's just part of the fun. Whether what he was singing was billed as jazz, swing, rhythm & blues, or rock & roll, Turner pretty much always did things the same way, rolling... Read More

Big Joe Rides Again
Artist: Big Joe Turner

With the exception of one selection ("Pennies from Heaven") left over from his 1956 record The Boss of the Blue, the music on this album was all recorded in September 1959. Veteran blues singer Big Joe Turner returns to his roots, belting out blues and early standards while accompanied by an octet arranged by Ernie Wilkins. Among the key sidemen... Read More