R&B Dynamite
Artist: Etta James

The singer in her precocious formative years, headed by her 1955 R&B smash "Roll With Me Henry" (aka "The Wallflower"). James' follow-ups included the driving "Good Rockin' Daddy," a bluesy "W-O-M-A-N," and the New Orleans raveup "Tough Lover," which found her backed by the gang at Cosimo's (notably saxman Lee Allen). Even though her tenure at... Read More

Soul Deep
Artist: Miki Honeycutt

Miki Honeycutt has the kind of earnest affectation and genuinely raw sound that comes only from the heart. She sings Southern soul and surging blues on this release with the timing and intensity of a veteran, although she's a relative newcomer. It helps that she's backed by Sugar Ray And The Blue Tones, plus a host of fine guests including... Read More

The Sweetest Peaches: The Chess Years
Artist: Etta James

A good 20-track survey of her Chess work on this double LP. All but two of the songs, however, are now available on the much more extensive CD The Essential Etta James, making this collection redundant. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read More

Her Greatest Sides
Artist: Etta James

Soul with a vengeance, this album contains most of James's greatest '60s Chess and Cadet singles. ~ George Bedard, All Music Guide Read More

If Walls Could Talk
Artist: Little Milton

On If Walls Could Talk Little Milton continues to fuse blues with soul -- if anything, the album leans toward soul more than blues. Supported by a band with a thick, wailing horn section, Little Milton sings and plays with power. Though there a couple of wonderful solos, the focus of the record is on the songs, which all sound terrific, thanks... Read More

Dresses Too Short
Artist: Bobby Radcliff

Bobby Radcliff turns in a tight, tough update of Magic Sam-style Chicago blues with Dresses Too Short. The songs are either too familiar or a weak approximation of the genre, but the playing throughout is terrific -- his guitar playing is alternately subtle and ferocious. Best of all is the handful of tracks cut with Ronnie Earl & the... Read More

Out of the Dark
Artist: Walter "Wolfman" Washington

Walter "Wolfman" Washington's second Rounder session mixed Crescent City R&B and jazz licks with contemporary and vintage songs and production. Washington's cover of "Ain't That Loving You," while not quite as dramatic as Bobby "Blue" Bland's, was still outstanding, while he was appropriately ironic and bemused on "You Can Stay but the Noise... Read More

Tired of Sneaking Around
Artist: Artie "Blues Boy" White

White is a B.B. King-sounding singer, with an original overall sound, who makes great records with big-band feel. There's lots of horns and stuff. ~ Niles J. Frantz, All Music Guide Read More

Dark End of the Street
Artist: Artie "Blues Boy" White

Whether it's blues, soul, or something midway between the two, White does a fine job throughout this disc. Travis Haddix, once White's Ichiban labelmate, contributes three nice tunes, Bob Jones a couple more, and White dips into past triumphs by B.B. King, Ike Turner, James Carr, and Little Milton for the rest. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide Read More