Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Untouchable! The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings

Album: Untouchable! The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings
Size: 167,5 MB
Time: 72:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Blues/R&B
Art: Full

1. The Bear (aka The Preacher And The Bear) (2:54)
2. One More Kiss (2:18)
3. Untouchable (2:35)
4. The Eagle Is Back (2:34)
5. Looking Back (1:56)
6. Johnny Guitar (2:25)
7. Posin' (2:40)
8. Embraceable You (2:41)
9. Broke And Lonely (2:58)
10. I Just Wants Me Some Love (2:46)
11. Cold, Cold Heart (2:29)
12. The Nearness Of You (3:00)
13. Sweet Lovin' Mama (3:03)
14. Cuttin' In (3:15)
15. What You Do To Me (2:30)
16. That's The Chance You've Got To Take (3:12)
17. Gangster Of Love (2:54)
18. You Better Love Me (2:33)
19. In The Evenin' (2:59)
20. I Say I Love You (3:01)
21. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:48)
22. Baby Don't Leave (2:34)
23. Ain't Gonna Move (2:19)
24. Wait A Minute, Baby (2:06)
25. Oh So Fine (2:10)
26. Big Bad Wolf (2:36)
27. You Can Stay (But The Noise Must Go) (2:43)

Like many a journeyman bluesman, Johnny "Guitar" Watson led something of an itinerant recording life during much of his career, wandering from label to label in the 1950s and 1960s with just a little chart success. Untouchable! does a great service to collectors by assembling 27 tracks from 1959-1966, many of which, surprisingly, had not only never previously come out on CD, but had never been reissued in any form. While in general these are blues/R&B crossover sides, there's more variety than one might think, and though the hopping between styles makes it a little uneven, it makes for a better listen in one gulp than you might expect.

There's some relatively straight blues, particularly in the earlier sides; there are rather more blends of blues/R&B with pop than many blues fans might realize exist, sometimes on covers of pop standards, and sometimes employing strings; and there are cuts, particularly in the mid-'60s selections, that verge on out-and-out soul. It's true that the three songs most likely to be familiar to general blues and rock fans are among the very best material here, those being "Looking Back," which was covered by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (with Peter Green on guitar); "Cuttin' In," a 1962 Top Ten R&B hit and one of Watson's most effective fusions of blues (with biting guitar) and orchestration; and "Gangster of Love," one of Watson's signature tunes (though this 1963 King single, fine as it is, is not his original version).

But everything here is at least OK, and much of it is above average to excellent, even on some tracks where the influences of others like Clarence "Frogman" Henry, the Olympics, the Temptations, and Ray Charles are obvious. There might be a little less guitar pyrotechnics than some straight-ahead blues fans would like, and it's unfortunate that a few interesting cuts referred to in the liner notes from this period were not available for licensing. But overall it's a solid overview of a time when Watson was among the more interesting (and certainly overlooked) artists building bridges between the blues, R&B, and soul. /Richie Unterberger, AllMusic

Untouchable! The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings mc
Untouchable! The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings zippy

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Blues & Rhythm Series 5172: The Chronological Johnny 'Guitar' Watson 1952-1955

Size: 329 MB
Time: 58:01
File: FLAC
Released: 2006
Styles: Blues, R&B
Art: Full

01. Motor Head Baby (2:14)
02. Stormy (2:54)
03. Just Won't Treat Me Rite (2:30)
04. No I Can't (2:24)
05. Motor Head Baby (2:36)
06. Highway 60 (2:24)
07. Sad Fool (3:03)
08. I Got Eyes (2:26)
09. What's Goin' On (2:29)
10. Walkin' To My Baby (2:33)
11. Thinking (2:30)
12. Space Guitar (2:38)
13. Half Pint Of Whiskey (3:14)
14. Gettin' Drunk (2:43)
15. You Can't Take It With You (2:41)
16. Hot Little Mama (3:21)
17. I Love To Love You (3:12)
18. Too Tired (2:45)
19. Don't Touch Me (I'm Gonna Hit The Highway) (3:19)
20. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:55)
21. Someone Cares For Me (3:00)

Johnny "Guitar" Watson's early career has been anthologized many times, but between his short tenures at any given label and tendency to recut the same songs for a new label, it can be difficult to make sense of. Most of these collections focus on one label to the exclusion of others (probably licensing issues), so it's tough to find a single disc that tells the whole story. Classics' 1952-1955 doesn't actually accomplish this, but it's pretty darn close. Watson began as a piano player, and the first three tracks feature him singing and playing piano with Chuck Higgins & His Mellotones in 1952. Then it's on to his Federal sides, which still feature him playing piano as Young John Watson. "Sad Fool" has great vocals and "I Got Eyes" has some hot piano work. He started playing a bit of guitar also in 1953, and by 1954 it was his main instrument. It was in February of 1954 that he recorded the amazing instrumental "Space Guitar," and electric guitar playing entered a new era. He also cuts loose on the solo on "Hot Little Mama," which began his stint at RPM starting in 1955. There has never been a more encompassing overview of Watson's early-'50s material (Rhino's Very Best of Johnny "Guitar" Watson reaches into the 60's). The RPM sessions are usually gathered together, and the Federal material has been paired with King sessions from the '60s (Federal was a subsidiary of King), as on Space Guitar. 1952-1955 collects from both those vital early sessions with the added bonus of his performances with Chuck Higgins. If this album contained "Three Hours Past Midnight" (also recorded in 1955), this collection would be the one to get. As it is, if you don't want to pop for both Space Guitar and one of the RPM comps (The Essential Johnny Guitar Watson, The Best of the Modern Years, or 3 Hours Past Midnight), this is probably the one to get anyway. This is one of the rare compilations that appeals to the completist or the novice. It isn't just an important chapter in '50s blues, it's hot stuff. ~Sean Westergaard

Blues & Rhythm Series 5172: The Chronological Johnny 'Guitar' Watson 1952-1955

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Hot Just Like TNT: The Best Of His Early Years

Year: 1996
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:32
Size: 171,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues, R&B
Scans: Full

1. Hot Little Mama (2:43)
2. I Love To Love You (2:40)
3. Hot Little Mama (2:58)
4. Don't Touch Me (I'm Gonna Hit The Highway) (3:19)
5. Too Tired (2:42)
6. Lonely Girl (Vocals by Cordella De Milo) (2:32)
7. Ain't Gonna Hush (Vocals by Cordella De Milo) (2:34)
8. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:54)
9. Oh Baby (2:40)
10. Someone Cares For Me (3:00)
11. Ruben (Piano Version) (2:21)
12. Give A Little (3:05)
13. Love Me Baby (2:55)
14. She Moves Me (2:53)
15. Ruben (Guitar Version) (2:25)
16. Three Hours Past Midnight (3:25)
17. Love Bandit (Gangster Of Love) (2:07)
18. Telephone Boogie (Vocals by Jeannie Barnes) (2:39)
19. Dee's Boogie (Vocals by Devonia Williams) (3:04)
20. I Got A Girl (That Lives Over Yonder) (1:59)
21. Gangster Of Love (2:43)
22. One Room Country Shack (2:41)
23. Deana Baby (2:12)
24. Honey (2:34)
25. Come On Baby (Saxophone Version) (1:46)
26. My Baby And Me (2:35)
27. You've Been Gone Too Long (2:10)
28. Come On Baby (Guitar Version) (1:45)

This generous serving of 28 tracks focuses on Watson's mid-1950s recordings (both released and unissued) for RPM, throwing in some songs by singers Devonia Williams, Jeannie Barnes, and Crodella de Milo (on whose songs he was accompanist); a couple of 1957-58 singles for Keen; and some previously unavailable tracks he recorded for Johnny Otis, probably dating from the late 1950s and early 1960s. This is worthwhile for fans of Watson in particular as well as fans of the R&B-blues crossover sound of the '50s in general. It's a patchy set, however, in which Watson and his associates try on several different styles for size, but not always with memorable success.

Watson's stinging guitar is satisfying on cuts like "Hot Little Mama," and one can tell that it was probably played at a volume that challenged the limitations of 1950s engineering technology; but his playing is sometimes less to the fore in the arrangement than is desirable. For the most part, the material is adequate but not exciting. Sometimes it follows the lead of Watson's avowed hero Ray Charles, while other times it is shaded with doo wop and New Orleans R&B. On the Keen tracks he ventures into Larry Willliams-styled rock; on "Gangster of Love" (one of the standouts on the disc), he accomplishes swinging and boasting first-person-narrative blues.

The tunes certainly aren't as impressive as the instrumental skills of Watson and the RPM/Modern house bands overseen by Maxwell Davis. Among the tracks, one will find the 1956 single "Three Hours Past Midnight" - a slow blues that, according to the liner notes, the teenaged Frank Zappa considered "his number one record which had a big influence on his own guitar playing." /Richie Unterberger, AllMusic

Hot Just Like TNT: The Best Of His Early Years mc
Hot Just Like TNT: The Best Of His Early Years zippy

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Various - Bad, Bad Whiskey

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:32
Size: 161.5 MB
Styles: R&B/Soul/Blues
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[2:19] 1. Rodger Collins - She's Looking Good
[2:25] 2. The Merced Blue Notes - Rufus Jr
[2:18] 3. Betty Everett - I Got To Tell Somebody
[2:32] 4. Bobby Rush - Chicken Heads
[2:34] 5. Bill Coday - Get Your Lie Straight
[2:23] 6. The Right Kind - (Tell Me) Why Do You Have To Lie
[2:38] 7. Sonny Rhodes - You Better Stop
[2:12] 8. Little Johnny Taylor - Nightingale Melody
[2:46] 9. Merl Saunders - I Pity The Fool
[3:29] 10. J.J. Malone - It's A Shame
[3:36] 11. Loleatta Holloway - Rainbow 71
[2:46] 12. Rodger Collins - Foxy Girls In Oakland
[2:25] 13. Bill Coday - When You Find A Fool Bump His Head
[1:54] 14. The Merced Blue Notes - Mama Rufus
[3:12] 15. Little Johnny Taylor - For Your Precious Love
[3:31] 16. Charles Brown - Abraham, Martin And John
[2:17] 17. The Merced Blue Notes - Bad, Bad Whiskey
[2:31] 18. Lenny Williams - How Can I Forget You
[2:39] 19. Betty Everett - Ain't Nothing Gonna Change Me
[2:45] 20. Bill Coday - A Woman Rules The World
[2:33] 21. Claude Huey - Why Did Our Love Go
[2:53] 22. Bill Coday - Let Me Be Your Handy Man
[2:54] 23. Bobby Eaton - Fever, Fever, Fever
[2:56] 24. Lenny Williams - Lisa's Gone
[3:28] 25. Johnny Guitar Watson - I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger
[2:20] 26. Rodger Collins - Get Away From Me

Galaxy Records Singles 1962-1972 digitally remastered. A subsidiary of Fantasy, the Galaxy label recorded a diverse assortment of soul and R&B in the 1960s and early '70s. This is a 26-track compilation of highlights from the company's output, covering 1962 to 1972. Landing the occasional minor R&B chart hit, Galaxy couldn't be said to have an especially distinctive label sound, though their efforts were on the whole bluesier than much soul of the era. But this is still a decent grab bag of odds and ends from soul's vintage period, with obscure sides by well-known performers like Betty Everett, Little Johnny Taylor, Lenny Williams, Charles Brown, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Merl Saunders, and a host of unknowns. Especially good are the three sides by Rodger Collins, whose 1966 single "She's Looking Good" (which leads off the CD) was one of the better regional soul hits of the '60s, and was covered by Wilson Pickett for a Top 20 smash a couple of years later. ~Richie Unterberger

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Space Guitar

Size: 116,7 MB
Time: 49:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Texas Blues, R&B
Art: Full

01. No I Can't (2:29)
02. Motor Head Baby (2:39)
03. Highway 60 (2:27)
04. Sad Fool (3:06)
05. I Got Eyes (2:29)
06. What's Going On (2:33)
07. Walkin' To My Baby (2:36)
08. Thinking (2:34)
09. Space Guitar (2:42)
10. Half Pint-A-Whiskey (2:54)
11. Gettin' Drunk (2:46)
12. You Can't Take It With You (2:40)
13. Hot Little Mama (2:41)
14. I Love To Love You (2:39)
15. Too Tired (2:41)
16. Don't Touch Me (3:17)
17. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:53)
18. Someone Cares For Me (2:56)

"Reinvention" could just as easily have been Johnny "Guitar" Watson's middle name. The multi-talented performer parlayed his stunning guitar skills into a vaunted reputation as one of the hottest blues axemen on the West Coast during the 1950s. But that admirable trait wasn't paying the bills as the 1970s rolled in. So he totally changed his image to that of a pimp-styled funkster, enjoying more popularity than ever before for his down-and-dirty R&B smashes "A Real Mother for Ya" and "Superman Lover."

Watson's roots resided within the fertile blues scene of Houston. As a teen, he played with fellow Texas future greats Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. But he left Houston for Los Angeles when he was only 15 years old. Back then, Watson's main instrument was piano; that's what he played with Chuck Higgins' band when the saxist cut "Motorhead Baby" for Combo in 1952 (Watson also handled vocal duties).

He was listed as Young John Watson when he signed with Federal in 1953. His first sides for the King subsidiary found him still tinkling the ivories, but by 1954, when he dreamed up the absolutely astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar," the youth had switched over to guitar. "Space Guitar" ranks with the greatest achievements of its era -- Watson's blistering rapid-fire attack, done without the aid of a pick, presages futuristic effects that rock guitarists still hadn't mastered another 15 years down the line.

Watson moved over to the Bihari Brothers' RPM label in 1955 and waxed some of the toughest upbeat blues of their time frame (usually under saxist Maxwell Davis's supervision). "Hot Little Mama," "Too Tired," and "Oh Baby" scorched the strings with their blazing attack; "Someone Cares for Me" was a churchy Ray Charles-styled slow-dragger, and "Three Hours Past Midnight" cut bone-deep with its outrageous guitar work and laid-back vocal (Watson's cool phrasing as a singer was scarcely less distinctive than his playing). He scored his first hit in 1955 for RPM with a note-perfect cover of New Orleanian Earl King's two-chord swamp ballad "Those Lonely Lonely Nights."

Though he cut a demo version of the tune while at RPM, Watson's first released version of "Gangster of Love" emerged in 1957 on Keen. Singles for Class ("One Kiss"), Goth, Arvee (the rocking introduction "Johnny Guitar"), and Escort preceded a hookup with Johnny Otis at King during the early '60s. He recut "Gangster" for King, reaching a few more listeners this time, and dented the R&B charts again in 1962 with his impassioned, violin-enriched blues ballad "Cuttin' In."

Never content to remain in one stylistic bag for long, Watson landed at Chess just long enough to cut a jazz album in 1964 that placed him back behind the 88s. Along with longtime pal Larry Williams, Watson rocked England in 1965 (their dynamic repartee was captured for posterity by British Decca). Their partnership lasted stateside through several singles and an LP for OKeh; among their achievements as a duo was the first vocal hit on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" in 1967 (predating the Buckinghams by a few months).

Little had been heard of this musical chameleon before he returned decked out in funk threads during the mid-'70s. He hit with "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" for Fantasy before putting together an incredible run at DJM Records paced by "A Real Mother for Ya" in 1977 and an updated "Gangster of Love" the next year.

After a typically clever "Strike on Computers" nicked the R&B lists in 1984, Watson again seemed to fall off the planet. But counting this remarkable performer out was always a mistake. Bow Wow, his 1994 album for Al Bell's Bellmark logo, returned him to prominence and earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary blues album, even though its contents were pure old-school funk. Sadly, in the midst of a truly heartwarming comeback campaign, Watson passed away while touring Japan in 1996. ~by Bill Dahl

With the help of a friend.
Space Guitar MP3
Space Guitar FLAC

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Gangster Of Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:23
Size: 65.0 MB
Styles: R&B, Electric blues
Year: 1978/2005
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. Cuttin' In
[2:48] 2. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
[2:51] 3. Gangster Of Love
[2:43] 4. I Just Wants Me Some Love
[2:56] 5. Broke And Lonely
[3:00] 6. Sweet Lovin' Mama
[2:57] 7. In The Evenin'
[2:27] 8. What You Do To Me
[2:26] 9. Cold, Cold Heart
[2:58] 10. I Say I Love You

Long before transforming himself into a popular pimp-dressing funk star during his successful seventies reincarnation, JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON was best known for his cocky cult classic GANGSTER OF LOVE (a phrase that RNB fan STEVE MILLER copped from him), and the belly-rubbing ballad CUTTIN' IN. JGW's engaging talk-sing style and down 'n dirty, raw-boned axe work found an even bigger audience via 1977's monster single (and scathing social commentary) A REAL MOTHER FOR YA, which netted him his first Top Twenty album on the pop charts. Suffice to say that an innovator like JGW never got stuck in any one groove for very long, always experimenting to satisfy both himself and his fan loyal base via his trick-bag of highly creative, mind-blowing excursions. ~Jukebox Dave

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VA - Race Records 1942-1955: Black Rock Music Forbidden On US Radio

Size: 159,2+164,6+142,6 MB
Time: 67:37+69:37+60:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues, Rock & Roll
Art: Front

CD 1:
01 Jay McShann & His Orchestra - Jump The Blues (3:04)
02 Jim Wynn's Bobalibans - Rock Woogie (2:41)
03 Memphis Slim & The House Rockers - Rockin' The House (2:47)
04 Amos Milburn - Aladdin Boogie (2:23)
05 Joe Lutcher & His Society Cats - Rockin' Boogie (2:28)
06 Jimmy McCracklin - Rock And Rye (2:51)
07 Wild Bill Moore - We're Gonna Rock (2:45)
08 Wild Bill Moore - Rock And Roll (2:52)
09 Goree Carter & His Hepcats - Rock Awhile (2:40)
10 Jimmy Preston & His Prestonians - Rock The Joint (2:36)
11 Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - Saturday Night Fish Fry (4:36)
12 Lowell Fulson's Combo - Rocking After Midnight (2:30)
13 Wynonie Harris - All She Wants To Do Is Rock (2:45)
14 Roy Milton - Information Blues (2:41)
15 Billy Wright - After Dark Blues (2:18)
16 Max Bailey - Rockin' With The Blues (2:39)
17 Doles Dickens - Gonna Rock This Mornin' (2:34)
18 Big Joe Turner - Jumpin' At The Jubilee (2:47)
19 Connie Jordan - I'm Gonna Rock (2:47)
20 Gunter Lee Carr - We're Gonna Rock (2:15)
21 Laurie Tate - Rock Me Daddy (2:30)
22 Piano Red - Rockin' With Red (2:27)
23 Piney Brown - How About Rocking With Me (2:26)
24 Great Gates - Rocking Time (2:54)
25 Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin's Rock (2:11)

CD 2:
01 Hal Singer - Rock Around The Clock (3:00)
02 Jimmy McCracklin - Rockin' All Day (2:42)
03 Tiny Bradshaw - Well Oh Well (2:42)
04 Tiny Bradshaw - I'm Going To Have Myself A Ball (2:47)
05 Doc Sausage & His Mad Lads - Sausage Rock (2:34)
06 Arthur Crudup - My Baby Left Me (2:27)
07 Tiny Bradshaw - Breaking Up The House (2:42)
08 Arleen Talley - Rock And Roll (2:27)
09 Amos Milburn & His Aladdin Chickenshackers - Let's Rock Awhile (2:45)
10 Roy James Brown - Good Rockin' Man (3:02)
11 Esther Phillips - The Deacon Moves In (2:45)
12 Freddy Strong - We Love To Boogie (2:50)
13 Jesse Allen - Rock This Morning (2:03)
14 Ray Snead - I'm A Good Rockin Daddy (2:37)
15 Jimmie McCracklin Sings With His Blues Blasters - Rockin' Man (3:02)
16 Little Richard - Get Rich Quick (2:14)
17 Robert Nighthawk & His Nighthawks Band - Kansas City Blues (2:34)
18 Tiny Bradshaw - The Train Kept A Rolling (2:46)
19 Johnny Otis - All Night Long (2:34)
20 Roy Brown - Rock-A-Bye Baby (2:45)
21 Fats Domino - No No Baby (2:21)
22 The Treniers - It Rocks, It Rolls, It Swings (3:02)
23 Honey Brown - Rockin' And Jumpin' (2:54)
24 Google Eyes - Rock My Soul (2:58)
25 Andrew Tibbs - Rock Savoy Rock (2:42)
26 Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - My Real Gone Rocket (2:25)

CD 3:
01 Bill Doggett & His Orchestra - Give It Up (2:39)
02 Herman Manzy & His Orchestra - I'm Your Rockin' Man (2:23)
03 Professor Longhair - Rockin' With Fess (1:59)
04 Red Saunders - Hambone (2:35)
05 Esther Phillips - You Took My Love Too Fast (2:25)
06 Lewis Smiley - Lillie Mae (2:12)
07 Ray Charles - Jumpin' In The Morning (2:49)
08 Lewis Smiley - Ain't Gonna Do It (2:19)
09 Big Mama Thornton - They Call Me Big Mama (2:01)
10 Ruth Brown - Wild Wild Young Men (2:37)
11 Alan Freed - Moondog Matinée (0:25)
12 Annie Laurie - It's Been A Long Time (2:38)
13 Big Mama Thornton - I Smell A Rat (1:41)
14 Roy Brown - Mr. Hound Dog's In Town (2:30)
15 Rufus Thomas - Bear Ca (2:49)
16 Parker Junior - Feelin' Good (2:54)
17 Parker Junior - Love My Baby (2:34)
18 Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - What's Goin' On (2:33)
19 Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - All Night Boogie (2:14)
20 Jocko Henderson - The Rocket Ship Show (0:32)
21 Smiley Lewis - Down The Road (2:12)
22 The Treniers - Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie (2:14)
23 Big Joe Turner - Honey Hush (2:37)
24 Big Joe Turner - Shake Rattle And Roll (2:57)
25 Big Maybelle - Whole Lot Of Shakin' Goin On (2:41)
26 Sonny Terry - Ride And Roll (2:31)

The rock revolution was not televised. Elvis Presley, who launched rockabilly in 1954, did not invent rock ‘n’ roll.
This album rehabilitates the history-making, foundational records which came out of the seminal rock trend; they were present on the black circuit as early as 1949, yet banned on radio stations due to racial segregation.
These splendid—and little-known—recordings testify to the authentic sound, subversiveness and stylistic variation which characterized the birth of rock.

Race Records 1942-1955 CD 1
Race Records 1942-1955 CD 2
Race Records 1942-1955 CD 3

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - At Uncle Po's Carnegie Hall, Hamburg 1976

Size: 130,5 MB
Time: 56:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues, Jazz, Funk, Soul
Art: Front

01. Mr. Magic ( 5:41)
02. I Don't Want To Be A Lone Ranger ( 4:27)
03. Stormy Monday (10:57)
04. Superman Lover ( 5:22)
05. Gangsters Of Love ( 5:06)
06. Ain't That A Bitch ( 5:20)
07. Cuttin' In ( 3:47)
08. I Need It (15:05)
09. Signature Tune ( 0:33)

"Reinvention" could just as easily have been Johnny "Guitar" Watson's middle name. The multi-talented performer parlayed his stunning guitar skills into a vaunted reputation as one of the hottest blues axemen on the West Coast during the 1950s. But that admirable trait wasn't paying the bills as the 1970s rolled in. So he totally changed his image to that of a pimp-styled funkster, enjoying more popularity than ever before for his down-and-dirty R&B smashes "A Real Mother for Ya" and "Superman Lover."

Watson's roots resided within the fertile blues scene of Houston. As a teen, he played with fellow Texas future greats Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. But he left Houston for Los Angeles when he was only 15 years old. Back then, Watson's main instrument was piano; that's what he played with Chuck Higgins' band when the saxist cut "Motorhead Baby" for Combo in 1952 (Watson also handled vocal duties).

He was listed as Young John Watson when he signed with Federal in 1953. His first sides for the King subsidiary found him still tinkling the ivories, but by 1954, when he dreamed up the absolutely astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar," the youth had switched over to guitar. "Space Guitar" ranks with the greatest achievements of its era -- Watson's blistering rapid-fire attack, done without the aid of a pick, presages futuristic effects that rock guitarists still hadn't mastered another 15 years down the line.

Watson moved over to the Bihari Brothers' RPM label in 1955 and waxed some of the toughest upbeat blues of their time frame (usually under saxist Maxwell Davis's supervision). "Hot Little Mama," "Too Tired," and "Oh Baby" scorched the strings with their blazing attack; "Someone Cares for Me" was a churchy Ray Charles-styled slow-dragger, and "Three Hours Past Midnight" cut bone-deep with its outrageous guitar work and laid-back vocal (Watson's cool phrasing as a singer was scarcely less distinctive than his playing). He scored his first hit in 1955 for RPM with a note-perfect cover of New Orleanian Earl King's two-chord swamp ballad "Those Lonely Lonely Nights."

Though he cut a demo version of the tune while at RPM, Watson's first released version of "Gangster of Love" emerged in 1957 on Keen. Singles for Class ("One Kiss"), Goth, Arvee (the rocking introduction "Johnny Guitar"), and Escort preceded a hookup with Johnny Otis at King during the early '60s. He recut "Gangster" for King, reaching a few more listeners this time, and dented the R&B charts again in 1962 with his impassioned, violin-enriched blues ballad "Cuttin' In."

Never content to remain in one stylistic bag for long, Watson landed at Chess just long enough to cut a jazz album in 1964 that placed him back behind the 88s. Along with longtime pal Larry Williams, Watson rocked England in 1965 (their dynamic repartee was captured for posterity by British Decca). Their partnership lasted stateside through several singles and an LP for OKeh; among their achievements as a duo was the first vocal hit on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" in 1967 (predating the Buckinghams by a few months).

Little had been heard of this musical chameleon before he returned decked out in funk threads during the mid-'70s. He hit with "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" for Fantasy before putting together an incredible run at DJM Records paced by "A Real Mother for Ya" in 1977 and an updated "Gangster of Love" the next year.

After a typically clever "Strike on Computers" nicked the R&B lists in 1984, Watson again seemed to fall off the planet. But counting this remarkable performer out was always a mistake. Bow Wow, his 1994 album for Al Bell's Bellmark logo, returned him to prominence and earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary blues album, even though its contents were pure old-school funk. Sadly, in the midst of a truly heartwarming comeback campaign, Watson passed away while touring Japan in 1996. ~by Bill Dahl

At Uncle Po's Carnegie Hall, Hamburg 1976

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Various - R&B Hipshakers: Teach Me To Monkey

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:14
Size: 121.9 MB
Styles: R&B, Contemporary blues
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:00] 1. Willie Wright - Gibble Gobble
[3:12] 2. Hank Ballard - Broadway
[2:04] 3. Lula Reed - What Makes You So Cold
[2:30] 4. Little Willie John - My Nerves
[2:44] 5. Lloyd Nolan - I Don't Know About You
[2:15] 6. The 5 Royales - The Slummer The Slum
[1:59] 7. Little Mummy - Where You At Jack
[2:49] 8. The Valentines - That's It Man
[2:43] 9. Eugene Church - Mind Your Own Business
[2:50] 10. Charles Brown - Regardless
[2:31] 11. El Pauling - Here It 'Tis, Right Here
[2:41] 12. Roy Milton - One Zippy Zam
[2:23] 13. Freddie King - Texas Oil
[3:10] 14. Drivers - Mr. Astronaut
[2:22] 15. Carol Ford - Your Well Ran Dry
[2:38] 16. Little Bobby Moore - Do The Ginger Snap
[3:04] 17. Little Emmet Sutton - Mom, Won't You Teach Me To Monkey
[3:13] 18. Willie Dixon - Uncle Willie's Got A Thing Going On
[2:39] 19. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Posin'
[2:17] 20. Eddie Kirk - Hog Killin' Time

Vampi Soul's R&B Hipshakers, Vol. 1: Teach Me to Monkey is compiled by WFMU DJ Mr. Fine Wine and features an array of late-'50s to early-'60s R&B, some jump blues stragglers, and a bit of proto-rock & roll -- punctuated by honking saxes, shouting vocals, and tempos guaranteed to have you doing exactly what the title says. This set features rare tracks from Hank Ballard, Little Willie John, and many more. Roll back the rugs and grab a partner; this stuff will get you in a dancing mood real quick. ~Tim Sendra

R&B Hipshakers: Teach Me To Monkey mc
R&B Hipshakers: Teach Me To Monkey zippy

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Various Artists - 20 Great Blues Recordings Of The 50's And 60's Vol. 1

Year: 1983/1988
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:22
Size: 139,2 MB
Styles: Blues
Scans: Full

1. Lightning Hopkins - Rolling And Rolling (3:00)
2. Bobby Bland - Drifting From Town To Town (3:03)
3. Roosevelt Sykes - Gone With The Wind (2:59)
4. Big Mama Thornton - Me And My Chauffeur (2:23)
5. Jimmy Witherspoon - No Rollin' Blues (3:26)
6. George 'Harmonica' Smith - Blues In The Dark (2:59)
7. B.B. King - You Upset Me Baby (3:02)
8. Elmore James - Dark And Dreary (2:47)
9. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - I Ain't Drunk (2:29)
10. Howlin' Wolf - Crying At Daybreak (3:54)
11. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Three Hours Past Midnight (3:28)
12. Lowell Fulson - Talkin' Woman (2:30)
13. George 'Harmonica' Smith - Telephone Blues (3:03)
14. Eddie Burns - She Keeps Me Guessing (3:02)
15. Pee Wee Crayton - Central Avenue Blues (2:44)
16. B.B. King - Ten Long Years (2:47)
17. Jimmy McCracklin - The Panic's On (3:33)
18. Elmore James & His Broomdusters - Sunnyland (3:18)
19. Floyd Dixon - Cow Town (2:50)
20. Joe Hill Louis - Heartache Baby (2:56)

Haven't been able to find any proper info or description for this album. However, the music speaks for itself.

20 Great Blues Recordings Of The 50's And 60's Vol. 1 mc
20 Great Blues Recordings Of The 50's And 60's Vol. 1 zippy

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Singles: A + B Sides & Rarities

Size: 182,5 MB
Time: 77:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Texas Blues, R&B
Art: Front

01. Motor Head Baby (2:33)
02. Sad Fool (2:59)
03. Hot Little Mama (2:38)
04. I Love To Love You (2:36)
05. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:50)
06. Someone Cares For Me (2:55)
07. Three Hours Past Midnight (3:22)
08. Ruben (2:22)
09. Love Me Baby (2:50)
10. She Moves Me (2:49)
11. Don't Touch Me (3:14)
12. Oh Baby (2:40)
13. One More Kiss (2:15)
14. Gangster Of Love (2:38)
15. One Room Country Shack (2:36)
16. Deana Baby (2:08)
17. Gettin' Drunk (2:40)
18. Give A Little (3:00)
19. Half Pint Of Whiskey (2:50)
20. Highway 60 (2:22)
21. Honey (2:20)
22. I Got Eyes (2:24)
23. No, I Can't (2:22)
24. Space Guitar (2:37)
25. Thinking (2:29)
26. Walkin' To My Baby (2:31)
27. What's Goin' On (2:28)
28. You Can't Take It With You (2:37)
29. Too Tired (2:40)

"Reinvention" could just as easily have been Johnny "Guitar" Watson's middle name. The multi-talented performer parlayed his stunning guitar skills into a vaunted reputation as one of the hottest blues axemen on the West Coast during the 1950s. But that admirable trait wasn't paying the bills as the 1970s rolled in. So he totally changed his image to that of a pimp-styled funkster, enjoying more popularity than ever before for his down-and-dirty R&B smashes "A Real Mother for Ya" and "Superman Lover."

Watson's roots resided within the fertile blues scene of Houston. As a teen, he played with fellow Texas future greats Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. But he left Houston for Los Angeles when he was only 15 years old. Back then, Watson's main instrument was piano; that's what he played with Chuck Higgins' band when the saxist cut "Motorhead Baby" for Combo in 1952 (Watson also handled vocal duties).

He was listed as Young John Watson when he signed with Federal in 1953. His first sides for the King subsidiary found him still tinkling the ivories, but by 1954, when he dreamed up the absolutely astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar," the youth had switched over to guitar. "Space Guitar" ranks with the greatest achievements of its era -- Watson's blistering rapid-fire attack, done without the aid of a pick, presages futuristic effects that rock guitarists still hadn't mastered another 15 years down the line.

Watson moved over to the Bihari Brothers' RPM label in 1955 and waxed some of the toughest upbeat blues of their time frame (usually under saxist Maxwell Davis's supervision). "Hot Little Mama," "Too Tired," and "Oh Baby" scorched the strings with their blazing attack; "Someone Cares for Me" was a churchy Ray Charles-styled slow-dragger, and "Three Hours Past Midnight" cut bone-deep with its outrageous guitar work and laid-back vocal (Watson's cool phrasing as a singer was scarcely less distinctive than his playing). He scored his first hit in 1955 for RPM with a note-perfect cover of New Orleanian Earl King's two-chord swamp ballad "Those Lonely Lonely Nights."

Though he cut a demo version of the tune while at RPM, Watson's first released version of "Gangster of Love" emerged in 1957 on Keen. Singles for Class ("One Kiss"), Goth, Arvee (the rocking introduction "Johnny Guitar"), and Escort preceded a hookup with Johnny Otis at King during the early '60s. He recut "Gangster" for King, reaching a few more listeners this time, and dented the R&B charts again in 1962 with his impassioned, violin-enriched blues ballad "Cuttin' In."

Never content to remain in one stylistic bag for long, Watson landed at Chess just long enough to cut a jazz album in 1964 that placed him back behind the 88s. Along with longtime pal Larry Williams, Watson rocked England in 1965 (their dynamic repartee was captured for posterity by British Decca). Their partnership lasted stateside through several singles and an LP for OKeh; among their achievements as a duo was the first vocal hit on "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" in 1967 (predating the Buckinghams by a few months).

Little had been heard of this musical chameleon before he returned decked out in funk threads during the mid-'70s. He hit with "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" for Fantasy before putting together an incredible run at DJM Records paced by "A Real Mother for Ya" in 1977 and an updated "Gangster of Love" the next year.

After a typically clever "Strike on Computers" nicked the R&B lists in 1984, Watson again seemed to fall off the planet. But counting this remarkable performer out was always a mistake. Bow Wow, his 1994 album for Al Bell's Bellmark logo, returned him to prominence and earned a Grammy nomination for best contemporary blues album, even though its contents were pure old-school funk. Sadly, in the midst of a truly heartwarming comeback campaign, Watson passed away while touring Japan in 1996. ~by Bill Dahl

MC
Ziddu

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Gettin' Down With

Size: 179 MB
Time: 33:20
File: FLAC
Released: 1978/2009
Styles: Texas Blues, Blues Soul, Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Witchcraft (3:09)
02. I Cried For You (3:02)
03. I'll Remember April (4:38)
04. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (6:03)
05. Exactly Like You (2:16)
06. When Did You Leave Heaven (6:12)
07. Reconsider Baby (2:19)
08. Misty (5:38)

70's issue of this insanely wonderful early session by Johnny Guitar Watson – originally recorded for Chess in the early 60s, and featuring Johnny on piano, not guitar! Despite the sexy 70's cover (an attempt to cash in on Johnny's hit records at the time), this one's a beautiful set of jazzy cuts played by Johnny in vocal and instrumental versions. The record's incredibly tough to describe – but the sound is amazing, and Johnny's vocal interpretations of the material are fantastic. Includes a slamming Latin take on "I'll Remember April", plus the cuts "Exactly Like You", "Misty", and "Witchcraft". Great stuff – and one of our favorite sessions ever!

Gettin' Down With

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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - The Best Of The Modern Years

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:29
Size: 115.6 MB
Styles: Electric Texas blues, West Coast blues
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. Hot Little Mama
[2:36] 2. I Love To Love You
[3:14] 3. Don't Touch Me
[2:38] 4. Too Tired
[2:50] 5. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
[2:55] 6. Someone Cares For Me
[2:36] 7. Oh Baby
[3:00] 8. Give A Little
[3:21] 9. Three Hours Past Midnight
[2:20] 10. Ruben
[2:50] 11. Love Me Baby
[2:49] 12. She Moves Me
[2:05] 13. Love Bandit (Gangster Of Love)
[2:28] 14. Lonely Girl
[2:30] 15. Ain't Gonna Hush
[3:18] 16. Hot Little Mama No. 2
[2:43] 17. I Love To Love You
[3:28] 18. Three Hours Past Midnight

Although Johnny "Guitar" Watson had already recorded some sides for Federal (including the astonishing instrumental "Space Guitar"), the majority of those tunes featured the piano-playing Young John Watson. It was when he began recording for the Bihari Brothers' RPM subsidiary of Modern Records that he "became" Johnny "Guitar" Watson and his amazing legacy really began. The songs are solid West Coast blues, but they're brought to the next level by Watson's impassioned vocals and his incredible biting, staccato guitar solos. Watson's tenure at RPM was short-lived (as were most of his label relationships) and all these tracks were recorded in 1955, but they were wildly influential on a number of great guitarists and still hold their power 50 years down the road. This material has been released umpteen times over the years, but the remastering of this compilation has more clarity and warmth than the others. Johnny "Guitar" Watson recorded some great material for a variety of labels, but the real meat of his blues legacy is on these RPM sides. Fans of tough '50s blues and great blues guitar owe it to themselves to check this stuff out. Recommended. ~Sean Westergaard

The Best Of The Modern Years mc
The Best Of The Modern Years zippy

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Various Artists - Honky Tonk! The King & Federal R&B Instrumentals

Year: 2000
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s (from Flac)
Time: 64:24
Size: 149,1 MB
Styles: R&B
Scans: Full

1. Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk (Part 1) (3:08)
2. Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk (Part 2) (2:35)
3. Freddy King - Hide Away (2:37)
4. Todd Rhodes Orchestra - Blues For The Red Boy (2:41)
5. Earl Bostic & His Orchestra - Flamingo (2:42)
6. Sonny Thompson w. The Sharps & Flats - Long Gone (Part 1) (2:46)
7. Sonny Thompson w. The Sharps & Flats - Long Gone (Part 2) (2:56)
8. Washboard Bill w. Mickey Baker & King Curtis - Pot Likker (2:43)
9. Cal Green & His Orchestra - The Big Push (2:31)
10. Jimmy Nolen - After Hours (2:39)
11. Bill Doggett - Slow Walk (2:33)
12. Freddy King - San-Ho-Zay (2:38)
13. Washboard Bill w. Mickey Baker & King Curtis - Washboard Story (2:26)
14. Johnny Otis w. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Early In The Morning Blues (3:03)
15. Cal Green & His Orchestra - Green's Blues (2:44)
16. Roy Gaines - Gainesville (3:02)
17. Jimmy Nolen - Strollin' With Nolen (2:24)
18. Washboard Bill w. Mickey Baker & King Curtis - In The Morning (2:23)
19. Young John Watson - Space Guitar (2:38)
20. Pete 'Guitar' Lewis - Louisiana Hop (2:33)
21. Washboard Bill w. Mickey Baker & King Curtis - River Boat Dock (2:39)
22. Johnny Otis w. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Let's Rock (Let's Surf Awhile) (2:08)
23. Freddy King - The Stumble (3:12)
24. Bill Doggett - Hold It (2:32)

With Bill Doggett and Freddy King alone, the King/Federal labels had two of the most popular and significant instrumental R&B/rock hitmakers of the 1950s and early '60s. Both are represented by their most popular instrumental tracks (four by Doggett, three by King) here. But this compilation, assembling 24 instrumentals from 1948-1964, also demonstrates that King/Federal was quite active in the instrumental R&B field beyond its work with those two artists. In many of the 24 cuts (particularly the earliest ones), the label mined R&B/jazz crossover sounds with a smoky barroom flavor.

Giving the sleeve a casual glance, most would assume that the material for the most part flopped upon release, but actually a few of these were big (if virtually forgotten) R&B hits, like Todd Rhodes' "Blues for the Red Boy" (from 1948), Earl Bostic's effervescent "Flamingo" (from 1951), and Sonny Thompson's shuffling "Long Gone" (1948), a groundbreaker in that it not only sat atop the R&B charts for a long time but also made the pop Top 30. Beyond that, things do get rather generic, even though there are some relatively big names like Mickey Baker and King Curtis (heard backing Washboard Bill) and future James Brown sideman Jimmy Nolen (who shines on blues guitar on the 1956 single "After Hours"/"Strollin' With Nolen").

There's no denying, however, that Doggett's massive and classic "Honky Tonk" (parts one and two are both here) and King's snazzy blues guitar instrumentals are easily the most worthwhile items on board. There is, however, one other great cut: Johnny "Guitar" Watson's astonishingly futuristic 1954 workout "Space Guitar" (released under the billing Young John Watson), one of the great relatively obscure classics of the mid-'50s. /Richie Unterberger, AllMusic

Honky Tonk! The King & Federal R&B Instrumentals mc
Honky Tonk! The King & Federal R&B Instrumentals zippy

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Various Artists - Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 (2 CD)

The second installment of Ace's new-millennial telling of The RPM Records Story picks up the narrative in 1953, the place where its predecessor No More Doggin' concluded. Like No More Doggin', Speak Easy mixes up original 45s with alternate takes and rarities, many of which were excavated by reissue producer Tony Rounce for this 2014 reissue. This approach occasionally misses the original versions of some major songs -- there's a newly found alternate of B.B. King's "Sweet Little Angel," for instance (the original "You Upset Me Baby" is here, though) -- which may be a mild frustration for some listeners but this is a boon for archivists and devotees, with 33 of the 54 songs never showing up on a previous Ace collection (a whopping 15 cuts bear 2014 copyrights, marking their first-ever appearances). This reliance on rarities doesn't dilute the overall impact of the collection, which makes a strong case for RPM being one of the liveliest and wildest of the Bihari Brothers' Modern Records subsidiaries during the '50s. Much of the first disc bears the greasy imprint of Ike Turner, who was the Brothers' A&R man and house musician, and once this down-and-dirty R&B starts to lose its hold -- not even the best efforts of Johnny "Guitar" Watson could stem the shifting tides -- up comes B.B. King, who retains that same raw vitality but has a smoother touch. This means the second disc is largely devoted to the fallout, containing some straight-up rock & roll and jumping harmony groups, along with teen-beat groups and a wild rarity by Paul Anka called "Blau-Wile-Deveest-Fontaine." The variety makes this disc a bit of a blast, but for R&B and blues fans the real legacy of RPM lies on that first disc, which feels like it could've been packaged with No More Doggin' with no problem whatsoever. /Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic

Album: Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 - CD 1
Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:12
Size: 170,2 MB
Styles: Blues, R&B
Scans: Full

1. The Meadowlarks - Real Pretty Mama (2:31)
2. Quinn Kimble - Feel My Broom (2:47)
3. Connie Mack Booker - Love Me Pretty Baby (2:28)
4. Earl Curry - One Whole Year Baby (2:59)
5. The Meadowlarks - Pass The Gin (2:35)
6. Lover Boy - The Way You Used To Treat Me (2:41)
7. Lonnie 'The Cat' - I Ain't Drunk (2:30)
8. B.B. King - Don't You Want A Man Like Me (2:45)
9. Preacher Stephens - Whoopin' And A Hollerin' (2:28)
10. The Chanters - She Wants To Mambo (2:50)
11. B.B. King - You Upset Me Baby (3:02)
12. Buddy Milton & The Twilighters - O O Wah (2:13)
13. The Fox - The Dream, Pts. 1-2 (5:08)
14. B.B. King - Every Day I Have The Blues (2:48)
15. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Hot Little Mama (2:44)
16. Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns - Truly (2:30)
17. Joe Houston - Shitiggy Boom (3:04)
18. The Jacks - Why Don't You Write Me? (2:49)
19. 'Little George' Smith - Blues In The Dark (2:58)
20. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Too Tired (2:43)
21. Donna Hightower - Dog Gone It (3:00)
22. Johnny Wright - Suffocate (2:44)
23. Donna Hightower - Hands Off (2:55)
24. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Those Lonely, Lonely Nights (3:00)
25. 'Little George' Smith - Oopin' Doopin' Doopin' (3:04)
26. B.B. King - Crying Won't Help You (2:45)

Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 - CD 1 mc
Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 - CD 1 zippy

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Album: Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 - CD 2
Year: 2014
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:09
Size: 167,8 MB
Styles: Blues, R&B
Scans: Full

1. B.B. King - 16 Tons (4:23)
2. The Teen Queens - Eddie My Love (3:13)
3. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Ruben (2:42)
4. George Smith - Cross-Eyed Suzie Lee (2:22)
5. B.B. King - Did You Ever Love A Woman (2:34)
6. The Jacks - Sugar Baby (2:39)
7. Pat Cupp - Do Me No Wrong (2:25)
8. Little Clydie & The Teens - A Casual Look (2:14)
9. The Teen Queens - Billy Boy (2:37)
10. Richard Berry - Yama Yama Pretty Mama (2:12)
11. Eddy Lang - I'm All Alone (2:37)
12. B.B. King - Sweet Little Angel (3:14)
13. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - She Moves Me (2:53)
14. Paul Anka - Blau-Wile-Deveest-Fontaine (2:04)
15. Pat Cupp - Long Gone Daddy (2:32)
16. The Jewels - She's A Flirt (2:07)
17. Eddy Lang - You Got To Crawl Before You Walk (2:21)
18. George Smith - Down In New Orleans (2:31)
19. The Teen Queens - Rock Everybody (2:40)
20. Donna Hightower - He's My Baby (2:09)
21. Maxwell Davis & His Orchestra - Cool Diggin' (2:18)
22. Jack Lewis - Bippin' And Boppin' (Over You) (2:40)
23. B.B. King - Bim Bam (2:28)
24. Prentice Moreland - Memories Of You (3:00)
25. Vido Musso - Speak Easy (2:54)
26. Darrell Glenn - Hello Baby (Glad To Have You Home) (2:01)
27. Don Cole - Snake Eyed Mama (2:18)
28. B.B. King - I Wonder (2:47)

Speak Easy: The RPM Records Story Vol. 2 1954-1957 - CD 2 mc
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Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - The Gangster Is Back

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:13
Size: 98.9 MB
Styles: Texas blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Too Tired
[3:15] 2. Don't Touch Me
[2:39] 3. Hot Little Mama
[2:07] 4. Blues Side
[2:36] 5. I Love To Love You
[2:38] 6. Oh Baby
[2:57] 7. Someone Cares For Me
[3:05] 8. She Moves Me
[2:47] 9. Love Me Baby
[2:39] 10. Gangster Of Love
[2:37] 11. One Room Country Shack
[3:58] 12. Acoustic Instrumental
[2:23] 13. One More Kiss
[2:21] 14. Johnny Guitar
[1:50] 15. Looking Back
[2:33] 16. The Eagle Is Back

Digital reissue of an old Red Lightnin' bootleg covering Watson's 1950s output that was revered back in the pre-CD era but sounds very rough now. One thing in its favor: the disc sports Watson's otherwise digitally unavailable 1957 version of "Gangster of Love" for Keen. ~Bill Dahl

The Gangster Is Back mc
The Gangster Is Back zippy

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Various - The RPM Blues Story (2-CD set)

This 2 CD set contains 40 original recordings from the RPM Records label, including titles from B.B. King, Lightnin' Hopkins, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson and many more. All tracks have Eddiebeen digitally remastered for optimum listening quality.

RPM was a hip and happening label formed in LA, it was one of the several subsidiary labels of Modern Records who were the forerunner of ryhthm and blues. RPM quickly became associated with its biggest name, BB King, and then followed with names such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Howlin' Wolf and Willie Nix. The label was short-lived but this compilation catches RPM in its satisfying prime.

Album: The RPM Blues Story CD 1
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:19
Size: 135.8 MB
Styles: Assorted
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:02] 1. B.B. King - Three O'Clock Blues
[3:11] 2. Lowell Fulson - Doin' Time Blues
[3:55] 3. Howlin' Wolf - Crying At Daybreak
[2:21] 4. Lightnin' Hopkins - Don't Keep My Baby Long
[2:44] 5. Jimmy Nelson - Fine Little Honey Dripper
[2:40] 6. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Too Tired
[3:01] 7. Little Eddie Kirkland - It's Time For Lovin' To Be Done
[3:16] 8. Roscoe Gordon - City Women
[2:55] 9. Drifting Slim - My Sweet Woman
[2:51] 10. Johnny Wright & Ike Turner's Orchestra - The World Is Yours
[3:02] 11. 'Little George' Smith - Telephone Blues
[2:49] 12. B.B. King - I Wonder
[2:42] 13. Howlin' Wolf - Passing By Blues
[3:07] 14. Jimmy Nelson - T-99 Blues
[2:56] 15. Sunny Blair - Five Foot Three Blues
[2:37] 16. Lightnin' Hopkins - Beggin' You To Stay
[3:08] 17. 'Little George' Smith - Blues Stay Away
[3:02] 18. Jimmy McCracklin - Your Heart Ain't Right
[2:29] 19. Roscoe Gordon - Dime A Dozen
[3:24] 20. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Three Hours Past Midnight

thank you mrwalker.
The RPM Blues Story CD 1 mc
The RPM Blues Story CD 1 zippy

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Album: The RPM Blues Story CD 2
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 55:31
Size: 127.1 MB
Styles: Assorted
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:35] 1. Howlin' Wolf - Morning At Midnight
[2:16] 2. 'Little Eddie' Kirkland - That's All Right
[2:51] 3. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - She Moves Me
[2:51] 4. B.B. King - Mistreated Woman
[2:43] 5. Lowell Fulson - Some Old Lonesome Day
[2:43] 6. Lightnin' Hopkins - Lonesome Dog Blues
[3:09] 7. Roscoe Gordon - Cold, Cold Winter
[2:47] 8. Junior Brooks - Lone Town Blues
[2:52] 9. Drifting Slim - Good Morning Baby
[2:58] 10. 'Little George' Smith - Blues In The Dark
[2:58] 11. Howlin' Wolf - My Baby Stole Off
[2:16] 12. Jimmy Nelson - Bad Habit Blues
[3:19] 13. Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - Don't Touch Me
[2:57] 14. Roscoe Gordon - Dream Baby
[2:36] 15. Jimmy McCracklin - Love When It Rains
[3:05] 16. Jimmy Nelson - Baby Child
[2:40] 17. Willie Nix - Try Me One More Time
[2:28] 18. B.B. King - B.B. Blues
[2:16] 19. Mumbles - Jumpin' Blues
[3:01] 20. Lightnin' Hopkins - Jake Head Boogie

thank you mrwalker.
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The RPM Blues Story CD 2 zippy

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