Showing posts with label Various Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Various Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou. Show all posts

Friday, June 7, 2019

Various Artists - Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp

Year: 2019
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:47
Size: 155,8 MB
Styles: R&B
Scans: Full

1. Lester Robertson - Everybody Wants To Know (1:54)
2. Unknown - I Found My Baby (By The Drive-In Show) (2:32)
3. Cookie & The Cupcakes - Crazy Rock (2:15)
4. Jay Nelson & His Jumpers - Raise Some San (2:22)
5. Elizabeth - Tomorrow I'll Be Gone (2:57)
6. Sonny Martin - Your Precious Love (2:04)
7. Prince Charles - Come On Home (2:34)
8. Blues Boy Palmer& The Bill Parker Band - Mary, Mary (Tk 2) (2:24)
9. Little Miss Peggie & The Bill Parker Band - Come Over Here (Tk 2) (2:07)
10. Sticks Herman - Please Don't Go (2:39)
11. Big Walter - Never Too Old (2:19)
12. Unknown - Be My Baby Doll (Tk 3) (2:17)
13. King Charles & His Orchestra - Bop Cat Stomp (2:12)
14. Rockin' Sydney - Augustine (2:16)
15. Thaddus Declouet - Shake It Up (All Night Long) (3:14)
16. Clifton Chenier - It Happened So Fast (2:24)
17. Cookie & The Cupcakes - Rocks In My Pillow (1:56)
18. Big Chenier - Stand By My Side (2:01)
19. Ashton Savoy - I Wants You (2:34)
20. Charles Perrywell & The Fairlanes - I Hear Someone Call My Name (1:57)
21. Big Walter - Crazy Dream (2:24)
22. Margo White - Don't Mess With My Man (2:17)
23. The Yellow Jackets - Bye Bye Baby (2:00)
24. Bluesboy Palmer - My Life For Your Love (2:57)
25. Lester Robertson - Send For Me (2:28)
26. Charles Sheffield w. Big Sambo & The Swingsters - Never No More (2:28)
27. Guitar Gable & King Carl - Goodbye Whiskey (2:25)
28. Leroy James & His Combo - Whoa Mule (2:37)

Volume 21 of the great musical adventure brings another helping of mid-century rhythm’n’blues from the bayou region of South Louisiana/SE Texas, an area that spreads from New Orleans in the east to Port Arthur in the west. Here are the hot guitars, pounding pianos and honking saxes, spiced here and there with a little accordion or harmonica, all topped off by cool vocals.

This collection stems from the vaults of the most innovative record men of the region – Eddie Shuler, JD Miller, Floyd Soileau, Sam Montel and Huey Meaux. All had a gift for recognising musical talent and letting it flourish. They were able to encourage and cajole the best possible performances from their artists without corrupting their individuality.

Shuler (Lake Charles) and Miller (Crowley) launched their first labels in the mid-40s to produce Cajun music and moved into blues and R&B in the early 50s. Soileau (Ville Platte) and Montel (Baton Rouge) commenced their operations around a decade later, with Soileau also starting out with Cajun, whereas Montel began his company with rock’n’roll and R&B. Meaux (Port Arthur) started out in artist management, primarily with Cajun artists but promptly adding a rock’n’roll roster. He first placed artists with Floyd Soileau’s Jin label, but almost immediately recognised that there was more money to be made owning a label and a publishing company. These then are the men who captured the sounds of a generation.

Of the 28 tracks included here, 11 are either previously unissued or previously unissued alternate takes and the remainder are just plain obscure. Two of the new tracks are by unidentified artists but they are both strong rockers which excited me and I have been looking forward to offering them to fans of the genre. As always, we have a blend of storming rockers, mid-tempo magic and a handful of buckle-polishers, as slower numbers were dubbed in the clubs of the area – together in a collection that will whisk you back in time to the swamps of the deep south where you can lose yourself in the rhythms that engulfed the clubs and bars of the area. /Ian Saddler

Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp mc
Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Bop Cat Stomp zippy

Friday, December 8, 2017

Various Artists - Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin

Year: 2017
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:44
Size: 155,2 MB
Styles: R&B, blues
Scans: Full

1. Cookie & The Cupcakes - I Keep Crying (2:50)
2. Eddie Lang - Troubles Troubles (2:59)
3. Little Victor & His Jivin' Five - Loc-A-Li (2:21)
4. Lonesome Sundown - Give It Up (2:26)
5. Little Bob & The Lollipops - Wanna Be Your Man (2:21)
6. Little Nolton - Don't Know Why (2:31)
7. Elizabeth - Tell Me Why (2:29)
8. Unknown - Love Me Chile (2:17)
9. Tabby Thomas - Roll On Old Mule (2:25)
10. Charles Sheffield - I Would Be A Sinner (2:04)
11. King Karl - Baby Come To Papa (2:02)
12. Cookie & The Cupcakes - Keep Living (2:49)
13. Unknown - Won't Be Blue No More (2:29)
14. Van Preston - Mama's Little Girl (2:21)
15. Elizabeth - I Know (1:44)
16. Eddie Williams - Baby's Got Bad Feet (2:05)
17. King Charles - It Won't Be Me (2:37)
18. Guitar Jr - Love Me Mary Ann (1:52)
19. Tal Miller - Scorched (2:23)
20. Little Ray Campbell - Uncle John (2:30)
21. Chuck Martin - Carry On Yvonne (2:30)
22. Guitar Jr & Combo - Family Rules (Angel Child) (2:19)
23. Sticks Herman - Crying, Crying (2:26)
24. James Freeman - Baby If You Want To Play (2:13)
25. King Charles & His Orchestra - But You Thrill Me (2:47)
26. Guitar Jr - I Got It Made (When I Marry Shirley Mae) (2:06)
27. Tabby Thomas - Don't Say (1:58)
28. Joe (Mr 'G') August - Boogie With Calypso (2:35)

Back in the early 50s manic Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips, the man who broke Elvis, called his radio show Red, Hot & Blue – a wonderfully descriptive title which aptly illustrates the contents of this CD, the 19th in the “By The Bayou” series and the sixth devoted to R&B.

Whether from New Orleans in the east or Lake Charles in the west, whether fast and furious or slow and mournful, South Louisiana’s brand of R&B had a distinctive sound which influenced a whole generation of the state’s young rock’n’rollers, creating a blend which became known as swamp pop. Here – hidden amongst the red, hot and blue – can be heard the embryonic sounds of that music.

As previously in the series, this CD contains a mix of the famous and the totally unknown, with offerings from Guitar Jr, Lonesome Sundown and Cookie & the Cupcakes, through cult names such as Left Hand Charlie, Charles Sheffield and Little Victor to artists for whom we don’t even have a name – each play a part in bringing you a package which runs the whole gamut of South Louisiana rhythm & blues.

That embryonic swamp pop sound is typified by Guitar Jr’s ‘Family Rules’, a song still sung throughout South Louisiana and into S.E. Texas where the oil business took many of Cajun descent. It is artists of this background who keep R&B alive today, while it can be difficult to find black musicians who play this genre of music. A couple of years ago Louisiana R&B veteran Carol Fran took four of us out to find a Monday night jam session but discovered several of her old haunts closed down. Eventually she found a club with a jam going on. They were younger musicians not playing Carol’s kind of music but instantly recognised her, got her on stage and a good old R&B blast took place.

With the dearth of this exciting music as a live entertainment, its preservation through the release of long-lost tracks gathers in importance. But, hold on, this ain’t no history lesson, this is rompin’, stompin’ music to be enjoyed – so crank up your hi-fi, slip this CD in your player, grab a glass of something you enjoy and let the bon temps roule. /Ian Saddler

Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' mc
Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Livin', Lovin' & Lyin' zippy

Friday, August 5, 2016

Various Artists - Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals & Love Sick Souls

Year: 2016
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:06
Size: 165,6 MB
Styles: R&B
Scans: Full

1. Chris Kenner - Grandma's House (2:38)
2. Lester Robertson - Oh Babe (2:18)
3. Guitar Jr. - Roll Roll Roll (2:22)
4. Wonderboy Travis - She Was Gone (2:30)
5. Barbara Lynn - One Night Of Sin (2:19)
6. Jay Nelson - Betty Ann (2:28)
7. Little Victor - Please Be There (2:21)
8. Smilin' Joe - Love Sick Soul (2:29)
9. Charles Sheffield w. Big Sambo - Shoo, Shoo Chicken (2:34)
10. Leroy Washington - Wild Cherry (2:19)
11. Classie Ballou - Crowley Stroll (3:05)
12. Classie Ballou & His Tempo Kings Orch - D-I-R-T-Y D-E-A-L (2:43)
13. Jay Nelson & The Jumpers - A Fool That Was Blind (2:37)
14. Smilin' Joe - Living On Borrowed Time (2:37)
15. Ivory Jackson - Clautelia (1:43)
16. Lester Robertson & The Upsetters - Ooh My Dear (My Girl Across Town) (2:30)
17. Tabby Thomas - C.C. Rider (2:38)
18. Big Walter Price - Better Run (3:00)
19. Baton Rouge Boys - Rising Sun (3:01)
20. Lester Robertson - Please Don't Go (2:36)
21. Barbara Lynn - Love You Most Of All (1:54)
22. Classie Ballou - Hey Ma Ma (Version 2) (3:11)
23. John Reed - Little Girl You Look So Good (2:33)
24. Honey Boy Alan - Ford V-8 (2:24)
25. Mr Mojo & His Orch - I Won't Be Long Here (2:18)
26. Little Victor - What Is Love (2:32)
27. Joe (Mr. 'G') August - Strange Things Happening In The Dark (2:28)
28. Classie Ballou & His Tempo Kings Orch - Loving Huggin Kissin My Baby (2:44)

A spicy mix of rarities, alternates and previously unissued R&B goodies from South Louisiana and S.E. Texas, where you are never too far from a bayou and some good rockin’ music. This 15th compilation in the “By The Bayou” series takes us back to the R&B sounds you would have heard belting out of a Louisiana juke joint on a steamy night in the 1950s or early 1960s. All of the tracks included were recorded in that party state, although some of the artists were based in Texas, crossing the state line to make music in studios based in Crowley and Lake Charles.

Amongst the rarities unveiled are three tracks cut in New Orleans but released by Flip Records of Hollywood, a label primarily known for doo wop. We also have some classic Classie Ballou, Chris Kenner’s first record, a few complete unknowns, a bunch of alternate takes and, most excitingly, two previously undocumented Barbara Lynn tracks, her first recordings.

Amongst the better-known songs are four formidable rockers: ‘Wild Cherry’ by Leroy Washington, ‘Roll Roll Roll’ by Guitar Jr, ‘Shoo, Shoo Chicken’ by Charles Sheffield and an alternate take of ‘Oh Babe’ by Lester Robertson.

Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals & Love Sick Souls mc
Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Nights Of Sin, Dirty Deals & Love Sick Souls zippy

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Various - Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2015
Styles: R&B
Time: 67:24
Size: 156,2 MB
Covers: Full

(2:44) 1. The Velvetiers - Feelin' Right Saturday Night
(2:24) 2. Unknown Group - Tender And Tall
(1:51) 3. Sonny Martin - I Cried
(2:34) 4. Charles Morris - I Need Your Lovin
(2:13) 5. The Del-Chords - Help Me
(2:45) 6. Henry Clement - Cry Weeping Willow
(2:53) 7. Sticks Herman - Give Me Your Love
(2:02) 8. Unknown Group - Calimo
(2:14) 9. The Gaynotes - Plea Of Love
(2:32) 10. Henry Clement - Tall Skinny Mama
(1:54) 11. Sonny Martin - Lookin' And Searchin'
(2:26) 12. The Gaynotes - Waiting In The Chapel
(2:25) 13. Little Henry - What Have I Done Wrong
(2:48) 14. The Velvetiers - Oh Baby
(2:08) 15. The Raves - Tell Me One More Time
(2:36) 16. Sticks Herman - The Natural Thing To Do
(2:14) 17. Tabby Thomas - Brother Brown
(2:02) 18. Little Henry - Jenny Jenny Jenny
(1:59) 19. The Gaynotes - Married Too Soon
(2:51) 20. Unknown Group - Oh Baby
(2:28) 21. The Hi-Fi's - I'm So Lonely
(2:21) 22. Sonny Martin - Some Other Time
(2:37) 23. The Gaynotes - The Snake
(2:24) 24. The Hi-Fi's - My Dear
(2:30) 25. Henry Clement - Please, Please Darling
(2:26) 26. Katie Webster - Sea Of Love
(2:22) 27. Cookie & His Cupcakes - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
(2:24) 28. The Raves - Billy The Kid

The exploration of the tape vaults of J.D. Miller and the catalogues of Eddie Shuler’s Goldband, Floyd Soileau’s Jin, Sam Montelbano’s Montel and Joe Ruffino’s Ric and Ron labels revealed more than enough great vocal group material to fill a CD. So here is a collection of chanting rockers and sweet harmonies, rather overlooked as ingredients which go into the rich gumbo of South Louisiana music of the 50s. The forgotten sound of South Louisiana. Cookie & His Cupcakes, the best known of the featured artists, contribute a top-notch cover of Jivin’ Gene’s swamp pop classic ‘Breaking Up Is Hard To Do’ – pure gold in this context. The groups backing solo artists Sticks Herman, Charlie Morris, Sonny Martin, Tabby Thomas and Katie Webster may well have been brought in especially by Shuler or Miller but it is highly likely they were musicians hanging around the studios looking for a gig. This happened all the time in the 50s and 60s in South Louisiana – read in the liner notes how Henry Clement ended up playing harmonica on an early Lightnin’ Slim disc. Thanks to documents found in the Miller vaults and interviews with “Little” Henry Clement, it’s quite satisfying to be able to clear up some of the confusion regarding the Gaynotes and Little Henry and his Dewdrops. On the other hand, some of the tape boxes we discovered were marked merely “male vox”, “black group” or “group”, so we may never know who comprised the Hi-Fi’s, the Velvetiers or the Raves. Suffice it to say they could all rock or doo wop with the best of them (9 of the 28 tracks are previously unreleased).

Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups
Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Vocal Groups artwork

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Various - Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' by the Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2015
Styles: Blues
Time: 64:29
Size: 150,6 MB
Covers: Full

(2:29) 1 Little Victor - Papa Lou and Gran
(2:05) 2 Katie Webster - Hoo Wee, Sweet Daddy
(2:39) 3 Rockin' Tabby Thomas - I'd Love to Tell
(1:56) 4 Lester Robertson - Pretty Woman (Take It Home to Grandma)
(1:54) 5 Guitar Gable - Long Way from Home
(2:29) 6 Anna Mae Rogers - I Called You Up Daddy
(2:16) 7 Mad Dog Sheffield - I Got Fever (Wicked Fever)
(2:14) 8 Carol Fran - Knock Knock
(2:17) 9 Leroy Washington - Sally Lou
(2:15) 10 Lionel Torrance/Lionel Torrence - Rooty Tooty
(2:36) 11 Sad Leroy White - A Merry Christmas
(1:53) 12 Wonder Boy Travis - You Know Yeah
(1:57) 13 Lazy Lester - Tell Me Pretty Baby
(2:01) 14 Clifton Chenier - Hey Ma Ma
(2:17) 15 Eddie Williams - Ain't Nothing Shakin' (But Leaves on the Tree)
(2:49) 16 Mad Dog Sheffield - Mad Dog
(2:46) 17 King Karl/Guitar Gable - Mary Lou
(1:33) 18 Lester Robertson - Hoo Wee Pretty Baby
(1:54) 19 Carol Fran - One More Chance
(2:01) 20 Frank Simien - Don't Let Me Down
(2:38) 21 Leroy Washington - Hello Baby, What You Know
(2:07) 22 Ashton Conroy/Katie Webster - I Want You to Love Me
(2:49) 23 Bobby Jay/Katie Webster - Hey Mr. Love
(2:15) 24 Jimmy Dotson - I Need Your Love
(3:16) 25 Charles Morris - When It Rains It Pours
(2:16) 26 Leroy Washington - Baby Please Come Home
(2:35) 27 Clarence Garlow - I'll Never Hold It Against You
(2:01) 28 Lester Robertson & the Upsetters - Take It Home to Grandma

On this tenth volume in the “By The Bayou” series, the third to focus on R&B, we have 28 tracks from the vaults of J.D. Miller’s Crowley studio, Eddie Shuler’s Goldband facility, Floyd Soileau’s Rod label, Sam Montel’s Montel label and Golen Richard’s Richland imprint, all from South Louisiana. The majority of the material comes from that goldmine on North Parkerson Ave in Crowley, where the music store founded by J.D. Miller is now operated by his youngest son Mark. The ceilings and walls are hung with guitars and the floor space is taken up with amplifiers and speakers. The counters and stands are festooned with guitar strings, picks, cords, cables, plugs and all manner of paraphernalia for the professional musician. In one corner is a dwindling number of CDs, which are difficult for a small-town store to sell in competition with outlets such as Amazon, even if much of the material was recorded right here. Behind the store area, hidden from view, is a large working studio where Mark, a bass player, sound engineer and producer record local talent. Most important to us is another part of the building – the tape store, whereAlec Palaoand I have sifted through the reels, and Alec has transferred close on 3,000 tracks, including 22 of the titles on this CD, eight of which are previously unissued. The majority of the featured artists have appeared on previous volumes in the series. No apologies for that. Who wouldn’t want more of Lester Robertson, Leroy Washington, Mad Dog Sheffield, Carol Fran, Clifton Chenier, Katie Webster, Wonder Boy Travis, Guitar Gable, Clarence Garlow or Lazy Lester etc, backed up by new additions Eddie Williams, Frank Simien and Anna Mae Rogers? The resultant CD is aimed at giving R&B fans 28 blasts of rompin’, stompin’ music, with songs about mad dogs, sweet daddies and pretty babies to set their feet a-tappin’. -- Ian Saddler.

Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies
Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies artwork

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

VA - Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin'

Size: 155,2 MB
Time: 66:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: R&B, Louisiana Blues, Soul, Rock & Roll
Art: Full

01 Rockin' Tabby Thomas - Teenagers (2:06)
02 Jay Nelson - Silly Filly Oh Baby (2:26)
03 Wonder Boy Travis - She's Got Eyes Like A Cat (2:20)
04 Lester Robertson - Schooldays Schooldays (2:24)
05 King Karl - Walkin' In The Park (2:18)
06 T.V. Slim - Flat Foot Sam (2:43)
07 Lonesome Sundown - California Blues (2:42)
08 Johnny Sonnier - Sad Lover (1:39)
09 King Karl - When I Leave Here (2:21)
10 Otis Smith - You're So Good Looking (2:37)
11 Billy Tate - Pray On (Pray On My Child) (2:05)
12 Leroy Washington - Learn To Treat Me Better (1:54)
13 Rockin' Tabby Thomas - Teenage Queen (2:13)
14 Lonesome Sundown - What You Wanna Do It For (2:07)
15 Leroy Washington - You Can't Trust Nobody (2:50)
16 Joe Richards - You'd Better Change (2:01)
17 Chuck Martin - Dilly Waddy (1:32)
18 James 'Sugar Boy' Crawford & His Canecutters - Round And Round (2:13)
19 Big Walter - San Antonio (2:01)
20 Little Victor - You Done Me Wrong (2:12)
21 Charles Sheffield - Boogie Children (2:34)
22 Wonder Boy Travis - She Went Thataway (1:56)
23 Classie Ballou, Jr. - Oh Mama (Cajun Blues) (Aka Hey Ma Ma) (4:26)
24 Katie Webster & Ashton Conroy - Baby, Baby (2:34)
25 Carol Fran - Tomorrow (2:49)
26 Classie Ballou, Jr. - Lucille (2:50)
27 Lester Robertson & The Upsetters - My Girl Across Town (2:22)
28 Ivory Jackson - I'm A Country Boy (1:57)

Letting the good times roll again, with this second visit to the dynamic South Louisiana R&B scene there is no waver in the quality of music.

We’ve added the work of another Louisiana record man, Sam Montel from Baton Rouge, to the vast stockpile of material in the vaults of J.D. Miller, Eddie Shuler, Floyd Soileau and Jake Graffagnino.

Sam (originally Montalbano) got into the music business when his childhood friend Jimmy Clanton hit the charts. Sam became his road manager and the whole scene got into his blood. He decided to start his own record label when only 18 years old. His first release, Lester Robertson’s ‘My Girl Across Town’, is included here, as is a previously unissued outing from Robertson.

The Montel label had considerable success with artists including John Fred, Dale & Grace and the Boogie Kings, all attracting strong sales. We will be pulling out more R&B, swamp pop and rockin’ goodies from these vaults for future releases in the “By The Bayou” series.

The other label owners – J.D. Miller from Crowley, Eddie Shuler from Lake Charles, Floyd Soileau from Ville Platte and Jake Graffagnino from Opelousas– have all had recordings featured on our earlier CDs. Like Sam, they could all spot talent and got the best out of their artists. It means Ace has the opportunity to bring you dynamic tracks from an area of the USA so very rich in talent. In addition to the talents of the lead vocalists, the backing musicians on many of the tracks are also very accomplished.

Guitar Gable is heard on many titles, as is Katie Webster on piano, sax giant Lionel Torrence, drummers Jockey Etienne and Warren Storm and Lazy Lester, who would play whatever instrument was asked of him; all are featured on many of the Crowley recordings.

Classie Ballou’s band was used often at Goldband, while the Upsetters, Little Richard’s former outfit, can be heard on Lester Robertson’s tracks.

The excitement of discovering new material such as the track by Tabby Thomas, the previously unknown and romping version of ‘Flat Foot Sam’ by TV Slim and the downright nasty ‘Oh Mama (Cajun Blues)’ by Classie Ballou is undiminished. Bracketing them with other fabulous unknown recordings, unissued alternates and long deleted masterpieces is a pleasure and a privilege.

If you have rhythm in your bones and a love of the raw and rockin’ then “Rhythm’n’Bluesin’ By The Bayou – Rompin’ & Stompin’” is going transport your spirit to a Louisiana juke joint. ~By Ian Saddler

Rhythm 'N' Bluesin' By The Bayou: Rompin' & Stompin'