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The Best Records of
The Golden Years of R&B
Edited by Claus Röhnisch (updated
August 4, 2010)
Subjectively compiled by
Claus Röhnisch and listed year-by-year in order of relative popularity. Note that other
records may have made greater hits - here only "the best" are listed (although
the most popular R&B Records of each year are listed in bold,
followed by "the best of the rest"). Records listed at the year they charted
most, which means they may have been issued earlier.
THE R&B BOX
- 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues
Simply terrific (with super booklets
digipacs featuring 1945-1960):
BLOWING THE FUSE - R&B Classics That Rocked The Jukebox
(1958 also includes Bobby Day -
Rockin' Robin, track 21 -total 31)
Electric Blues - The Definitive Collection
The best recordings of.....
1925 - 1942
The History of Rhythm and Blues - also 1942-1952
(super great 4CD sets)
Top Rhythm & Blues Records
(with chart-placings and Top Artists year-by-year)
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The RollingStone 500
Greatest Songs
The RollingStone Top 50
Songs
GRAMMY HALL OF FAME AWARDS
The award winning 25+ aged songs!
Presenting 21 Great Hits of the Golden Years of R&B
| 1945 Beulah's Boogie - Lionel
Hampton 1946 Driftin' Blues - Johnny Moore's 3 Blazers 1947 Let The Good Times Roll - Louis Jordan 1948 Call It Stormy Monday - T-Bone Walker 1949 Ain't Noboby's Business - Jimmy Witherspoon 1950 Hard Luck Blues - Roy Brown 1951 Sixty-Minute Man - The Dominoes 1952 Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price 1953 Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 1954 Shake, Rattle And Roll - Joe Turner 1955 Earth Angel - The Penguins |
1956 Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino 1957 Searchin' - The Coasters 1958 Rock-in Robin - Bobby Day 1959 Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison 1960 Kiddio - Brook Benton 1961 Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe 1962 Duke Of Earl - Gene Chandler 1963 Baby Workout - Jackie Wilson 1964 Out Of Sight - James Brown 1965 My Girl - The Temptations (an "all-time-greatest" CD compiled by the editor) |
The
Top 10 Songs 1950 - 1969
(plus the Top 100 Songs of each year)
1. James Brown |
www.timesunion.com
Fine news site
All
the #1 R&B Hits
of the Golden ´50s
Below are listed all titles hitting any of the
Billboard´s national R&B charts´ #1 position during the ´50s.
Month of hitting #1 is followed by title and artist, and no. of weeks
at # 1 on the specified charts
- Best Seller (BS), Juke Box (JB), Jockeys (DJ), and later Hot R&B Chart (HC).
Note that a record may have been #1 by the end of one year and still #1 in
Jan. the following year.
Billboard´s "Black Pop Charts"
The Billboard magazine debuted its black charts on October 24,
1942, calling it "Harlem Hit Parade". On February 17, 1945 it was retagged
"Juke Box Race Records" - complemented with a second chart, "Best
Sellers" from May 22, 1948. From June 25, 1949 "Rhythm & Blues" was
the new terminology -
changing to "R&B" on June 30, 1956. On August 23, 1969 the chart was renamed
again, this time to "Soul Singles" and on June 26, 1982 Billboard retagged the
"style" (or market) again - to "Black Singles". Finally Billboard took
back the old tag and named their black pop chart "Hot R&B Singles" (in
the new Millennium the term is coined "R&B/Hip-Hop").
From January 22, 1955 a third R&B chart was introduced, "Jockeys" (a
most-played-by-DJs chart, which ended on June 13, 1958). The final "Juke
Box" chart was published on June 17, 1957 (with "Searchin' " and "Young Blood"
on Top positions). From October 20, 1958 Billboard only published one black pop chart - "Hot R&B
Sides" (which meant both tracks of a single could chart separately). From November 3,
1962 this was changed to "Hot R&B Singles" (where both titles of a
double-sided hit were listed together). No R&B chart at all was published during
November 30, 1963 - January 23, 1965 (although Cash Box had an R&B chart in
1964).
The original R&B era can be roughly estimated to the 20-year period of 1944 - 1963
(although others may say different).
| weeks at #1 |
| 1949 Dec, 48 Dec, 48 Dec, 48 Febr Febr March June Aug Sept Sept Sept Sept Oct Oct Dec 1950 Febr, 50 March April May May July Aug Sept Sept Oct Nov Nov Dec 1951 Jan March June June June Sept Sept Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec 1952 Jan Jan Febr March March May June June July Aug Sept Sept Sept Nov Nov Dec 1953 Febr March April May June July July Aug Sept Nov Dec 1954 Jan Febr March May June July Sep Sept Oct Nov Nov Dec 1955 Jan Jan Febr April April May May June June June Aug Aug Oct Oct Dec Dec Dec 1956 Jan Jan March March April May July July Aug Aug Aug Sept Sept Nov 1957 Jan Jan March March March April April April June June June July Aug Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Nov 1958 Jan Jan Jan Jan Febr March March April May May May June June Aug Aug Aug Sept Sept Sept Oct Oct Dec Dec 1959 Febr Febr March May June July Aug Aug Sept Sept Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec |
Chicken Shack Boogie - Amos Milburn Bewildered - Red Miller Trio Bewildered - Amos Milburn Boogie Chillen´ - John Lee Hooker & his Guitar The Deacon´s Hop - Big Jay McNeely's Blue Jays The Huckle Buck - Paul Williams and his Hucklebuckers Trouble Blues - Charles Brown Trio Ain´t Nobody´s Business - Jimmy Witherspoon Roomin´ House Boogie - Amos Milburn All She Wants To Do Is Rock - Wynonie Harris Tell Me So - The Orioles Baby Get Lost - Dinah Washington Beans And Corn Bread - Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five Saturday Night Fish Fry - Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five For You My Love - Larry Darnell I Almost Lost My Mind - Ivory Joe Hunter Double Crossing Blues - Johnny Otis Quintette - The Robins and Little Esther Mustrustin´ Blues - Little Esther with Mel Walker and the Johnny Otis Orch. I Need You So - Ivory Joe Hunter Pink Champagne - Joe Liggins & his Honeydrippers Cupid Boogie - Johnny Otis Orchestra - Little Esther and Mel Walker Hard Luck Blues - Roy Brown and his Mighty-Mighty Men Mona Lisa - Nat "King" Cole Blue Light Boogie - Lous Jordan and his Tympany Five Blue Shadows - Lowell Fulson featuring Lloyd Glenn at the "88" Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere - Joe Morris and his Orchestra w. Laurie Tate Please Send Me Someone To Love - Percy Mayfield and Orchestra Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown & Budd Johnson's Orch. Bad, Bad Whiskey - Amos Milburn and his Aladdin Chickenshackers Black Night - Charles Brown and his Band Rocket "88" - Jackie Brenston with his Delta Cats Chica Boo - Lloyd Glenn at the "88" Sixty-Minute Man - The Dominoes Don´t You Know I Love You - The Clovers The Glory Of Love - The Five Keys "T" 99 Blues - Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio Fool, Fool, Fool - The Clovers I Got Loaded - "Peppermint" Harris w Maxwell Davis and his All-Stars I´m In The Mood - John Lee Hooker Because Of Me - Tab Smith & his Fabulous Alto and Orchestra Flamingo - Earl Bostic and his Orchestra Weepin´ And Cryin´ - Griffin Brothers Orchestra w. Tommy Brown Cry - Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads Three O´Clock Blues - B.B. King Night Train - Jimmy Forest, tenor and all star combo (sic - Forrest) Booted - Roscoe Gordon 5-10-15 Hours - Ruth Brown Have Mercy Baby - The Dominoes Goin´ Home - Fats Domino Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price and his Orchestra Mary Jo - Four Blazes Ting-A-Ling - The Clovers My Song - Johnny Ace with The Beale Streeters Juke - Little Walter and his Night Cats Five Long Years - Eddie Boyd You Know I Love You - B.B. King & his Orchestra I Don´t Know - Willie Mabon and his Combo Baby, Don´t Do It - The "5" Royales (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown with Orchestra Hound Dog - Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton - Kansas City Bill and Orchestra I´m Mad - Willie Mabon and his Combo Help Me Somebody - The "5" Royales Please Love Me - B.B. King and his Orchestra The Clock - Johnny Ace (w. The Beale Streeters) Crying In The Chapel - The Orioles Shake A Hand - Faye Adams with the Joe Morris Orch Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters Honey Hush - Joe Turner and his Band The Things That I Used To Do - Guitar Slim and his Band I´ll Be True - Faye Adams (w. Joe Morris orch.) You´ll Never Walk Alone - Roy Hamilton Work With Me Annie - The Midnighters (formerly known as the Royals) Shake, Rattle And Roll - Joe Turner & his Blues Kings Honey Love - The Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter Oh What A Dream - Ruth Brown and her Rhythmakers Annie Had A Baby - The Midnighters Hurts Me To My Heart - Faye Adams Mambo Baby - Ruth Brown and her Rhythmakers Hearts Of Stone - The Charms You Upset Me Baby - B.B. "Blues Boy" King and his Orchestra Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - The Penguins Sincerely - The Moonglow's Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace with Johnny Otis Orchestra The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry) - Etta James & "The Peaches" My Babe - Little Walter and his Jukes I´ve Got A Woman - Ray Charles and his Band Unchained Melody - Roy Hamilton Ain´t It A Shame - Fats Domino Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley A Fool For You - Ray Charles and his Band Maybelline - Chuck Berry and his Combo Only You (And You Alone) - The Platters All By Myself - Fats Domino Hands Off - JayMcShann's Orchestra w. Priscilla Bowman Poor Me - Fats Domino Adorable - The Drifters The Great Pretender - The Platters At My Front Door - The El Dorados Why Do Fools Fall In Love - The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon Drown In My Own Tears - Ray Charles and his Band Long Tall Sally - Little Richard and his Band I´m In Love Again - Fats Domino Fever - Little Willie John Treasure Of Love - Clyde McPhatter Rip It Up - Little Richard and his Band My Prayer - The Platters Honky Tonk - Bill Doggett Let The Good Times Roll - Shirley & Lee Hound Dog / Don´t Be Cruel - Elvis Presley Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino Since I Met You Baby - Ivory Joe Hunter Blue Monday - Fats Domino Jim Dandy - LaVerne Baker and the Gliders Love Is Strange - Mickey & Sylvia I´m Walkin´ - Fats Domino Lucille - Little Richard and his Band School Day - Chuck Berry All Shook Up - Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires Young Blood - The Coasters (original A-side of "Searchin'") Searchin´ - The Coasters C.C. Rider - Chuck Willis Short Fat Fannie - Larry Williams and his Band Send For Me - Nat King Cole (w. the McCoy's Boys) Farther Up The Road - Bobby "Blue" Bland (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires Whole Lotta Shakin´ Going On - Jerry Lee Lewis Long Lonely Nights - Clyde McPhatter Diana - Paul Anka Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes Honeycomb - Jimmie Rodgers Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley You Send Me - Sam Cooke At The Hop - Danny & The Juniors Raunchy - Ernie Freeman Raunchy - Bill Justis & his Orchestra I´ll Come Running Back To You - Sam Cooke Get A Job - The Silhouettes Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry Tequila - The Champs Twilight Time - The Platters Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires All I Have To Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers Witch Doctor - The Music of David Seville Yakety Yak - The Coasters What Am I Living For - Chuck Willis Splish Splash - Bobby Darin Patricia - Perez Prado and his Orch. Just A Dream - Jimmy Clanton and his Rockets Little Star - The Elegants When - Kalin Twins It´s All In the Game - Tommy Edwards Rock-in Robin - Bobby Day Topsy (part II) - Cozy Cole A Lover´s Question - Clyde McPhatter Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson Try Me (I Need You) - James Brown and the Famous Flames Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price It´s Just A Matter Of Time - Brook Benton Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison Personality - Lloyd Price and his Orchestra There Goes My Baby - The Drifters What´d I Say - Ray Charles and his Orchestra Thank You Pretty Baby - Brook Benton I´m Gonna Get Married - Lloyd Price I Want To Walk You Home - Fats Domino Poison Ivy - The Coasters Sea Of Love - Phil Phillips with The Twilights You Better Know It - Jackie Wilson So Many Ways - Brook Benton Don´t You Know - Della Reese The Clouds - The Spacemen |
1949 BS 4, JB 5 BS 4, JB 5 BS 3, JB 2 JB 1 BS 1, JB 1 BS 12, JB 14 BS 15, JB 11 BS 1 JB 2 BS 1, JB 2 BS 1 BS 2, JB 1 JB 1 BS 12, JB 11 BS 6, JB 8 1950 BS 2, JB 5 BS 9, JB 5 BS 4, JB 4 JB 2 BS 11, JB 13 JB 1 BS 3 JB 4 BS 7, JB 4 BS 1, JB 4 BS 4, JB 3 BS 2, JB 1 BS 11, JB 7 1951 BS 1, JB 3 BS 13, JB 14 BS 3, JB 5 JB 2 BS 14, JB 12 BS 2 BS 4, JB 2 JB 1 BS 6, JB 3 BS 1, JB 2 JB 4 BS 2 BS 4 1952 JB 3 BS 1, JB 1 BS 5, JB 5 BS 6, JB 7 BS 1 BS 7, JB 6 BS 7, JB 10 BS 1 BS 7, JB 1 JB 3 BS 1, JB 1 BS 9 BS 1, JB 8 BS 2, JB 7 BS 2 BS 8, JB 7 1953 BS 3, JB 3 BS 5, JB 5 BS 6, JB 7 BS 2 BS 5, JB 5 JB 3 BS 5, JB 4 BS 4, JB 5 BS 9, JB 10 BS 11, JB 1 JB 8 1954 BS 6, JB 14 BS 1 BS 8, JB 5 BS 7, JB 4 JB 3 BS 8, JB 8 BS 4, JB 8 BS 2 BS 5, JB 5 BS 1, JB 1 BS 9, JB 2, DJ 2 JB 2 1955 BS 3, JB 3, DJ 1 JB 2, DJ 1 BS 9, JB 9, DJ 10 DJ 4 BS 4, JB 5, DJ 2 JB 1 BS 3 BS 11, JB 8, DJ 10 JB 1 JB 2 DJ 1 BS 9, JB 11, DJ 9 BS 7, JB 6, DJ 5 DJ 5 BS 3, JB 2, DJ 2 DJ 1 JB 1 1956 BS 10, JB 9, DJ 11 JB 1 BS 5, DJ 2 JB 2, DJ 1 BS 6, JB 8, DJ 5 BS 7, JB 9, DJ 9 BS 3, JB 1, DJ 5 JB 1 BS 2, JB 1 JB 2, DJ 2 BS 13, JB 1, DJ 5 JB 3, DJ 3 BS 1, DJ 6 BS 8, JB 8, DJ 11 1957 JB 3, DJ 1 BS 8, JB 8, DJ 7 DJ 1 DJ 2 BS 6, JB 5, DJ 5 JB 2 BS 1, JB 1, DJ 5 BS 4, JB 4, DJ 2 BS 1 BS 12, JB 2, DJ 7 DJ 2 DJ 1 DJ 2 DJ 2 BS 1 BS 2, DJ 1 DJ 1 BS 2 DJ 4 BS 2, DJ 1 DJ 1 BS 5, DJ 3 BS 6, DJ 6 1958 BS 5 DJ 2 DJ 1 DJ 1 BS 4, DJ 6 BS 3, DJ 3 BS 4, DJ 4 BS 3 DJ 3 BS 5, DJ 3 DJ 1 BS 7, DJ 6 DJ 1 DJ 2 BS 2, DJ 1 BS 1 BS 4, DJ 4 DJ 1 BS 3 DJ 3 HC 6 HC 1 HC 7 1959 HC 1 HC 4 HC 9 HC 7 HC 4 HC 1 HC 1 HC 4 HC 3 HC 1 HC 4 HC 1 HC 1 HC 3 HC 2 HC 3 |
The Top
10 Songs 1950 - 1969
(from DigitalDreamDoor)
BRUCE GROSSBERG'S FAVORITES
Bruce did several of the great DigitalDreamDoor lists
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Read more about
the favorite artists at:
More About the Great R&B
Pioneers & their Hits
Check
the Battle of the Blues Legends!
The True Blues Giants Chicago Blues Heaven |
Cryin´ and Shoutin´ the Blues T-Bone Walker vs. Big Joe Turner & Lowell Fulson Fathers of Blues & Rhythm Lionel Hampton vs. Johnny Otis & Roy Brown Rock ´n´ Roll Pioneers Fats Domino vs. Clovers & Robins & Coasters |
Delta Blues Heaven The Howlin´ Wolf vs. Sonny Boy & Elmore James Pop, Rock & Soul The Drifters vs. Chuck Berry & James Brown The Soul Pioneers Jackie Wilson vs. Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke & Joe Tex |
Three Hours of Super R&B Sounds
A subjective play-list of 60
not-too-well-known favorite songs.
Check it!
My
personal favorite CDs
(or: The Essential R&B
Collection)
But: There are a lot more!!!!
| BLUES JOHN LEE HOOKER: Hooker (4CD box-set) - Shout!Factory 826663-10198 Half A Stranger - Mainstream MDCD 903 The Vee-Jay Years 1955 - 1964 - Charly CD RED BOX 6 (6-set) The Best of John Lee Hooker (1965 - 1974) - MCA MCAD-10539 Alternative Boogie 1948-52 (3CD) - Capitol 833912 The Complete 50s Chess Recordings (2CD) MCA MCD 9391 LIGHTNIN´ HOPKINS: Mojo Hand-The Lightnin´ Hopkins Anthology (2CD) - Rhino R2 71226 MUDDY WATERS: The Chess Box (3CD) - MCA CHD3-8002 SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Essential (2CD) - MCA CHD2-9343 Sonny Boy´s Rhythm - P-Vine PCD 2183 HOWLIN´ WOLF: The Chess Box (3CD) - MCA CHD3-9332 Howling Wolf Sings The Blues - Ace CDCHM 1013 ELMORE JAMES: The Sky Is Crying-The History of - Rhino R2 71190 The Best of-The Early Years - Ace CHCDH 583 LITTLE WALTER: Essential (2CD) - MCA CHD2-9342 JIMMY REED: Blues Masters: The Very best of... - Rhino R2 79802 or The Very Best of (2CD) - Charly CPCD 82522 LOUIS JORDAN: Five Guys Named Moe - MCA MACD 10503 JOE TURNER: Big, Bad & Blue-The Joe Turner Anthology (3CD) - Rhino R2 71550 JOHNNY OTIS: Rhythm & Blues Caravan-Complete Savoy (3CD) - Savoy 92859-2 T-BONE WALKER: Blues Masters-The Very Best of T-Bone Walker - Rhino R2 79894 The Complete Capitol/Black & White Recordings (3CD) - Capitol 829379-2 The Complete Imperial Recordings (2CD) - EMI CDP7 96737-2 T-Bone Blues - Atlantic 8020-2 LOWELL FULSON: The Tramp Years - Ace CDCHD 755 CHARLES BROWN: Driftin´ Blues-The Best of - EMI CDP7 97989-2 AMOS MILBURN: Blues & Boogie-His Greatest Hits - Sequel NEX CD 132 ROY BROWN: Good Rocking Tonight-The Best of - Rhino R2 71545 B. B. KING: The Vintage Years (4CD) Ace ABOXCD 8 King of the Blues (4CD) MCA D4-10677 BOBBY BLAND: The 3 B Blues Boy 1952-1959 - Ace CDCHD 302 CHESS BLUES - various artists (4CD) - MCA/Chess CHD 4-9340 (... and there is the ultimate Chess Box - 15 CD package - The Chess Story 1947-1975 - MCA 380 596-2) RHYTHM & BLUES  The History of Rhythm And Blues: Part One 1925-1942 (4CD) - RANDB001 (by far the very best of a Pre-War R&B sampler!!!! - 97 tracks) or Highlights of The History of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942 (1CD) - RANDB002 (by far the very best of a Pre-War R&B sampler!!!!) or even better - the new-packed: The History of Rhythm And Blues 1925-1942 (4CD) - RANDB008 (106 tracks) and The History of Rhythm And Blues 1942-52 (4CD) - RANDB003 (just as perfect as volume one - 101 tracks) and The History of Rhythm And Blues 1952-57 (4CD) - RANDB011 (109 tracks)  Check the web-site FATS DOMINO: They Call Me The Fat Man (4CD) - EMI CDP7 96785-2 LITTLE RICHARD: The Georgia Peach - Specialty SPCD 7012-2 LLOYD PRICE: Lloyd Price Rocks - Bear Family BCD 16999 AR RUTH BROWN: Miss Rhythm-Greatest Hits and More (2CD) - Rhino/Atlantic R2 82061 LaVERN BAKER: Soul On Fire-The Best of - Atlantic 82311-2 LaVern - Sequel RSACD 909 BOBBY DAY: The Original Rockin´ Robin - Ace CDCHD 200 JOHNNY "GUITAR" WATSON: The Very Best of - Rhino R2 75702 Space Guitar - A Proper Introduction - Proper INTROCD2083 ETTA JAMES: R&B Dynamite - Flair/Virgin 2-91695 The Chess Box (3 CD) MCA 088 112288-2 or: Essential (2CD) - MCA MCD2 9341 IKE TURNER: I Like Ike!-The Best of - Rhino R2 71819 RUFUS THOMAS: Do The Funky Something-The Best of - Rhino R2 72410 BO DIDDLEY: The Chess Box (3CD) - MCA CH3 19502 RAY CHARLES: Genius & Soul/50th Anniversary Album (5CD) Rhino RHCD 72858 The Birth of Soul-The Complete Atlantic R&B Sessions (3CD) - Atlantic 782310-2 The Birth of a Legend (2CD) - Ebony CD 8001-8002 CHUCK BERRY: The Chess Box (3CD) - MCA CHD3 80001 JAMES BROWN: Star Time-The Godfather of Soul (4CD) - Polydor 849109-112 Roots of A Revolution (2CD) - Polydor 817304-2 Soul Pride-The Instrumentals 1959-1969 (2CD) - Polydor 517845-2 The J.B.´s - Funky Good Time: The Anthology (2CD) - Polydor 527094-2 CLYDE McPHATTER: Deap Sea Ball-The Best of - Atlantic 82314-2 Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters - Sequel RSA CD 803 JESSE BELVIN: Goodnight My Love - Ace CDCHD 336 The Blues Balladeer - Specialty SPCD 7003-2 SAM COOKE: The Man And His Music - RCA PCD1-7127 Sam Cooke´s Night Beat - Abkco - 1124-2 BEN E. KING: The Very Best of - Rhino R2 72970 JACKIE WILSON: The Very Best of - Rhino R2 71559 BROOK BENTON: Endlessly-The Best of - Rhino R2 75324 SOLOMON BURKE: Home In Your Heart - The Best of (2CD) - Rhino R2 70284 KING CURTIS: Hot Sax, Cool Licks - Ace CDCHD 757 or: Instant Soul - Razor & Tie RE 2054 and Instant Groove - Edsel EDCD 315 JOE TEX: The Very Best of - Rhino R 2 72565 WILSON PICKETT: The Very Best of - Rhino R2 71212 OTIS REDDING: The Very Best of Vol 1 & 2 (2CD) - Rhino R2 71147 and R2 71930 MARVIN GAYE: Twenty Greatest Hits - Motown MOTD 6201 ARETHA FRANKLIN: The Very Best of Vol 1 & 2 (2CD) - Rhino R2 71598 and R2 71599 NAT KING COLE: The World of - Capitol 60680-2 (27 super classics) THE R&B BOX - 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues - various artists (6CD) - Rhino R2 71806 Leiber & Stoller present the Spark Records Story - Ace CDCH 801 Hard Times - The Leiber & Stoller Story, Volume one - Ace CDCHD 1010 Rhyme and Reason - The first of Leiber & Stoller - El Toro CD E&B 109 The R&B Hits 1942-45 (various artists) - Indigo (2-set) IGOCD 76612641000 1946 - The R&B Hits (various artists) - Indigo IGOCD 2060 1947 - The R&B Hits (various artists) - Indigo IGOCD 2081Z 1948 - The R&B Hits (various artists) - Indigo (2-set) IGODCD 101Z 1949 - The R&B Hits (various artists) - Indigo (2-set) IGODCD 104Z 1950 - The R&B Hits (various artists) - Indigo (2-set) IGODCS 105Z The R&B Hits of 1951 (various artists) - Indigo (2-set) IGODCD 2500 The R&B Hits of 1952 (various artists) - Indigo (3-set) IGOTCD 2532 The R&B Hits of 1953 (various artists) - Indigo (3-set) IGOTCD 2540 The R&B Hits of 1954 (v.a. 4CD-set with 8 page-booklet-84 tracks) - Indigo IGOTCD 2565 The R&B Hits of 1955 (v.a.3-set) - Castle CMETD1267 The R&B Years 1955 Volume One & Two (4CDs) - Boulevard Vintage BVCD1012, 1014 The R&B Years 1956 Volume One & Two (4CDs) - Boulevard Vintage BVCD1512, 1532 (the Boulevard series starts with 1947 and has volumes covering each year witha 100 tracks per year from then on) from Secret Records and also two volumes covering 1942-1945 The Greatest R&B Hits of 1956 - Acrobat (4CD) ACQCD 7006 The Greatest R&B Hits of 1957 - Acrobat (4CD) ACQCD 7007 R&B Spotlight ´58 - Fantastic Voyage (2CD) FVDD 016 The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll, 1946-1954 (v.a.) - Hip-O CD (2-set) 02252 (60 great tracks) The Motown Box (4CD) - Motown MOT 4999 (72 early classics - several in extended stereo mixes) Tamla Motown Gold - All the hits from the 60's - (3-set) Universal 016301-2 A Copmplete Introdiction to Chess (4CD - 1948-75) - Universal UK 531 770-2 Boogielogy - The Boogie Woogie Masters - GVC (2CD) 2024 Gettin' Funky - The Birth Of New Orleans R&B - 4CD various artists (mostly 1949-1950) - Properbox 28 and The Cosimo Matassa Story - 4CD various artists (1950-1956) - Properbox 129 Electric Blues - The Definitive Collection A Super-Set on Bear Family, issued in 2012 - dont miss it!!!!  Blowing The Fuse - series (1 CD per year) R&B Classics That Rocked the Jukebox - on Bear Family 1945 - 1960 Simply great DigiPacs!!! Now also the follow-up series: Sweet Soul Music 1961 - 1966 (the volymes 1967-1970 are a bit outside the interest of the original R&B era) VOCAL GROUPS THE DOMINOES: Sixty Minute Men-The Best of - Rhino R2 71509 THE CLOVERS: Down In The Alley-The Best of - Atlantic 82312-2 Love Potion No. 9 - EMI CDP7 96336-2 THE RAVENS: Be I Bumble Bee or Not - Indigo IGOCD 21276Z THE "5" ROYALES: Monkey, Hips And Rice-Anthology (2CD) - Rhino R2 71546 All Righty!-The Apollo Recordings 1951-1955 - WestSide WESM 591 HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS: Sexy Ways-The Best of - Rhino R2 71512 THE MOONGLOWS: Blue Velvet-Ultimate Collection (2CD) - MCA CHD2 9345 THE FLAMINGOS: The Best of - Rhino R2 70967 THE DRIFTERS: Rockin´ & Driftin´ (3CD) - Rhino R2 72417 THE PLATTERS: Enchanted-The Best of - Rhino R2 75326 THE CADILLACS: The Cadillacs Rock - Bear Family BCD 16281 AR THE COASTERS: 50 Coastin´ Classics (2CD) - Rhino R2 71090 Down Home - Varese Vintage (Varese Sarabande) CD 302066844-2 Charlie Brown - MR. R&B CD-102 (Relicversion) There's A Riot Goin' On - The Coasters On Atco - Rhino Handmade RHM2 7740 (4CD) THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Rockin´ Soul-The Story Vol 1 - Rhino R2 70908 THE IMPRESSIONS: Greatest Hits - MCA MCAD 31588 SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES: The Greatest Hits - Motown 530121 THE TEMPTATIONS: Gold (2CD) - Motown 49863200 THE DOO WOP BOX - various artists (4 CD) - Rhino 71563 |
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The best re-issue label
in the "Public Domain"
Classics
chronological "Blues & Rhythm Series"
(distributed by
Discovery Records Ltd in UK)
By the end of May, 2005 the French label Classics - produced by Gilles Petard, and specializing on public domain reissues in chronological order (up to and including 1954) has issued 134 one-set CDs covering the R&B Pioneers, with circa 20+ chronological tracks on each CD from the Pioneers' first recordings in nice-looking packages (see miage above) - and great short-bios by Dave Penny plus session details. Among the great artists represented in the series are Dave Bartholomew, Earl Bostic, John Brim, Clarence Brown, Roy Brown, Ruth Brown, Walter Brown, LaVern Baker, Ray Charles, The Clovers, Bill Doggett, Fats Domino, The Dominoes, Lowell Fulson, Lloyd Glenn, Lightnin' Hopkins, Ivory Joe Hunter, Elmore James, B.B. King, Joe Liggins, Little Esther, Little Walter, Jimmy McCracklin, Big Jay McNeely, Amos Milburn, Joe Morris, Johnny Otis, Lloyd Price, Professor Longhair, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, Todd Rhodes, Sunnyland Slim, Big Mama Thornton, Eddie Vinson, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Billy Wright; .. plus several more Pioneers - and the artists who recorded more than 20+ tracks during the early years are represented with more than one record. Well - you may read the above as a true list of the Pioneers of R&B who really were there from the beginning and made at least 20 recordings after the war and up to 1954! (Classics has also issued several pre-R&B vocalists in their long-term jazz series). John Lee Hooker´s great double-CD series (with six great 2-set CDs) on Body & Soul are also the fruit of Gilles Petard's great ideas of letting the fans collect their old favorites.
My favorite label and
its essential compilation
THE MODERN RECORDS STORY
The Very Best on the Modern labels
Ace CDCHD 784 30 tracks on one CD:
Ike & Tina Turner: I Can´t Believe What You Say - Lowelll Fulsom: Tramp
- Elmore James: Dust My Blues, Blues Before Sunrise - Johnny "Guitar" Watson:
Three Hours Past Midnight - Jesse Belvin: Goodnight My Love (Pleasent Dreams) - Young
Jessie: Mary Lou - Ike Turner: Cunabo Jump - The Cadets: Stranded In The Jungle - The
Jacks: Why Don´t You Write Me - Howling Wolf: My Baby Stole Off - Marvin &
Johnny: Cherry Pie - Rosco Gordon; No More Doggin´ - Shirley Gunter: Oop Shoop -
Lightnin´ Hopkins: Jake Hed Boogie - Junior Thompson with the Meteors: Mama´s Little
Baby - The Teen Queens: Eddie My Love - B B King: Three O´Clock Blues - Ira Mae
Littlejohn: Go Devil Go - John Lee Hooker: I´m In The Mood - Pee Wee Crayton - Texas Hop
- The Ikettes: Peaches ´n´ Cream - Etta James: Good Rockin´ Daddy - The Cliques: Girl
In My Dreams - Richard Berry: The Big Break - Jimmy McCracklin: Gonna Tell Your Mother -
Z.Z. Hill: I Need Someone (To Love Me) - Joe Houston: All Night Long.
My Top Vinyl Albums
(Restricted to Vinyl LPs, which
where made as an "album session"
- listed in order of recording / release)
| LaVern Baker: LaVern -
Atlantic 8002 (1956) Muddy Waters: Sings Big Bill Broonzy - Chess LP 1444 (1959) B. B. King: My Kind of Blues - Crown LP 5188 (1960) Lloyd Price: Mr. Personality Sings the Blues - ABC Par. 315 (1960) John Lee Hooker: Travelin´ - VeeJay LP 1023 (1960) Jackie Wilson: Jackie Sings the Blues - Brunswick 7-64055 (1960) Jesse Belvin: Mr. Easy - RCA 2105 (1960) The Coasters: One By One - Atco 33-123 (1960) Ray Charles: Genius + Soul = Jazz - Impulse AS2 (1960) John Lee Hooker: Burnin´ - VeeJay LP 1043 (1961) Bo Diddley: Bo Diddley - Checker LP 2984 (1962) Jimmy Reed: Just Jimmy Reed - VeeJay SR 1050 (1962) Sam Cooke: Night Beat - RCA Victor LP 2709 (1963) Otis Spann (& James Cotton): The Blues Never Die - Prestige 7391 (1964) Jackie Wilson - Somethin' Else - Brunswick 7-54117 (1964) James Brown: Grits and Soul - Smash 67057 (1964) Junior Wells´ Chicago Blues Band: Hoodoo Man - Delmark DS 9612 (1965) Johnny Young: and his Chicago Blues Band - Arhoolie F 1029 (1965) John Lee Hooker: The Real Folk Blues - Chess LP 1508 (1966) Jimmy Smith: Got My Mojo Working - Verve V6-8614 (1966) John Lee Hooker: Live at the Café au Go-Go - Bluesway LP 6002 (1966) B. B. King: From The Beginning - Kent KST 533 (2-set) (1967) (brass added to King´s old hits plus some new ones) Jackie Wilson & Count Basie: Manufacturs of Soul - Brunswick 754134 (1968) Ike & Tina: Outta Season - BlueThumb 8805 (1969) King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree: Blues at Montreux - Atlantic SD 1837 (1971) Muddy Waters: Live at Mister Kelly´s - Chess CH 50012 (1971) Howlin´ Wolf: The Back Door Wolf - Chess CH 50045 (1972) Otis Rush: Cold Days In Hell - Delmark DS-638 (1975) |
Some of the best reading
on Vocal Groups, Rhythm & Blues,
Soul Music and Post War Blues
* Highly
recommended
Vocal
Groups * The Coasters: Bill Millar (UK 1974) * Carl Gardner - Yakety Yak I Fought Back - My Life with The Coasters: Veta Gardner (AuthorHouse, 2007) * Beyond the Dream: Veta Gardner (AuthoHouse 2010) Those Hoodlum Friends - The Coasters: Claus Röhnisch (this Web Site) THE DISCOGRAPHICAL CATALOG OF AMERICAN RACE, RHYTHM & BLUES, ROCK & ROLL, AND SOUL VOCAL GROUPS 1890 – 1999: Disco-File: Fernando L. Gonzales - 2008 (first edition 1974, second 1977) – THIRD EDITION 2008 (website) * The Billboard Book of American Singing Groups - A History 1940 - 1990: Jay Warner (542 pages; US 1993); reprinted as The DaCapo Book of American Singing Groups (US 2000) - updated in 2006 as American Singing Groups - A History from 1940 to Today (Hal-Leonard, US) Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups: Mitch Rosalsky (The Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0-8108-3663-7; 703 pages; US 2002) * Group Harmony - Echoes of the Rhythm and Blues Era: Todd R. Baptista - new edition (Collectables, www.oldies US 2007) * Group Harmony - Behind the Rhythm and the Blues: Todd R. Baptista (US 1998) A Discography of Rhythm & Blues and Rock ´N Roll Vocal Groups 1945 to 1965: Robert D. Ferlingere (US 1976, 4th edition - 2002) Doo-Wop - The Forgotten third of Rock 'n Roll: Anthony J. Gribin, Matthew M. Schiff IUS 1992) Setting the Record Straight (2007) and Vol 2 (2009): Anthony P. Musso (AuthorHouse - based on interviews with survivors) * Save The Last Dance For Me - The Musical Legacy of the Drifters: Tony Allen with Faye Treadwell (US 1993) - (or updated 2005 edition softback of above - self published) The Ultimate Vocal Group Harmony Reference Guide (Volume 1 and Volume 2): Dennis Holran (US 2008) The Drifters: Bill Millar (UK 1971) Drifters 1: Bill Pinkney - 50 years 1953-2003 (US 2003) originaldrifters.com * They All Sang On The Corner: Philip Groia (US 1973) * Temptations: Otis Williams with Patricia Romanowski (US 1988 and 2002) * Ain't Too Proud To Beg - The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations: Mark Ribowsky (2010) L.A. Vocal Groups 1945-1965: Steve Propes and Galen Gart ( Big Nickel, US 2001) (aka: Recorded in Hollywood - The Glory Years of Rhythm & Blues) Rhythm And Blues - The Forties and Fifties: Lynn McCutcheon (US 1971) * Doo Wop - The Chicago Scene: Robert Pruter (US 1996) * Where Did Our Love Go - The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound: Nelson George (US 1985) * Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith - My life as a Supreme: Mary Wilson - part 2 with Patricia Romanowski (updated edition - 2 books in one - US 1999) The Lost Supreme - The Life of Dreamgirl Florence Ballard: Peter Benjaminson (US 2008) The Supremes - A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal: Mark Ribowsky (US 2010) The Heart of Rock and Soul: Dave Marsh (UK 1989) Girl Groups - The Story of a Sound: Alan Betrock (US 1982) * The Unsung Heroes of Rock ´n´ Roll: Nick Tosches (UK 1991) Girl Groups - Fabulous Females That Rocked The World: John Clemente (US 2000) The Original Marvelettes: Marc Taylor (US 2000) The Complete Book of Doo-Wop: Gribin-Schiff (US) | Look for more interesting vocal group books, plus | Post War Blues * Boogie Man - The Adventures of John Lee Hooker in the American Twentieth Century: Charles Shaar Murray (Viking, UK 1999) Boogie Chillen - A Guide to John Lee Hooker on Disc: Les Fancourt (UK 1992) Blues Records 1943 - 1970 Vol One: Mike Leadbitter, Neil Slaven; Vol Two: Mike Leadbitter, Leslie Fancourt and Paul Pelletier (Record Information Services, London 1994) 
The
Blues Discography* The Blues Discography 1943 - 1970 by Fancourt and McGrath (the new edition!) - this is followed by The Soul Discography (in three volumes - se below).  get the AMG guides (in cooperation with Backbeat Books)All Music Guide to the Blues - The Definitive Guide to the Blues (3rd edition): Vladimir Bogdanov et al (Backbeat Books, US 2003) The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings: Tony Russell and Chris Smith (UK 2006) * The History of the Blues - The Roots, The Music, The People: Francis Davis (US 1995, 2003) -- (Davis' book is in my opinion the best read u can get in understanding the blues and its roots) * The Blues - A Very Short Introduction: Elijah Wald (Oxford 2010) - (Wald's little book is highly recoommended - read it and you will really be in touch with the true blues and a perfect companion to Davis') * The Big Book of Blues: Robert Santelli (UK 1994) * Delta Blues - The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters who Revolutionized American Music: Ted Gioia (W. W. Norton, US 2008) * Stormy Monday - The T-Bone Walker Story: Helen Oakly Dance (US 1987) * Fessor Mojo´s "Don´t Start Me To Talkin´ (Sonny Boy Williamson): William E. Donoghue (US 1997) * Chicago Breakdown: Mike Rowe (UK 1973) or Chicago Blues - The City and the Music: Mike Rowe (US 1975) Deep Blues: Robert Palmer (Penguin, New York, 1981) Nothing But The Blues – The Music and the Musicians: Lawrence Cohn, ed (US 1999) * Muddy Waters - The Mojo Man: Sandra B. Tooze (with Discography by Phil Wright) (US 1998) * Can´t Be Satisfied - The Life and Times of Muddy Waters: Robert Gordon (US June 2002) Muddy Waters: Judy Astley (US 1997) The Muddy Waters Story: (CD book) Keith Rodway (US 2000) Bossmen - Bill Monroe and Muddy Waters: James Rooney (US 1986) Elmore James - The Ultimate Guide to the Master of Slide: Steve Franz (US 1994) * The Amazing Secret History of Elmore James: Steve Franz (BlueSource Publ, US 2002) * Moanin´ At Midnight - The Life and Times of Howlin´ Wolf: James Segrest & Mark Hoffman (US June, 2004) Trumpet Records - An Illustrated History with Discography: Marc Ryan (Big Nickel, US 1995) Spinning Blues Into Gold - The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records: Nadine Cohodas (US 2000) * Chess Records - Machers and Rockers: Rich Cohen (US 2005) The Story of Chess Records: John Collis (1998) I Am The Blues - The Willie Dixon Story: Willie Dixon with Don Snowden (US 1989) South To Louisiana - John Broven (UK) * Blues With A Feeling - The Little Walter Story: Tony Glover, Scott Dirks and Ward Gaines (US 2002) Little Walter - Chronological Recordings: Tony Glover (US 1997) * The Arrival of B.B. King - The Authorized Biography: Charles Sawyer (US 1980, UK 1981) * Blues Boy - The Life and Music of B.B. King: Sebastian Danchin (Univeristy Press of Mississippi, US 1998) * Blues All Around Me - The Autobiography of B.B. King: B.B. King & David Ritz (US 1996) Every Day I Sing The Blues - The Story of B.B. King: David Shirley (US, 1995) B. B. King - There Is Always One More Time: David McGee (Backbeat, US 2005) B B King Treasures: BB King, Dick Waterman (US 2005) BB King / Albert & Freddy - Discography: Leslie Fancourt (UK 1993) * Big Boss Man - The Life and Music of Bluesman Jimmy Reed: Will Romano (Backbeat, US 2006) Encyclopedia of the Blues (Volumes 1 & 2): Edward Komara, editor (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group - ISBN 0-415-92699-8 (1100 A4 pages in two volumes, publ 2006 - very expensive - but a huge work!) Earl Hooker - Blues Master: Sebastian Danchin (US 2001) * Urban Blues: Charles Keil (US and UK, 1966) Conversation with the blues: Paul Oliver (Us 1965, reprint 1997) * Feel Like Going Home - Portraits In Blues and Rock 'n' Roll: Peter Guralnick (US 1971, 1989, 2003) Rhino's Cruise Through The Blues: Barry Hansen (BK, US 2000) Rollin´ And Tumblin´ - The Postwar Blues Guitarists: Jas Obrecht, editor (US 2002) * Spinning Blues Into Gold - The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records: Nadine Cohodas bluestogold.com (US 2000) Damn Right I´ve Got The Blues: Buddy Guy and Donald Wilcock (US 1993) Blues For Dummies: Lonnie Brooks, Cub Koda, Wayne Baker Brooks (IDG BOOks 1988) A Blues Bibliography - The International Literature of an Afro-American Music Genre: Robert Ford (Paul Pelletier, publ. UK 1999) Blues Who's Who - A Biographical Dictionary of Blues Singers: Sheldon Harris (US 1981) Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Guralnik, Santelli, George-Warren Farley, eds (US 2003) Harmonica, Harps and Heavy Beathers: Kim Field (US 1993) The Virgin Encyclopedia of The Blues: Colin Larkin (Virgin UK 1998) The Rough Guide to Blues: Nigel Williamson (US 2007) The Devil's Music - A History of the Blues: Giles Oakley (UK 1976, 1983, 1997) - mostly pre-war The Country Blues: Sam Charters (US 1959) * The Golden Age of the Blues: Richard Havers & Richard Evans (UK 2009) incl. 20-tracks CD R & B Pioneers  
 * First Pressings - The History of Rhythm & Blues - Nine Volumes of 1950 - 1958: Galen Gart (Big Nickel, US, 1995) * First Pressings - The History of Rhythm & Blues - Volume 9: 1959: Galen Gart (Big Nickel, US, February 2003) * The R&B Book - A Disc-History of Rhythm & Blues: Big Al Pavlow ( Music House Publ. US 1983) - reprinted 2009 - get it at Music House Publishing, PO BOX 2271, PROVIDENCE, RI 02905 * Hound Dog - The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller with David Ritz (US June, 2009) The Real Rhythm And Blues: Hugh Gregory (UK 1998) The Early Years of Rhythm & Blues: Alan Govenar (Shiffer Publ 2004) * Blue Rhythms - Six Lives in Rhythm and Blues: Chip Deffaa (US 1996) * The Rockin´ 50s: Arnold Shaw (US 1974, 1987) * Honkers And Shouters - The Golden Years of Rhythm & Blues: Arnold Shaw (US 1978) Midnight at the Barrelhouse - The Johnny Otis Story: George Lipsitz (US 2010) Walking to New Orleans - The Story of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues: John Broven (UK 1974)) replaced in the US as Rhythm And Blues In New Orleans * Blue Monday - Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll: Rick Coleman (2006) * I Hear You Knockin´ - The Sound of New Orleans R&B: Jeff Hannusch (US 1985) The Soul of New Orleans - A legacy of rhythm and blues: Jeff Hannusch ((US 2002) * King of the Queen City - The Story of King Records: Jon Hartley Fox (US 2009) * Takin´ Back My Name - The Confessions of Ike Turner: Ike Turner with Nigel Cawthorne (UK 1999) The Late Great Johnny Ace And The Transition from R&B to Rock´n´Roll: James M. Salem (US 2005) The R&B Indies (Vol 1 - 4): Bob McGrath (US 2000; revised 2005-2006) check for more details on The R&B Indies! "What´d I Say" - The Atlantic Story - 50 Years of Music: Ahmet Ertegun; editor C. Perry Richardson (Orion UK & US 2001) * Icons of R&B and Soul Volumes 1 & 2 - Bob Gulla (Greenwood Press, US 2008) * Let The Good Times Roll - The Story of Louis Jordan & His Music: John Chilton (US 1994) Rock Mr. Blues - The Life and Music of Wynonie Harris: Tony Carlins (Big Nickel, US 1995) Upside Your Head! - Rhythm & Blues on Central Avenue: Johnny Otis (US 1993) * Miss Rhythm - The Autobiography of Ruth Brown: Ruth Brown with Andrew Yule (US 1996) The Gangster of Love - Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Performer, Preacher, Pimp: Vincent Bakker (Createspace, US 2009) Clyde McPhatter - A Biographical Essay with Discography: Colin Escott with Richard Weize (Germany 1987) Boogie Lightnin´: Michael Lydon and Ellen Mandel (US 1974) * Feel Like Going Home - Portraits in Blues and Rock ´n´ Roll: Peter Guralnik (US 1971, reprint 1989, 2003) The Early History of Rhythm & Blues: Alvin Govenar (US 1990) King Records of Cincinnati: Randy McNutt (Images of America) (US 2009) Dinah Washington - Queen of the Blues: James Haskin (US 1987) Brown Sugar - Eighty Years of America´s Black Female Super Stars: Donald Bogle (US 1980) Showtime at the Apollo: Tedd Fox (US 1983) * Jazz- The Golden Era: Richard Havers & Richard Evans (US 2009) incl. 20-tracks CD Rhythm & Blues and Rock
´n´ Roll
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