VA - More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 5: Sure Look Good To Me (KMCD165)

Size: 145.9 MB
Time: 62:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Speedo & The Pearls - Who Ya Gonna Kiss (2:35)
02 Paul Perryman & Group - Teenage Romeo (2:08)
03 The Dandevilles - Nasty Breaks (2:06)
04 Ruth Brown - Here He Comes (2:13)
05 The Teenos - Alrightee (1:57)
06 The Moonglows - Real Gone Mama (2:58)
07 Jerry Butler & The Impressions - Sweet Was The Wine (2:07)
08 Dolly Cooper - Big Rock Inn (2:05)
09 Bird Rollins - Pretty Little School Girl (2:24)
10 Honeyboy Bryant - Funny Looking Thing (1:43)
11 The Bluejays - Rock Rock Rock (1:53)
12 Joe Houston & His Rockets - I Woke Up This Morning (2:03)
13 The Southlanders - Penny Loafers & Bobby Sox (1:39)
14 Billy Williams - Red Hot Love (1:55)
15 Pee Wee Kingsly - Flippin' And A Floppin' (2:15)
16 Chubby Checker - Runaround Sue (2:30)
17 Bob Mackey - Shonuff' Miss Brown (1:57)
18 The Cyclones - Give Me Love (1:59)
19 Otis Riley - Sure Look Good To Me (1:59)
20 The Medallions - Dance And Swing (2:23)
21 Shirley & Lee - The Flirt (1:58)
22 Nolan Strong & The Diablos - Do You Remember What You Did (3:12)
23 The Turbans - B.I.N.G.O (2:17)
24 The Edsels - Bone Shaker Joe (2:31)
25 Varetta Dillard - I Don T Know What It Is But I Like It (2:30)
26 The Meloaires - You Know Baby (2:24)
27 The 5 Royales - I Need Your Lovin' Baby (2:47)
28 Fats Domino - Where Did You Stay (1:58)

As y'all already know, so many similar projects were devoted through the years to white rock and rollers (even the most obscure and unknown) and very little to the people that not only "originated" this music and played it long before white musicians started to fool around with it. They also continued to play it when black Rhythm and Blues music was suddenly re-named "Rock and Roll" to appeal to a wider white audience in segregated America and became a multi-racial genre in the mid-1950s. Once again, some tunes are pretty well-known, but the vast majority are not. Chances are that you never-ever heard a lot of the tracks included here - even if a lot of them were pretty popular in the 1950s among both black and white Rock and Roll fans. Most of the artists in this new series (just like the first one) were actually household names in the "Rock and Roll World" of the '50s and early '60s. When Rock & Roll history was re-written from a strictly white rock standpoint only a few black rockers were included (maybe less than a dozen) when actually back in the day almost every African-American R&B act (maybe a MILLION or more) was actually Rock & Roll and white artists were actually a minority for a long time. So "BLACK" by popular demand here's to you "MORE Boss Black Rockers." DIG IT!

More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 5: Sure Look Good To Me (KMCD165)

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VA - Seasons Greetings From The Mojo Man (KMCD171)

Size: 167.2 MB
Time: 72:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B, Christmas
Art: Front & Back

01 Johnny Otis, Little Esther & Mel Walker - Christmas Greeting (0:33)
02 Billy Eckstine - Christmas Eve (3:04)
03 Chuck Edwards - Let's Rock N' Roll (2:53)
04 Big Bud - Snow Man Rock (2:04)
05 Lord Nelson - A Party For Santa Claus (3:02)
06 Lionel Hampton - Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus (2:48)
07 The Platters - Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer (1:55)
08 Roy Tan & The Combo - Happy New Year (2:17)
09 Sonny Boy Williamson - Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues (2:36)
10 Sugar Chile Robinson - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (2:37)
11 Jerry Butler - O Holy Night (2:55)
12 The Gospel Solotones - Ride In The Chariot (2:18)
13 Nina Simone - Children Go Where I Send You (2:52)
14 Clarence Garlow - Let Me Be Your Santa (2:57)
15 The Staples Singers - Born In Bethlehem (2:04)
16 Sandy Baron - Swingin' Santa (2:21)
17 Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) (3:11)
18 The Uniques - Rock 'n' Rudolph (1:42)
19 Big Tiny Little - Tiny's Christmas Medley (2:50)
20 Singing Sammy Marshall - Jingle Mint Twist (1:52)
21 Jessie Belvin - I Want You With Me Christmas (3:39)
22 Bobby Nunn - Christmas Bells (2:47)
23 Chubby Checker & Bobby Rydell - Jingle Bell Rock (2:32)
24 Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas (2:11)
25 Jerry Butler - Silent Night (2:41)
26 Roy Milton - Christmas Time Blues (3:05)
27 John Lee Hooker - Blues For Christmas (3:29)
28 Amos Milburn - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby (2:54)

The Mojo Man presents another album for the festive season with 'The Mojo Man Christmas'. With twenty-eight handpicked tracks, The Mojo Man Christmas' sets out to live up to its title with a variety of numbers to get you in the mood for this special time of year. Its Overfilled with a variety of Christmas tracks, and serves as a reminder of the quality that has gone before, such as Lord Nelson - A Party For Santa Claus and ending with a bang via early Rhythm and Blues of Amos Milburn - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby, this is one neverending Christmas party you won't want to miss.

Seasons Greetings From The Mojo Man (KMCD171)

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VA - More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 2: Hokus Pokus (KMCD162)

Size: 148.4 MB
Time: 63:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Al Reed - Top Notch Grade A (2:12)
02 Curtis Knight - You're Gonna Be Sorry (2:08)
03 Ben Hughes - Crazy Man (2:20)
04 The Saxons - Rock & Roll Show (1:54)
05 Jackie Wilson - Etcetera (2:24)
06 Bobby Lester - Am I The Man (2:29)
07 Rudy Green - Teeny Weeny Baby (2:24)
08 The Valiants - Good Golly Miss Molly (1:59)
09 Kip Anderson - I Wanna Be The Only One (2:50)
10 Mr. P. T. & The Party-Timers - Aunt Susie (2:06)
11 Jo Jo Williams - Rock 'n' Roll Boogie (1:49)
12 Bunie Fitz - Just A Fool For You (1:42)
13 Ronny Goode - Hokus Pokus (2:03)
14 Clifford Curry - Kiss, Kiss, Kiss (2:13)
15 Bobby Freeman - The Mess Around (2:29)
16 Bobby Adams - I Want My Lovin' (2:21)
17 Big John Greer - Bottle It Up And Go (2:28)
18 Don Covay - Switchin' In The Kitchen (2:29)
19 Bobby Lewis - Yes, Oh Yes, It Did (2:36)
20 Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns - Loop De Loop De Loop (2:24)
21 Bobby Day - Mr. & Mrs. Rock-'N-Roll (2:07)
22 Sammy & The Five Notes - Doodle Bug Twist (2:20)
23 The Majestics - Hard Times (2:09)
24 Dorian Burton - Flyin' Home To My Baby (2:21)
25 Count Ferrell - Wizard Of Ah's (2:23)
26 Jimmy Witherspoon - Move Me Baby (2:33)
27 Willie White & The Bleu Matts - Everybody Dance (2:16)
28 Tommy Brown - Someday, Somewhere (1:49)

As y'all already know, so many similar projects were devoted through the years to white rock and rollers (even the most obscure and unknown) and very little to the people that not only "originated" this music and played it long before white musicians started to fool around with it. They also continued to play it when black Rhythm and Blues music was suddenly re-named "Rock and Roll" to appeal to a wider white audience in segregated America and became a multi-racial genre in the mid-1950s. Once again, some tunes are pretty well-known, but the vast majority are not. Chances are that you never-ever heard a lot of the tracks included here - even if a lot of them were pretty popular in the 1950s among both black and white Rock and Roll fans. Most of the artists in this new series (just like the first one) were actually household names in the "Rock and Roll World" of the '50s and early '60s. When Rock & Roll history was re-written from a strictly white rock standpoint only a few black rockers were included (maybe less than a dozen) when actually back in the day almost every African-American R&B act (maybe a MILLION or more) was actually Rock & Roll and white artists were actually a minority for a long time. So "BLACK" by popular demand here's to you "MORE Boss Black Rockers." DIG IT!

More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 2: Hokus Pokus (KMCD162)

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VA - More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 1: Guitar Pickin' Fool (KMCD161)

Size: 150.5 MB
Time: 64:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Tony Harris - Chicken, Baby, Chicken (2:24)
02 Bobby Brookes - Looka, Looka, Looka (1:47)
03 Otis Riley - Rock And Roll Riley (2:15)
04 Prentice Moorland - Come On Pretty Baby (2:11)
05 Eddie Daniels - Hug Me, Kiss Me (2:36)
06 Neil Darrow With The Quarter Notes - She´s A Fine Chick (1:54)
07 Chuck Grey - Rock And Roll Is On My Soul (1:32)
08 Titus Turner - Hold Your Lovin' (2:37)
09 Don & Dewey - Justine (2:08)
10 Mae Mercer - Great Googa Mooga (2:02)
11 Jackie Wilson - You Better Know It (2:01)
12 Earl Gaines - Now Do You Hear (2:05)
13 Phil Flowers - No Kissing At The Hop (2:19)
14 The Jewels - Goin' Goin' Gone (2:44)
15 H-Bomb Ferguson - Mary Little Mary (2:29)
16 Hannah Dean - Itty Bitty Love (2:14)
17 Little Joe Hinton - Lets Start A Romance (2:23)
18 Roy Wright - No Haps (2:36)
19 Leonard Johnson - The Bug (2:19)
20 Eugene Church - Mind Your Own Business (2:42)
21 Teddy Humphries - Guitar Pickin Fool (2:12)
22 Johnny Johnson - Great Cooga-Mooga (2:15)
23 King Perry - Come Back Baby (2:14)
24 Kenny & Moe - So Long I'm Gone (2:25)
25 The Pyramids - Shakin Fit (2:12)
26 Sammy Taylor - Switchin' In The Kitchen (2:29)
27 Lee Diamond - Hatti Malatti (2:48)
28 Ernie Fields Orchestra - Knocked Out (2:02)

After such a successful run that was the first album series of ‘Boss Black Rockers’, Koko Mojo with the guiding hand of The Mojo Man (aka Little Victor Mac) sets up another series under the heading ‘More Boss Black Rockers: Guitar Pickin’ Fool’. Providing much information via tracks and liner notes presented in a trifold digipak bearing in mind current environmental concerns, ‘More Boss Black Rockers: Guitar Pickin’ Fool’ basically continues where series one left off. In other words, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it because more often than not the twenty-eight-track list offered a delightful and seriously high-octane rush of rock ‘n’ roll from the original rock ‘n’ rollers (i.e., The Black artists either overlooked or simply given less coverage). Therefore, inside information gets Volume One off to a flyer via Tony Harris and song ‘Chicken, Baby, Chicken’ with powerhouse vocals and a punchy rhythm section. The wildness continues with Bobby Brookes resembling a not-too-distant relation of Jackie Wilson during the mighty fine ‘Looka, Looka, Looka’, to next in line Otis Riley including a touch of the personal to ‘Rock And Roll Riley’. If series one of ‘Boss Black Rockers’ proved not only an irresistible pull due to high level of rock ‘n’ roll on display, then ‘More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 1’ will not disappoint for the same reasons, but also for the inclusion of many lesser known or less-featured artists or songs that are a touch harder to find when it comes to other similar compilations. For instant memories, then press play to tracks by H-Bomb Ferguson ‘Mary Little Mary’ where his vocals alone is enough to convince of the greatness here, to fast and frantic tempo of ‘Goin’ Goin’ Gone’ from vocal group The Jewels, before landing at the doorstep of wheeling rhythm and blues/rock ‘n’ roll of terrific ‘No Haps’ by Roy Wright. Ooh! We are in the land of rock ‘n’ roll goodness when it comes to the second instalment of album series of ‘More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 1: Guitar Pickin’ Fool’, and that is fact!

More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 1: Guitar Pickin' Fool (KMCD161)

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VA - Rhythm & Western Vol. 5: Cold Cold Heart (KMCD142)

Size: 170.1 MB
Time: 73:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Solomon Burke - How Many Times (2:20)
02 Damito Jo - Crazy Arms (2:16)
03 Arthur Alexander - Youre The Reason (2:30)
04 Fats Domino - Jambalaya (2:27)
05 King Curtis - Im Movin On (2:26)
06 Little Richard - Do Lord, Remember Me (2:37)
07 Sonny Boy Williamson - Wake Up Baby (3:00)
08 Peppermint Harris - I Got Loaded (2:29)
09 Ella Fitzgerald - Solid As A Rock (3:05)
10 The Twilighters - Hootenanny Stomp (2:34)
11 The Sharps - Look At Me (2:18)
12 Ruth Brown - Jack O Diamonds (2:33)
13 Magic Sam - Square Dance Rock Part 1 (2:23)
14 Ted Taylor - Keep Walking On (2:13)
15 Pee Wee Crayton - Little Bitty Things (1:51)
16 Bobby Day - Undecided (2:11)
17 Fats Domino - Bo Weevil (2:08)
18 Otis Williams & The Charms - Hearts Of Stone (2:33)
19 Johnny Nash - Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild Wild Women (2:59)
20 Smokey Hogg - Late Prowling Girl (2:44)
21 Ketty Lester - Love Letters (2:43)
22 Dinah Washington - I Dont Hurt Anymore (3:15)
23 Nat King Cole - Cold Cold Heart (3:47)
24 Sister Rosetta Tharpe - On My Way (4:08)
25 Professor Johnson & His Gospel Singers - Where Shall I Be (2:30)
26 Ben E King - My Heart Cries For You (2:22)
27 Rochell & The Candles - When My Baby Is Gone (2:07)
28 Casey Bill Weldon - You Just As Well Let Her Go (3:08)

Heading out for a fifth journey is the alluring and rather unique album series ‘Rhythm & Western’ and this time it’s all about a ‘Cold Cold Heart’. With Koko Mojo providing a home for the songs featuring Black artists performing songs that melded rhythm & blues with country & western, the outcomes are often quite different as heard during previous albums, with either straight country performances or ideas and influences creeping in somewhere between a more dominant rhythm and blues sound. Whilst this may present varying degrees of quality, the series has offered much to ponder over with the results being incredibly positive indeed. With the task of compiling such an exclusive setlist left to The Mojo Man once more, the twenty-eight tracks featured provide familiarity in terms of the artists chosen, but with the bonus of more obscure musicians to keep the listener engaged. Beginning with Solomon Burke and jaunty rhythm held during ‘How Many Times’ with its guitar the giveaway to country music, to equally sprightly tempo of ‘Look At Me’ from vocal harmony group The Sharps where the rhythm and blues contains a few subtle differences. Both tracks make for an unusual sound, reiterated during examples from Sonny Boy Williamson and ‘Wake Up Baby’ with the harmonica adding to the country feel but also the blues, and ditto its lyrics that tie together both genres once more. As with previous volumes of this album series, there are smoother sounds and fitting of the 60s period with Bobby Day and compelling ‘Undecided’ that was issued in 1960. The cheeriness in terms of rhythm continues via Fats Domino and ‘Bo Weevil’ that is a genuine floor filler, before the highly educated, one presumes, Professor Johnson & His Gospel Singers enter the stage with ‘Where Shall I Be’ that is a gospel number and another example that ties the genres of blues, rhythm and blues, and country together. With Smokey Hogg combining the two genres featured here and coming out with a slightly muddled sounding ditty in the shape of ‘Late Prowling Girl’ is evidence that the two genres do not always complement each other. However, when the ideas influencing both country and rhythm and blues join forces and presented via the altogether different interpretation of ‘Cigareetes, Whusky & Wild Wild Women’ from the vocals of Johnny Nash, then it is one such example of where ‘Rhythm & Western Volume 5: Cold Cold Heart’ truly excels.

Rhythm & Western Vol. 5: Cold Cold Heart (KMCD142)

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VA - Rhythm & Western Vol. 4: I Hang My Head And Cry (KMCD141)

Size: 161.3 MB
Time: 69:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Varetta Dillard - A Little Bitty Tear (2:07)
02 Little Willie John - Sleep (2:54)
03 Adam Wade - The Writing On The Wall (2:24)
04 The Marigolds - Love You-Love You-Love You (2:56)
05 The Nite Riders Present Melvin Smith - Ugly George (2:20)
06 Nappy Brown - Love Locks (2:48)
07 Jimmy Wilson - Yanky Danky Doodle (2:11)
08 Lula Reed - Rock Love (2:10)
09 Big Al Downing - Just Around The Corner (2:50)
10 The Shields - Thats The Way Its Gonna Be (2:03)
11 King Curtis - Beautiful Brown Eyes (2:06)
12 Sarah Vaughan - True Believer (2:32)
13 Ernestine Anderson - Come On, Baby Lets Go (2:10)
14 Arthur Alexander - I Hang My Head And Cry (2:35)
15 Bobby Day - Aint Gonna Cry No More (2:13)
16 Angel Face - I Cant Look Back (2:19)
17 Mickey & Sylvia - To The Valley (2:01)
18 Joe Gaines - I Wanna Go Back Home (2:09)
19 Oscar Woods (Lone Wolf) - Dont Sell It - Dont Give It Away (2:35)
20 Piney Brown - Ooh You Bring Out The Wolf In Me (2:20)
21 Travis Ricks - No Need To Cry (2:23)
22 Jimmie Rodgers With Louis Armstrong & Lil Hardin - Blue Yodel No 9 (2:41)
23 Little Willie John - Big Blue Diamonds (2:49)
24 Buster Brown - Gonna Love My Baby (3:11)
25 Fats Domino - Ida Jane (2:15)
26 Big Maybelle - Cold Cold Heart (3:14)
27 Brook Benton - Hotel Happiness (2:44)
28 Blind Willie McTell - Hillbilly Willies Blues (2:43)

Bringing together another set of songs featuring Black artists performing country & western music that either sound like the “real deal” or deemed by the so-called tastemakers back in the day as rhythm & blues due to Black musicians associated with the genre, or others presented here as novelty songs but with plenty of country flavour. Presenting the new compilation of this current series is The Mojo Man, who prises up records from as far back as the 1930s and right up to the 1960s, meaning there’s the bonus of a history lesson to accompany the tasty selection of tracks. First up is a song closer to the present than the thirties period mentioned with the 1960 release ‘A Little Bitty Tear’ from Varetta Dillard. The next few songs continue to walk through the sixties with sweeping strings of ‘Sleep’ performed by Little Willie John, the pop influences of the time featured throughout Adam Wade’s ‘The Writing On The Wall’, to something more in line with country music and (thankfully) rougher in its presentation is The Nite Riders present Melvin Smith and song ‘Ugly George’. The rhythm & blues comes in the form of excellent tracks as ‘Love Locks’ by Nappy Brown, harmony vocals from The Shields and ‘That’s The Way It’s Gonna Be’, to memorable for a variety of reasons ‘Ooh You Bring Out The Wolf In Me’ performed by Piney Brown. That crossover of rhythm & blues with country & western and deemed as such when it came to Black musicians performing country, is best demonstrated by Brook Benton and song ‘Hotel Happiness’ where the smoother commercial pop market of the 60s also played a part here. Another volume and another album full of variety where rhythm & blues remains a dominant force but with shades of country, 60s pop, and rock ‘n’ roll all come together to offer an altogether different series that is ‘Rhythm & Western Volume 4: I Hang My Head And Cry’.

Rhythm & Western Vol. 4: I Hang My Head And Cry (KMCD141)

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VA - Let's Throw A Rockin' Soul Party Vol. 4 (KMCD133)

Size: 171.6 MB
Time: 74:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, Soul
Art: Front & Back

01 Lloyd Nolan - I Don t Know About You (2:47)
02 Bobby Bennett - The Boss Turn (2:34)
03 Berna-Dean - The World Keeps Changing (2:00)
04 Bobby Hendricks - Busy Flirtin (2:32)
05 The Four Bars - What's On Your Mind (2:15)
06 Lee Williams - I'm So In Love (2:20)
07 Ike And Tina Turner - A Fool In Love (2:44)
08 The Orioles - Hey Little Woman (2:26)
09 Eugene Church - Without Soul (3:14)
10 Gene Martin & Primettes - Lonely Nights (2:21)
11 Roy & Gloria - So Good, So Fine, You're Mine (2:05)
12 Miracles - Shop Around (2:52)
13 Drifters - Rat Race (2:13)
14 The Coasters - (Ain't That) Just Like Me (1:53)
15 Beverly Marcell - Bevy's Got A Boyfriend (2:27)
16 Five Keys - Girl You Better Stop It (2:06)
17 The Knight Brothers - Love (Can't You Hear) (2:42)
18 Raindrops - That Boy John (2:15)
19 Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (2:48)
20 Hank Ballard - That House On The Hill (2:31)
21 Robins - White Cliffs Of Dover (2:30)
22 Danleers - I'm Looking Around (2:37)
23 Mary Ann Fisher - It's A Mans World (2:27)
24 Sam Cooke - Win Your Love For Me (2:54)
25 Billy Bland - I Spend My Life Loving You (2:24)
26 Rivals - Love Me (2:08)
27 Shirley Ellis - The Nitty Gritty (2:18)
28 Little Jimmy Ray - You Need To Fall In Love (2:32)
29 The Vocaleers - The Cootie Snap (2:44)
30 Bernard Byers - Sitting By The River (2:11)

Bridging the gap from the third instalment in the series ‘Rockin’ Soul Party’ is volume number four. With Mr. Rhythm and Soul situated in El Paso, Texas, and tasked with loading up another thirty tracks of rhythm and blues and early soul from the years beginning in 1957 and leading up to 1963, the latest album ‘Rockin’ Soul Party Vol. 4’ contains many established names such as Ike and Tina Turner, The Orioles, The Drifters, The Coasters, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cooke. It makes for a real source of power, but also offers insights of the early stages of their careers and early indicators of the greatness that was emerging from many of these artists. It is the blending of traditional rhythm and blues with blues and gospel that led to the formation of the sound known as soul music. Such variety can be heard emanating from the speakers once this latest volume gets underway. But given the larger profiles of the artists already mentioned, no album escapes the Koko Mojo injection of obscurities featuring musicians less prevalent when it comes to such compilations. Therefore, step forward Bernard Byers with track ‘Sitting By The River’, and rare doo wop from The Danleers and ‘I’m Looking Around’, not forgetting Rivals who bring the rhythm and blues to ‘Love Me’. An album that is equal to all its previous volumes and one that comes housed inside environmentally sound packaging complete with detailed notes, and with all tracks mastered for the best possible sound, there really is no argument when it comes to ‘Rockin’ Soul Party Vol. 4’ because it’s an essential addition to anyone’s record collection with a keen taste for early soul music.

Let's Throw A Rockin' Soul Party Vol. 4

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VA - Spotlight On Sam Cooke: Movin' And Groovin' With Sam Cooke (KMCD159)

Size: 168.7 MB
Time: 72:23
File: MP3 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01. Soul Stirrers & Sam Cooke - Jesus Gave Me Water (2:33)
02. Soul Stirrers & Sam Cooke - Touch The Hem Of His Garment (2:06)
03. Sam Cooke - Love You Most Of All (2:19)
04. Sam Cooke - Win Your Love For Me (2:49)
05. Sam Cooke - Running Wild (1:28)
06. Sam Cooke - Long, Long Ago (2:56)
07. Sam Cooke - Happy In Love (1:56)
08. Sam Cooke - Comes Love (2:26)
09. Sam Cooke - I've Got A Right To Sing The Blues (2:35)
10. Sam Cooke - Mary, Mary Lou (2:50)
11. Sam Cooke - No One (Can Ever Take Your Place) (2:23)
12. Soul Stirrers - Wade In The Water (3:09)
13. Sam Cooke - If I Had You (2:15)
14. Sam Cooke - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (3:02)
15. Sam Cooke - Just For You (2:24)
16. Soul Stirrers - Jesus Be A Fence Around Me (2:28)
17. Soul Stirrers - He's Been A Shelter For Me (2:53)
18. The Falcons - Pow Youre In Love (2:16)
19. Sam Cooke - Having A Party (2:39)
20. Sam Cooke - Movin And Groovin (2:55)
21. Sam Cooke - The Twist (2:29)
22. Sam Cooke - Thats It, I Quit, Im Movin On (2:40)
23. Sam Cooke - A Whole Lotta Woman (2:33)
24. Simms Twins - The Smile (2:32)
25. Johnnie Taylor - Rome (Wasnt Built In A Day) (2:37)
26. Sam Cooke - Aint That Good News (2:36)
27. Sam Cooke - Little Red Rooster (2:55)
28. Sam Cooke - Shake, Rattle And Roll (3:27)

It was probably about time that Koko Mojo released an album’s worth of material to show appreciation for the musical legend that was Sam Cooke. Arriving in a three-fold digipak complete with CD and liner notes and a twenty-eight song setlist all written by, and compiled by Dee Jay Mark Armstrong, and with artwork produced by Urban Zotel, the quality is already high. The tracks themselves reach back as far as 1951 and beginning with The Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke and highlights two nonsecular tracks with the second lifted from 1954. From this early part of Cooke’s career, time moves quickly in terms of this compilation and picks up once more in 1958 and showcases several of Sam Cooke’s solo performances with songs ‘Win Your Love For Me’, ‘Running Wild’, I’ve Got A Right To Sing The Blues’, and title of this album ‘Movin’ And Groovin’. That, of course, is but a small selection of what is on offer here as the setlist flits between examples of solo material, before dipping back into The Soul Stirrers but this time with Jimmy Outler takin up lead (‘Jesus Be A Fence Around Me’), and ditto Paul Foster (‘He’s Been A Shelter For Me’), and with Sam Cooke assuming song writing and additional song writing duties. With much of the track list stemming from late 50s and early 60s and including well-known songs ‘Little Red Rooster’, ‘Shake, Rattle And Roll’, ‘The Twist’, there is also plenty of variety with previously mentioned gospel but traditional standards as ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ and further additions featuring The Falcons, Johnnie Taylor, and The Simms Twins that once again showcases Sam Cooke’s prowess as a songwriter. A very fine overview of a supreme talent who has received much recognition for his work, but this time with a little extra something else by way of Koko Mojo’s Spotlight series and, on this occasion, ‘Movin’ and Groovin’ with Sam Cooke’.

Spotlight On Sam Cooke: Movin' And Groovin' With Sam Cooke (KMCD159)

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VA - Vocal Group Harmonies: Let's Go Latin Again

Size: 166.0 MB
Time: 70:08
File: MP3 @ VBR ~317K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Rock, R&B, Latin
Art: Front & Back

01 Andre Williams & The Don Juans - Going Down To Tia Juana (3:02)
02 Brice Coefield - Cha Cha Twist (2:35)
03 Los Rebeldes Del Rock - Dulces Tonterias (2:16)
04 Gloria Irving - I Need A Man (2:20)
05 Ivory Joe Hunter & The Ivorytones - I Got To Learn To Do The Mambo (2:45)
06 Lee Andrews & The Hearts - Show Me The Merengue (2:58)
07 Penguins - Hey Senorita (2:08)
08 Los Llopis - Quito A Poquito (2:48)
09 The Dootones - Ay, Si, Si (2:28)
10 The Ontarios - Lovers Mambo (1:44)
11 Ruth Brown & Group - Mambo Baby (2:44)
12 The Platters - Shake It Up Mambo (2:41)
13 The Echoes - Aye Senorita (2:42)
14 Calvaes - Anna Macora (2:22)
15 Calvaes - Mambo Fiesta (2:20)
16 The Charmers - The Mambo (2:03)
17 Richie Ray (Vocal Bobby Cruz) - Parisian Thoroughfare (2:36)
18 Note & Toe & The Grenadiers - I Got A Cold (2:48)
19 The Colts - Lips Red As Wine (2:18)
20 New Yorker's 5 - Cha Cha Baby (2:19)
21 Los Mustang - No Lo Ves (2:43)
22 Los Locos Del Ritmo - Vengan Todos A Bailar (2:47)
23 The Crows With Melino & His Orchestra - Mambo Shevitz (2:14)
24 Eddie Kochak - Mambo Araby (2:37)
25 Baldemar Huerta Con Los Romanceros - No Seas Cruel (2:24)
26 Eddie Bo - We Like Mambo (2:31)
27 Los Xochimilcas - Que Se Mueran Los Feos (2:12)
28 Jack Don Ray - Shake Shake Sonora (2:32)

The first outing featuring vocal harmony groups with added Latin influences arrived in 2021 under the heading, ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin’ on Koko Mojo. Since that first album release, the reception was particularly warm given that this was new musical territory explored by the record label, and one packed with variety due to traditional cultural rhythms mixing with established rhythm and blues and an emerging rock and roll sound. With album #1 proving a success, the decision was made to compile a second volume and issued with a simple brief to “Let’s Go Latin Again”. Due to the positive response given to the first CD, ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin Again’ increases its track list to include an extra three songs compared to its predecessor and therefore totalling twenty-eight songs altogether. As mentioned, the approach of this series assumes much interest in those vocal groups from the Latin quarters of America and offers a platform to an earlier generation of Latinos with a keen interest in the rhythm and blues sounds of the times. Such was the impact that Black African American rhythm and blues was either duplicated or presented with added Latin influences. The songs selected for ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin Again’ provides examples of these influences and focuses on the years beginning with 1954 and concluding in 1963. More notable is the inclusion of artists that will certainly have a few listeners searching on the net for any available information given the obscurity of what is largely on offer here. There is familiarity, however, to begin with and comes from reliable Andre Williams and on this occasion featuring The Don Juans during the track ‘Going Down To The Juana’. Despite the established name of Andre Williams, the song adheres to rhythm and blues yet pulls from Latin sources giving the song a light overall feel and one that sounds pared back. From such a bright beginning, the rest of the album continues to flourish with quality all the way from extremely rare doo wop via The Charmers with ‘The Mambo’, rhythm and blues exotica from the Calvaes and song ‘Anna Macora’ and once more with different number and equally fine ‘Mambo Fiesta’. Delving deeper into Latin-American flavours mixed with rock ‘n’ roll is Los Locos Del Ritmo and ‘Vengan Todos A Bailar’. The second volume ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin Again’ is not only a rock and roll album with a difference, but one that contains much quality, not to mention plenty of obscurities that will keep any listener entertained for many weeks to come.

Vocal Group Harmonies: Let's Go Latin Again

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VA - Vocal Group Harmonies: Let's Go Latin

Size: 176.3 MB
Time: 75:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Rock, R&B, Latin
Art: Front & Back

01 The Rocketones - Mexico (2:52)
02 Prof Hamilton - Juanita In Mexico (2:13)
03 Damal & Rasheed - Arriba (3:01)
04 Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - E Basta Cosi (2:36)
05 Turbans - The Wadda-Do (2:33)
06 Starlarks - Send Me A Picture Baby (1:55)
07 Anna Belle Caesar & Lionel Hampton - Little Annie (2:28)
08 Don Julian & The Meadowlarks - Doin' The Cha Cha Cha (2:13)
09 Fascinators - Dont Give Your Love Away (2:34)
10 James Ray - I've Got My Mind Set On You (3:25)
11 Lou Perez - Mama, Mama, Mama (2:15)
12 Harptones - Mambo Boogie (1:49)
13 Mike Rios - Cayendo Lagrimas (1:53)
14 Los Cinco Latinos - Quiéreme Siempre (2:17)
15 Trio Los Flamingos - Sh-Boom (2:16)
16 Royal Holidays - Down In Cuba (1:46)
17 Duo Dinamico - Oh Carol (1:47)
18 Los Llopis - Quito A Poquito (2:46)
19 Latin Lads - Nunca (2:02)
20 Ana María & Frankie - La Cancíon Del Hula Hoop (1:52)
21 Love Notes - Sweet Lulu (2:33)
22 The Dubs - Joogie Boogie (2:19)
23 Turbans - When You Dance (2:54)
24 Maurice Williams - Stay (1:36)
25 Harvey - Any Way You Wanta (2:40)
26 Margarita Sierra - Cha Cha Twist (2:18)
27 Los Cinco Latinos - Dimelo Tu (2:19)
28 Los Columbus - Realmente Te Quiero (2:09)
29 Squires - Do Be Do Be Wop Wop (2:11)
30 The Charters - El Merengue (2:28)
31 Marvin & Johnny - Mamo Mamo (2:30)
32 Otis Williams & The Charms - Mambo Sh-Mambo (2:20)

A different and interesting spin issued via Koko Mojo introducing vocal groups from the Latin quarters of America. New album ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin’ gives voice to an earlier generation of Latinos with a keen interest in the rhythm and blues sounds of the times. Such was the impact that black African American rhythm and blues was either replicated or given a slight twist of Latin influences. Boasting a track list of twenty-five songs the album ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin’ is certainly full of musical flavour ranging from the more familiar-sounding rhythm and blues of The Roketones’ ‘Mexico’ to easily recognisable Latin sounds of ‘Mama, Mama, Mama’ and paint stripping vocals of Lou Perez. In other segments there’s a real mashup of the “traditional” with Latin American references and signposted via Los Llopis and track ‘Quito A Poguito’, The Love Notes’ ‘Sweet Lulu’ which vocally takes its inspiration from doo-wop and with Latin inspiring its beat. Additionally, there are cover songs to be found and rather good examples from Trio Los Flamingos with ‘Sh-Boom’, to a version of Neil Sedaka’s ‘Oh Carol’ popping up past the hallway mark and supplied by singing pair Duo Dinamico. With many combinations, in addition to straight examples of rhythm and blues for example, ‘Vocal Group Harmonies – Let’s Go Latin’ shows imagination by offering something considerably different from what has gone before as the album provides an insight of two cultures coming together to produce an exciting and diverse take on more traditional sounds and, in the process, a slice of musical history.

Vocal Group Harmonies: Let's Go Latin

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VA - Rhythm & Western Vol. 3: Lovesick Blues (KMCD140)

Size: 173.4 MB
Time: 74:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Lucky Millender - Chew Tobacco Rag (2:40)
02 Jimmy Ricks - Do You Promise (2:20)
03 Dinah Washington - Cold Cold Heart (3:21)
04 Andre Williams - You Are My Sunshine (2:39)
05 The Chips - As You Can See (2:17)
06 The G-Clefs - The Big Rain (2:26)
07 Clyde McPhatter - Lets Forget About The Past (2:31)
08 Donna Hightower - Dog Gone It (2:59)
09 Lonnie Johnson - Blues Stay Away From Me (2:51)
10 King Curtis - Tumbling Tumbleweeds (2:01)
11 Jimmy Elledge - Funny How Time Slips Away (2:50)
12 The Marvellettes - Love Letters (2:28)
13 Rudy Ray Moore - Ballad Of A Boy And A Girl (2:26)
14 The Platters - Only You (And You Alone) (2:45)
15 The Pilgrim Jubilee Singers - A City (2:26)
16 Big Bill Broonzy - Nancy Jane (3:01)
17 Brook Benton - Its Just A Matter Of Time (2:28)
18 Joe Hinton - Lovesick Blues (2:24)
19 Ted Taylor - Ill Release You (3:22)
20 Albert Ammons - Swanee River Boogie (2:35)
21 Esther Phillips - After Loving You (3:09)
22 Cab Calloway - Gamblers Guitar (2:36)
23 Adam Wade - As If I Didnt Know (3:00)
24 Fats Domino - Dont Come Knockin (1:56)
25 Huey & Jerry - I Think Youre Jiving Me (2:26)
26 Little Junior Parker - My Dolly Bee (2:33)
27 Thin Man Watts - Walking The Floor Over You (2:20)
28 Blind Boy Fuller - Step It Up & Go (2:56)

After two very interesting albums already issued to the public at large, Volume 3 of ‘Rhythm & Western’ arrives with another series of songs from African American artists who turned their attentions to country & western music whether in direct style or represented here with loose associations of themes or song titles. Such associations of country music formulate instantly via first song ‘Chew Tobacco Rag’ with its expressive sound effects bringing humour and style via its rhythm and blues presented by Lucky Millender. Jimmy Ricks follows with ‘Do You Promise’ that is more in line with the “Rhythm and Western” of this album series both musically and from its lyrics. From such a strong start, Volume 3 continues to impress with more great choices from Dinah Washington who provides her own interpretation of classic Hank Williams’ ‘Cold Cold Heart’, to Andre Williams upping the tempo slightly with well-known ‘You Are My Sunshine’. The inclusion of the likes of The G-Clefs’ ‘The Big Rain’ reflects gospel influences of the time, whereas the sophisticated and reflective ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ really captures the essence of similar plaintive country songs also of the same era. There is much diversity on offer as with the previous two albums and with Fats Domino bringing ‘Don’t Come Knockin’, Little Junior offering ‘My Dolly Bee’, and charismatic turn from Cab Calloway and ‘Gamblers Guitar’ all represent such examples and also highlight the quality on offer. However, most notably, the imagination expressed by this album series is its biggest asset so far.

Rhythm & Western Vol. 3: Lovesick Blues (KMCD140)

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VA - Rhythm & Western Vol. 2: Your Cheatin' Heart (KMCD139)

Size: 171.9 MB
Time: 73:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Clyde McPhatter - Im Movin On (1:54)
02 Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers - Whiskey, Women & Loaded Dice (2:45)
03 Damita Jo - Jambalaya (On The Bayou) (2:09)
04 Ike & Tina Turners Kings Of Rhythm - Going Home (2:38)
05 Bobby Hebb - Night Train To Memphis (1:50)
06 Lou Rawls - If He Holds Your Hand (3:24)
07 Mabel Scott - Catch Em Young, Treat Em Rough, Tell Em Nothin (2:50)
08 Cecil Gant - Goodnight Irene (2:58)
09 Billy Bland - Uncle Bud (2:01)
10 Little Mack - Let Hootenanny Blues (Out Of Jail) (2:02)
11 Brook Benton - Got You On My Mind (3:14)
12 Ray Charles - It Makes No Difference Now (3:31)
13 Ivory Joe Hunter - I Almost Lost My Mind (3:12)
14 The Lovers - I Wanna Be Loved (1:55)
15 Richard Berry & The Pharaohs - You Are My Sunshine (2:37)
16 Lazy Lester - I Hear You Knockin (2:12)
17 Esther Phillips - Am I That Easy To Forget (2:46)
18 Arthur Alexander - I Wonder Where You Are Tonight (2:38)
19 Eartha Kitt - Long Gone (3:45)
20 King Curtis - Your Cheatin Heart (2:22)
21 Jimmy Beasley - Dont Break This Heart Of Mine (1:59)
22 Willy & Ruth - Farewell (2:43)
23 The Soul Stirrers - Wade In The Water (3:06)
24 Hank Ballard & The Midnighters - Excuse Me (Ive Got A Heartache) (2:07)
25 Little Esther Phillips - Why Should We Try Anymore (2:08)
26 Elton Anderson - Humpty Dumpty Heart (2:20)
27 Ruth Brown - I Burned Your Letter (2:47)
28 The Big Three Trio - Cigarettes, Whiskey & Wild Wild Women (3:01)

Not a straightforward Country & Western album series, but one with a different take on the genre that sees the categories of rhythm and blues and C&W colliding whether directly in terms of musical representation or purely by song title and words of a song. Saddling up for the next volume of ‘Rhythm & Western’, this one is aimed straight at the emotions and classic Hank Williams territory of that condition known as a broken heart. Far from being a miserable experience in terms of listening, ‘Volume 2 – Your Cheatin’ Heart’ is certainly on the “emotional downside” in terms of its (appropriate) song titles e.g. ‘It Makes No Difference Now’ (Ray Charles), ‘Long Gone’ (Eartha Kitt) and ‘I Wanna Be Loved’ (The Lovers) for example, but when it comes to many of the songs the rhythms are lively. Take for example Clyde McPhatter and his fleet-footed version of Hank Snow’s ‘I’m Movin’ On’, or bigger band representation of ‘Whiskey, Women & Loaded Dice’ by Joe Liggins And His “Honeydrippers”. It’s such songs here that are more in vein of rhythm and blues than C&W but, as mentioned in our review of Volume 1, the album series ‘Rhythm & Western’ is not just a vehicle of direct representation of country music by African American artists because the album series is much more than that. The melding of rhythm and blues and C&W works admirably during ‘Night Train To Memphis’ where you can even hear the influence of gospel during its up-tempo rhythm that is unfussy and vocals that mirror this by Bobby Hebb. There’s a relaxed feel to Lou Rawls’ ‘If He Holds Your Hand’ that is typical of that early 60s country sound where there was a certain gloss to the overall production. The title track, ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’, is left to King Curtis who knows how to turn a song on its head and offer a unique take on the Hank Williams classic that has more in common with Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’. With “Little” Esther Phillips adding the tearjerker ‘Why Should We Try Anymore’ and add to that Ruth Brown ‘I Burned Your Letter’, before finally closing the album with The Big Three Trio and their interesting take on ‘Cigareets, Whuskey & Wild Women’, then you can safely say that all the drama often associated with country music is contained within the grooves of ‘Rhythm & Western Volume 2 – Your Cheatin’ Heart’.

Rhythm & Western Vol. 2: Your Cheatin' Heart (KMCD139)

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VA - Rhythm & Western Vol. 1: When Two Worlds Collide (KMCD138)

Size: 160.3 MB
Time: 68:11
File: MP3 @ VBR ~314K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 The Hurricanes - Pistol Packin Mama (2:27)
02 Long John Hunter - Ole Rattler (2:26)
03 Titus Turner - A Knockin At My Babys Door (2:29)
04 Bumble Bee Slim - Ida Red (2:14)
05 The Stewart Brothers - Sleep On The Porch (2:18)
06 Brook Benton - The Boll Weevil Song (2:37)
07 Andre Williams - Rosa Lee (Stay Off That Bell) (2:29)
08 The Bobettes - Billy (2:00)
09 Koko Taylor - Honky Tonky (2:05)
10 Bob Gaddy - Could I (2:33)
11 Chuck Willis - Thunder And Lightning (2:37)
12 Ivory Joe Hunter - I Just Want To Love You (2:22)
13 The Ray-O-Vacs - Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle (2:57)
14 King Curtis - Home On The Range (2:15)
15 Damita Jo - When Two Worlds Collide (2:30)
16 Guitar Jr - Pick Me Up On Your Way Down (2:28)
17 Chuck Berry - Maybelline (2:20)
18 Smokey Hogg & His Guitar - Crawdad (2:21)
19 Wade Flemons - Woops Now (2:21)
20 Fats Domino - Your Cheatin Heart (2:09)
21 The Coasters - Sorry But Im Gonna Have To Pass (2:10)
22 Mercy Dee - Oh Oh Please (2:04)
23 Nappy Brown - Oh You Dont Know (2:08)
24 Scatman Crothers - Ghost Riders In The Sky (2:41)
25 Esther Phillips - Release Me (3:18)
26 Solomon Burke - Keep The Magic Working (2:06)
27 The Crowns - Kiss & Make Up (2:15)
28 Charlie McCoy & Bo Chatman - Corrine Corrina (3:17)

Drumming up a new idea on the Koko Mojo label is The Mojo Man with a planned-five-series set of CDs featuring African American musicians performing country and western music. The songs selected are either classic C&W songs or songs that were issued as rhythm and blues at this time in history since they were not performed by a white artist. The album series ‘Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide’ will hopefully restore some form of balance by offering a platform for those African American artists who produced C&W music during the 50s and early 60s by showcasing their songs that were otherwise given less exposure and deemed unsuitable for said genre of music. With twenty-eight tracks to get the musical message across and offer an insight to the sounds of African Americans performing C&W, then the collision of rhythm and blues with country music is an apt title to begin this series. First up is The Hurricanes with ‘Pistol Packin’ Mama’ and is not only a fine introduction but also representative of typical Koko Mojo fare by being a straight up rhythm and blues track, which may leave some wondering about the song’s inclusion, but there’s more to this compilation with songs touching upon C&W influences and themes and sometimes that’s in the style of rhythm and blues. Providing the first “Yee-haw!” moment is next in the queue Long John Hunter with ‘Ole Rattler’. It’s the first stab at C&W here and is wonderfully endearing in its “rattling” instrumentation assembled and just about holding together via some sticky tape and charismatic vocals from Long John Hunter. Interestingly as well, you can hear the rhythm and blues faintly in the background, yet this is certainly more C&W. Brook Benton saunters across the prairie in fine fashion with the spoken word novelty ‘The Boll Weevil Song’, and such a performance extends to another notable performance by Scatman Crothers ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’ offering his version of this much covered C&W track. Once the album reaches its conclusion, the overall impression is that the lines between rhythm and blues and C&W are certainly blurred yet rhythm and blues often edges things where it’s more about the “mood” of a song that is fitting of a country style rather than the actual genre it’s performed in; hence the inclusion of classic country material fodder ‘Maybelline’ (Chuck Berry); ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’ (Fats Domino), and ‘Sleep On The Porch’ (The Stewart Brothers).

Rhythm & Western Vol. 1: When Two Worlds Collide (KMCD138) MP3

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VA - Spotlight On Jackie Wilson: Mr. Excitement (KMCD158)

Size: 152.4 MB
Time: 65:07
File: MP3 @ VBR ~316K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: R&B, Soul, Rock
Art: Front

01. Billy Ward - You Can't Keep A Good Man Down (2:03)
02. Billy Ward - Above Jacobs Ladder (2:29)
03. Billy Ward - A Little Lie (2:06)
04. Billy Ward - Bobby Sox Baby (2:58)
05. Billy Ward - Learning The Blues (2:28)
06. Billy Ward - St Louis Blues (1:54)
07. Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite (2:47)
08. Jackie Wilson - Come Back To Me (2:18)
09. Jackie Wilson - If I Can't Have You (1:46)
10. Jackie Wilson - Why Can't You Be Mine (2:04)
11. Jackie Wilson - Right Now (2:20)
12. Jackie Wilson - I'll Be Satisfied (2:03)
13. Jackie Wilson - Etcetera (2:25)
14. Jackie Wilson - You Better Know It (2:03)
15. Jackie Wilson - The Joke (Is Not On Me) (1:54)
16. Jackie Wilson - So Much (2:19)
17. Jackie Wilson - (So Many) Cute Little Girls (2:06)
18. Jackie Wilson - I Know I'll Always Be In Love With You (2:37)
19. Jackie Wilson - Come On And Love Me Baby (1:53)
20. Jackie Wilson - Sazzle Dazzle (2:00)
21. Jackie Wilson - Comin' To Your House (2:29)
22. Jackie Wilson - Im Comin' On Back To You (2:18)
23. Jackie Wilson - Love Train (3:12)
24. Jackie Wilson - Baby Workout (2:59)
25. Jackie Wilson - The New Breed (2:06)
26. Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins - Do Lord (2:23)
27. Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins - I Found Love (2:51)
28. Jackie Wilson & Linda Hopkins - Say I Do (2:05)

Another album in the Koko Mojo “Spotlight Series” that focuses on individual artists who have contributed much to music’s historical past is Jackie Wilson. Given the extra moniker “Mr. Excitement” because of his lively stage manner when performing live, the legend that was Jackie Wilson gave much to rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll and early soul music. Album compiler Mark Armstrong gets to work once more and brings another twenty-eight tracks for your listening pleasure. The album showcases Jackie Wilson’s extraordinary operatic tenor vocal, and features his stint with Billy Ward and The Dominoes, before going on to perform as a solo artist. All is featured during ‘Spotlight On Jackie Wilson – Mr. Excitement’ with added liner notes providing details of Wilson’s career, and housed in an environmentally sound digipak. Turning attention to the playlist, with tracks selected from a ten-year period, it is Billy Ward and The Dominoes that kickstarts this album. Having replaced Clyde McPhatter as the vocalist in Billy Ward’s Dominoes in 1953, Jackie Wilson is heard as part of this setup during the first six numbers with, in particular, ‘St Louis Blues’ and ‘Learning The Blues’ demanding special praise. From excellent beginnings, the rest of this collection switches to Wilson’s solo performances from 1957, including the smash hit ‘Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)’, which brought him much fame and was reissued in the 80s securing #1 on the UK Singles Chart. However, there is more to Jackie Wilson than this one track, with examples as the ballad-esque ‘I Know I’ll Always Be In Love With You’, larger-than-life rhythm and blues of ‘Baby Workout’, to pop tendencies of ‘Love Train’, musically colourful ‘I’m Comin’ On Back To You’ and, as with many of his performances, charismatic ‘The Joke (Is Not On Me)’. With Brunswick housing most of the solo recordings, Jackie Wilson made a name for himself not only because of his incredible voice, but also for displaying skills as a songwriter and for his duet performances with Linda Hopkins featured during the end of this collection. All three songs performed with Linda Hopkins are absolute belters and could easily charge the national electricity grid given the astonishing power of both singers. Revealing itself to be a fascinating, not to mention important set of albums is Koko Mojo’s “Spotlight Series” given its norm of not adhering to predictable formulas when compiling such albums, but also serving as a reminder of incredible performers as the magnificent Jackie Wilson.

Spotlight On Jackie Wilson: Mr. Excitement (KMCD158)

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VA - Bo Diddley: Down Home Special (KMCD155)

Size: 172.4 MB
Time: 72:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front

01. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (2:47)
02. Bo Diddley - Pretty Thing (2:51)
03. Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love (2:31)
04. Bo Diddley - Down Home Special (3:14)
05. Bo Diddley - Mona (2:23)
06. Bo Diddley - Dearest Darling (2:51)
07. Bo Diddley - You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)(2:56)
08. Bo Diddley - Run Diddley Daddy (2:41)
09. Bo Diddley - I Love You So (2:24)
10. Bo Diddley - Dancing Girl (2:23)
11. Bo Diddley - Story Of Bo Diddley (2:53)
12. Bo Diddley - Deed And Deed I Do (2:23)
13. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley Is Loose (3:01)
14. Bo Diddley - You All Green (3:05)
15. Little Walter - Roller Coaster (2:57)
16. The Schoolboys - Pearl (2:09)
17. Marquees - Wyatt Earp (2:25)
18. Marquees - Hey Little School Girl (2:21)
19. Billy Stewart - Baby You're My Only One (2:42)
20. Billy Stewart - Billy's Heartache (2:16)
21. Mickey & Sylvia - Dearest (2:57)
22. Don Stacey - Say Man (2:28)
23. Johnny Otis Show - The New Bo Diddley (2:24)
24. J.M. Van Eaton - Bo Diddley (2:18)
25. Bill Black's Combo - Hey Bo Diddley (2:08)
26. Johnny Kidd - I Can Tell (2:32)
27. Dale And Grace - Love Is Strange (2:22)
28. Freddy Koenig - Road Runner (2:05)

Seemingly in vogue is the artist Bo Diddley given the number of reissues and compilations appearing from other record labels at present. The focus on this pioneering musician comes from the stable of Koko Mojo who bring fresh life to their “Songwriter Series” with a profile of Bo Diddley and those musicians of the same time capsule who covered his songs. By taking a journey on the “Down Home Special”, the ‘Koko Mojo Songwriter Series: Bo Diddley’ collection looks first at Bo Diddley’s tracks from Chess Records’ subsidiary label Checker Records, beginning with self-titled ‘Bo Diddley’ in 1953 and concluding with ‘You All Green’ in 1963. Fourteen tracks, therefore, from Bo Diddley himself, including excellent and established tracks ‘Who Do You Love’, ‘Mona’, and ‘Pretty Thing’ for example. Other highlights can be heard in imaginative ‘Down Home Special’ complete with train effects and whistle, to gradual hypnotic rhythm of ‘You Don’t Love Me (You Don’t Care)
’, which sounds like it’s trying to persuade the other half of this former partnership into a rethink given the already mentioned hypnotic flavour. A terrific track and ditto the rest of the “Bo Diddley” contents such as the tale told during ‘Story Of Bo Diddley’, and then slightly different approach with its added “pop” edges of ‘Deed And Deed I Do’. Rather than this compilation being a straightforward appreciation of Bo Diddley, what transpires next is a selection of artists with their takes on various Bo Diddley compositions. Offering examples from the vocal harmonies of The Marquees with two songs, ‘Wyatt Earp’ and ‘Hey Little School Girl’, to fellow Checker associate Little Walter and His Jukes with instrumental ‘Roller Coaster’. With Bill Black’s Combo chipping in with a version of ‘Hey Bo Diddley’, and later the UK’s Johnny Kid and The Pirates providing their interpretation of ‘I Can Tell’, the music of Bo Diddley was certainly appreciated by a considerable number of musicians as the album, ‘Koko Mojo Songwriter Series: Bo Diddley’ effectively demonstrates.

Bo Diddley: Down Home Special (KMCD155)

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Jimmy McCracklin - Spotlight On Jimmy McCracklin: The Rockin' Man (KMCD-148)

Latest to feature in Koko Mojo’s “Spotlight” series is rhythm and blues rockin’ legend Jimmy McCracklin. With an incredible song writing catalogue behind him including almost a thousand songs to his name, Jimmy McCracklin was a major force on the music scene with a career lasting seventy years. More specifically, the years between 1958 and 1966 were rather successful with McCracklin achieving several Billboard single chart successes, in addition to some of his albums reaching gold status, and not forgetting being welcomed into the Blues Hall of Fame.

The album ‘Spotlight On Jimmy McCracklin: The Rockin’ Man’ not only features solo work but also begins with his first band line-up Jimmy McCracklin and His Blues Blasters with the tracks almost split in half between the two sides of his musical career featured here. Beginning with “His Blues Blasters”, the album gets off to a flyer with ‘Big Foot Mama’, instrument heavy ‘Rockin’ All Day’ and captivating jump blues of ‘Gotta Cut Out’. In fact, it is this period with Jimmy McCracklin and His Blues Blasters that keep making an incision to one’s heart and filling it with nothing but musical goodness, exemplified by ‘Just Won’t Let Her Go’ with its dominant saxophone, rockin’ rhythm and McCracklin’s solid vocals making it a real driving force.

There is variation as well with Jimmy McCracklin and Orchestra and tracks ‘She’s Gone’ and ‘She Felt Too Good’ where the tempos are slightly restrained but, more notably, McCracklin’s ability to offer a different presentation in his vocals reveals one of the reasons why he was so highly revered. The album closes with an assortment of solo tracks, in addition to McCracklin featuring with other artists as Jerry Thomas and Johnny Parker and His Orchestra making this not only a detailed overview of mainly Jimmy McCracklin’s work of the 50s and 60s, but the songs selected clearly display why he was up there with the greatest songwriters.

Album: Spotlight On Jimmy McCracklin: The Rockin' Man
Size: 178,1 MB
Time: 76:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues/R&B
Art: Full

1. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Big Foot Mama (3:05)
2. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Rockin' All Day (2:45)
3. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Gotta Cut Out (2:30)
4. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Just Won't Let Her Go (2:58)
5. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - What's Your Phone Number (2:45)
6. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Rockin' Man (3:06)
7. Jimmy McCracklin - House Rockin' Blues (2:50)
8. Jimmy McCracklin Orchestra - She's Gone (2:47)
9. Jimmy McCracklin & Orchestra - She Felt Too Good (2:50)
10. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Blues Blasters Boogie (2:58)
11. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Give My Heart A Break aka You Don't Seem To Understand (3:06)
12. Jimmy McCracklin - Gonna Tell Your Mother (2:37)
13. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Take-A-Chance (2:53)
14. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - I Wanna Make Love To you (2:09)
15. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Savoy's Jump (3:11)
16. Jimmy McCracklin & His Blues Blasters - Beer Tavern Girl (2:54)
17. Jimmy McCracklin - Everybody Rock (2:21)
18. Jimmy McCracklin - The Walk (2:51)
19. Jimmy McCracklin - Georgia Slop (2:26)
20. Jimmy McCracklin - Let's Do It (The Chicken Scratch) (2:44)
21. Jimmy McCracklin - The Wobble (2:17)
22. Jimmy McCracklin & His Orchestra - Susie And Pat (2:44)
23. Jimmy McCracklin - He Knows The Rules (3:04)
24. Jimmy McCracklin - The Drag (2:37)
25. Jimmy McCracklin - Trottin (2:28)
26. Jerry Thomas - Don't Have To Worry (Jumpin' In The Heart Of Town) (2:45)
27. Johnny Parker & His Orchestra - What You Did To Me (2:30)
28. Jimmy Wilson & His Blues Blasters - Oh Red (2:16)

Spotlight On Jimmy McCracklin: The Rockin' Man mc
Spotlight On Jimmy McCracklin: The Rockin' Man zippy

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VA - Willie Dixon: Hard Notch Boogie Beat (KMCD156)

Size: 171.9 MB
Time: 71:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01. Big Three Trio - Signifying Monkey (2:53)
02. Big Three Trio - 88 Boogie (2:33)
03. Big Three Trio - I Ain't Gonna Be Your Monkey Man (2:58)
04. Big Three Trio - Hard Notch Boogie Beat (2:45)
05. Big Three Trio - Big 3 Stomp (3:05)
06. Big Three Trio - Tell That Woman (2:37)
07. Howlin' Wolf - Rockin' Daddy (3:04)
08. Little Walter - Mellow Down Easy (2:45)
09. Willie Dixon - Crazy For My Baby (2:52)
10. Willie Dixon - 29 Ways (2:12)
11. Betty Everett - My Love (2:17)
12. Harold Burrage - I Don't Care Who Knows (2:19)
13. Harold Burrage - Stop For The Red Light (2:49)
14. Harold Burrage - Messed Up (2:04)
15. Magic Sam - 21 Days In Jail (2:44)
16. Little Walter - Crazy Mixed Up World (1:58)
17. Buddy Guy - The Slop Around (2:10)
18. Etta & Harvey - Spoonful (2:51)
19. Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' For My Darling (2:35)
20. Muddy Waters - Tiger In Your Tank (2:18)
21. Willie Dixon & Memphis Slim - Don't You Tell Nobody (2:05)
22. Guitar Red - Just You And I (2:06)
23. Howlin' Wolf - Wang-Dang-Doodle (2:25)
24. Tiny Topsy - Working On Me Baby (2:42)
25. Bo Diddley - My Babe (1:46)
26. Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover (3:15)
27. Muddy Waters - You Need Love (2:43)
28. Howlin' Wolf - You'll Be Mine (2:29)

A compilation featuring the works of Mississippi resident Willie Dixon is not an everyday occurrence in the same vein as say, an Elvis, Gene or Eddie “Best Of” for example. That is not to suggest the name Willie Dixon was not as influential as the most well-known musical faces of the 50s because the talents of Willie Dixon stretched from vocalist, songwriter, and producer, in addition to being a renowned upright bass player. With the release of ‘Koko Mojo Songwriter Series: Willie Dixon’, the songs gathered for this latest album focus on Willie Dixon’s years with the Chicago-based record labels of Chess, Checker and Cobra, which proved highly successful periods in his life due to the high levels of creative output. Rather than focus directly on Willie Dixon performing his own compositions, with three being the number here, the album makes a lot of room for other musicians to join in and perform those songs written by the “songwriter” himself. Before delving into the performances of others however, Willie Dixon as part of the Big Three Trio really lays out the foundations for this album by beginning with no less than six tracks including detailed yarns (‘I Ain’t Gonna Be Your Monkey Man’), and instrumentals (’88 Boogie’). It makes for more than a good introduction before paving the way for Howlin’ Wolf (‘Rockin’ Daddy’), Little Walter and His Jukes with choice cut ‘Mellow Down Easy’, which is simply a terrific track, and Muddy Waters with ‘Tiger In Your Tank’. All these musicians surface again throughout the album, along with Bo Diddley who also features on a recent Koko Mojo release of the same series. Given the track list is set at twenty-eight songs, the album ‘Koko Mojo Songwriter Series: Willie Dixon’ provides a wealth of riches between its grooves and especially concerning the main musician, songwriter and producer at the centre of this record.

Willie Dixon: Hard Notch Boogie Beat (KMCD156)

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VA - Southern Bred Vol. 24: Tennessee R&B Rockers (Dippin Is My Business) (KMCD90)

Size: 175.4 MB
Time: 74:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Dee Clark - 24 Boyfriends (2:07)
02 Al Wichard With Pee Wee Crayton - Boogie Woogie Upstairs (2:38)
03 Tiny Davis & Orch - How About That Jive (2:31)
04 Bobby Blue Bland - Loan A Helping Hand (2:25)
05 Memphis Slim - No Mail Blues (2:48)
06 Larry Birdsong - Do You Love Me (2:14)
07 Rose Marie McCoy - Dippin' Is My Business (2:34)
08 Moohah - All Shook Out (2:48)
09 Willie Cobbs - You Don't Love Me (2:35)
10 Washboard Sam - Diggin' My Potatoes (2:42)
11 Joe Hill Louis - Hydramatic Woman (2:39)
12 Crown Prince Waterford - Leaping Boogie (2:41)
13 Lucile Barbee - Let The Church Roll On (2:33)
14 Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - Ooo Wee (2:30)
15 Paul Williams - What's Happening (Vocal Connie Allen) (2:41)
16 Hollyhocks - Don't Say Tomorrow (2:35)
17 Dee Clark - Because I Love You (2:29)
18 Erline Harris - Never Missed My Baby (2:15)
19 St Louis Jimmy - Hard Luck Boogie (2:51)
20 Joe Hill Louis - Twisting And Turning (On The Floor) (3:07)
21 Drifting Slim - My Sweet Woman (2:54)
22 Paul Williams - He Knows How To Hucklebuck (Vocal Joan Shaw) (2:42)
23 Willie Mabon - Wow I Feel So Good (2:48)
24 Sunny Blair - Step Back Baby (2:16)
25 Cecil Gant - Hit That Jive Jack (2:55)
26 Sam The Man Taylor - Taylor Made (2:32)
27 Robert Nighthawk - Kansas City Blues (2:35)
28 Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon - Joggie Boogie (3:26)

Continuing its association with blues and rhythm and blues music from the regions of Tennessee and Arkansas is the fine album series ‘Southern Bred R&B Rockers’. Issued by Koko Mojo, Southern Bred R&B Rockers reaches album #24 and includes more records where a fuller sound was beginning to emerge due to the recording studios used, and many of the artists involved beginning to make a serious name for themselves due to a blues revival occurring in the 60s. As with previous volumes of this series, and more in line with the regions of Tennessee and Arkansas in focus, a few of the musicians featured make further contributions such as Cecil Gant (‘Hit That Jive Jack’), Larry Birdsong (‘Do You Love Me’), and Memphis Slim, and this time with His Orchestra, and song ‘No Mail Blues’. Starting your listening experience of album #24 with ‘No Mail Blues’ by Memphis Slim and His Orchestra is as good as any place to begin given the “fuller” sound coming together and creating a very classy slice of rhythm and blues. In comparison, Washboard Sam and ‘Diggin’ My Potatoes’ is an altogether different record yet one performed with the same amount of expertise, but this is a song with one foot in the past and the other welcoming the present where simplicity combines with higher production values of the recording studio. From two such quality records, the rest of the album continues in the same way but with added variety and heard from excellent Willie Cobbs’ ‘You Don’t Love Me’, and possessing a very noticeable groove mainly carved out by its guitar and supplemented by saxophone and relaxed tones of Cobbs’ vocal. There are some surprises to be had and comes by way of phenomenal track ‘All Shook Out’ offered by Moohah, which is classic rhythm and blues territory and sounding even older than its original release date of 1954 with its reminders of packed dancehalls, black and white films, etc. Similarly, Crown Prince Waterford repeats this formula with ‘Leaping Boogie’, but it is the frayed edges of its production and the strong vocals that add something different and attract the most. Just when you think you have heard all the records from Tennessee and Arkansas with a blues and rhythm and blues flavour, another album from the Koko Mojo stable materialises with yet more compelling records to keep this series going. Long may that continue!

Southern Bred Vol. 24: Tennessee R&B Rockers (Dippin Is My Business) (KMCD90)

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VA - Southern Bred 23: Tennessee & Arkansas R&B Rockers (Rough Lover) (KMCD89)

Size: 168.2 MB
Time: 71:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Larry Birdsong - Young And Fancy Free (2:24)
02 Stick McGhee - Drank Up All The Wine Last Night (2:53)
03 Big Maybelle - Rock House (2:16)
04 Sonny Boy Williamson - Jivin' The Blues (2:51)
05 Memphis Slim & Orch - No Mail Blues (2:44)
06 Big John Greer - Come Back, Uncle John (2:14)
07 Lilian Outfitt - My Man Is A Lover (2:40)
08 Rosco Gordon - Roscoe's Boogie (2:40)
09 Ted Jarrett - Love, Love, Love (2:31)
10 Jimmy McCracklin - Rock And Rye (2:49)
11 Cecil Gant - Shotgun Boogie (2:48)
12 Bobby Hebb - Night Train To Memphis (1:47)
13 A Little Willie John - Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me (2:28)
14 Aretha Franklin - Rough Lover (2:44)
15 Joe Hill Louis - We All Gotta Go Sometime (2:36)
16 Little George Smith - Oopin' Doopin' Doopin' (2:18)
17 Charlie & Rosie - Don't Call The Wagon (2:02)
18 Little Al - Little Lean Woman (1:58)
19 Arthur Gunter - Baby Lets Play House (2:44)
20 Frank Frost - Now What You Gonna Do (2:46)
21 Christine Kittrell - Lord Have Mercy (I'm So Lonely) (2:59)
22 Big John Greer & Combo - Blam (2:30)
23 Barbara Perry - Bobby Is A Bad Bad Boy (1:52)
24 The Marigolds - Rollin' Stone (2:52)
25 Cecil Gant - Rock Little Baby (3:09)
26 Frank Frost - Crawlback (1:58)
27 Rosco Gordon - Hey Fat Girl (2:30)
28 Joe Hill Louis - Backslide Boogie (3:00)

The concept of Southern Bred Tennessee and Arkansas allows the sourcing of a variety of wide-ranging black music chosen by the theme of birth to be collected onto the albums. The series like its predecessors are made by people who are active on the music scene, for people who enjoy the excellence of sound and quality of music. The series concept is to research an artist's birth state and compile albums around their Southern Bred heritage. By doing so the musical concept radically differs from that of a regional or label-based compilation and therefore opens the variety of sound within the album and series. Rough Lover, Southern Bred Tennessee and Arkansas Koko Mojo (KM-CD-89) is the third look at the birth heritage of Tennessee and Arkansas which is consolidated into the anthology due to it being referred to as West Memphis. The performers on the third episode have a fresh and often different musical approaches and variety is the spice of life. From the Blues arena are, the Gunter brothers Al and Arthur, and Joe Hill Louis. Rhythm & Blues artists of excellence include; Big John Greer, Ted Jarrett, a man at the dawn of his career Jimmy McCracklin, and hard drinker Cecil Gant. The changing direction of the sound is from; the over-looked Bobby Hebb, the future Lady of Soul Music Aretha Franklin, and two soloists who teamed up for a 45 rpm Charlie & Rosie. Our Southern Bred albums have; sleeve notes which are written by series compiler Mark Armstrong, stunning design from design artist Michael van Merwyk, and twenty-eight songs, remastered at Black Shack Studios by our sound expert Heiko Schultz. The disc is housed in an attractively designed cardboard sleeve, specially designed to avoid the use of plastic and be environmentally friendly. You are listening to music from the past and preserving the future! Koko Mojo Records often imitated, never duplicated.

Southern Bred Vol. 23: Tennessee & Arkansas R&B Rockers (Rough Lover)

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VA - Southern Bred Vol. 22: Tennessee R&B Rockers (Trouble Trouble) (KMCD88)

Size: 165.6 MB
Time: 69:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues, Rock, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01 Tiny Davis - Race Horse (2:36)
02 Memphis Slim - The Girl I Love (2:42)
03 Louis Jordan - That Chick's Too Young To Fry (2:22)
04 Big Maybelle - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (2:43)
05 Sticks McGhee - Oh What A Face (2:29)
06 Washboard Sam - Evil Blues (2:52)
07 Earl Forest - Pretty Bessie (2:18)
08 Johnny Ace - How Can You Be So Mean (2:28)
09 Rosco Gordon - Sally Jo (2:07)
10 Bobby Bland - Further Up The Road (2:57)
11 Gene Allison - Somebody, Somewhere (2:33)
12 Memphis Slim - Trouble Trouble (2:39)
13 Elmon Mickle - Flat Foot Sam (2:32)
14 Johnny Shines - Evening Sun (2:28)
15 Jimmy Witherspoon - Drinking Beer (2:12)
16 Larry Birdsong - I'm Pleading Just For You (2:41)
17 Tom ''Shy Guy'' Douglas - Raid On Cedar Street (2:30)
18 Paul Williams - Rockin' Chair Blues (2:33)
19 Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Sit Down (2:19)
20 Dee Clark - At My Front Door (2:39)
21 Little George Smith - Cross-Eyed Suzzie Lee (2:19)
22 Jeb Stuart - I Bet You're Gonna Like It (2:33)
23 Moohah - Candy (2:31)
24 Frank Frost - Jelly Roll King (2:28)
25 Sonny Boy Williamson - Shake The Boogie (2:45)
26 Big John Greer - Record Hop (2:10)
27 O'Henry - Wanna Jean (1:50)
28 Rosco Gordon - What I Wouldn't Do (2:22)

More tracks freshly picked at Koko Mojo to feature on the latest album in the Southern Bred R&B Rockers series and that being Volume 22. The latest addition in the series continues its focus on the artists who either featured strongly or only fleetingly in the regions of Arkansas and Tennessee. As with previous albums, this series has broken the grading scale when it comes to consistency and quality because quite simply, there hasn’t been a dud issued so far, and judging by initial impressions, the current CD continues this trend. From the variety of performers selected, the listener will experience a range of blues variations from Jump Gospel, Blues Rockers, Rhythm and Blues guitar rockers and plenty of tracks considered more straightforward Rock ‘n’ Roll. With its by now standard three-fold design complete with sleeve notes adding to the story given by the music supplied here, ‘Southern Bred R&B Rockers Vol. 22’ starts with some classy rhythm and blues complete with orchestra via Tiny Davis and Her Orch. and song ‘Race Horse’. Continuing in similar style is Memphis Slim and His Orch. ‘The Girl I Love’, and further musical sophistication from Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five ‘That Chick’s Too Young To Fry’. The introduction of Big Maybelle and ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’” is where the pattern of music changes, albeit slightly, given the voluminous nature of the recording. You can hear the early foundations of rock ‘n’ roll emerging in Washboard Sam and His Washboard Band’s ‘Evil Blues’ and, similarly, with Earl Forest and The Beale Streeters’ ‘Pretty Bessie’. A different track of sorts is thrown into the mix and comes from the SUN stable and applies to compiler Mark Armstrong’s words regarding “cross-over recordings which for many people means Rock ‘n’ Roll music” as this track attests to. Such a label also applies to Gene Allison and the rhythm and blues meets rock ‘n’ roll of ‘Somebody, Somewhere’ and this continues, but also leans back to where this album started by not forgetting the big band orchestra once the likes of Jimmy Witherspoon’s ‘Drinking Beer’ comes into view. Further crossover appeal can also be heard during Roscoe Gordon’s ‘What I Wouldn’t’, which closes the album. Koko Mojo cracks it again with another “classic” album to add to the previous twenty-one editions of this genuinely great series known as Southern Bred R&B Rockers.

Southern Bred Vol. 22: Tennessee R&B Rockers (Trouble Trouble) (KMCD88)

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