Released: 1997
Styles: Blues, Swamp
Time: 62:21
Size: 144,7 MB
Covers: Full
(3:07) 1. Kid King's Combo - Banana Split
(2:55) 2. Kid King's Combo - Skip's Boogie
(2:55) 3. Kid King's Combo - The Brass Rail
(3:08) 4. Kid King's Combo - Gimmick
(2:37) 5. Kid King's Combo - Chocolate Sundae
(2:41) 6. Kid King's Combo - Greasy Feet
(2:35) 7. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Bus Station Blues
(2:23) 8. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Waddle Trot
(2:34) 9. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Double Shot
(2:46) 10. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Time Out
(2:54) 11. Kid King's Combo - Mambino
(2:44) 12. Kid King's Combo - Strollin' Time
(2:59) 13. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Chicken Shuffle
(2:14) 14. Kid King's Combo - Thing-A-Ma-Jig
(2:18) 15. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - X-Cello Rock
(2:19) 16. Kid King's Combo - Hob Nob
(2:39) 17. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Overton Lea Drive
(2:29) 18. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Frisco
(2:32) 19. Louis Brooks & His Hi-Toppers - Riding Home
(2:02) 20. Kid King's Combo - Shaggy Dog
(1:56) 21. Kid King's Combo - Fina
(2:16) 22. Skippy Brooks & His Combo - Skip It
(2:32) 23. Skippy Brooks & His Combo - Dim Lights
(2:36) 24. Skippy Brooks & His Combo - Doin' The Horse
In 1952 Ernie Young launched Excello Records in Nashville as a R&B subsidiary of the Gospel-oriented Nashboro Records and before the label withered and died on the vine in the early 1970s his little independent consistently attained decent enough regional sales throughout the 1950s and 1960s to sustain the operation. As for nationally-charting singles, they may have been few and far between bgut what they did generate were among the most influential of their time. This compilation covers the pure R&B instrumentals recorded at Excello by the bands that also did most of the backing for the recordings by their solo artists/vocal groups. Both sides of the record covered are included only where both were instrumentals (e.g., Chicken Shuffle is here at track 13 as this was the flipside of the vocal hit It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day). The only side to reach the national charts was the lead-off track Banana Split by Kid King's Combo (led by pianist Ed Brooks) which reach # 6 R&B in Nov 1953. The compilation is an instrumental one. The usual charismatic vocalists aren't there to hook you in. However, that only shines the light that much brighter on these musicians which were the house bands for Excello's R&B productions. There really is a good amount of variety as these tracks were most likely excuses to stretch out and try new things. If something managed to stick and get some airplay then so much the better. What is really striking here though, is the diversity of sophisticated grooves. On several tracks, there is a distinctly New Orleans second line feel. Other tracks have shuffle, boogie, jump, and even some slinky swing rhythms going on. "Southern Rhythms" may be a generic title but it is certainly appropriate! If you like Piano Red, Professor Longhair, Rosco Gordon, or even Atlantic era Ray Charles, you should find something to like here. "Dim Lights," By Skippy Brooks & His combo might even appeal to late period Tom Waits fans with its smoky non-stop groove. There is very little information about this set on the web, but I'm very glad that Ace decided to put this compilation together and I glad I've stumbled across it too.
Southern Rhythms