Johnny Ace - Blues & Rhythm Series 5138: The Chronological Johnny Ace 1951-1954

Size: 290 MB
Time: 62:07
File: FLAC
Released: 2005
Styles: Blues, R&B
Art: Front & Back

01. Midnight Hours Journey (3:31)
02. I Cried (4:25)
03. My Song (3:02)
04. Follow The Rule (2:30)
05. Angel (3:01)
06. Aces Wild (2:35)
07. Cross My Heart (2:47)
08. Burley Cutie (2:38)
09. The Clock (3:01)
10. Please Forgive Me (2:26)
11. Saving My Love For You (2:40)
12. Yes, Baby (2:47)
13. I Still Love You So (2:44)
14. Anymore (3:07)
15. So Lonely (2:34)
16. You've Been Gone So Long (2:36)
17. Pledging My Love (2:30)
18. Never Let Me Go (2:30)
19. Don't You Know (2:42)
20. No Money (2:49)
21. How Can You Be So Mean (2:32)
22. I'm Crazy Baby (2:29)

Johnny Ace's flair for loose-limbed emotional ballads made him a star, and the pressures that stardom brought may have played a hand in his death on Christmas Day in 1954, when Ace got a bit reckless with a handgun (whether he knew that there was a live round in the chamber or not is still being debated) backstage before a show in Houston. He left behind a legacy of 22 recordings, all of which are include here, all but two of them originally released on Duke Records. Among the highlights are his first big hit, "My Song," the emotional and in-no-hurry "Angel," the easy rolling instrumental "Aces Wild" (which spotlights Ace's considerable talent as a piano player), "The Clock," which sports a New Orleans funeral march tempo, and his posthumous hit "Pledging My Love." Also included are Ace's 1951 recordings with the Bihari Brothers, "Midnight Hours Journey" and "I Cried," which don't quite match the more fully realized vision of the Duke sides. Everything Ace recorded as a solo artist is here, making this the complete deal. ~Steve Leggett

The Chronological Johnny Ace 1951-1954

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Cathy Lemons & Johnny Ace - Lemonace

Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:22
Size: 139,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Brand New Day (3:00)
2. Love Like A Fire (3:45)
3. Used To These Blues (5:38)
4. Sink Or Swim (4:54)
5. Shoot To Kill (8:02)
6. When Bad Luck Looks Good (3:56)
7. Gimme A Penny (6:03)
8. I Got It (3:10)
9. I'm Not The Woman I Used To Be (5:23)
10. Stay (4:41)
11. Get This Thing Off'a My Back (5:40)
12. Move On (6:05)

Even though veteran West Coast bassist Johnny Ace contributed to Cathy Lemons' 1997 solo release and the two have been frequent collaborators for some time, this is the first album where they share co-billing. Ace, not to be confused with the '50s R&B star, has supported dozens of classic blues and R&B musicians through the years to little acclaim, but has found a perfect partner with husky, sassy vocalist Lemons. The duo's debut effort is a rousing, rollicking affair that shifts from gutsy garage rocking to rugged, torchy blues. Even more impressive is the material - all but two tracks are originals, many based on driving bass licks such as the raw funk of "I Got It" and the opening double-time soul blast of "Brand New Day."

Lemons naturally takes most of the leads but Ace is a constant presence, delivering meaty basslines and the occasional duet or front vocal. It's a combustive combination that explodes early on with "Love Like a Fire," a punky soul jam with a propulsive joint vocal that's as fiery and live-sounding as a studio track can get. Guitarist Kid Andersen, who co-produces, contributes to a handful of songs, but most of the six-string work is handled by Pierre Le Corre. His taut, jagged solos mesh perfectly with the front couple, filling in the spaces but seldom hogging the spotlight.

Ace is prone to telling somewhat rambling stories as on "Sink or Swim" and the closing "Move On," an acquired taste that might work live, but is less intriguing on an album meant to be replayed. Lemons is a tough, soulful vocalist bearing some similarities to Bonnie Raitt, but with a plucky strut and delivery that are both playful and powerful. When she lets loose on the slow blues of "I'm Not the Woman I Used to Be" and "Gimme a Penny," she builds an intensity and momentum that are as impressive as the female blues greats who have influenced her, such as Big Mama Thornton, who previously recorded the latter tune.

Lemonace might be the first album from both Ace and Lemons as partners, but the decades of hard work that preceded it are evident in every blistering moment. One hopes this is the beginning of a fresh and fruitful career for this synergetic and searing partnership. /Hal Horowitz, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Johnny Ace - Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides And Sessions (2 CD)

The senseless death of young pianist Johnny Ace while indulging in a round of Russian roulette backstage at Houston's City Auditorium on Christmas Day of 1954 tends to overshadow his relatively brief but illustrious recording career on Duke Records. That's a pity, for Ace's gentle, plaintive vocal balladry deserves reverence on its own merit, not because of the scandalous fallout resulting from his tragic demise.

John Marshall Alexander was a member in good standing of the Beale Streeters, a loosely knit crew of Memphis young bloods that variously included B.B. King, Bobby Bland, and Earl Forest. Signing with local DJ Mattis' fledgling Duke logo in 1952, the re-christened Ace hit the top of the R&B charts his very first time out with the mellow ballad "My Song." From then on, Ace could do no musical wrong, racking up hit after hit for Duke in the same smooth, urbane style. "Cross My Heart," "The Clock," "Saving My Love for You," "Please Forgive Me," and "Never Let Me Go" all dented the uppermost reaches of the charts. And then, with one fatal gunshot, all that talent was lost forever (weepy tribute records quickly emerged by Frankie Ervin, Johnny Fuller, Varetta Dillard, and the Five Wings).

Ace scored his biggest hit of all posthumously. His haunting "Pledging My Love" (cut with Johnny Otis & His Orchestra in support) remained atop Billboard's R&B lists for ten weeks in early 1955. One further hit, "Anymore," exhausted Duke's stockpile of Ace masters, so they tried to clone the late pianist's success by recruiting Johnny's younger brother (St. Clair Alexander) to record as Buddy Ace. When that didn't work out, Duke boss Don Robey took singer Jimmy Lee Land, renamed him Buddy Ace, and recorded him all the way into the late '60s. /Biography by Bill Dahl, AllMusic

Album: Ace's Wild! The Complete Solo Sides And Sessions
Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:54 + 77:48
Size: 177,6 + 179,6 MB
Styles: R&B
Scans: Full

CD 1 - Ace R&B Star:
1. Johnny Ace - Mid Night Hours Journey (3:35)
2. Johnny Ace - My Song (3:02)
3. Johnny Ace - Follow The Rule (2:30)
4. Johnny Ace - Angel (3:01)
5. Johnny Ace - Aces Wild (2:34)
6. Johnny Ace - Cross My Heart (2:46)
7. Johnny Ace - Burley Cutie (2:38)
8. Johnny Ace - The Clock (3:00)
9. Johnny Ace - Please Forgive Me (2:26)
10. Johnny Ace - Saving My Love For You (2:40)
11. Johnny Ace - Yes, Baby (w. Willie Mae Thornton) (2:48)
12. Johnny Ace - Still Love You So (2:45)
13. Johnny Ace - Anymore (2:57)
14. Johnny Ace - So Lonely (2:34)
15. Johnny Ace - You've Been Gone So Long (2:36)
16. Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love (2:30)
17. Johnny Ace - Never Let Me Go (2:29)
18. Johnny Ace - Don't You Know (2:41)
19. Johnny Ace - No Money (2:48)
20. Johnny Ace - How Can You Be So Mean (2:31)
21. Johnny Ace - I'm Crazy, Baby (2:28)
22. Johnny Ace - Anymore (Overdubbed) (3:07)
23. Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love (Overdubbed) (2:33)
24. Frankie Ervin w. Johnny Moore's Blazers - Johnny Ace's Last Letter (Bonus) (2:49)
25. Varetta Dillard - Johnny Has Gone (Bonus) (2:46)
26. The Rovers - Salute To Johnny Ace (Bonus) (2:39)
27. Linda Hayes w. Johnny Moore's Blazers - Why, Johnny, Why? (Bonus) (2:51)
28. The Five Wings - Johnny's Still Singing (Bonus) (2:37)

CD 2 - Ace Session Musician:
1. Earl Forest - Whole Heap Of Mama (2:12)
2. B.B. King - Someday, Somewhere (2:53)
3. Earl Forest - Sad And Lonely (2:45)
4. B.B. King - Shake It Up And Go (2:37)
5. Earl Forest - Rumpus Romp (2:07)
6. B.B. King - My Own Fault, Darlin' (3:29)
7. Earl Forest - Trouble And Me (2:58)
8. B.B. King - Gotta Find My Baby (2:27)
9. Earl Forest - I Cried (4:25)
10. B.B. King - I Got A Gal (2:44)
11. Bobby Bland - Drifting From Town To Town (Take 1) (3:09)
12. B.B. King - Low Down Dirty Baby (3:07)
13. Bobby Bland & Junior Parker - Love My Baby (3:01)
14. B.B. King - I'm So Glad (2:11)
15. Bobby Bland - Drifting From Town To Town (Take 2) (3:06)
16. Earl Forest - I Wronged A Woman (2:55)
17. Bobby Bland - IOU Blues (3:12)
18. Earl Forest - I Can't Forgive You (2:24)
19. Earl Forest - Baby, Baby (2:58)
20. Bobby Bland - Lovin' Blues (3:18)
21. Earl Forest - Rock The Bottle (2:44)
22. Bobby Bland - Wise Man Blues (2:52)
23. Earl Forest - Pretty Bessie (2:22)
24. Bobby Bland - Army Blues (2:42)
25. Earl Forest - Whoopin' And Hollerin' (3:03)
26. Bobby Bland - No Blow, No Show (3:01)
27. Johnny Fuller - Johnny Ace's Last Letter (Bonus) (2:55)

Ace's Wild! celebrates the 60th anniversary of the release of Johnny Ace's first hit single, the R&B chart-topper "My Song", in 1952. Rounding up every recording credited to the singer/keyboard player in his own right, Ace's Wild! presents his extraordinary run of 8 consecutive R&B Top 10 hits, which peaked - in the wake of his untimely death at the age of 25 - with "Pledging My Love" (his third R&B #1 and a Pop Top 20 hit).

Ace's Wild! also features his neglected session work, recorded with fellow Beale Streeters, Earl Forest, B.B. King and Bobby Bland, and six of the heartfelt tribute songs which flooded the market after his violent demise on Christmas Day 1954. /Excerpt from the liner notes

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Various - The Best Of Duke-Peacock Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:25
Size: 115.4 MB
Styles: R&B, Blues
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown - My Time Is Expensive
[2:41] 2. Elmore Nixon - A Hepcat's Advice
[2:43] 3. Big Mama Thornton - Let Your Tears Fall Baby
[3:02] 4. Earl Forest - Whoopin' And Hollerin'
[2:31] 5. Johnny Ace - How Can You Be So Mean
[2:47] 6. Rosco Gordon - Keep On Doggin'
[2:45] 7. Andrew Tibbs - Rock Savoy Rock
[2:50] 8. Sonny Parker - She Sets My Soul On Fire
[2:41] 9. Memphis Slim - Living Like A King
[2:48] 10. Little Richard - Little Richard's Boogie
[2:23] 11. Peter Guitar Lewis - Goin' Crazy
[2:35] 12. Little Junior Parker - Drivin' Wheel
[2:40] 13. Larry Davis - Texas Flood
[2:45] 14. Fenton Robinson - Mississippi Steamboat
[2:54] 15. James Davis - Blue Monday
[2:39] 16. Otis Rush - Homework
[4:09] 17. Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Stormy Monday Blues
[2:38] 18. Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Turn On Your Love Light

Interesting collection of sides from this seminal Texas label. Highlights includes tracks by Bobby Bland ("Stormy Monday," "Turn On Your Lovelight"), Otis Rush ("Homework"), Junior Parker "Driving Wheel"), and Larry Davis' original version of "Texas Flood," made popular to a new audience by Stevie Ray Vaughan. ~Cub Koda

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Ike Turner - That Kat Sure Could Play!: The Singles 1951-1957 (4 CD)

Ike Turner's life may have been a controversial one, but their can be little doubt of his significant contribution to the blues, rhythm & blues and rock musical worlds. A four CD box, "The Legendary Ike Turner: The Kat Sure Could Play! presents 118 songs (and over 5 hours of music) from singles Turner played on between 1951 to 1957. Some of these recordings include famous recording like "Rocket 88" by Turner and his own band The Kings of Rhythm, and others are backings to recordings by the likes of Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland and Elmore James.

There are so many historic recordings here starting with Rocket 88, but also including King's 3 O'Clock Blues, Wolf's How Many More Years, Boyd Gilmore's raucous Rambling On My Mind, and Rosco Gordon's No More Doggin'. There is a terrific delta juke joint band session that produced Drifting Slim's Muddy Waters pastiche Good Morning Baby, and Sunny Blair's house rocket, Step Back Baby. Junior Brooks terrific Gonna Let You Go is a reworking of a Muddy Waters recording with Ike on piano as he is on Elmore's frantic broom dusting on Please Find My Baby. Ike is present on Little Milton's early If You Love Me Baby as well.

Ike also had his own coterie of musicians including Eugene Fox whose Sinner's Dream and the two-part The Dream, are interesting bits of story-telling with Ike's evocative use of tremolo in his guitar noticeable. As The Sly Fox, Eugene Fox had a couple of other gems with his extroverted vocals; Hoo-doo Say (with a solo from Ike) and I'm Tired of Beggin'. Lonnie the Cat's I Ain't Drunk is a choice cover of a Jimmy Liggins tune that Albert Collins made famous. Johnny Wright's The World Is Yours is one of several times Ike adapted lyrics to Guitar Slim's The Things I Used To Do with Wright shouting with considerable vigor as Ike makes effective use of his Fender's whammy bar during his solo.

Some of the latter recordings come from when Turner recorded for Federal and include such gems as Billy Gayles I'm Tore Up, Just One More Time, and Let's Call It A Day; Jackie Brenston's Gonna Wait For My Chance and Clayton Love's She Made My Blood Run Cold and Do You Mean It. Also heard are instrumentals including Cubano Bop and Trail Blazer.

Album: That Kat Sure Could Play!: The Singles 1951-1957
Year: 2011
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:32 + 78:34 + 78:33 + 79:23
Size: 182,6 + 182,6 + 182,7 + 184,9 MB
Styles: R&B, blues
Scans: Full (including two booklets)

CD 1:
1. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Rocket 88 (2:49)
2. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Come Back Where You Belong (2:44)
3. Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm - I'm Lonesome Baby (3:02)
4. Ike Turner & His Kings Of Rhythm - Heartbroken & Worried (3:03)
5. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - My Real Gone Rocket (2:30)
6. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Independent Woman (2:52)
7. Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years (2:42)
8. Howlin' Wolf - Riding In The Moonlight (3:04)
9. Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Dry Up Baby (2:01)
10. Bobby 'Blue' Bland - Crying All Night Long (3:03)
11. B.B. King - Three O'clock Blues (3:01)
12. B.B. King - Boogie Woogie Woman (2:47)
13. Boyd Gilmore - Ramblin' On My Mind (2:48)
14. Houston Boines - Going Home (2:19)
15. Houston Boines - Relation Blues (2:38)
16. Brother Bell - Whole Heap Of Mama (2:35)
17. Brother Bell - If You Feel Froggish (3:04)
18. Charley Booker - Rabbit Blues (2:21)
19. Charley Booker - No Ridin' Blues (2:53)
20. Roscoe Gordon - No More Doggin' (2:39)
21. Roscoe Gordon - Maria (2:31)
22. Driftin' Slim - Good Morning Baby (2:52)
23. Driftin' Slim - My Sweet Baby (2:55)
24. Sunny Blair - Step Back Baby (2:18)
25. Little Junior Parker - Bad Woman, Bad Whiskey (3:01)
26. Little Junior Parker - You're My Angel (1:58)
27. Bobby 'Blue' Bland w. Ike Turner Orchestra - Good Lovin (2:25)
28. Bobby 'Blue' Bland w. Ike Turner Orchestra - Drifting From Town To Town (3:04)
29. Ike Turner w. Ben Burton & His Orchestra - You're Driving Me Insane (2:22)

CD 2:
1. Ike Turner w. Ben Burton & His Orchestra - Trouble And Heartaches (2:36)
2. Boyd Gilmore - All In My Dreams (3:11)
3. Boyd Gilmore - Take A Little Walk With Me (2:32)
4. Charley Booker - Charley's Boogie Woogie (2:30)
5. Bonnie & Ike Turner - My Heart Belongs To You (2:51)
6. Bonnie & Ike Turner - Looking For My Baby (2:30)
7. B.B. King & His Orchestra - You Didn't Want Me (2:32)
8. B.B. King & His Orchestra - You Know I Love You (3:05)
9. Johnny Ace & Earl Forrest - Midnight Hour Journey (3:31)
10. Johnny Ace & Earl Forrest - Trouble And Me (2:58)
11. Mary Sue - Everybody's Talking (2:43)
12. Mary Sue - Love Is A Gamble (3:06)
13. Baby Face Turner - Blue Serenade (2:40)
14. Baby Face Turner - Gonna Let You Go (2:04)
15. Elmore James - Please Find My Baby (3:08)
16. The Prisonaires - Softly & Tenderly (2:33)
17. The Prisonaires - A Prisoner's Prayer (2:42)
18. Little Milton - Beggin' My Baby (2:29)
19. Little Milton - Somebody Told Me (2:59)
20. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - No Teasing Around (3:02)
21. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - If Lovin' Is Believing (2:13)
22. Little Milton - If You Love Me Baby (2:32)
23. Little Milton - Alone And Blue (3:08)
24. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - I'm Not Going Home (3:12)
25. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson - The Woodchuck (3:08)
26. Raymond Hill - Bourbon St. Jump (2:38)
27. Raymond Hill - The Snuggle (2:59)
28. Elmore James - Hand In Hand (2:48)

CD 3:
1. Eugene Fox - Stay At Home (2:43)
2. Eugene Fox - Sinners Dream (3:26)
3. Jesse Knight & His Combo - Nothing But Money (3:08)
4. The Fox - The Dream (Pt. 1 & 2) (4:12)
5. Lover Boy (Ike Turner) - Love Is Scarce (2:18)
6. Lover Boy (Ike Turner) - The Way You Used To Treat Me (2:37)
7. Lonnie 'The Cat' w. Bobby Hines Band - I Ain't Drunk (2:23)
8. Lonnie 'The Cat' - The Road I Travel (2:05)
9. Johnny Wright - Suffocate (2:44)
10. Clayton Love - Why Don't You Believe In Me (2:53)
11. Clayton Love - Wicked Little Baby (2:33)
12. Dennis Binder & His Orchestra - I Miss You So (3:02)
13. Dennis Binder & His Orchestra - Early Times (2:28)
14. Clayton Love Orchestra - Bye Bye Baby (2:28)
15. Clayton Love Orchestra - Mary Lou (2:02)
16. Matt Cockrell - Baby Please (1:59)
17. Matt Cockrell - Gypsy Blues (3:13)
18. Billy Gayles & His Orchestra - Night Howler (2:12)
19. Billy Gayles & His Orchestra - My Heart Is In Your Hands (2:30)
20. Elmore James & His Broomdusters - Sho Nuff I Do (2:52)
21. Elmore James & His Broomdusters - 1839 Blues (3:15)
22. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Loosely (The Wild One) (2:31)
23. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Cubano Jump (2:17)
24. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Cuban Get Away (Bayou Rock) (3:11)
25. The Flairs - Baby Wants (2:29)
26. The Flairs - You Were Untrue (2:44)
27. Elmore James & His Broomdusters - Rock My Baby Right (2:35)
28. The Sly Fox - Hoo-Doo Say (3:01)
29. The Sly Fox - I'm Tired Of Beggin' (2:29)

CD 4:
1. The Sly Fox - My Four Women (3:07)
2. Little Milton - Looking For My Baby (2:54)
3. Little Milton - Homesick For My Baby (2:20)
4. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Go To It (2:22)
5. Johnny Wright w. Ike Turner's Orchestra - The World Is Yours (2:51)
6. The Trojans - As Long As I Have You (3:00)
7. The Trojans - I Wanna Make Love To You (1:58)
8. Willie King w. Ike Turner Feat. Billy Gayles - Peg Leg Woman (2:33)
9. Willie King w. Ike Turner Feat. Billy Gayles - Mistreating Me (3:08)
10. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Rhythm Rockers - I'm Tore Up (2:22)
11. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Rhythm Rockers - If I Had Never Known You (2:31)
12. The Rockers - What Am I To Do (2:15)
13. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Let's Call It A Day (2:28)
14. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Take Your Fine Frame Home (2:25)
15. The Rockers - Why Don't You Believe (2:22)
16. The Rockers - Down In The Bottom (2:24)
17. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - No Coming Back (2:42)
18. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Do Right Baby (2:09)
19. Jackie Brenston w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - What Can It Be (2:24)
20. Jackie Brenston w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Gonna Wait For My Chance (2:04)
21. The Gardenias - Flaming Love (2:25)
22. The Gardenias - My Baby's Tops (2:26)
23. The Starrs - Ain't Got No Home (2:36)
24. The Starrs - Crying Over You (2:33)
25. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Sad As A Man Can Be (2:08)
26. Billy Gayles w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Just One More Time (2:41)
27. Jackie Brenston w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - Much Later (2:15)
28. Jackie Brenston w. Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm - The Mistreater (2:14)
29. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Do You Mean It (2:19)
30. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - She Made My Blood Run Cold (2:20)
31. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - The Big Question (2:20)
32. Ike Turner & His Orchestra - Trail Blazer (2:32)

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That Kat Sure Could Play!: The Singles 1951-1957 (4 CD) Part 2 mc
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Various Artists - Original Memphis Blues Brothers

File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Source: LL (from CD)
Released: 2000
Styles: R&B
Time: 73:54
Size: 171,1 MB
Covers: Full

(2:24) 1. Bobby Bland - Good Lovin'
(3:02) 2. Bobby Bland - Drifting from Town to Town
(2:00) 3. Bobby Bland - Dry Up Baby
(3:03) 4. Bobby Bland - Crying All Night Long
(3:00) 5. Bobby Bland & Little Junior Parker - Love Me Baby
(3:01) 6. Bad Women, Bad Whiskey
(1:57) 7. Little Junior Parker - You're My Angel
(2:09) 8. Little Junior Parker - She Calls Me Daddy
(2:54) 9. Earl Forest - I Wronged a Woman
(2:29) 10. Earl Forest - I Can't Forget You
(2:42) 11. Earl Forest - Sad and Lonely
(2:12) 12. Earl Forest - Rumpus Romp
(3:00) 13. Earl Forest - Trouble and Me
(4:25) 14. Earl Forest - I Cried
(3:32) 15. Johnny Ace - Midnight Hours Journey
(3:21) 16. B.B. King - B.B. Boogie
(2:50) 17. B.B. King - Mistreated Woman
(2:52) 18. B.B. King - The Other Night Blues
(2:56) 19. B.B. King - Walkin' and Cryin'
(2:21) 20. Ike Turner - You're Driving Me Insane
(2:33) 21. Ike Turner - Trouble and Heartaches
(2:19) 22. Rosco Gordon - That Gal of Mine
(3:19) 23. Rosco Gordon - So Tired
(3:07) 24. Rosco Gordon - Run to Me Baby
(3:06) 25. Rosco Gordon - She Rocks Me
(3:09) 26. Rosco Gordon - Don't Have to Worry 'Bout You No More

This originally came out as a 1989 LP on Ace; look, however, for the expanded 2000 Ace CD, as it increases the number of tracks from 15 to 26 with the addition of material by B.B. King, Ike Turner, and Rosco Gordon. All of the songs were recorded in Memphis in the early '50s by the Bihari Brothers, and much of it was released on 45s on their Modern, RPM, and Meteor labels, though some of it wasn't issued for decades. This was two or three years before the ascendance of Memphis rockabilly, and blues/R&B crossover ruled the roost in the city. The CD is thus a rough snapshot of local electric blues just as it began to be recorded more often, with some of the earliest sides by Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Johnny Ace, and the aforementioned King, Turner, and Gordon, as well as the nearly unknown Earl Forest. In comparison to the somewhat more famous early Memphis electric blues released in the early to mid-'50s on Sun, this is a little more sluggish, and more tilted toward barroom piano styles. The songwriting, too, is not as sharp and electric as the best Sun stuff. All that taken into consideration, this is still a noteworthy supplement to those Sun recordings, as a document of the sound of Memphis electric blues -- and, by extension, rock & roll -- in its infancy. The band plays some serious havoc with timekeeping on Parker's chaotic "You're My Angel," which sounds like a drunken after-hours jam; Bland is well on his way to establishing his foggy urban blues delivery on his two singles. Forest is a typical but unremarkable period bluesman; Ace is represented by just one performance, the 1953 ballad "Midnight Hours Journey"; and Turner turns in relatively rare (and competent) vocal performances on his 1952 single. B.B. King's catalog from this period is actually pretty well represented by reissues, so collectors will be interested to note that the four numbers here are alternate takes of his first two 78 singles for RPM, from 1950. -- Allmusic.

Original Memphis Blues Brothers
Original Memphis Blues Brothers artwork

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