Tag Archives: r&b

Aaron Neville – Hercules

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Aaron Neville – “Hercules” from the album “Aaron Neville”

Aaron was born on 24 January 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His first major hit single, “Tell It Like It Is”, was released on a small New Orleans label, Par-Lo. It sold over one million copies, was awarded a gold disc and, incredibly, was the label’s only release.

“Aaron Neville”

1) You Can Give But You Can’t Take; 2) Where Is My Baby; 3) Speak To Me; 4) You Don’t Love Me Anymore; 5) She’s On My Mind; 6) All These Things; 7) Baby I’m A Want You; 8) Mojo Hannah; 9) Hercules; 10) Tell It Like It Is; 11) Been So Wrong; 12) Performance; 13) He Greatest Love; 14) Struttin’ On Sunday; 15) Love Letters; 16) Make Me Strong; 17) One Fine Day; 18) Cry Me A River; 19) Waiting For A Bus; 20) Wildflower; 21) Nadie; 22) For The Good Times

Aaron Neville - Hercules

The Penguins – Earth Angel

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The Penguins – “Earth Angel” from the album “Doo Wop – The R&B Vocal Group Sound – 1950 to 1960”

They named themselves after Willie The Penguin, the cartoon logo of Kool cigarettes, one of the early mentholated brands. The lead vocalist on Earth Angel, Cleveland “Cleve” Duncan, said “We wanted to be cool and what was cooler than an Arctic bird?”

It was actually the b-side to “Hey Señorita”, but after a DJ played both sides listeners started phoning in to request “Earth Angel”. It shot to number 1 on the national R&B charts and stayed there for three weeks. It’s estimated to have sold 5 million copies world-wide.

“Doo Wop – The R&B Vocal Group Sound – 1950 to 1960”

Disc 1

1) Double Crossing Blues – Johnny Otis Quintette With The Robins & Little Esther; 2) I Will Wait – The Four Buddies; 3) Sixty-Minute Man – The Dominoes; 4) Don’t You Know I Love You – The Clovers; 5) The Glory Of Love – The Five Keys; 6) Fool Fool Fool – The Clovers; 7) Have Mercy Baby – The Dominoes; 8) One Mint Julep – The Clovers; 9) Baby Don’t Do It – The 5 Royales; 10) Ting-A-Ling – The Clovers; 11) I Wanna Know – The Du Droppers; 12) Help Me Somebody – The 5 Royales; 13) Good Lovin’ – The Clovers; 14) Crying In The Chapel – The Orioles; 15) Nadine – The Coronets; 16) Money Honey – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 17) Rags To Riches – Billy Ward & The Dominoes; 18) I Didn’t Want To Do It – The Spiders; 19) Such A Night – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 20) Lovey Dovey – The Clovers; 21) Gee – The Crows; 22) Work With Me Annie – The Royals; 23) Middle Of The Night – The Clovers; 24) Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite – The Spaniels; 25) Honey Love – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 26) Sh-Boom – The Chords; 27) Sexy Ways – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters; 28) Hearts Of Stone – The Charms; 29) Sincerely – The Moonglows

The Penguins - Earth Angel

Disc 2

1) Earth Angel – The Penguins; 2) Ling Ting Tong – The Five Keys; 3) The Door Is Still Open – The Cardinals; 4) Story Untold – The Nutmegs; 5) Soldier Boy – The Four Fellows; 6) Only You (And You Alone) – The Platters; 7) Why Don’t You Write Me – The Jacks; 8) At My Front Door – The El Dorados; 9) Adorable – The Drifters; 10) When You Dance – The Turbans; 11) The Great Pretender – The Platters; 12) Speedoo – The Cadillacs; 13) Devil Or Angel – The Clovers; 14) Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; 15) Eddie My Love – The Teen Queens; 16) (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch – The Platters; 17) Ivory Tower – Otis Williams & His Charms; 18) Please, Please, Please – James Brown & The Famous Flames; 19) I Want You To Be My Girl – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; 20) My Prayer – The Platters; 21) Stranded In The Jungle – The Cadets; 22) In The Still Of The Nite – The Five Satins; 23) Heaven On Earth – The Platters; 24) Oh What A Nite – The Dells; 25) A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats; 26) Come Go With Me – The Del-Vikings; 27) I’m Sorry – The Platters; 28) Over The Mountain, Across The Sea – Johnnie & Joe; 29) Searchin’ – The Coasters

Disc 3

1) Young Blood – The Coasters; 2) Star Dust – Billy Ward & The Dominoes; 3) Mr Lee – The Bobbettes; 4) Happy Happy Birthday Baby – The Tune Weavers; 5) Silhouettes – The Rays; 6) Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris; 7) Buzz Buzz Buzz – Hollywood Flames; 8) Get A Job – The Silhouettes; 9) Maybe – The Chantels; 10) Don’t You Just Know It – Huey “Piano” Smith & The Clowns; 11) Book Of Love – The Monotones; 12) Twilight Time – The Platters; 13) Yakety Yak – The Coasters; 14) For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler & The Impressions; 15) One Summer Night – The Danleers; 16) Western Movies – The Olympics; 17) Rock-In Robin – Bobby Day; 18) Tears On My Pillow – Little Anthony & The Imperials; 19) Try Me – James Brown & The Famous Flames; 20) Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters; 21) Charlie Brown – The Coasters; 22) So Fine – The Fiestas; 23) You’re So Fine – The Falcons; 24) There Goes My Baby – The Drifters; 25) I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos; 26) Sea Of Love – Phil Phillips With The Twilights; 27) Poison Ivy – The Coasters; 28) Dance With Me – The Drifters; 29) Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs; 30) Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters; 31) Shop Around – The Miracles

Jimmy Nelson – I Sat and Cried

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Jimmy Nelson – “I Sat and Cried” from the album “Theme Time Radio Hour”

Jimmy Nelson was born on 7 April 1919 in Philadelphia. On finishing high school he rode the rails eventually ending up in Oakland, California where he met Joe Turner, who taught him about singing, performance and the music business. He died on 29 July 2007 aged 88.

Theme Time Radio Hour

Disc 1

1) Turn Your Radio On – Grandpa Jones; 2) Papa’s On The Housetop – Leroy Carr And Scrapper Blackwell; 3) Shortnin’ Bread – Paul Chaplain & His Emeralds; 4) Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes; 5) Gun Fever (Blam Blam Fever) – The Valentines; 6) Pistol Packin’ Mama – Al Dexter & His Troopers; 7) Pistol Packin’ Mama – The Hurricanes; 8) Homework – Otis Rush; 9) He Will Break Your Heart – Jerry Butler; 10) Take It Away Lucky – Eddie Noack; 11) Buddy, Stay Off The Wine – Betty Hall Jones; 12) Tears A Go-Go – Charlie Rich; 13) Rich Woman – Li’l Millet & His Creoles; 14) Laughin’ & Jokin’ – Ernie Chaffin; 15) Me And My Chauffeur Blues – Memphis Minnie; 16) If I Lose – The Stanley Brothers; 17) I Sat And Cried – Jimmy Nelson; 18) Beatnik’s Wish – Patsy Raye & The Beatniks; 19) Devil In His Heart – The Donays; 20) Let’s Invite Them Over – George Jones & Melba Montgomery; 21) Don’t Take Ev’rybody To Be Your Friend – Sister Rosetta Tharpe With The Sam Price Trio; 22) Good Morning Heartache – Billie Holiday; 23) Pouring Water On A Drowning Man – James Carr; 24) I Drink – Mary Gauthier; 25) Mother Earth – Memphis Slim

Jimmy Nelson - I Sat and Cried

Disc 2

1) Chain Of Fools – Aretha Franklin; 2) Walk A Mile In My Shoes – Joe South & The Believers; 3) Cry Tough – Alton Ellis & The Flames; 4) Tommy Gun – The Clash; 5) (Everytime I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone – Roy Montrell; 6) Those DJ Shows – Patrice Holloway; 7) I Ain’t Drunk – Lonnie “The Cat”; 8) Eat That Chicken – Charles Mingus; 9) Mama, Get Your Hammer – Bobby Peterson Quintet; 10) How High The Moon – Slim Gaillard; 11) Cool Water – The Sons Of The Pioneers; 12) Only A Rose – Geraint Watkins; 13) I Walk In My Sleep – Berna – Dean; 14) Stars Fell On Alabama – Jack Teagarden’s Chicagoans; 15) Mama Tried (The Ballad From Killers Three) – Merle Haggard & The Strangers; 16) Big Long Slidin’ Thing – Dinah Washington; 17) Black Coffee – Bobby Darin; 18) I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water – The Cats And The Fiddle; 19) Ain’t Got The Money To Pay For This Drink – George Zimmerman & The Thrills With The Bubber Cyphers; 20) Bottle And A Bible – The Yayhoos; 21) Okie’s In The Pokie – Jimmy Patton; 22) If You’re So Smart, How Come You Ain’t Rich? – Louis Jordan; 23) Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio – Santiago Jimenez; 24) Mona – Bo Diddley; 25) Roadrunner (Twice) – The Modern Lovers

Dr John – Big Shot

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Dr John – “Big Shot” from the album “Locked Down”

Born Malcolm John Rebennack on November 21, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States,. More commonly known as Dr. John and also Dr. John Creaux, and Dr. John the Night Tripper.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2011.

Locked Down

1) Locked Down; 2) Revolution; 3) Big Shot; 4) Ice Age; 5) Getaway; 6) Kingdom Of Izzness; 7) You Lie; 8) Eleggua; 9) My Children, My Angels; 10) God’s Sure Good

Dr John - Locked Down

Dr. John – keyboards, lead vocals
Dan Auerbach – guitar, percussion, background vocals
Max Weissenfeldt – drums, percussion, background vocals
Leon Michels – keyboards, percussion, woodwinds, background vocals
Nick Movshon – electric and upright bass, percussion, background vocals
Brian Olive – guitar, percussion, woodwinds, background vocals
The McCrary Sisters (Regina, Ann & Alfreda) – background vocals

Li’l Millet & His Creoles – Rich Woman

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Li’l Millet & His Creoles – “Rich Woman” from the album “Heavy Sugar”

Born McKinley James Millet on 25 October 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a bass player, singer and songwriter who was playing in bands by the age of 10 years old.

“Rich Woman” was written by Millet and Dorothy LaBostrie and released in November 1955.
Li’l Millet and the Creoles continued to perform in New Orleans until the 1980s.
He died of cancer in 1997.

Heavy Sugar – The Pure Essence Of New Orleans R&B

Disc 1

1. Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey – Little Richard; 2. Shirley – John Fred & The Playboys; 3. Would You Believe It, I Have A Cold – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith; 4. Telling Lies – Fats Domino; 5. Someday (You’ll Want Me) – Smiley Lewis; 6. Nervous Boogie – Paul Gayten; 7. It Must Be Jelly – Frankie Ford; 8. A-Tisket A-Tasket – Joe Jones; 9. I’m So Blue – Jimmy Beasley; 10. I Know – Ray Washington; 11. Honey, Honey – The Supremes; 12. Ship On A Stormy Sea – Jimmy Clanton; 13. Loud Mouth Annie – Myles & Dupont; 14. That’s What I’ll Do – Shirley and Lee; 15. Oh, How I Need Your Lovin’ – Alberta Hall; 16. Flatfoot Sam – Oscar Wills; 17. Look What You’re Doing To Me – Professor Longhair; 18. Try Rock And Roll – Bobby Mitchell; 19. I’ll Always Be In Love With You – Charles Brown; 20. My Girl Across Town – Lester Robertson; 21. Sweet Sixteen – The Tropicals; 22. I’ve Got A Girl – Roland Cook; 23. Tic Toc – Lee Allen & His Band; 24. You Call Everybody Darling – The Gondoliers; 25. Dance With Me Henry – Etta James

li'l millet

Disc 2

1.Don’t Deceive Me – Fats Domino; 2. Cheatin’ Woman – Frankie Ford; 3. Honey Hush – Joe Turner; 4. Diddy-Y-Diddy-O – Roy Brown; 5. Whirlaway – Allen Toussaint; 6. Cha Dooky Doo – Art Neville; 7. Real Gone Party – Ruth & Al; 8. Chickee Wah Wah – Bobby Marchan; 9. There’ll Be No Backin’ Out – Mickey & Sylvia; 10. That’s All I Need To Know – Sam Cooke; 11. Carry On – Jerry Byrne; 12. We Like Birdland – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith; 13. Creole Alley – Lee Allen & His Band; 14. Mad About You Baby – Richard Berry; 15. Well-O, Well-O, Well-O Baby – Earl King; 16. Malinda – Bobby Mandolph; 17. School Days Are Back Again – Smiley Lewis; 18. Don’t Break This Heart Of Mine – Jimmy Beasley; 19. Doin’ The Hambone – Little Booker; 20. Rich Woman – Lil Millet & His Creoles; 21. Teachin’ And Preachin’ – The Royal Kings; 22. Oh Why? – Little Richard; 23. Every Time I See You – Harry Lee; 24. Blow Wind Blow – Junior Gordon; 25. I’m Glad, Glad – Lloyd Price

Disc 3

1. Don’t You Know Yockomo – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith & His Clowns; 2. Someday, Bye And Bye – The Spiders; 3. Would You – Fats Domino; 4. Hatti Malatti – Lee Diamond; 5. Mother Roux (Yo Yo Walk) – Paul Gayten; 6. We Teenagers Know What We Want – Amos Milburn; 7. Zing Zing – Art Neville; 8. So Glad She’s Mine – Charles Williams; 9. Sweeter Words (Have Never Been Told) – Smiley Lewis; 10. I Love To Rock n Roll – Eddie Bo; 11. Tough Lover – Etta James; 12. Good Lovin’ – John Fred; 13. Knocked Out – The Gondoliers; 14. Eternity – Ernie K-Doe; 15. Kansas City – Little Richard; 16. Please Believe Me – Charles Brown; 17. Teenage Wedding – Johnny Angel; 18. Baby, Baby Please – Clarence Henry; 19. Love You So – The Crystals; 20. I Think You’re Jiving Me – Huey & Jerry; 21. Take It Home To Grandma – Lester Robertson; 22. Mercy – Gene And Al’s Spacemen; 23. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again – Big Al Downing; 24. I’ll Turn Square For You – Bobby Charles; 25. Saturday Night – Roy Brown

Lloyd Lambert – Heavy Sugar

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Lloyd Lambert – “Heavy Sugar” from the album “Heavy Sugar” (and also on “Jumping The Shuffle Blues”)

Lloyd was born 4 June 1928 in Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. He was bandleader and bassist (he pioneered the use of the electric bass) and his band backed Guitar Slim on all of his Specialty recordings.
He died 31 October 1995.

Disc 1

1. Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey – Little Richard; 2. Shirley – John Fred & The Playboys; 3. Would You Believe It, I Have A Cold – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith; 4. Telling Lies – Fats Domino; 5. Someday (You’ll Want Me) – Smiley Lewis; 6. Nervous Boogie – Paul Gayten; 7. It Must Be Jelly – Frankie Ford; 8. A-Tisket A-Tasket – Joe Jones; 9. I’m So Blue – Jimmy Beasley; 10. I Know – Ray Washington; 11. Honey, Honey – The Supremes; 12. Ship On A Stormy Sea – Jimmy Clanton; 13. Loud Mouth Annie – Myles & Dupont; 14. That’s What I’ll Do – Shirley and Lee; 15. Oh, How I Need Your Lovin’ – Alberta Hall; 16. Flatfoot Sam – Oscar Wills; 17. Look What You’re Doing To Me – Professor Longhair; 18. Try Rock And Roll – Bobby Mitchell; 19. I’ll Always Be In Love With You – Charles Brown; 20. My Girl Across Town – Lester Robertson; 21. Sweet Sixteen – The Tropicals; 22. I’ve Got A Girl – Roland Cook; 23. Tic Toc – Lee Allen & His Band; 24. You Call Everybody Darling – The Gondoliers; 25. Dance With Me Henry – Etta James

heavy sugar

Disc 2

1.Don’t Deceive Me – Fats Domino; 2. Cheatin’ Woman – Frankie Ford; 3. Honey Hush – Joe Turner; 4. Diddy-Y-Diddy-O – Roy Brown; 5. Whirlaway – Allen Toussaint; 6. Cha Dooky Doo – Art Neville; 7. Real Gone Party – Ruth & Al; 8. Chickee Wah Wah – Bobby Marchan; 9. There’ll Be No Backin’ Out – Mickey & Sylvia; 10. That’s All I Need To Know – Sam Cooke; 11. Carry On – Jerry Byrne; 12. We Like Birdland – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith; 13. Creole Alley – Lee Allen & His Band; 14. Mad About You Baby – Richard Berry; 15. Well-O, Well-O, Well-O Baby – Earl King; 16. Malinda – Bobby Mandolph; 17. School Days Are Back Again – Smiley Lewis; 18. Don’t Break This Heart Of Mine – Jimmy Beasley; 19. Doin’ The Hambone – Little Booker; 20. Rich Woman – Lil Millet & His Creoles; 21. Teachin’ And Preachin’ – The Royal Kings; 22. Oh Why? – Little Richard; 23. Every Time I See You – Harry Lee; 24. Blow Wind Blow – Junior Gordon; 25. I’m Glad, Glad – Lloyd Price

Disc 3

1. Don’t You Know Yockomo – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith & His Clowns; 2. Someday, Bye And Bye – The Spiders; 3. Would You – Fats Domino; 4. Hatti Malatti – Lee Diamond; 5. Mother Roux (Yo Yo Walk) – Paul Gayten; 6. We Teenagers Know What We Want – Amos Milburn; 7. Zing Zing – Art Neville; 8. So Glad She’s Mine – Charles Williams; 9. Sweeter Words (Have Never Been Told) – Smiley Lewis; 10. I Love To Rock n Roll – Eddie Bo; 11. Tough Lover – Etta James; 12. Good Lovin’ – John Fred; 13. Knocked Out – The Gondoliers; 14. Eternity – Ernie K-Doe; 15. Kansas City – Little Richard; 16. Please Believe Me – Charles Brown; 17. Teenage Wedding – Johnny Angel; 18. Baby, Baby Please – Clarence Henry; 19. Love You So – The Crystals; 20. I Think You’re Jiving Me – Huey & Jerry; 21. Take It Home To Grandma – Lester Robertson; 22. Mercy – Gene And Al’s Spacemen; 23. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again – Big Al Downing; 24. I’ll Turn Square For You – Bobby Charles; 25. Saturday Night – Roy Brown

Jimmy Liggins – Drunk

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Jimmy Liggins – “Drunk” from the album “Jimmy Liggins And His Drops Of Joy”

Jimmy was born in Newby, Oklahoma, United States on 14 October 1922, seven years after his brother, Joe (frontman of Joe Liggins and his Honeydrippers).

He was briefly a disc jockey and then a professional boxer fighting under the name ‘Kid Zulu”. He then became a driver for his brother and seeing the money Joe was making decided to start writing songs himself.
Art Rupe signed him to Specialty and he had three smash hits – “I Can’t Stop It”, “Teardrop Blues” and “Cadillac Blues”.
On “Drunk” his voice was recorded twice and overdubbed producing an unusual sound (for then) which they named “3-D Music”. Bear in mind this was the era of mono.
He was an influence on Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.
He died on 18 July 1983, at the age of 60, in Durham, North Carolina.

Jimmy Liggins

1. I Can’t Stop It 2. Troubles Goodbye 3. Teardrops Blues 4. Cadilac Boogie 5. Move Out Baby 6. Careful Love 7. Homecoming Blues 8. Baby I Can’t Forget You 9. Don’t Put Me Down10. Nite Life Boogie 11. Mississippi Boogie 12. Come Back Baby 13. Answer To Teardrop Blues 14. That Song Is Gone 15. Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man 16. Shuffle Shuck 17. The Washboard Special 18. That’s What’s knockin’ 19. Hep Cat Boogie 20. I Want My Baby for Christmas 21. Train Blues 22. Baby’s Boogie 23. Drunk 24. Going Away 25. Come Back Home

Little Willie John – Suffering With The Blues

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Little Willie John – “Suffering With The Blues”

It can be found on the album “Sleep – The Singles As & Bs 1955-1961”

Little Willie John

Born William Edward John on November 15, 1937.

little willie john fever

He was an American R&B singer who performed in the 1950s and early 1960s. Best known for his popular music chart successes with songs such as, “All Around the World”, “Need Your Love So Bad” and “Fever”.

An important figure in early R&B music, Little Willie John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He died in 1968 aged 30.

Chuck Higgins – Blacksmith Blues

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Chuck Higgins – “Blacksmith Blues”

It can be found on the album “Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues” and, as you can hear, is an absolute stonewall classic.

chuck higgins blacksmth blues

Charles Williams Higgins was an American tenor saxophonist best known for his first recording, the self-penned “Pachuko Hop”. He mixed elements of Latin Jazz with Blues and recorded in Los Angeles during the mid-fifties. I have the album “Pachuko Hop”, but, sadly, nothing on it can compete with this gem.

Rosco Gordon – Just A Little Bit

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Rosco Gordon – “Just A Little Bit”

If “Vee Jay Records: Chicago Hit Factory” is still out of stock it can also be found on the more expansive (and, consequently, more expensive) “Chicago Hit Factory The Vee Jay Story 1958-1966”

rosco gordon just a little bit

Rosco is best known for his 1952 No. 1 R&B hit single, “Booted” and two No. 2 singles “No More Doggin'” and the classic mentioned above, ”Just a Little Bit”.

He was born in Memphis, Tennessee and was a pioneer of the Memphis Blues style.