If you simply like R&B music, and don't really care when a song came out or how well it did on musical charts, or indeed even if its the original rendition, then you'll probably love this 3-CD set from Time Musical International Limited, which as excellent sound reproduction. However, if you DO want only original hits, then heed this fine print on the reverse of the box "This album contains some tracks that are re-recorded. All single-artist tracks are performed by the original artist. Tracks featuring groups were recorded using as many of the original group members as possible."
For the record the tracks are -
Disc 1: Please Love Me B. B. King; Gabbin' Blues - Big Maybelle; Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price; The Clock - Johnny Ace; Mistrustin' Blues - Johnny Otis & His Orch featuring Little Esther & Mel Walker; Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand - Ray Charles; The Glory Of Love - The Five Keys; Rack 'Em Back - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers; Flamingo - Earl Bostic; Dream Girl - Jesse Belvin & Marvin Phillips; Ting-A-Ling - The Clovers; Hot Banana - Oscar McLollie; When It Rains It Pours - Billy "The Kid" Emerson; Pink Champagne - Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers; Heavy Juice - Tiny Bradshaw; I Got Loaded - Peppermint Harris; Bear Cat - Rufus "Hound Dog" Thomas, Jr.; I Ain't Drunk - Jimmy Liggins; Shouldn't I Know? - The Cardinals; T.V. Is The Thing This Year - Dinah Washington
Disc 2: Bad, Bad Whiskey - Amos Milburn; Have Mercy Baby - The Dominoes feat. Clyde McPhatter; Blue Light Boogie - Louis Jordan; Please Send Me Someone To Love - Percy Mayfield; Black Night - Charles Brown; T-99 Blues - Jimmy Nelson; All Nite Long - Johnny Otis & His Orch; K.C. Loving - Little Willie Littlefield; Annie Had A Baby - The Midnighters; Beer Bottle Boogie - Johnny Otis & His Orch; Hearts Of Stone - Otis Williams & His Charms; I Don't Know - Willie Mabon; Just Walkin' In The Rain - The Prisonaires; Get It - The Royals (Hank Ballard & The Midnighters); Honey Love - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; Will You Be Mine? - The Swallows; The Things That I Used To Do - Guitar Slim; Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere - Laurie Tate & The Joe Morris Orch; Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown
Disc 3: Shake A Hand - Faye Adams; Goin' Home - Fats Domino; I Wanna Know - The Du Droppers; Information Blues - Roy Milton & His SOlid Senders; Baby Doll - Marvin & Johnny; Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston With The Delta Cats; Wakin' Up Baby - Roy Milton & His Solid Senders; If It's So Baby - The Robins; Heavenly Father - Edna McGriff; Drop Top - Billy Love; Gee - The Crows; Baby Please Don't Go - Sonny Til & The Orioles; Help Me Somebody - The Five Royales; Smooth Sailing - Ella Fitzgerald; Baby It's You - The Spaniels; Mercy, Mr. Percy; Chains Of Love - Joe Turner; Hesitating Blues - Lena Horne; Rockin' Blues - Johnny Otis & His Orch; Wasn't That Good - Wynonie Harris
Certainly a nice collection of songs, but for those who want only bona-fide original cuts, this leaves way too many questions open, and it's unforgiveable that they would put out a collection like this without informative liner notes. For that reason I could not go any higher than 2 stars. Caveat emptor.
