Various Artists The R&B Hits 1948,1949,1950
(6 Discs)
Label: Indigo
Format : Mp3@320

Various Artists The R&B Hits 1948
Released : 1999



If the years 1954 to 1956 are considered the site of the rock 'n' roll explosion (i.e., the moment when rock 'n' roll came along and made all that came before it become irrelevant), then 1948 might be thought of as the year when the long fuse on that powder keg was first lit. This was the era of the honkers and shouters, a revolutionary period in black music during which Billboard first used the phrase rock and roll, to describe the raw power of the new black pop. In 1948, the blanket term R&B covered as many discrete styles as electronica does today, and often, when boutique retailing this past, reissuers have tended to focus on a singular style--doo-wop, say, or jump blues. What makes this Indigo collection unique is its scope: 1948 makes room for gospel fervor, poppy doo-wop harmony singing, New Orleans piano rolls, rural blues picking, and urban blues shouting.

Tracklist:

Disc 1
1. T-Bone Walker - They Call It Stormy Monday (3:03)
2. Paul Williams - 35-30 (Thirty Five Thirty) (3:15)
3. Louis Jordan - Barnyard Boogie (2:48 )
4. Julia Lee - King Size Papa (2:42)
5. Lonnie Johnson - Tomorrow Night (3:06)
6. Joe Lutcher - Shuffle Boogie (2:43)
7. Nellie Lutcher - Fine Brown Frame (2:55)
8. Roy Milton - Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket (2:24)
9. Bull Moose Jackson - Sneaky Pete (2:52)
10. Big Three Trio - You Sure Look Good To Me (2:43)
11. Bull Moose Jackson - I Want A Bow-Legged Woman (2:47)
12. Louis Jordan - Reet, Petit And Gone (2:44)
13. Wynonie Harris - Good Rockin' Tonight (2:46)
14. Sonny Thompson - Long Gone Part 1 (2:42)
15. Sonny Thompson - Long Gone Part 2 (2:59)
16. Camille Howard - X-Temperaneous Boogie (2:08 )
17. Memphis Slim - Messin' Around (2:48 )
18. Julia Lee - That's What I Like (2:47)
19. Ivory Joe Hunter - Pretty Mama Blues (2:37)
20. Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Groovie Movie Blues (2:33)
21. Louis Jordan - Run Joe (3:23)
22. The Ravens - Send For Me If You Need Me (2:48 )
23. Wynonie Harris - Lollipop Mama (2:48 )

Disc 2
1. Wild Bill Moore - We're Gonna Rock (2:41)
2. Jimmy Liggins - Tear Drop Blues (2:58 )
3. Mabel Scott - Elevator Boogie (2:33)
4. Sonny Thompson & Eddie Chamblee - (Creeping) Late Freight (2:12)
5. Hal Singer - Cornbread (2:57)
6. The Orioles - It's Too Soon To Know (2:59)
7. Cab Calloway & His Orchestra - The Calloway Boogie (3:03)
8. Muddy Waters - I Feel Like Going Home (3:10)
9. Roy Milton - Hop Skip And Jump (2:36)
10. Lowell Fulson - Three O'Clock Blues (3:09)
11. Brownie McGhee - My Fault (2:41)
12. T-Bone Walker - West Side Baby (2:47)
13. Little Son Jackson - Freedom Train Blues (2:42)
14. Todd Rhodes - Blues For The Red Boy (2:42)
15. Pee Wee Crayton - Blues After Hours (3:04)
16. Martha Davis & Louis Jordan - Daddy-O (3:19)
17. Roy Brown - Long 'Bout Midnight (3:01)
18. Joe Swift - That's Your Last Boogie (3:03)
19. Tiny Grimes Quintet - Midnight Special (2:42)
20. Amos Milburn - Chicken Shack Boogie (2:50)
21. Sonny Boy Williamson - Better Cut That Out (3:01)
22. Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head (2:30)

Various Artists The R&B Hits 1949
Released : 2000



1949 was defining year for music in general, its first year back in full force after World War II and the musician union's ban on recording in 1948. It was also the first year that African-American record charts were called "rhythm & blues" instead of "race" charts. It was the end of the big band era; Louis Jordan was at his peak, and the resurgence of old Delta-styled blues played electrically was making inroads on small labels across America. This 48-track, two-disc set gives a real feel, through its very nice cross-section, of what was actually popular with R&B listeners that important year -- and does it with nice, clean transfers on most of the material. Along the way, we're treated to the diverse sounds of John Lee Hooker "Boogie Chillen"), Paul Williams ("The Hucklebuck"), Louis Jordan ("Saturday Night Fish Fry"), Ruth Brown ("So Long"), Larry Darnell ("For You My Love"), Charles Brown ("Trouble Blues"), Amos Milburn ("Roomin' House Boogie"), Tampa Red ("When Things Go Wrong"), Lionel Hampton ("Lavender Coffin"), Big Jay McNeely ("Deacon's Hop"), Robert Night Hawk "Annie Lee Blues") and Stick McGhee ("Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee"). A diverse and quite listenable collection, this tips the scale rightly with a nice balance of hits and important music.

Tracklist:

Disc 1
1. John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillen (3:10)
2. Big Jay McNeely - The Deacon's Hop (2:48 )
3. Paul Williams - The Huckleback (3:04)
4. Charles Brown - Get Yourself Another Fool (3:01)
5. Buddy Johnson Orchestra - Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit The Ball (2:17)
6. Chubby Newsome - Hip Shakin' Mama (2:42)
7. Wynonie Harris - Grandma Plays The Numbers (2:39)
8. Jimmy Witherspoon - Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do Part 2 (3:08 )
9. Julia Lee - I Didn't Like It The First Time (2:58 )
10. Roy Brown - Rockin' At Midnight (2:43)
11. T-Bone Walker - T-Bone Shuffle (2:58 )
12. Hal Singer - Beef Stew (2:31)
13. Stick McGhee - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee (3:15)
14. Roy Milton & His Solid Senders - The Hucklebuck (2:21)
15. Ray Charles & The Maxin Trio - Confessin' Blues (2:31)
16. Jimmy Preston - Hucklebuck Baby (2:43)
17. Amos Milburn - Hold Me Baby (2:49)
18. Charles Brown - Trouble Blues (2:21)
19. John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues (3:01)
20. Eddie Chamblee - Back Street (2:47)
21. Frank "Floorshow" Culley - Cole Slaw (Sorghum Switch) (3:07)
22. Amos Milburn - In The Middle Of The Night (2:41)
23. Dinah Washington - Baby Get Lost (2:52)
24. Louis Jordan - Beans And Cornbread (2:50)

Disc 2
1. Lowell Fulson - Come Back Baby (2:29)
2. Little Willie Littlefield - It's Midnight (No Place To Go) (2:36)
3. Wynonie Harris - All She Wants To Do Is Rock (2:37)
4. Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra - Lavender Coffin (2:45)
5. Ivory Joe Hunter - Blues At Midnight (2:50)
6. Amos Miburn - Roomin' House Boogie (2:45)
7. Ruth Brown - So Long (2:37)
8. Jimmy Preston - Rock The Joint (2:36)
9. Tampa Red - When Things Go Wrong With You (2:56)
10. Joe Thomas - Page Boy Shuffle (2:39)
11. Jimmy Witherspoon - In The Evening (3:00)
12. Lightnin' Hopkins - T Model Blues (2:35)
13. Louis Jordan - Saturday Night Fish Fry (5:23)
14. Bull Moose Jackson - Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me (3:00)
15. Larry Darnell - For You My Love (2:37)
16. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Mary's Fine (2:42)
17. Memphis Slim - Angel Child (2:51)
18. Roy Brown - Boogie At Midnight (2:52)
19. Jimmy Liggins - Don't Put Me Down (2:55)
20. Mercy Dee - Lonesome Cabin Blues (2:41)
21. Annie Laurie - Cuttin' Out (2:46)
22. Amos Milburn - Pretty Mama Blues (2:20)
23. Jimmy Witherspoon - No Rollin' Blues (3:43)
24. Robert Nighthawk - Annie Lee Blues (3:13)

Various Aritists The R&B Hits 1950
Released : 2001



This compilation of, as the no-frills title suggests, songs that were R&B hits in 1950. Jump blues, piano boogies, and bluesy ballads form virtually the entire program, much of which consists of contributions from well-known pioneers such as Louis Jordan, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris, Little Esther, Lowell Fulson, Amos Milburn, Roy Brown, Tiny Bradshaw, Ruth Brown, Johnny Otis, Floyd Dixon, Fats Domino, John Lee Hooker, and Lightnin' Hopkins. Some of these are famous classics: Hunter's "I Almost Lost My Mind," Clarence Garlow's "Bon Ton Roula" (the first zydeco-influenced song to be a big hit), Joe Liggins' "Pink Champagne," Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love," and Amos Milburn's "Bad Bad Whiskey."

Tracklist:
Disc 1:
01. Ivory Joe Hunter - I Almost Lost My Mind (3:11)
02. Ivory Joe Hunter - Quit My Pretty Mama (2:50)
03. Louis Jordan - School Days (2:34)
04. Wynonie Harris - Sittin' On It All The Time (2:39)
05. Little Esther - Double Crossing Blues (2:47)
06. John Lee Hooker - Huckle Up Baby (2:48 )
07. Peppermint Harris - Rainin' In My Heart ( 2:35)
08. Nat King Cole & Nellie Lutcher - For You My Love (2:25)
09. Roy Hawkins - Why Do Things Happen To Me? (2:57)
10. Ivory Joe Hunter -S P Blues (2:48 )
11. Roy Milton - Information Blues (2:42)
12. Clarence Garlow - Bon Ton Roula (3:15)
13. Cecil Payne - Block Buster Boogie – (3:00)
14. Big Joe Turner - Still In The Dark (2:40)
15. Wynonie Harris - I Like My Baby's Pudding (2:44)
16. Little Esther & Mel Walker - Mistrustin' Blues (3:01)
17. Charles Brown - My Baby's Gone (3:00)
18. Paul Gayten & Annie Laurie I'll Never Be Free (3:00)
19. Ivory Joe Hunter I Need You So (3:11)
20. Joe Liggins - Pink Champagne (3:02)
21. Amos Milburn - Walking Blues (3:00)
22. Tiny Bradshaw - Well Oh Well (2:41)
23. Lowell Fulson - Everyday I Have The Blues (2:30)
24. Calvin Boze - Safonia B (2:23)

Disc 2:
01. Little Esther & Mel Walker - Cupid Boogie (2:36)
02. Roy Brown- Hard Luck Blues (3:00)
03. Wynonie Harris - Good Morning Judge (2:42)
04. Larry Darnell - I Love My Baby (2:52)
05. Louis Jordan - Blue Light Boogie (5:07)
06. Blue Shadows - Lowell Fulson
07. Sax Shack Boogie - Amos Milburn
08. Love Don't Love Nobody - Roy Brown
09. Lightnin' Hopkins - Shotgun Blues (2:40)
10. Helen Humes - Million Dollar Secret (3:09)
11. Laurie Tate & Joe Morris - Anytime Anyplace Anywhere (3:03)
12. Tiny Bradshaw - I'm Going To Have Myself A Ball (2:44)
13. The Ray-O-Vacs - Besame Mucho (2:49)
14. Percy Mayfield - Please Send Me Someone To Love (2:54)
15. Ruth Brown - Teardrops From My Eyes (2:53)
16. Roy Brown - Cadillac Baby (2:56)
17. Floyd Dixon - Sad Journey (2:47)
18. Johnny Otis - Wedding Boogie (2:54)
19. Amos Milburn - Bad Bad Whiskey (2:57 )
20. Lloyd Glenn - Old Time Shuffle Blues (2:54)
21. Fats Domino - Every Night About This Time (2:07)
22. Wynonie Harris - Oh Babe! (2:54)
23. Mel Walker - Rockin' Blues (2:51)
24. Piano Red - Rockin' With Red (2:28 )