Release Date: 02 February 2024
Label: Jasmine Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 604988327120
Genres: Blues Rhythm and Blues
Description
For over 30 years, and from the Rock 'n' Roll era onwards, Phil Flowers was the backbone - and the heartbeat - of the Washington DC R&B and soul scene. Between the mid-50s and the mid-80s, Phil released more than 30 45s. on labels occasionally big but mostly small. He also had over half a dozen album releases, the majority of which did little to further his career as they were released on budget labels and not sold in conventional record stores. Although he came close a couple of times in the late 60s, not one of Phil's 45s breached the R&B or pop charts. Not that this is in any way an indication of their quality, which was and is mostly very high. Indeed, several are now in the highest demand among collectors of 50s and early 60s black American music, and have been bootlegged as 'lookalike' 45s.
Jasmine's collection provides an easy and economical way to get almost all of Phil's early work in one place. "D C Rider" contains just about every Flowers single from 1958 to 1962 inclusive, plus all of his tracks from a budget album he 'shared' with Nat King Cole in '62.
Backing Phil on most of these tracks are two of DC's most eminent R&B bands, led by two legendary R&B names in Thomas 'TNT' Tribble and Frank Motley, who also has his own excellent Jasmine CD "Go! Man! Go!" (JASMCD3247).
Phil's formidable body of early work has been long overdue a retrospective like the one Jasmine offers here, which turns the spotlight on an important but somewhat neglected artist.
Tracklisting
Tommy Hunt
Kay Barry / Maureen Evans
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Johnnie Ray
Eddie Cochran
Various Artists
Billie Holiday
Charlie Applewhite
Chuck Berry
Various Artists
Camille Howard
Dinah Washington
Various Artists
Sonny Knight
Dolly Cooper
Jesse Allen
