029667024525

Even More Mellow Cats 'n' Kittens: Hot R&b And Cool Blues 1945-1951 (Jewel Case)

Various Artists

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Format: CD

Cat No: CDCHD1140

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Format Details: Jewel Case

Release Date:  27 November 2006

Label:  Ace Records

Packaging Type:  Jewel Case

No of Units:  1

Barcode:  029667024525

Genres:  Blues  Rhythm and Blues  Soul/R&B  R&B  

  • Description

    'Tis the season to be jolly once again, and that means its also time for another groovy gallop through the Modern Records archives in an attempt to bring you EVEN MORE MELLOW CATS AND KITTENS than we have already done on two previous volumes of fabulous, early west coast R&B. This, the third - and by no means final - instalment in the MC'N'K series once again draws on the early Modern acetates. In the label's early days, Jules Bihari always recorded far more material than Modern could release, and anyone who has bought the previous two sets will agree that the quality of what Jules left on the shelf is little short of stunning. No less than 16 of this volume's recordings have been confined to acetate for more than half a century, prior to their debut here. Every single one is as good as any master that actually was released at the time on Modern - and many are better. It's great to be able to welcome back several old friends from earlier volumes. The remaining four tracks from Butch Stone's small-but-perfectly-formed cache of repertoire will doubtless be among everyone's favourites. Other returnees include the Three Bits Of Rhythm, Clarence Williams, Helen Humes and Scatman Crothers, represented by sides that pretty much sum up the sound of late 40s/early 50s Central Avenue R&B. Herb Fisher is featured on an early take of his Imperial 78 Ride, Ride, Ride - one of his best Modern sides and, curiously, one of only two that the Biharis chose not to issue. If you like the Amos Milburn/Floyd Dixon sound, you can add Herb to your list of 'must hear's' right away. Also featured are artists who were essential players in the development of post-WWII R&B. You'll know Jimmy Witherspoon, Johnny Otis and Hadda Brooks, but you may be less familiar with Big Jim Wynn or Felix Gross. You will certainly want to know more about both of these LA session stalwarts once you hear the previously unissued Stop - Skip Four Beats (Wynn) and Full House (Gross). Another amazing picker, the brilliant guitarist Mitchell "Tiny"� Webb, can also be heard here to devastating effect on B Splat (one of Modern's first releases) as a member of George "Happy"� Johnson's 'sextette' and, if anyone ever really manages to lift the veil of mystery that shrouds so many West Coast sessions, he's probably on a good many of the other sides featured here. Modern's earliest days are also handsomely represented by pioneering female vocalists like Numa Lee Davis, Estelle Edison and Pearl Traylor - none of whose careers extended far beyond their Modern sessions. Many of these ladies are accompanied by a tight little combo under the leadership of soon-to-be-seminal bebopper Howard McGhee. We also have a mystery lady on hand to Pitch A Boogie. All I can tell you for sure is that she isn't "Sounders (sic) King"� whose name is scrawled on the sleeve that houses her acetate. Even if snow isn't going to be a-glistening in your lane, and whether or not you plan to deck your halls and don yo

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Ride, Ride, Ride - Herb Fisher & his Trio
      • 2. Pitch A Boogie - Unknown Combo
      • 3. My Baby Don't Understand - Clarence Williams
      • 4. A Good Man Is Hard To Find - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
      • 5. Drop A Nickel In The Slot - Three Bits Of Rhythm
      • 6. Mean Ole Gal - Johnny Otis & his Orchestra (Vocal by Little Esther)
      • 7. Stop - Skip Four Beats! - Jim Wynn & his Orchestra
      • 8. Huggin' The Pillow - Will Rowland & his Orchestra (Vocalist unknown)
      • 9. B Splat - Happy Johnson Sextette
      • 10. Pinocchio Blues aka Daddy Pinocchio - Al Cake Wichard & his Sextette (Vocal by Jimmy Witherspoon)
      • 11. Little Girl (Take 1 master) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
      • 12. Bully Wully Boogie - Hadda Brooks & her Trio
      • 13. The Signifying Monkey - Three Bits Of Rhythm
      • 14. The Laziest Gal In Town - Helen Humes
      • 15. Thursday Night Blues - Johnny Otis & his Orchestra featuring Pete "Guitar" Lewis
      • 16. My Feet's Too Big (Take 2 master) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra
      • 17. Gee I'm Lonesome - Howard McGhee & his Sextette (Vocal by Pearl Traylor)
      • 18. Keep It Hot - Scat Man
      • 19. Baby Take Me Home With You - Clarence Williams
      • 20. Living My Life My Way - Helen Humes
      • 21. Full House - Felix Gross & his Orchestra
      • 22. Gruen Special - Three Bits Of Rhythm
      • 23. Play Fair aka Call It The Blues - Howard McGhee & his Sextette (Vocal by Estelle Edison)
      • 24. Baby Face (Take 4 master) - Butch Stone & His Orchestra