RhoDeo 1550 Grooves

Hello, almost X'mas and we're being bombarded by sentimental muzak and I felt it needed an anwers by offering you something nostalgic, great Rhythm and Blues from before most of you were born, may it brighten your days....

This seven cd set (4 today, 3 next week) should be a part of any collection that presumes to take American music -- not just rock & roll or rhythm & blues -- seriously. Atlantic Records was one of dozens of independent labels started up after the war by neophyte executives and producers, but it was different from most of the others in that the guys who ran it were honest and genuinely loved music. Coupled with a lot of luck and some good judgment, the results trace a good chunk of the history of American music and popular culture.. ... N'joy

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Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974

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Throughout the late '40s, '50s and '60s, Atlantic was one of the premier independent record labels in America, and one of their specialties was R&B. Atlantic had a remarkable staff of producers and A&R men who could find the singular talent of the day, and they assembled a truly extraordinary roster from the outset. The entire saga of Atlantic Records' peak years is documented on the seven-disc box set Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974. The first installment of the series has a number of classic singles, even if it lacks the star power that drives the later editions. Much of this music is close to blues, whether it's down-home piano blues or jump blues, with a few vocal groups emerging by 1952. Part of what makes Vol. 1 special is that it contains such relative obscurities as Frank Culley's "Cole Slaw" and Joe Morris' "The Apple Jack" alongside such classics as Stick McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," Tiny Grimes' "Midnight Special," Professor Longhair's "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" and the Clovers' "One Mint Julep," as well as hot tracks from Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, and Willis Jackson. It's an excellent set that captures the early days of R&B, just as it was breaking free from the blues.

Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1952  (flac 333mb)

01 Joe Morris - Lowe Groovin' 2:43
02 Tiny Grimes - Annie Laurie 2:53
03 Tiny Grimes - Midnight Special 2:43
04 Joe Morris - The Applejack  3:10
05 Frank Culley - Cole Slaw 2:40
06 Sticks McGhee - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee 3:12
07 Ruth Brown - So Long 2:37
08 Professor Longhair - Hey Little Girl 3:01
09 Professor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans 2:51
10 Harry Van Walls - Tee Nah Nah 2:32
11 Joe Morris - Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere 3:01
12 Ruth Brown - Teardrops from My Eyes 2:51
13 The Clovers - Don't You Know I Love You 3:03
14 The Cardinals - Shouldn't I Know 3:08
15 Big Joe Turner - The Chill Is On 2:44
16 Joe Turner - Chains of Love 3:21
17 The Clovers - Fool, Fool, Fool 2:31
18 The Clovers - One Mint Julep 2:20
19 The Cardinals - Wheel of Fortune 2:49
20 Joe Turner - Sweet Sixteen 2:51
21 Ruth Brown - 5-10-15 Hours 3:08
22 The Clovers - Ting-A-Ling 3:05
23 Willis "Gator" Jackson - Gator's Groove 2:33
24 Ruth Brown - Daddy Daddy 2:52
25 Ray Charles - The Midnight Hour 2:51

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During the years covered on Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 2 (1952-1955), Atlantic began to gain a firm hold in the marketplace as Ruth Brown and Joe Turner began to score hits ("Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and "Wild Wild Young Men" for Baker, "Honey Hush" and "Shake, Rattle & Roll" for Turner), and the label signed Ray Charles, LaVern Baker and Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters. Of these three artists, the Drifters had the most hits out of the starting gate, scoring with "Money Honey," "Such a Night," "White Christmas" and "Honey Love." Charles began writing a number of classics, including "The Midnight Hour," "Mess Around" and "I Got a Woman," and Baker had hits with "Soul On Fire" and "Tweedle Dee." All of these songs -- plus excellent sides from the Clovers ("Ting-A-Ling," "Good Lovin'," "Lovey Dovey"), the Chords ("Sh-Boom"), Tommy Ridgley ("Jam Up") and the Diamonds ("A Beggar for Your Kisses") -- are on Vol. 2. These are some of the greatest R&B singles ever recorded, sounding just as vital decades after their original release, and the songs that weren't hits are nearly as good -- sometimes just as good -- as the ones that were.

Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1952-1955  (flac 321mb)

01 The Diamonds - A Beggar for Your Kisses 2:57
02 Ruth Brown - Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean 2:50
03 The Clovers - Good Lovin'  2:56
04 Ruth Brown - Wild Wild Young Men 2:56
05 Ray Charles - Mess Around 2:29
06 Joe Turner - Honey Hush 2:38
07 LaVern Baker - Soul on Fire 2:37
08 The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter 2:57
09 The Clovers - Lovey Dovey 2:40
10 The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter - Such a Night 2:28
11 Professor Longhair - Tipitina 2:47
12 The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter - White Christmas 2:00
13 The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter - Honey Love 2:51
14 Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle and Roll 3:07
15 The Chords - Sh-Boom 2:13
16 Tommy Ridgley - Jam Up 2:43
17 LaVern Baker - Tomorrow Night 3:09
18 LaVern Baker - Tweedlee Dee 3:07
19 Ray Charles - I Got a Woman 2:52
20 Ray Charles - Greenbacks 2:47
21 The Cardinals - The Door Is Still Open 2:56
22 Joe Turner - Flip Flop and Fly 2:48
23 The Cardinals - A Fool for You 3:00
24 LaVern Baker - Play It Fair 2:55
25 The Robins - Smokey Joe's Cafe 2:34

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Atlantic hit its stride between 1955 and 1958, the years covered on Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 3 (1955-1958). Nearly every song on this double-album/single-disc set was a major R&B or pop hit and has turned into a genuine pop music classic. In hindsight, the depth of talent on Atlantic's roster in the late '50s becomes all the more astonishing. Between 1955 and 1958, Joe Turner was still turning out rollicking, infectious jump blues, as reprsented by "Flip Flop and Fly," "The Chicken and the Hawk," "Corrine Corrina" and "Midnight Special Train," and LaVern Baker continued to have hits ("Jim Dandy," "Play it Fair"). But what makes theis disc remarkable is the juxtaposition of Ray Charles' ascension into the greats with new signings like the Coasters, Ivory Joe Hunter and Chuck Willis. Charles truly came into his own during these years -- this disc alone contains "This Little Girl of Mine," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" and "Lonely Avenue," songs that have become an indelible part of pop and R&B. the Coasters also arrive with a vengeance, contributing "Down in Mexico," "Searchin'" and "Young Blood," along with "Smokey Joe's Cafe," which was a release from their early incarnation as the Robins. Hunter and Willis each released classics during this time ("Since I Met You Baby" and "Empty Arms" for Hunter, "It's Too Late" and "C.C. Rider" for Willis), while Clyde McPhatter began a solo career, and the Cookies, the Drifters and the Clovers all contributed great singles. The result makes Vol. 3 an intoxicating, whirlwind journey through some of the most vital records of the '50s.

Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1955-1958  (flac 321mb)

01 The Drifters - Ruby Baby 2:21
02 The Cookies - In Paradise 2:26
03 Joe Turner - The Chicken and the Hawk 1:48
04 The Clovers - Devil or Angel 2:24
05 Ray Charles - Drown in My Own Tears 3:18
06 Ray Charles - Hallelujah, I Love Her So 2:34
07 LaVern Baker - Jim Dandy 2:11
08 The Coasters - Down in Mexico 3:13
09 Joe Turner - Corrine Corinna 2:50
10 Clyde McPhatter - Treasure of Love 2:10
11 The Clovers - Love, Love, Love 1:59
12 Chuck Willis - It's Too Late 2:37
13 Ray Charles - Lonely Avenue 2:34
14 Ivory Joe Turner - Since I Met You Baby 2:41
15 Ruth Brown - Lucky Lips 2:36
16 Clyde McPhatter - Without Love (There Is Nothing) 2:54
17 The Drifters - Fools Fall in Love 2:28
18 Joe Turner - Midnight Special Train 2:37
19 Ivory Joe Turner - Empty Arms 2:40
20 Chuck Willis - C.C. Rider 2:33
21 The Coasters - Searchin' 2:39 almost Xmas
22 The Coasters - Young Blood 2:20
23 The Bobbettes - Mr. Lee 2:11
24 Chuck Willis - Betty and Dupree 2:24
25 Chuck Willis - What Am I Livin' For ? 2:25
26 Chuck Willis - Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes 2:18
27 The Coasters - Yakety Yak 1:49
28 Clyde McPhatter - A Lover's Question 2:31

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Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 4 (1958-1962) continues the streak of hit singles and classic R&B cuts that Atlantic began in earnest in the years covered by Vol. 3. Most of the album is devoted to hits by the Coasters ("Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," "Along Came Jones," "Poison Ivy," "Shopping for Clothes"), Ray Charles ("What'd I Say," "The Right Time," "Let the Good Times Roll"), the Drifters ("This Magic Moment," "There Goes My Baby," "Save the Last Dance for Me"), Ben E. King ("Spanish Harlem," "Stand By Me"), Chuck Willis ("Betty and Dupree," "What Am I Livin' For?," "Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes") and Clyde McPhatter ("Long Lonely Night," "A Lover's Question"). There's also a handful of great singles from Solomon Burke ("Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)"), the Bobbettes ("Mr. Lee") and LaVern Baker ("I Cried a Tear," "Saved") thrown in, along with the first fruits from Atlantic's distribution deal with Stax/Volt (Carla Thomas' "Gee Whiz"). In general, Atlantic's singles -- and R&B in general -- began to expand its boudnaries during these years, incorporating more sophisticated, lavish productions, particularly in the Drifters recordings. Despite the strings and tympanis, these songs remain soulful and arguably represent the peak of Atlantic's R&B achievements in the late '50s.

Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1958-1962  (flac 393mb)

01 LaVern Baker - I Cried a Tear 2:35
02 Ray Charles - The Right Time 3:21
03 The Coasters - Charlie Brown 2:18
04 Ray Charles - What'd I Say, Pts. 1-2 5:06
05 The Drifters - There Goes My Baby 2:10
06 The Coasters - Along Came Jones 2:57
07 The Coasters - Poison Ivy 2:40
08 The Drifters - Dance with Me 2:22
09 Ray Charles - Just for a Thrill 3:22
10 The Drifters - This Magic Moment 2:30
11 The Drifters - Save the Last Dance for Me 2:27
12 The Coasters - Shopping for Clothes 2:57
13 Ben E. King - Spanish Harlem 2:49
14 Ben E. King - Young Boy Blues 2:18
15 Ben E. King - Stand by Me 2:50
16 Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz 2:16
17 LaVern Baker - Saved 2:34
18 Solomon Burke - Just out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) 2:45
19 The Coasters - Little Egypt 2:51
20 Ben E. King - Amor 2:52
21 The Mar-Keys - Last Night 2:33
22 William Bell - You Don't Miss Your Water 2:58
23 Solomon Burke - Cry to Me 2:30
24 Ben E. King - Don't Play That Song (You Lied) 2:50
25 Booker T. & the MG's - Green Onions 2:50

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