Artist: Louis Prima

Band leader and lounge kingpin Louis Prima will be best be known for the classic, "Just a Gigolo", immortalised by David Lee Roth for a whole new generation of swingers. But Prima's output went much further: in his day he recorded for Capitol, acted in a film or two, even owned a golf course. Prima's genius is infectious: lounge, swing, and Dixieland all fuse together into medleys that are fun, dance-worthy, and upbeat. Prima's duets with Keely Smith are the obvious highlights here: "That Ol' Black Magic", "Hey Boy! Hey Girl!", and "I've Got You Under My Skin" are essential Prima tracks. Sure, the cheese factor occasionally runs high, but it is a fun trip. --Jason Verlinde
CD review, 2010-07-19
This album is a lot of fun and has great dance/party music. Keep em rocking.

Artist: Nat 'King' Cole

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Nat King Cole's death in 1965, this compilation is the CD companion of an excellent DVD/documentary. Produced with the blessing of his estate, this disc is a thorough survey of his timeless genius--all recorded on the Capitol label. It captures his sumptuous and soothing tenor voice crooning on the pop tunes he made famous, like the ethereal "Nature Boy," the melancholy "Mona Lisa," and the bouncy "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "Route 66." It also features Cole's often-overlooked skills as an Earl Hines-style pianist. "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps)," and "Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup," attest to his international appeal, and see if you can keep a dry eye when you listen to Natalie Cole's posthumous, digitally-enhanced duet with her father on "Unforgettable." From strings to big bands, Nat King Cole is never out of style. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
exquisite, 2009-09-10
A superb album of one of the best singers of all time. I highly reccommend buying this. Only criticism is it misses some of his greatest hits such as "A nightingale sang..." Buy this album!

Artist: Willie Dixon

4½ stars. Terrific, superbly arranged electric blues by one of the genre's most important figures, 2009-03-24
Willie Dixon is best known as a songwriter, composer, arranger, producer, and session player for Chicago's Chess Records, but he also recorded occationally as a band leader. This 1970 LP is a collection of some of his 1960s Chess sides, including "Back Door Man", "The Little Red Rooster", and "Spoonful", and you can get most of his remaining Chess sides on the MCA-CD "The Original Wang Dang Doodle". But start with this one, because it is by far the best!

These songs are best known through men like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Otis Rush, of course, but here they are as performed by the original composer himself. William James Dixon wasn't a singer of the caliber of Muddy Waters or the mighty Howlin' Wolf, but he had a pleasant baritone voice, and here he goes a long way towards making up for his lack of a really distinctive singing voice with his expressive phrasing and overall intelligent use of the vocal power that he does have.

The production is excellent, crisp and clear, and the drums bite harder than on many 50s and 60s blues sides without being obtrusive. And the band or bands backing Dixon are magnificent...I say "band or bands" because there are absolutely no credits to be found, which is really annoying, but a good guess would be that the (absolutely superb) pianist is the great Lafayette Leake, and the drummer may be Clifton James. The harpist doesn't really sound like anyone that I can identify just by listening to him; it sometimes sounds like the huge, horn-like tones of Little Walter Jacobs, but it probably isn't, and it doesn't really sound anything like Dixon's own favourite harpist, Big Walter Horton.

So, why would you buy a collection of songs that Muddy Waters and the Wolf have also recorded when those guys were much better singers? Well, because this isn't just Muddy Waters' single "The Same Thing" or Wolf's "Spoonful" only with different vocals. These are significantly different versions of those songs, different enough to warrant a listen for that reason alone, and as great as the better known versions are, most of these nine songs are in fact just as terrific.
"I Ain't Superstitious" has little besides the lyrics in common with Howlin' Wolf's searing rendition; Dixon's take on his own song is more up-tempo, with a clanging boogie piano part...wonderful, rollicking R&B, made for dancing to! "Back Door Man" is a tough, swaggering boast full of sexual bravado. And this jouyously swinging version of Willie Mabon's superbly melodic 1955 single "The Seventh Son" is absolutely irresistable with its lively upper-register piano fills and Dixon's energetic vocal.

Once you become familiar with his burly baritone you'll start to appreciate Willie Dixon as a singer, I'm sure...I'm starting to like his voice almost as much as Muddy's gruff, manly vocals, or Wolf's ferocious, growling roar of a voice. And as an arranger Dixon was unbeatable, as this volume amply demonstrates.
This is good-time Chicago blues and R&B of the very, very highest order. It's not as intense as prime Howlin' Wolf or Otis Rush, sure, but it is exquisitely presented and utterly charming, and the fidelity is terrific. Very, very highly recommended!

Artist: LaVern Baker

"...Mercy Mercy...Pudding And Pie...You've Got Something That Money Can't Buy...", 2009-05-10
Born Delores Williams in Chicago in 1929, LaVern Baker was one of Atlantic's first true superstars. Possessed of the most gloriously fun voice, she was big, bold, sassy and sexy - a sort of Mae West of Rhythm 'n' Blues. Armed with top session players that included King Curtis, floor-filling songs with catchy lyrics and an image that was pure knock-out, her irresistible popularity crossed over from the race music charts into the popular, which along with the wonderful Joe Turner practically put the fledgling Atlantic label on the map.

This 20-track budget-priced 2007 "Platinum Collection" is an exact rerun of Rhino's 1993 compilation "Soul On Fire" minus the detailed booklet, but still with that great re-mastered sound.

The songs stretch from 1953's "Soul On Fire" through to an obscure album track "You Said" from the 1963 LP "See See Rider". Many of the early singles "Tweedlee Dee" (lyrics above), "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" and "My Happiness Forever" feature The Gliders as her backing group (The Cues under another name), "How Often" is a duet with Ben E. King, while "I Waited Too Long" is an early Neil Sedaka song.

As you play this uplifting compilation of both fast and slow rhythm 'n' blues, you understand why her loss in 1997 at only 67 was greeted with such sorrow by the industry and music lovers alike - at least she lived to be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame in 1991.

At a retail price of only four pounds (even cheaper online), "Platinum Collection" is a great way into her magical Atlantic recordings - it's a well of riches people, it really is. If there's a God in Heaven, she's there on a Saturday night at the local blues bar - Pina Colada in hand, hair immaculate, foot tapping - boogieing to LaVern Baker doing "Jim Dandy".

Recommended - big time.

PS: the other Atlantic artists in "The Platinum Collection" series are: Brook Benton (see REVIEW), Booker T & The M.G.'s, Ruth Brown, Solomon Burke, Clarence Carter (see REVIEW), The Clovers (see REVIEW), Arthur Conley (see REVIEW), Don Covay, The Detroit Spinners, Eddie Floyd, King Curtis, Barbara Lewis (see REVIEW), The Mar-Keys, The Persuasions, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge (see REVIEW), Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, (Big) Joe Turner (see REVIEW) and Betty Wright

Artist: Various Artists

Fun and a must for all generations..., 2008-11-12
I love the general style of DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist so you can imagine my delight when spotting this. At first I thought it was going to a be a decktathlon mix of old skool beats infused with Blues/Rock 'n' roll pieces but instead it is a simple collection of forgotten tunes from an era where the music scene was much simpler. If you have not got any 50s-60s music in your collection I recommend this as it has a great selection of uplifting tunes that anyone can enjoy. Viva eclectic! :)

Artist: Big' Joe Turner

Make way for the Cannonball Express, 2009-09-16
I bought a 45rpm many moons ago of JT's Cannonball Express. At first I did not like it. However as my taste changed it grew on me but I never bought anything else of Big Joe's until now. The album starts with Shake Rattle n Roll and for the next 4 tracks you would be forgiven to think only the lyrics have been changed - why alter a winning format? Nevertheless the lyrics with their innuendos and sexual slang make up for the repetition of the arrangements. After track 5 it changes to a more varied selection. There is one slow track which reveals JT's limitations. My favourite is still Cannonball Express.
I am very glad I bought this CD as it encompasses most of my likes - good danceable rhythms, slick lyrics, wonderful jazz/blues arrangements and a sense that the musicians were having fun. I would have loved to have seen this band perform.

Artist: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Raly Soul, 2009-06-15
Nobody does soul quite like Sister Rosetta. Not only is she a mean blues guitarist, but she belts out gospel like her life depends on it. A huge influence to greats such as Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and notably, Johny Cash, true music lovers cannot afford to overlook this record.
One of the greats, definitely :)

Artist: Julia Lee

Snatch and Grab it. Julia Lee, 2009-09-12
CD arrived very quickly, well packed and in perfect condition. The CD is stuning. Thank you very much. Will definitely use you again.

Artist: Various Artists

Take a chance!, 2006-09-21
I took a chance on this one and it is a great buy! Think where Jools Holland gets the roots of his style from! Blues, Rock, jazz, all combined with a fast piano pace that gets the foot tapping and you wanting to get up and dnace! Wildly! This album is a barrel load of fun! Dare to be different and enjoy to the max!

Artist: Various Artists

Another 'Ace' Compilation, 2010-04-03
There really should be a National Park devoted to the boys at Ace Records. If they've made a bad compilation I haven't heard it. This one is a little harder to sum up as it doesn't focus on any one genre and instead gathers a range of early styles from RnB to garage with the prevalent theme being indecipherable or nonsensical lyrics. Therefore we get songs called, OOCHIE PACHIE, TING TING BOOM SCAT, OO-MA-LIDDI, VOO-IT! VOO-IT! and RUBBER BISCUIT! The novelty factor is obviously high but Ace have unearthed a number of gems and some really amazing tunes here as to ensure this is not a throwaway album. I'd recommend this to the discerning rock n roll fan looking for something to impress your friends and spice up the record collection, rather than the casual listener. That said, EVERYONE should have a copy of Claude Mclin's wonderfully potty 'JAMBO' in their collection.