New Orleans R & B

  Chess records showed up late when hitting the New Orleans 50's scene, all the main acts had already been picked up.  So what you've got here is a slew of eclectic almost unknown artists, but their sound is unquestionably classic and influential!

The Louvin' Brothers -- Satan Is Real

  Gospel twinged Country music dealing with Christianity's darker side -- SATAN.  Although the music and lyrics are actually pretty good and very influential with the 70's hipster country artists, the cover is what you really can't help but write home about, how can you not love the bad collage art with the thin south park devil in the background as these two happy weirdos sing their tales of woe in hell! 

Elmore James -- The Sky Is Crying: The History Of ...

  Elmore James's I don't give a sh*t, loud and unforgiving version of the Blues was definitely the Punk Rock of that day, everyone labels Elvis as the major bad ass 'cause he shook his hips on American television, which is cute and all, but James was swiggin' a bottle of moonshine, cranking the slide and playing with the likes of Ike Turner.  Elmore is a true legends legend influencing musicians for decades, even up to this day!

Chet Baker -- Let's Get Lost

  Before becoming the famous heroin fueled troubled troubadour who lost and then regained his embouchure, living a life of self torture and torment, Baker had previously recorded these numbers which were to become the soundtrack to a documentary about his life.  What you hear here is the soft pangs of a destroyed man, using his own voice and trumpet to create the sound and atmosphere of what he was feeling inside, it's funny sometimes how a man's pain can be so beautiful and enticing which is a talent on it's own.       

The Scepter Records Story

  This 3 CD comprehensive box set features many great artists, I'd name one but then I'd have to name 'em all, there are some great moments, but honestly not many.  With the exception of maybe disc one's first twelve songs, and Louie Louie that shows up in the middle of disc two, this compilation stinks, not that the artists are so bad, but I kept getting the impression that they had bargain basement staff, as in song writers and producers, all the numbers had a sense phoniness, like they were written and produced to sound like another hit song ... point is, if anyone wants this comp it's up for grabs! 

Sister Rosetta Tharpe -- Gospel Train

  Sister Rosetta Tharpe is known as the Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll music, and I have to full heartily agree.  He distinct style of Blues infused Gospel inadvertently invented the modern style of guitar soloing, which was perfected by Chuck Berry ... meaning put this on your must hear list, as in right now!!! 

Animal House

  Ok yes it's a great hilarious movie and the soundtrack is pretty good, but the real thing to write home about is Otis Day And The Knights.  They are the phoney joke Soul-ish Doo Wop group within the film.  Even-though they are hilarious to watch and hear, they pull off their schtick beautifully, their version of Shout is a real romper, but my personal favorite is the nonsensical ballad Shama Lama Ding Dong which pokes fun at kooky Doo Wop phrasing but at the same time homages it with their authentic sound ... "and that is why, shoo doo doo do do do!" 

Frank Sinatra -- In The Wee Small Hours

  A blue themed slew of cover tunes with a score that is reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann and Sinatra's soft breath pangs of loneliness ... I liked this album, although it might not make it on the turntable too often, but it definitively has it's place, you can clearly see that this record had a deep impact on Tom Waits.

The Best Of Chess Rock 'N' Roll

  Man oh man what a killer double album set of heavily essential Rock 'n' Roll music, no scene could have ever happened without all these major players featured on these records.  The best part of this compilation is that it shows that Chess Records wasn't just a one trick Blues pony, they dabbled in R & B, Rockabilly, Rock 'n' Roll and Doo Wop, making them a multifunctional hit machine!

Interplay For 2 Trumpets And 2 Tenors

  Pretty much a standard Jazz record, no huge surprises, but still good.  The most interesting elements is hearing the "Interplay" between sax players John Coltrane and Bobby Jaspar.  Coltrane takes the lead with his wild improvisations while Jaspar tries to follow suit.  It's easy to tell the tenors apart, even though Jaspar's style and notes are perfect he lacks Coltrane's ferocious velocity.    

Red Hot Rockabilly For Ice Cool Cats

  Forget the cheesy cover and the fact that I bought this at Sears for fifty off the fifty percent off which ended up being about three bux, this compilation features 26 tracks of essential Rockabilly from well known to lesser known artists.  All in all a must hear for any music lover, because it defined an era.

The Flamingos -- The Best Of ...

  There are a couple of re-worked stinkers on this Best Of compilation, but if you toss those aside you've got some dark desperate Doo Wop that remind you of all the love you have lost and the frailties of what it is to be a man. 

Fritz The Cat

  Mostly filled with bad 60's style groovy muzak, with the exception of Bo Diddley and Billie Holiday.  Honestly this is a tough one to listen to in one sitting, but the cover is basically what you are paying for ... it's a good one to hang on the wall, part of your Crumb paraphernalia collection.

John Lee Hooker -- Mad Man Blues

  Within the throws of an existentially fueled depression it's hard not to try and find something that would make you feel better, worse or merely understood.  There is nothing like a legendary bluesman to coerce your mind out of the pit of despaired loneliness.  John Lee has the ability to appeal to our timeless raw emotions, he is a man in touch with pure feeling, whether it's good, bad or ugly, add in his striking voice and killer guitar playing -- you've got something irreplaceable!

Johnny Cash -- All Aboard The Blue Train With ...

  Folkabilly mastermind's best Sun years train and travel related numbers.  There are songs of love, loss, loneliness and longing all sung by our favorite outlaw ... Johnny Cash!

The History Of Jazz Volume One: N'Orleans Origins

  Don't really know much about this album, other than you've got some early Dixie/ Ragtime Jazz with a little bit O'Blues.  For the most part the music is clarinet driven, you think you died and went into a Woody Allen movie, style music.  The record is a great comprehensive of early American music ... especially for vinylheads like me!

Cannonball Adderley -- The Best Of ...

  Not too sure how great of a comprehensive Best Of this is since he has countless albums and who knows how many songs, while this record has only six numbers.  There isn't anything that is blow your mind off outta this world about this album, other than its got some smooth flowing Jazz to sooth your nerves, you can totally see why Davis chose him to be part of his group on several records -- consistency ...

Chicago Blues Anthology

  Double album set of Delta and urban Blues.  Don't get me wrong, it's a killer collection, I just find the list of players a little uneven, for example there's Buddy Guy and no Muddy Waters, meaning, it's hardly a Chicago Blues Anthology of Chess masters without the main man.  But honestly who cares, the music is great and the Bluesmen are legendary!!

Thelonious Monk -- Monk's Greatest Hits

  After a Monday night of drinking, deliberating whether my latest painting is any good, a hunk of junk or just needs more work, I put on Monk's Greatest Hits to give me some Jazz prospective.  What I had concluded is, this album is awesome, Thelonious Monk is probably the best piano player of all-time, and that my painting definitely needs more work!

The Platters

  After the month from hell ... living above a funeral home with a crazy teenage girl, wacko Germans and a seemingly normal substitute teacher ... I blasted this crooning Doo Wop Platters Lp.   Funny as smooth and relaxing as they sound, while most certainly having Grandma's approval too, these guys have been busted countless times with a mile long rap sheet, making the Stones look like courtroom pussies, but who knows what Grandma up to in those days either ... point is the Platters ain't no jive a** square bait vocal group, they're the real deal!