original R&B

Okay, so we've talked about who you'd like to meet, who you'd like to see perform, who your favourite 50s performers are, who you like in psychobilly.

How 'bout rhythm and blues and earlier? I'm especially looking for hidden gems I haven't yet been introduced to, that I can get excited about! I love Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, Amos Milburn, Louis Jordan, Etta James, Roy Milton, etc., etc... and just recently I dug around a bit and found a couple more songs by Mabel Scott, the lady that originally did "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" - she has other tunes called "Elevator Boogie," "Subway Blues," "Fine Lookin' Fella"... search her on youtube and you'll find a few. Great voice.

Also, check out "Martha Davis and her Spouse" on YouTube, a great R&B comedy performer from the 50's. Would love to hear more stuff from her.

I also recently came across a great little treasure trove of articles here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/index.html

I wish there were sound samples, photos, *something* more about the artists in the articles above, but there's plenty of good browsing to be had there to kick things off.

And a little plug, some months ago I took over ownership and maintenance of one of the best sites in existence for early rockers, www.HoyHoy.com. Morgan (the guy that owned it, researched it, built it, loved it) was going to let the domain name go but I thought it'd be a shame so I rescued it to make sure it didn't get sold to some squatter and turned into a den of porn or something. I still haven't read/listened to everything there, but it's a goldmine and I'm proud to "keep the flame burning."

andi wrote:

How 'bout rhythm and blues and earlier?

Yes, please! I love that early stuff!!!!!!!

I just bought a 4-CD comp called "The Cosimo Matassa Story". It's on constant rotation at home (and in the car) at the moment, fantastic stuff!! The name Cosimo Matassa might not ring a bell, but he was the owner of J&M Studios in New Orleans, where Little Richard, Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis (and countless others) made their most famous recordings back in the fifties. Like the stuff recorded at SUN, these recordings also have their own, "personal" sound. In my opinion; if you have Earl Palmer on drums, and the late great Lee Allen on sax; you just can't go wrong!

Anders

Good to know, thanks for that Anders- I'll check it out! I also forgot to mention in my original post, two of my FAVE R&B ladies, Ruth Brown and Lavern Baker!

Andi
I see you and a lot of the other guys out there are into blues as well. I really think you should check this out. It is a seven DVD set "Martin Scorsese presents: The Blues". The films are directed by, amongst others: Marc Levin, Mike Figgis and Clint Eastwood. I remember having a great deal of trouble getting hold of this, but it was really worth the hassle.
Other favourites are Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

I have the Blues-box. Great stuff but there are differencies between different directors, some good, some not so good.
Still, it's worth buying any time.

I have couple of hundred blues and old R&B-albums, wonderful stuff!