Known as the Piano Prince of New Orleans, James Booker was one of the cornerstones and most colorful characters in the Crescent City. He was a distinctive keyboardist who mixed R&B, gospel, blues, boogie-woogie, traditional and modern jazz into a uniquely funky and breathtaking sound. This CD includes all of the singles Booker made as a leader in the beginning of his career for different labels such as Imperial, Chess, Ace, and Peacock. The bands include James Booker of course on piano, organ, and occasional vocals, plus Lee Allen on tenor sax, Robert Parker on alto sax, Alvin Red Tyler on baritone sax, Frank Fields playing bass, Earl Palmer and Charles Hungry Williams on drums, among others. Recorded in New Orleans, Houston, and Chicago, between 1954 and 1962, this package is a beauty. 

Although he never enjoyed huge selling records, Sunnyland was a jukebox favorite and recorded consistently for numerous Chicago based labels throughout his long and influential career. He introduced Muddy Waters to the Chess label and had many of the giants of Chicago blues in his bands.  This collection is just a snapshot of seven years on the Chicago blues scene and is a great multi-label overview of his career. 

Barbara George is, alongside Fats Domino, Lee Dorsey, Aaron Neville and Ernie K. Doe, one of the best -known singers to come out of New Orleans.  She was instrumental in the early success of the A.F.O. label, set up as an artist's co-operative in New Orleans in 1961.  Her self-penned hit, I Know, was the label's only big hit, reaching number three on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 and spending four weeks at number one on America's R&B chart. 

This is the first multi label compilation to cover all his recordings from 1957-1961 and it features such classic hits as Dizzy, Miss Lizzy, Bad Boy, Short Fat Fannie and Bony Moronie.  In 1959, he recorded for Chess Records and is amongst the earliest examples of the emergence of soul music, especially the classic My Baby's Got Soul. 

This is the first CD to be devoted to the great Detroit bluesman who became hugely popular in the UK and Europe in the 1970s recording and touring regularly.  In 1961 he recorded the classic Orange Driver which featured Marvin Gaye on drums. From the early, tough recordings in Detroit for JVB- Deluxe and Chess to the hard urban blues he recorded for the Harvey label, this CD is a welcome addition.  The set also has four tracks from harmonica player Little Sonny with backup from Burns done for the Duke and Excello labels. 

This is a limited-edition re-release of the Paladin's first record.  Long out of print, the set includes their first recordings at Arlyn Studios in Austin in 1987 with Katie Webster, Kim Wilson and Anson Funderburgh.  Some hard rockin' blues here with covers of B.B. King and Gatemouth Brown, as well as a cool version of Johnny Horton's Lover’s Rock. 

Jasmine's 'In Session' series continues with one of the most versatile and technically proficient guitar players of the 1950s and beyond, Mickey Baker.  This is the third release on the Jasmine label for Mickey Baker after Mickey & Sylvia - Love is Strange (JASMCD3093) and Mickey Baker - Return of the Wildest Guitar (JASCD979)......... 

Poison Gardner was one of the great unknowns of blues and boogie. These 27 rocking tracks are, we think, his entire recorded legacy and this is the first time they have been collected on one CD. Despite the brevity of his recording history, he had a long and fruitful career as a cabaret, club and radio performer and was active for over 40 years across America. The fully detailed liner notes have been expanded into an article published in the February 2021 edition of Blues & Rhythm Magazine. 

1935 to the late 1940s he was the star vocalist with Count Basie and his Orchestra. The first 20 tracks of this compilation cover this period and include big hits such as Goin' To Chicago Blues, Jimmy's Blues and Rusty Dusty Blues. Jimmy Rushing's powerful voice could hold its own over the powerful riffing of horn sections in any big band setting........

This digipak re-release features one of the best Austin blues bands of the 80's and 90's. Originally released as a 10" vinyl and then released on CD in 1991 on the Crosscut label out of Germany, this iteration of the band features: Junior Medlow Williams – vocal, Smokin’ Joe Sublett – tenor sax, Luke McNamee – baritone sax, Leland (Lee) Parks – bass and Rodney Craig – drums. It also features the scorching guitar from long time Cobra, the late great Denny Freeman. As the name of the album indicates this live recording was captured at Austin’s legendary Continental Club on January 26^th, 1981. 

This 4CD set brings together all known recordings by the original Falcons, along with alternate takes, guest appearances, cover versions and songs musically supervised or written by members of the group. Solo recordings by group members are also included from 1956 to 1963, the time they were recording together. With line ups that included Eddie Floyd, Sir Mack Rice, Wilson Pickett & Joe Stubbs, an argument can be made that they really were the first soul supergroup............ 

A colossus in every way possible, Big Al Sears was a giant of the tenor saxophone who played with the most popular bands of the swing era before meeting the rhythm & blues onslaught head-on and assisting Alan Freed to give birth to rock 'n' roll.  30 great cuts of prime sax honking and rockin'. This is a must have for fans of cool sax playing, r&b and rock 'n' roll alike.  Fully detailed liner notes covering his early life and career......... 

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