Dirty Work Going On reflects the West Coast band blues of the 1960's. The blues sides of KENT & MODERN'S output was largely a blend of the pacesetting B.B. King, rhythm & blues, funk and social consciousness in the lyrics as the civil rights movement brought change and turbulence. Volume 2, If I Have To Wreck L.A., just released, will retain the Texas blues base but focus more on gutbucket, downhome blues, which means harmonica will replace horns and the shadows of Lightnin’ Hopkins and John Lee Williamson will loom large. – Dick Shurman 

This is the second of the compilations featuring the blues recordings the Bihari brothers made in the 1960s. The CD is centered around 11 sides from Willie Headen and Willie Garland. Willie Headen's Dootone sides have been well represented, but this time out his great Modern sides are featured. There are also seven outings for Long Gone Miles with George Smith featured on harmonica. The lesser-known Before Day (Big Mama's Blues) from Willie Mae Thornton's Modern 45 kicks off with a great bit of chat from her and a previously unknown Smokey Wilson track is also included. The compilation is rounded off by a terrific Model T Slim session produced by Bruce and Michael Bromberg. Of the 24 tracks, only six were released at the time. - C.L.

One of the best and most versatile American guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s, Mickey Baker played on hundreds of sessions and added instrumental spice to records by Ray Charles, The Coasters and Ike & Tina Turner, among many others. He is widely respected among R&B devotees for his bluesy chords and attention-grabbing solos. Baker originally aspired to be a jazz musician, but turned to calypso, mambo, and then R&B, where work opportunities were more plentiful. This release presents two of Baker’s finest LPs under his own name, which were cut in 1962 during his solo heyday in France: the sensational but underrated But Wild and the equally splendid Bossa Nova. Long unavailable, both albums have been remastered and packaged together in this special collector’s edition, which also includes 6 bonus tracks from the same period.                             

Finally, a complete compilation of Billy Boy Arnold's early days as a top Chicago harmonica player. Including his debut for the tiny Cool label and his sessions with his friend Bo Diddley and his own recordings for Vee Jay records; classic recordings which would go on to be influential over the British and European blues boom in the 1960s. Don't Stay Out All Night was a fixture of the early Rolling Stones playlists whilst I Wish You Would became a hit for The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton. I Ain't Got You and Rockin' Itis were also popular with blues groups around the world. These recordings have been unavailable on cd for over a decade & this welcome release covers it nicely.                                                                                  

One of the great R&B vocalists, Billy Wright was a big influence on Little Richard, who copied his incredible pompadour and make up acknowledging the fact that he owed his entire look to Billy Wright. Vocally he was also a huge influence over James Brown.  Here are both sides of every single Billy Wright recorded for Savoy Records between 1949 and 1954 assembled in chronological order of release for the first time on one collection.                                                                                                                 

Goree Carter was one of the great blues guitarists to emanate from Texas with a style that was influenced by T-Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown. Recording mainly with the loose aggregation known variously as Connie's Combo or The Hepcats, whose leader was Conrad Johnson, who in the 70's led the high school funk band, Kashmere Stage Band, they made some of the most incendiary blues recordings of the 50's. This twenty eight tracker highlights some of the best of the era.                                                                    

This album showcases one of the GREAT songwriters of early R&B and Rock & Roll, with thirty examples of his forgotten talent as a performer, which were far overshadowed by his song writing and producing success. Otis was without doubt one of the most important contributors to the language of rock and roll, and as it turns out an excellent vocalist to boot.                                                                                                                         

Annisteen Allen was one of the greatest vocalists of the early R&B and jazz years. Strangely, Annisteen was undervalued despite the fact she could hold her own at any time with the major femme stars of the day like Ruth Brown and LaVern Baker. Her strong vocals have long been popular with blues collectors and rock and roll fans alike and she was, indeed, one of the greatest vocalists of the era. This collection is the first to concentrate on her solo records.                                                                                                                     

Bobby Parker began his recording career as a hot shot guitarist & occasional vocalist with the Paul Williams Band.  As he matured, his gospel inflected vocals became more blood curdling and his guitar playing was reminiscent of Guitar Slim or Gatemouth Brown. This comprehensive collection of his recorded legacy is stunning and marks the first time these sides have been collected & released.

                                                                                                                                                        

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