As mid-priced compilations go, this disc delivers a lot of value -- not only state-of-the-art masters (so the trumpets and saxes sound like their bells are right in the room with you, and the vocals are up-close-and-personal), but a creative selection, crossing between the bluesier side of the big band era (Lionel Hampton's "Hey Ba-Ba-Re-Bop") through the work of Big Jay McNeely ("The Deacon's Hop") to Roy Brown ("Boogie at Midnight"), and to the place where jump blues spawned rock & roll (Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88"). Not that all of this material isn't available elsewhere (though some of it, such as Margie Day's "Little Red Rooster" and Louis Prima's "Robin Hood/Oh Babe," isn't all that ubiquitous), but it's handy and the notes by Peter Grendysa are above-average in depth and range for a compilation like this.
by Bruce Eder
Compilation producers: Peter A. Grendysa, Dana G. Smart.
Includes liner notes by Peter A. Grendysa.
Digitally remastered by Doug Schwartz.
Credits: Roy Alfred (Composer); Henry Bernard (Composer); Jackie Brenston (Composer, Performer, Primary Artist); Johnny Brooks (Composer); Roy Brown (Composer, Performer, Primary Artist); Ruth Brown (Performer, Primary Artist); Charles E. Calhoun (Composer); Denver Darling (Composer); Margie Day (Performer, Primary Artist); Eddie DeLange (Composer); Milt Gabler (Composer); Andy Gibson (Composer); Curley Hamner (Composer); Lionel Hampton (Composer); Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra (Performer, Primary Artist); Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra (Performer, Primary Artist); Vaughn Horton (Composer); Buddy Johnson (Composer); Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra (Performer, Primary Artist); Louis Jordan (Performer, Primary Artist); Milt Kabak (Composer); Kansas City Bill's Orchestra (Primary Artist); Jerry Leiber (Composer); Jimmy Liggins (Composer); Jimmy Liggins & His Drops of Joy (Performer, Primary Artist); Joe Liggins (Composer, Performer, Primary Artist); Big Jay McNeely (Composer, Primary Artist); Bob Miketta (Composer); Lucky Millinder (Composer, Performer, Primary Artist); Roy Milton (Composer); Roy Milton & His Solid Senders (Performer, Primary Artist); Louis Prima (Composer, Performer, Primary Artist); Teddy Reig (Composer); Hal Singer (Composer); Bobby Smith (Composer); Marti Stanley (Composer); Neal Stanley (Composer); Mike Stoller (Composer); Marty Symes (Composer); Big Mama Thornton (Performer, Primary Artist); Rudy Toombs (Composer); Big Joe Turner (Performer, Primary Artist); Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams (Performer, Primary Artist).
Recording Date: May 26, 1944 - February 15, 1954
Release Date: March 9, 1999
Duration - 55:16