Released: September 3, 2002
Label: Ace Records UK
Recording Time: 59 minutes
1994 compilation features 24 tracks taken from the Excello label vaults including previously unreleased strong alternate takes of the original 45 versions of tracks such as 'I'm Goin' In The Valley' Silas Hogan & 'Winter Time Blues' Lightnin' Slim. Other artists include Slim Harpo, Lonesome Sundown, Whispering Smith, Earl Gaines, & more.
The Real R&B was released on Stateside in the mid-1960s. Along with its companion LP Authentic R&B, it introduced British blues far to one of America's greatest regional sounds - the blues and R&B of Louisiana - and to the catalogue of Excello Records. If Authentic R&B had the sides that became much emulated - Slim Harpo's I'm A King Bee (covered by The Rolling Stones), Got Love If You Want It (covered by The Kinks) and I'm A Lover Not A Fighter {covered by The Yardbirds) - then The Real R&B had stuff to more deeply excite the imagination (including Lightnin' Slim's wonderfully moody, echo- laden Wintertime Blues and Arthur Gunter's original Baby Let's Play House, which Elvis covered in his youth). Along the way these Stateside LPs helped launch countless blues collections. So how did it all begin for Excello? Well, the label was launched in August 1952 by Ernie Young in Nashville, Tennesee (as an offshoot to the Nashboro label). With Nashboro as the valuable gospel outlet, Excello was primarily a blues and R&B label, although in the early days there was also a sprinkling of gospel and white country music as well as rockabilly. In its latter years Excello was also an outlet for prime 60s Southern Soul. Essentially, though, Excello remained famous for its pure and unadulterated blues (even the contemporary styles are very downhome). Aimed initially at the black buyers of the American South in the pre-Civil Rights era, the music was pumped out to downhome audiences via the powerful radio transmitters of Radio WLAC in Nashville and its DJs Gene Nobles, John 'R' Richbourg and Bill 'Hoss' Alien. The British R&B boom and the cover versions by the rock groups that invaded America's airwaves in the second pop invasion all helped generate interest back home. Many of the artists on The Real R&B enjoyed frequent appearances at blues festivals and on package tours across the UK, Europe and the USA. In the 1990s, younger British enthusiasts are still bopping away to the Excello blues boogies blasting out at underground 'rocking' clubs and blues festivals.
by Ace Records
Credits: Jimmy Anderson - primary artist; Larry Birdsong - composer; Jon Broven - compilation coordinator, liner notes; Earl Gaines - primary artist; Al Garner - composer, primary artist; Arthur Neal Gunter - composer, primary artist; Ed Hall - composer; Slim Harpo - composer, primary artist; Silas Hogan - composer, primary artist; Ted Jarrett - composer; Leslie Johnson - composer; Lazy Lester - primary artist; Lightnin' Slim - primary artist; Lonesome Sundown - primary artist; Jay Nelson - primary artist; Chris Popham - package assembly; Charles Sheffield - composer, primary artist; Roscoe Shelton - composer, primary artist; Whispering Smith - composer, primary artist; Jerry West - composer.
Tracks: 1) My Little Queen Bee (Got a Brand New King) - Slim Harpo; 2) I Tried So Hard - Whispering Smith; 3) I'm Goin' in the Valley - Silas Hogan; 4) I'm So Glad - Leon Austin; 5) I Had a Dream Last Night - Lonesome Sundown; 6) She's My Crazy Little Baby - Lightnin' Slim; 7) I Need Money (Keep Your Alibis) - Slim Harpo; 8) Goin' Crazy over TV - Jimmy Anderson; 9) Dark Cluods Rollin - Silas Hogan; 10) You're Playin Hookie - Lonesome Sundown; 11) Still Rainin' in My Heart - Slim Harpo; 12) It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day) - Earl Gaines; 13) Nothing in This World (Gonna Keep You from Me); 14) Baby Let's Play House - Arthur Gunter; 15) Winter Time Blues - Lightnin' Slim; 16) Cryin' Blues - Whispering Smith; 17) Pleadin' for Love - Roscoe Shelton; 18) Whoa Now - Lazy Lester; 19) It's Your Voodoo Working - Charles Sheffield; 20) Rocka Me All Night Long - Jay Nelson; 21) Leavin' Tennessee - Al Garner; 22) Baby, Kiss Me Again - Sweet Clifford; 23) Crazy Over You - Roscoe Shelton; 24) Baby! I'm Stickin With You - Charles Friday.