This eight-CD set should be a part of any collection that presumes to take American music -- not just rock & roll or rhythm & blues -- seriously. Atlantic Records was one of dozens of independent labels started up after the war by neophyte executives and producers, but it was different from most of the others in that the guys who ran it were honest and genuinely loved music. Coupled with a lot of luck and some good judgment, the results trace a good chunk of the history of American music and popular culture. Disc one opens with cuts which slot in somewhere midway between jazz, bop, and "race" music (as the term was used then). Disc two is pure, distilled R&B, the stuff filling the airwaves of black radio and the jukeboxes in the "wrong" parts of town in 1952-54. Surprisingly, the material on Disc three, covering 1955-57, isn't very different in content or character from Disc two, despite the fact that it covers the period when white teenagers were starting to listen to and buy these records in large numbers. It's only with Disc four that one sees the consequences of the late '50s -- Ray Charles in his final days with the label, juxtaposed with the Drifters in their post-1958 incarnation and the start of the company's relationship with Stax/Volt Records. Disc six (1965-67) is practically a mini-tribute to Stax/Volt, filled with the best-known sides of Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T. & the MG's. Discs seven and eight run from the late '60s and the heyday of Aretha Franklin to some great early-'70s soul, including Roberta Flack and the Spinners. The booklet, with a full sessionography and biographical notes on each artist, would be worth 20 bucks on its own. (Bruce Eder, Allmusic)
trax Vol 1:
1. Lowe Groovin' - Joe Morris 2. That Old Black Magic - Tiny Grimes 3. Annie Laurie - Tiny Grimes 4. Midnight Special - Tiny Grimes 5. The Applejack - Joe Morris 6. Cole Slaw - Frank "Floorshow" Culley 7. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - Stick McGhee & His Buddies 8. So Long - Ruth Brown 9. I'll Get Along Somehow - Ruth Brown 10. Hey Little Girl - Professor Longhair And His New Orleans Boys 11. Mardi Gras In New Orleans - Professor Longhair And His New Orleans Boys 12. Tee-nah-nah - Harry Van Walls 13. Danny Boy - Al Hibbler 14. Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere - Joe Morris 15. Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown 16. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - Stick McGhee 17. Don't You Know I Love You - The Clovers 18. Shouldn't I Know - The Cardinals 19. The Chill Is On - Big Joe Turner 20. Chains Of Love - Big Joe Turner 21. Fool, Fool, Fool - The Clovers 22. One Mint Julep - The Clovers 23. Wheel Of Fortune - The Cardinals 24. Sweet Sixteen - Big Joe Turner 25. 5-10-15 Hours - Ruth Brown 26. Gator's Groove - Willis Jackson
trax Vol 2:
1. Ting-A-Ling - The Clovers 2. Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown 3. The Midnight Hour - Ray Charles 4. A Beggar For Your Kisses - The Diamonds 5. Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown 6. Good Lovin' - The Clovers 7. Wild Wild Young Men - Ruth Brown 8. Mess Around - Ray Charles 9. Honey Hush - Big Joe Turner / Pluma Davis' Orchestra 10. Soul On Fire - LaVern Baker 11. Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 12. Lovey Dovey - The Clovers 13. Such A Night - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 14. Tipitina - Professor Longhair 15. White Christmas - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 16. Honey Love - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 17. Whatcha Gonna Do? - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters 18. Shake, Rattle And Roll - Big Joe Turner 19. Sh-Boom - The Chords 20. Oh What A Dream - Ruth Brown 21. Jam Up - Tommy Ridgley 22. After The Lights Go Down Low - Al Hibbler 23. Tomorrow Night - LaVern Baker 24. Tweedlee Dee - LaVern Baker 25. I Got A Woman - Ray Charles 26. Greenbacks - Ray Charles
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