JOE TURNER/SMILIN' SMOKEY LYNN/BIG MACEO/H-BOMB FERGUSON: Shouting
the Blues
Specialty
Whenever you see a reissued album on
the Specialty label, you should snap it up on general principles. Best
known for the pioneering rock of Little Richard, Specialty also has a
great back catalogue of the early 50's R&B that rock evolved from. The
headliner here is Big Joe Turner, who had been recording for years before
the 1949 singles collected here. These bellowing party tunes pack a
helluva wallop, proving Little Richard's later claim that if 50's radio
hadn't had a color line, there would have been no need for Elvis. Songs by
lesser-knowns on this disc are just as impressive. Growler Big Maceo shows
a bluesier side, heavy on the piano. Smili n' Smokey Lynn shouts out the
blues to horn-laden R&B that harkens back to jump blues or jive jazz. And
finally two songs by the well-named H-Bomb Ferguson close out the disc in
powerfouse fashion. This is a prize for any fan of old rhythm and blues,
and a good introduction for anybody else. (Pat Anders)
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