VA Chicago Hit Factory, The Vee Jay Story 1953-1966, 60th Anniversary Commemorative Collection [2013] (10 x CD's)

 

VEE JAY

VA Chicago Hit Factory, The Vee Jay Story 1953-1966, 60th Anniversary Commemorative Collection [2013] (10 x CD's)

Motown is the black-owned Great Lakes R&B label synonymous with the '60s but before their reign was Chicago's Vee-Jay Records, ruling the charts for nearly a decade prior to the rise of the Detroit imprint. The tale of Vee-Jay has been told before in a variety of compilations, but Charly's 2013 box set Chicago Hit Factory: The Vee-Jay Story 1953-1966 is easily the most comprehensive chronicle, lasting ten discs and encompassing all of the chapters in the label's wild history. This includes singles Vee-Jay licensed from a variety of different sources, including blues sides by Elmore James on Fury and, notably, the first Beatles singles to be released in America, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You." Charly takes advantage of the shifting licensing rules of the new millennium to include both of these singles along with the Four Seasons hits that often haven't shown up on other Vee-Jay anthologies but, really, that's just the tip of the iceberg on this exhaustive set. Every sound and style the label issued is here, divided into three discs of big hits and then a disc apiece for doo wop, blues, R&B, soul, regional hits, gospel, and jazz. Sequencing the ten discs like this helps put Vee-Jay's diversity into perspective as well as emphasizing who their true hitmakers were: the laconic bluesman Jimmy Reed, the ebullient Dee Clark, the smooth assured Jerry Butler, genial Gene Chandler, and exuberant Betty Everett. All have almost all of their hits featured and there is plenty of room for doo wop groups like the Spaniels and the Dells, lots of space for soul and John Lee Hooker, and other music that sold better on LP than 45. There is a wealth of important music that is tremendously compelling and entertaining in this box. (Allmusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

Great music, a mixture of classic and obscure tracks, well mastered, attractively packaged in long-box format that traces the history of Vee-Jay records from it's very first hit, 'Baby It's You' by the Spaniels, through to Jerry Butler's re-cut of his perennial 'For Your Precious Love', their very last chart record in early 1966.

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Pt.1    Pt.2     Pt.3     Pt.4  

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Track lists

CD01

01 Spaniels Baby, It's You 2:36

02 Spaniels Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite 2:42

03 Jimmy Reed You Don't Have to Go 3:04

04 El Dorados At My Front Door 2:34

05 Spaniels You Painted Pictures 2:25

06 Priscilla Bowman & the Jay McShann Orchestra Hands Off 2:51

07 El Dorados I'll Be Forever Loving You 2:28

08 Jimmy Reed Ain't That Lovin' You Baby 2:13

09 Magnificents Up on the Mountain 2:48

10 Dells Oh What a Nite 2:53

11 Jimmy Reed You've Got Me Dizzy 2:52

12 Jimmy Reed Little Rain 3:09

13 Spaniels Everyone's Laughing 2:51

14 Jimmy Reed The Sun is Shining 2:49

15 Jimmy Reed Honest I Do 2:40

16 Gene Allison You Can Make it If You Try 2:08

17 Gene Allison Have Faith 2:41

18 Jerry Butler & the Impressions For Your Precious Love 2:41

19 John Lee Hooker I Love You Honey 2:33

20 Wade Flemons Here I Stand 2:22

21 Dee Clark Nobody But You 2:23

22 Jimmy Reed I'm Gonna Get My Baby 2:38

23 Dee Clark Just Keep it Up 2:10

24 Dee Clark Hey Little Girl 2:15

25 Rosco Gordon Just a Little Bit 2:08

26 Dee Clark How About That 2:32

27 Jimmy Reed Baby What You Want Me to Do 2:20

28 Wade Flemons Easy Lovin' 2:17

CD02

01 Jerry Butler He Will Break Your Heart 2:49

02 Jimmy Reed Hush-Hush 2:31

03 Dee Clark Your Friends 2:08

04 Jimmy Reed Close Together 2:33

05 Jerry Butler Find Another Girl 2:47

06 Eddie Harris Exodus 1:59

07 Jimmy Reed Big Boss Man 2:46

08 Dee Clark Raindrops 2:49

09 Pips Every Beat of My Heart 2:02

10 Wade Flemons Please Send Me Someone to Love 2:25

11 Jerry Butler I'm a Telling You 2:22

12 Jimmy Reed Bright Lights Big City 2:47

13 Jerry Butler Moon River 2:39

14 Gene Chandler Duke of Earl 2:25

15 Dukays Nite Owl 2:24

16 Pearlettes Duchess of Earl 2:15

17 John Lee Hooker Boom Boom 2:32

18 Gene Chandler (As the Duke of Earl) Walk on With the Duke 1:59

19 Jimmy Reed Good Lover 2:33

20 Jerry Butler Make it Easy on Yourself 2:42

21 4 Seasons Sherry 2:32

22 Frank Ifield I Remember You 2:04

23 Dee Clark I'm Going Back to School 2:27

24 Jerry Butler You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) 2:40

25 4 Seasons Big Girls Don't Cry 2:24

26 Gene Chandler You Threw a Lucky Punch 2:34

27 Frank Ifield Lovesick Blues 2:17

28 Gene Chandler Rainbow 2:20

CD03

01 4 Seasons Peanuts 2:21

02 Jimmy Reed Shame, Shame, Shame 2:49

03 Birdlegs & Pauline Spring 2:49

04 Gene Chandler Man's Temptation 2:43

05 Betty Everett You're No Good 2:21

06 Jerry Butler Need to Belong 2:56

07 Betty Everett The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) 2:12

08 Jerry Butler Giving Up on Love 2:35

09 Beatles Love Me Do 2:20

10 Beatles P.S. I Love You 2:03

11 Jerry Butler I Stand Accused 2:57

12 Betty Everett I Can't Hear You 2:36

13 Joe Simon My Adorable One 2:24

14 Little Richard Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 2:30

15 Jerry Butler & Betty Everett Let it Be Me 2:38

16 Betty Everett Getting Mighty Crowded 2:12

17 Jerry Butler & Betty Everett Smile 2:52

18 Jimmy Cross I Want My Baby Back 3:22

19 Standells The Boy Next Door 2:40

20 Jerry Butler Good Times 2:10

21 Dells Stay in My Corner 2:52

22 Jerry Butler & Betty Everett Since I Don't Have You 2:24

23 Fred Hughes Oo Wee Baby, I Love You 2:18

24 Joe Simon Let's Do it Over 2:19

25 Little Richard I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me) (Parts 1 & 2) 4:43

26 Jimmy Reed I'm the Man Down There 2:58

27 Fred Hughes You Can't Take it Away 2:42

28 Jerry Butler For Your Precious Love (1966 Version) 2:42

CD04

01 El Dorados My Loving Baby 2:47

02 Rhythm Aces Get Lost 2:41

03 Five Echoes I Really Do 2:29

04 Dells Zing Zing Zing 2:50

05 Kool Gents This is the Night 2:51

06 Hi-Liters Bobby Sox Baby 2:06

07 El Dorados Bim Bam Boom 2:48

08 Kool Gents Crazy Over You 2:27

09 Orioles For All We Know 2:49

10 Spaniels You Gave Me Peace of Mind 2:45

11 Delegates Mother's Son 2:50

12 Spaniels Great Googly Moo 2:06

13 Magnificents Ozeta 2:21

14 Dillard Crume Jr. It's You I Love 2:38

15 Prodigals Judy 2:35

16 Co-Hearts My Love 2:42

17 Capers Miss You My Dear 2:01

18 Sheriff & the Ravels Shombalor 2:14

19 Goldenrods Wish I Was Back in School 2:09

20 Senators It Doesn't Matter 2:10

21 Senators 'til Forever More 2:23

22 Spaniels I Know 2:14

23 Spaniels Bus Fare Home 2:37

24 Flamingos Golden Teardrops 3:16

25 5 Royales Much in Need 2:36

26 Moonglows Real Gone Mama 2:58

27 Sheppards Tragic 2:17

28 Dukays Tango Bop 2:13

CD05

01 Floyd Jones Ain't Times Hard 3:07

02 L.C. McKinley She's Five Feet Three 2:50

03 Billy Boy Arnold I Wish You Would 2:41

04 Morris Pejoe Hurt My Feelings 3:22

05 Five Echoes Fool's Prayer 3:07

06 Billy Boy Arnold I Ain't Got You 2:15

07 Billy 'the Kid' Emerson If You Won't Stay Home 1:37

08 Eddie Taylor Big Town Playboy 2:58

09 Jimmy Reed Can't Stand to See You Go 2:48

10 John Lee Hooker Dimples 2:11

11 Eddie Taylor You'll Always Have a Home 2:33

12 Pee Wee Crayton The Telephone is Ringing 3:08

13 Billy 'the Kid' Emerson Every Woman I Know 2:40

14 Jimmy Reed Honey, Where You Going 3:10

15 Elmore James The 12 Year Old Boy 3:04

16 Pee Wee Crayton I Found My Peace of Mind 2:33

17 Larry Birdsong If You Don't Want Me No More 2:01

18 Elmore James It Hurts Me Too 3:04

19 El Cincos Oh, Baby, You Have to Go 2:42

20 Memphis Slim Stroll on Little Girl 2:40

21 Jimmy Reed Take Out Some Insurance 2:19

22 Memphis Slim Rockin' the House (Beer Drinkin' Woman) 2:05

23 Jimmy Reed Found Love 2:16

24 John Lee Hooker No Shoes 2:23

25 J.B. Lenoir Oh Baby 2:11

26 John Lee Hooker My First Wife Left Me 3:33

27 Jimmy Reed Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth 2:22

28 Jimmy Reed Baby, What's Wrong 3:16

CD06

01 Hazel McCollum & the El Dorados Annie's Answer 3:11

02 Earl Phillips Oop De Oop 3:11

03 Camille Howard Rock 'n Roll Mama 2:43

04 Dee Clark Seven Nights 2:17

05 Dee Clark Oh Little Girl 2:38

06 Lee Diamond Hattie Malatti 2:41

07 Lee Diamond Mama Loochie 2:18

08 Hank Ballard & the Midnighters The Twist 2:35

09 Bobby Parker You Got What it Takes 2:43

10 Bobby Parker Blues Get Off My Shoulder 2:48

11 Leonard Carbo Pigtails and Blue Jeans 2:17

12 Impressions Featuring Jerry Butler Come Back My Love 2:34

13 Priscilla Bowman & the Spaniels A Rockin' Good Way 2:13

14 Gene Allison Everything Will Be Alright 2:24

15 Jerry Butler Lost 2:24

16 Rosco Gordon No More Doggin' 2:38

17 Wade Flemons Slow Motion 2:08

18 Kip Anderson I Wanna Be the Only One 2:48

19 Rockin' Rs Mustang 1:47

20 Wade Flemons What's Happening 2:22

21 Jerry Butler A Lonely Soldier 2:55

22 Donnie Elbert Baby Let Me Love You Tonight 2:38

23 Dee Clark You're Looking Good 2:07

24 Wade Flemons I'll Come Runnin' 2:08

25 Donnie Elbert I Beg of You 2:24

26 Christine Kittrell Mr. Big Wheel 2:00

27 Preston Jackson & the Rhythm Aces Be Mine 2:38

28 Grover Mitchell That's a Good Idea 2:22

CD07

01 Wade Flemons At the Party 2:11

02 Marie Gladness Cops and Robbers 2:14

03 Wade Flemons Welcome Stranger 2:36

04 Nancy Love As Sure as I Live 2:22

05 Dee Clark Dance on Little Girl 1:59

06 Nancy Love Baby, I'm Not Over You Yet 2:20

07 Nancy Love It's Really Real 2:02

08 Gene Chandler Tear for Tear 2:09

09 Gil Hamilton Move and Groove 2:09

10 Jerry Butler Whatever You Want 2:22

11 Dee Clark Shook Up Over You 2:42

12 Pyramids Shakin' Fit 2:12

13 Browley Guy Do Somethin' Baby 2:20

14 Yvonne Carroll Please Don't Go 2:06

15 Jerry Butler I Don't Want to Hear it Anymore 3:03

16 Betty Everett It Hurts to Be in Love 2:24

17 Barrett Strong Make Up Your Mind 2:25

18 Barrett Strong Gonna Take a Journey 2:03

19 Jerry Butler & Betty Everett Ain't That Loving You Baby 2:45

20 Daylighters Whisper of the Wind 2:28

21 Daylighters Here Alone 2:17

22 Rivingtons I Love You Always 2:42

23 Dontells In Your Heart (You Know I'm Right) 2:04

24 Dells It's Not Unusual 2:13

25 Betty Everett Gonna Be Ready 2:33

26 Joe Simon The Whoo Pee 2:10

27 Jerry Butler I Can't Stand to See You Cry 2:30

28 Jerry Butler Just for You 2:31

CD08

01 Marilyn Britton Big Mr. Heartbreaker 2:25

02 Tracey Dey Jerry (I'm Your Sherry) 2:31

03 Orville Couch Hello Trouble 1:45

04 4 Seasons Santa Claus is Coming to Town 1:48

05 Johnny Cymbal Bachelor Man 2:10

06 Tracey Dey Jealous Eyes 1:45

07 Barbara Jackson Second Best 2:25

08 Society Girls S.P.C.L.G. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Little Girls) 2:48

09 Angelos Just Like Taking Candy From a Baby 2:41

10 Noreen Corcoran Love Kitten 2:28

11 Mac Davis Hey Monkey 2:15

12 Wade Flemons Watch Over Her 2:33

13 Ray Smith Rockin' Robin 2:23

14 Noreen Corcoran Dreamin' of You 2:30

15 Sensations You Made a Fool of Me 2:22

16 Rubies A Spanish Boy 2:20

17 Billy Joe Royal Get Behind Me Devil 2:27

18 Monsters Four Farmer John 1:58

19 Hoyt Axton Double Double Dare 2:32

20 Honey Bees One Girl, One Boy 2:12

21 Peggy Sans Snow Man 2:39

22 Clinger Sisters Shoop Shoop De Doop Rama Lama Ding Dong Yeah Yeah Yeah 1:55

23 Sunbeams Good Old Days 2:33

24 4 Seasons Apple of My Eye 2:16

25 Hoyt Axton Bring Your Lovin' 2:23

26 Joey Paige Dream for Sale 2:28

27 Terry Black Unless You Care 2:02

28 Shelley Fabares Lost Summer Love 2:19

29 Melinda Marx How I Wish You Came 2:07

30 Standells Big Boss Man 3:01

CD09

01 Staple Singers If I Could Hear My Mother Pray 2:47

02 Staple Singers This May Be My Last Time 2:05

03 Kelly Brothers Prayer for Tomorrow 2:40

04 Silver Quintette Sinner's Crossroads 3:09

05 Staple Singers Uncloudy Day 2:59

06 Swan Silvertones Sinner Man 3:08

07 Staple Singers Let Me Ride (Swing Down Chariot) 2:41

08 Harmonizing Four Motherless Child 3:04

09 Mighty Skylights If Jesus Came to Your House 3:14

10 Interns The Road Home 3:15

11 Swan Silvertones Oh Mary, Don't You Weep 2:47

12 Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi Leave You in the Hands of the Lord 2:45

13 Staple Singers So Soon 2:17

14 Friendly Brothers Operator 2:27

15 Highway Qcs God Has Not Promised 2:55

16 Harmonizing Four Wade in the Water 3:06

17 Caravans What Will Tomorrow Bring 3:59

18 Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama I Can See Everybody's Mother 2:26

19 Watson Sisters He Lives 2:19

20 Marion Williams & the Stars of Faith Surely God is Able 2:14

21 Highway Qcs Walk With Me 2:32

22 Dorothy Love Coates & the Gospel Harmonettes Camp Meeting 3:04

23 Original Blind Boys of Alabama I'm Journeying On 1:51

24 Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama Precious Lord 3:47

25 Argo Gospel Singers Jesus is the Answer 2:43

26 Swan Silvertones Nobody But You 2:37

CD10

01 Wayne Shorter Mack the Knife 4:24

02 Lee Morgan Just in Time 3:32

03 Wynton Kelly Joe's Avenue 2:50

04 Victor Feldman On Green Dolphin Street 3:25

05 Frank Strozier Runnin' 4:19

06 Leroy Vinnegar Trio Doing That Thing (Double Stopping) 3:54

07 Ann Richards & the Bill Marx Trio I Only Have Eyes for You (Live) 2:57

08 Eddie Harris Whispering Bossa Nove 6:52

09 Cannonball Adderley & Paul Chambers I Got Rhythm 6:07

10 Bill Marx Trio Streets of Laredo 4:14

11 Mjt+3 Love for Sale 3:58

12 Ira Sullivan & the Chicago Jazz Quintet Love Letters (Live) 5:07

13 Buddy De Franco & Art Blakey Cousin Mary 4:39

14 Eddie Higgins Trio Zarac, the Evil One 5:14

15 Louis Hayes Quintet (Featuring Yusef Lateef) Hazing 3:32

16 Young Lions Fat Lady 4:59

17 Bennie Green & Gene Ammons Juggin' Around 6:27

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