ROCK
VA - Come And Get It, The Herald Records Story [2013] (3 x CDs)
The Herald catalogue has a particular character that becomes clear only when the full sweep of its releases is gathered in one place. This three‑disc set traces that character with care, moving through doo‑wop, R&B, early rock and roll, and the blues sides that filled out the label’s roster. Heard as a whole, the collection shows how Herald operated: a small independent imprint working with a mix of established performers, regional talent, and groups whose careers were built around a handful of singles. The sound is shaped by modest studios, tight bands, and arrangements that favour directness over polish.
The opening run of tracks sets the tone. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, The Mello‑Kings, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ronnie Pearson, Little Butchie Saunders, Buddy Greco, and Faye Adams all appear early in the sequence, each representing a different corner of the label’s output. The doo‑wop groups bring close harmonies and steady tempos, the R&B singers lean into stronger backbeats, and the blues material carries the looseness that defined Hopkins’ sessions. The mix of styles reflects the way Herald built its catalogue: not by chasing a single sound, but by releasing whatever had energy and potential.
Across the three CDs, the set moves through the label’s most recognisable names and its lesser‑known acts. The Nutmegs, The Turbans, The Five Willows, The Mint Juleps, The Royal Holidays, and The Thrillers appear throughout, each contributing to the label’s identity. Their recordings show the range of group‑vocal work Herald supported, from smooth ballads to faster, dance‑floor‑ready sides. Interspersed are solo singers and instrumentalists whose tracks add variety without breaking the flow.
The blues and R&B cuts from Lightnin’ Hopkins, Cousin Leroy, Eddie Boyd, and Sticks McGhee give the set a grounding presence. These recordings sit comfortably beside the vocal‑group material, showing how Herald balanced its catalogue between commercial singles and roots‑leaning sessions. The sequencing keeps these shifts natural, letting the listener hear the label’s breadth without forcing contrasts.
By the time the final CD closes with The Turbans and Fats Noel, the shape of the label is clear. Herald’s story is one of small‑studio immediacy, regional talent, and singles that travelled through jukeboxes and local airplay rather than national charts. This compilation presents that story without embellishment, letting the recordings speak for themselves. It stands as a detailed snapshot of an independent label working at full stretch during a period when American popular music was changing quickly and leaving behind a trail of 45s that still hold their spark. (B)
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Track lists
CD1
01 Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Come and Get It 2:15
02 Mello-Kings - Tonite-Tonite 2:32
03 Lightnin' Hopkins - Let's Move 2:19
04 Ronnie Pearson - Hot Shot 2:20
05 Little Butchie Saunders - I Wanna Holler 2:38
06 Buddy Greco - Ooh Baby 1:53
07 Loungers - Remember The Night 2:07
08 Faye Adams - I'll Be True 2:48
09 Mint Juleps - Vip A Dip 2:10
10 Tommy Ridgley - Woncha Gone 2:04
11 Nutmegs - Story Untold 2:19
12 Ricky Jones - You Know It's True 2:04
13 Sonnets - Why Should We Break Up 1:56
14 Cousin Leroy - Waiting at The Station 2:45
15 Debonaires - Darlin' 2:08
16 Charlie & Ray - Sweet Thing 2:20
17 Royal Holidays - Rockin' at The Bandstand 1:59
18 Lightnin' Hopkins - Flash Lightnin' 2:24
19 Triangles - Savin' My Love 2:09
20 Rocketeers - Foolish One 2:59
21 Little Walter - I Just Keep Lovin' Her 2:55
22 Smart Tones - Ginny 2:26
23 Turbans - When You Dance 2:57
24 Five Willows - So Help Me 2:21
25 Tune Tones - Lonesome Soul 1:57
CD2
01 Ronnie Pearson - She Bops A Lot 2:07
02 Tommy Ridgley - Baby Do Little 2:11
03 Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay 1:38
04 Charlie & Ray - Dearest One 2:16
05 Lightnin' Hopkins - Hear Me Talkin' 2:14
06 Jimmy King - Knocking on Your Door 2:28
07 Turbans - Sister Sookey 2:37
08 Cindy Mann - You Can't Fool Me Baby 2:18
09 Five Willows - Baby Come A Little Closer 2:29
10 Little Butchie Saunders & His Buddies - Lindy Lou 2:27
11 Gene Ross - The Only One 2:05
12 Mello-Kings - Chip Chip 2:03
13 Cousin Leroy - Crossroads 2:46
14 Faye Adams - Shake A Hand 2:53
15 Desires - Cold Lonely Heart 2:11
16 Pork Chops - I Wanna See My Lovin' Baby 2:23
17 Vocalaires - Dance Dance 2:09
18 Ronnie Pearson - Flippin' Over You 2:02
19 Heralds - Eternal Love 2:56
20 Lightnin' Hopkins - My Little Kewpie Doll 2:14
21 Thrillers - 'lizabeth 2:44
22 Royal Holidays - Down in Cuba 1:48
23 Miller Sisters - Until You're Mine 2:14
24 Nutmegs - Comin' Home 2:31
25 Mint Juleps - Bells of Love 2:37
CD3
01 Mello-Kings - Baby Tell Me (Why, Why, Why) 2:04
02 Charlie & Ray - Mad With You, Baby 2:35
03 Faye Adams - Hurts Me to My Heart 3:01
04 Sunbeams - Come Back Baby 2:29
05 Little Walter - Take A Walk With Me 3:12
06 Ronnie Pearson - I Dig That Girl The Most 2:20
07 Five Willows - Lay Your Head on My Shoulder 3:00
08 Lightnin' Hopkins - Evil Hearted Woman 2:44
09 Tune Tones - She's Right for Me 2:12
10 Rosettes - You Broke My Heart 2:09
11 Little Butchie Saunders & His Buddies - Great Big Heart 2:15
12 Nutmegs - My Sweet Dreams 2:13
13 Sticks Mcghee - Sleep in Job 2:34
14 Dynamics - Forever Love 2:23
15 Smart Tones - Bob O Link 2:25
16 Eddie Boyd - Lonesome for My Baby 2:53
17 Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - I Remember 2:08
18 Sunbeams - Tell Me Why 2:27
19 Concords - Marlene 2:09
20 Lightnin' Hopkins - Boogie Woogie Dance 2:35
21 Tommy Ridgley - When I Meet My Girl 2:08
22 Thrillers - Please Talk to Me 3:03
23 Al Savage - A Fool Was I 2:28
24 Turbans - It Was Night Like This 2:17
25 Fats Noel - You Belong to Me 3:04
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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