VA - The Great Tomato Blues Package (45 Classic Blues Selections) [1989] (2 x CDs)

BLUES

VA - The Great Tomato Blues Package (45 Classic Blues Selections) [1989] (2 x CDs)

The Great Tomato Blues Package, released in 1989 on Tomato Records as a two‑CD anthology, offers a generous and carefully assembled survey of mid‑century blues recordings drawn from the label’s deep catalogue. Issued under catalogue number R2 70737, the set gathers forty‑five tracks originally released between the late forties and early seventies, presenting a broad view of electric blues, acoustic traditions and regional styles that shaped the genre’s evolution. Tomato had long been known for licensing important material from artists whose work often sat between folk, blues and early roots music, and this compilation reflects that archival commitment.

The first disc leans into classic electric blues, with performances that highlight strong guitar phrasing, steady rhythm sections and vocals shaped by lived experience. Many tracks were originally issued on small labels, later reissued by Tomato in LP or CD form, making their appearance here valuable for listeners who follow catalogue histories. The mastering preserves the warmth of the original tapes, allowing the grit and nuance of each performance to come through clearly.

The second disc expands the frame, bringing in acoustic sides, regional variations and lesser known artists whose recordings rarely appear in mainstream anthologies. Several selections originate from albums Tomato released during the seventies, often drawn from field recordings or studio sessions that documented musicians with long histories but limited commercial exposure. These tracks add depth, showing how blues traditions persisted outside major label structures.

What makes The Great Tomato Blues Package notable is its balance of familiarity and discovery. Well‑known artists anchor the set, yet the rarities and deeper cuts provide insight into the genre’s breadth. The sequencing moves smoothly, creating a listening experience that feels both historical and immediate. For collectors, the anthology stands as a thoughtful document of Tomato’s role in preserving essential blues recordings, presented with care, clarity and respect for the original sources. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Johnny Shines - Too Wet to Plow 4:24

02 Mississippi Fred McDowell - You Got to Move 2:52

03 Peg Leg Sam - Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho 3:20

04 Louisiana Red - Sweet Blood Call 3:00

05 Lightnin' Hopkins - Cryin' Shame 2:33

06 Sonny Terry - Playing With the Thing 2:39

07 Sonny Boy Williams - Fattening Frogs for Snakes 2:24

08 Roosevelt Sykes - Music is My Business 2:41

09 Jelly Roll Morton - Dead Man Blues 3:17

10 Louis Armstrong - St. Louis Blues 3:05

11 Bessie Smith - Alexander's Ragtime Band 3:03

12 Champion Jack Dupree - Shake Baby Shake 2:29

13 Willie Mabon - Poison Ivy 2:54

14 Billie Holiday - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 1:56

15 Charlie Parker - Parker's Mood 3:05

16 Big Mama Thornton - Ball and Chain 7:00

17 Little Walter - Juke 2:45

18 Howlin' Wolf - Little Red Rooster 2:27

19 Buster Brown - Fanny Mae 2:59

20 Elmore James - The Sky is Crying 2:45

21 Aretha Franklin - There is a Fountain Filled With Blood 4:28

22 Ray Charles - Blues is My Middle Name 3:08

CD2

01 Ike & Tina Turner - Poor Fool 2:36

02 B.B. King - The Other Night Blues 3:37

03 Brownie McGhee - The Blues Had a Baby 2:54

04 Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley 2:29

05 Little Richard - Lucille 2:28

06 Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind 2:37

07 Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City 2:25

08 Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy 2:56

09 Jimmy Reed - Take Out Some Insurance 2:26

10 Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle 3:02

11 Chuck Berry - In the Wee, Wee Hours 3:05

12 Fats Domino - Blue Monday 2:44

13 Dee Dee Ford; Don Garner - I Need Your Lovin' 2:17

14 Irma Thomas - Wish Someone Would Care 2:14

15 Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman 2:59

16 Carl Perkins - Honey Don't 2:51

17 Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 5:04

18 John Lee Hooker - Tupelo 7:25

19 Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - That's All Right 5:54

20 Johnny Winter; Rocky Hill - Bad Girl Blues 2:49

21 Townes Van Zandt - Nothin' 2:51

22 Mississippi John Hurt - Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight 2:53

23 Lead Belly - Midnight Special 2:53

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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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VA - Root Damage [2012] (2 X CDs)

BLUES

VA - Root Damage [2012] (2 X CDs)

Root Damage feels like a night spent drifting through America’s back roads, where blues, garage rock and country‑punk spill out of small bars and half‑lit rooms. Sympathy For The Record Industry built its reputation on unruly, heartfelt music, and this two‑disc set captures that spirit with clarity. Nothing here is polished for radio. These are performances shaped by instinct, grit and the pleasure of playing loud.

The first disc sets the tone with raw blues and garage swagger. R.L. Burnside opens the door, and suddenly you’re inside a world where guitars growl, drums stumble with purpose and voices carry the weight of lived experience. The sequencing moves easily between moods, swagger, melancholy, humour, desperation, yet everything feels connected by the same rough charm. You hear musicians who aren’t trying to impress anyone. They’re simply doing what they do best: playing with conviction, letting the imperfections become part of the character.

As the set moves forward, the variety becomes its strength. Garage bands crash through short, sharp songs. Country‑blues outfits stretch grooves until they become hypnotic. Oddball storytellers appear, adding crooked humour and sideways perspective. The production values jump around, but that inconsistency becomes part of the appeal. It reminds you that these tracks were made in basements, back rooms and small studios, driven by urgency rather than budgets.

The second disc widens the frame even further. Swampy blues sits beside fractured garage noise. Country‑punk rubs shoulders with outsider rock. A few tracks lean toward surreal humour, others toward emotional weight, but all share the same sense of independence. You can hear the label’s personality in every choice, a love of the unruly, the regional, the heartfelt, the strange.

What makes Root Damage compelling is its honesty. It doesn’t try to tidy anything up or present a unified narrative. Instead, it celebrates the rough edges and the small stories that make American roots music so enduring. For collectors, it’s a snapshot of a label that championed the overlooked. For listeners, it’s a reminder that great music often thrives in the margins, loud, imperfect and full of life. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 R.L Burnside - Georgia Women 3:44

02 Dan Melchior; Billy Childish - Length of Pipe 2:10

03 South Filthy - Hot Dog 2:21

04 Chris Wilson - Dark Haired Girl 3:02

05 Soledad Brothers - Shakey Puddin' 3:25

06 Compulsive Gamblers; Jack Yarber - Rock n' Roll Nurse (feat. Jack Yarber) 4:08

07 Mr. Airplane Man - Sun Sinking Low 3:23

08 Junkyard Dogs - Lightning Bar Blues 3:06

09 T. Tex Edwards - You Ain't Never Gonna Live 2:17

10 Elmore Williams - Hoopin' and Hollerin' 2:38

11 Speedball Baby - Blackish Man 3:11

12 Mark Spitz Freestyle - Three Shiny Nails 2:42

13 Reigning Sound - As Long 2:56

14 Kirby Grips - Needless 3:24

15 Earl Lee Grace - Kitchen Girl 1:54

16 Cool Jerks - Man and a Woman 3:09

17 Gun Club - Preaching the Blues 4:32

18 Deadly Snakes - Love Undone 3:16

19 Jack Oblivian - I'm Too Old for You 2:17

20 Holly Golightly - Anyway You Like It 3:42

21 Blackhands - Black Girl 2:27

22 Junior Kimbrough - You're Gonna Find Your Mistake 3:11

23 Monsieur Jeffrey Evans - Otto Wood 2:30

24 Cedell Davis - Keep on Snatchin' it Back 2:38

25 Greg Oblivian & The Tip Tops - Watching My Baby Get Ready 2:27

CD2

01 Joe Coleman; Je & Jill - Intro / Kiss and Kill 2:22

02 Oddball's Band - Hangdog Blues 2:53

03 Interstate Leisure Kings - Best Liquor Store 2:12

04 Big Foot Chester - Harpoon Man 2:45

05 T-Model Ford - Morning Gown 4:41

06 Bob Log III - Daddy Log's 2:16

07 Tearjerkers - Bank, Gun, Jail 2:34

08 Darlins - Take Me Dancin' 3:43

09 Wreckless Eric - Harry's Flat 4:23

10 Compulsive Gamblers; Greg Cartwright - Two Thieves (feat. Greg Cartwright) 5:32

11 Holly Golightly; Dan Melchior - I'd Follow Her Down 2:22

12 Jeffrey Lee Pierce - Goodbye Johnny 2:48

13 Gibson Bros. - Memphis Chicken 2:35

14 Revelators; Walter Daniels - Old Slew Foot 1:16

15 Panther Burns - Fun Mob 3:18

16 Geraldine Fibbers - She's a Dog 3:15

17 Lisa Marr Experiment - Shooting Stars 3:52

18 Robert Cage - Liza Jane 4:10

19 '68 Comeback - '68 2:14

20 Work Dogs - Our Good Man 4:13

21 Frank Roach - Alabama 2:31

22 Dan Melchior's Broke Review - Laughing to Keep from Crying 2:35

23 Pearlene - Burying Ground 2:35

24 Beck - Leave Me Alone on the Moon 2:17

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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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VA – Goodbye, Babylon [2003] (6 x CDs)

GOSPEL SOUL BLUES

VA – Goodbye, Babylon [2003] (6 x CDs)

Released in 2003 by Dust‑to‑Digital, Goodbye, Babylon is one of the most ambitious archival presentations of early American sacred music ever assembled. The six‑disc box set arrives in a cedar case packed with raw cotton, accompanied by a substantial hardbound book containing lyric transcriptions, historical notes, and biblical passages that frame the recordings in their original cultural context. The project draws from 78‑rpm sources collected over decades, presenting gospel, spirituals, sacred blues, shape‑note singing, and recorded sermons from the early twentieth century.

The first discs trace the breadth of pre‑war religious expression. Early gospel groups, family ensembles, and rural singers appear in stark, powerful performances shaped by limited studio conditions and strong communal traditions. Washington Phillips, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mahalia Jackson, and the Golden Gate Quartet stand out for the clarity of their delivery and the emotional weight carried in their phrasing. The selections move between polished jubilee quartets and raw, blues‑inflected sacred pieces, showing how varied the landscape was before commercial gospel took firmer shape.

The middle discs deepen the focus, presenting sacred harp ensembles, string bands, and evangelists whose recordings preserve regional practices rarely documented elsewhere. Blind Willie Johnson’s sides remain central, bridging blues technique with devotional intensity. Other inclusions highlight the overlap between folk traditions and spiritual themes, revealing how closely everyday life and religious expression were intertwined.

The final disc gathers recorded sermons, capturing the cadence, drama, and rhetorical force of early preachers whose voices shaped local congregations. These spoken pieces provide a counterbalance to the musical selections, completing the portrait of a spiritual world defined by rhythm, conviction, and community.

Taken as a whole, Goodbye, Babylon stands as a monumental archive, a carefully restored, deeply researched collection that preserves the sound and spirit of a vanished era in American sacred music. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Rev. T. T. Rose and Singers - Goodbye, Babylon Pt. I 2:56

02 Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters - Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb? 2:51

03 Roosevelt Graves and Brother - Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind on Jesus) 2:53

04 Alabama Sacred Harp Singers - Present Joys 2:54

05 Blind Lemon Jefferson - All I Want is That Pure Religion 3:13

06 J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers - Satisfied 2:42

07 Chuck Wagon Gang - As the Life of a Flower 2:40

08 Holy Ghost Sanctified Singers - Thou Carest Lord (For Me) 3:01

09 Washington Phillips - Lift Him Up, That's All 3:31

10 Golden Gate Jubilee QuartetGolden Gate Jubilee Quartet - Rock My Soul 2:00

11 Ernest V. Stoneman's Dixie Mountaineers - There's a Light Lit Up in Galilee 2:46

12 Arizona Dranes - Crucifixion 3:31

13 Blue Chips - Crying Holy Unto the Lord 2:48

14 Louvin Brothers - I'll Never Go Back 2:40

15 Mahalia Jackson - God's Gonna Separate the Wheat From the Tares 3:08

16 Luther Magby - Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 3:10

17 Rev. Gary Davis - I Belong to the Band - Hallelujah! 3:15

18 Carter Family - River of Jordan 2:38

19 Lil McClintock - Sow Good Seeds 3:12

20 Bryant's Jubilee Quartet - I'll Be Satisfied 2:47

21 Frank Palmes - Troubled 'Bout My Soul 2:53

22 Bascom Lamar Lunsford - Dry Bones 3:00

23 Carlisle Brothers - Jesus My All 2:28

24 Taskiana Four - Creep Along, Moses 2:43

25 Tennessee Music and Printing Company Quartet - Joy Bells 3:07

26 Elder David Ross - He Gave Me a Heart to Love 2:16

27 Bessie Jones and the Sea Island Singers - O Day 4:30

CD2

01 Brother Claude Ely - There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down 2:52

02 Elder Curry and His Congregation - Memphis Flu 3:04

03 Sister O.M. Terrell - The Bible's Right 2:49

04 Stanley Brothers - Standing in the Need of Prayer 2:02

05 Carl Smith with the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle - Blood That Stained the Old Rugged Cross 2:21

06 Thomas A. Dorsey - How About You? 2:58

07 Skip James - Jesus is a Mighty Good Leader 3:01

08 Charles Butts Sacred Harp Singers - Murillo's Lesson 3:20

09 Kentucky Ramblers - Glory Glory Glory, Glory to the Lamb 2:37

10 Elder Richard Bryant - Come Over Here 3:05

11 Jaybird Coleman - I'm Gonna Cross the River of Jordan 3:05

12 Trumpeteers - Milky White Way 2:33

13 Johnson Family Singers - Deliverance Will Come 2:16

14 North Carolina Cooper Boys - Daniel in the Den of Lions 2:56

15 Sister Cally Fancy - Goin' to Heaven in the Sanctified Way 3:01

16 Jimpson - No More, My Lord 2:08

17 King's Sacred Quartet - This World Can't Stand Long 2:42

18 Virginia Dandies - God's Getting Worried 2:42

19 Empire Jubilee Quartet - Get Right, Church 2:40

20 Rosie Hibler and Family - Move, Members, Move 1:59

21 Huggins-Phillips Sacred Harp Singers - Lover of the Lord 2:40

22 A.A. Gray and Seven Foot Dilly - The Old Ark's A Moving 2:58

23 Blind Roger Hays - On My Way to Heaven 3:04

24 Uncle Dave Macon - The Bible's True 3:01

25 Price Family Sacred Singers - Ship of Glory 2:55

26 Elders McIntorsh & Edwards - Since I Laid My Burden Down 3:18

27 Elder Effie Hall and Congregation - Precious Lord, Hold My Hand 2:18

28 Blind Willie Davis - When the Saints Go Marching In 2:02

29 Lion and the Cyril Monrose String Orchestra - Jonah, Come Out the Wilderness 2:37

CD3

01 Dinwiddie Colored Quartet - Down on the Old Camp Ground 2:32

02 Norfolk Jubilee Quartet - My Lord's Gonna Move This Wicked Race 2:57

03 Edward W. Clayborn - Your Enemy Cannot Harm You (But Watch Your Close Friend) 3:01

04 McVay and Johnson - Ain't Going to Lay My Armor Down 3:11

05 James and Martha Carson - I'll Fly Away 2:25

06 Alabama Sacred Harp Singers - Heavenly Vision 3:04

07 Blind Willie Johnson - Lord, I Just Can't Keep From Crying 3:03

08 Jubilee Gospel Team - Lower My Dying Head 3:05

09 Two Gospel Keys - You've Got to Move 2:47

10 Flatt and Scruggs - That Home Above 2:22

11 Golden Gate Quartet - Golden Gate Gospel Train 2:37

12 Roosevelt Graves and Brother - I'll Be Rested (When the Roll is Called) 2:32

13 Eddie Head and His Family - Down on Me 3:09

14 Blind Joe Taggart - Goin' to Rest Where Jesus Is 3:14

15 Louis Washington - Got Heaven in My View 3:13

16 Rev. Sister Mary Nelson - Judgment 2:22

17 Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers - I Want Two Wings to Veil My Face 2:46

18 Rev. D.C. Rice - We Got the Same Kinda Power Over Here 2:56

19 Washington Phillips - What are They Doing in Heaven Today? 3:16

20 T.C.I. Women's Four - That Great Day 2:52

21 North Canton Quartet - I'm Bound for Home 2:54

22 Washington White - I am in the Heavenly Way 3:08

23 Sam Morgan's Jazz Band - Over in Gloryland 3:22

24 Rev. Anderson Johnson - Death in the Morning 2:47

25 Maddox Brothers & Rose - In the Land Where We'll Never Grow Old 3:05

26 Dock Walsh - Bathe in That Beautiful Pool 2:59

27 Hank Williams - I'll Have a New Body 2:30

CD4

01 Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper - Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill 3:02

02 Sheffield Quartet - Christ Arose 3:01

03 Thomas A. Dorsey - If You See My Savior 2:52

04 Jubilee Gospel Team - Let Jesus Lead You 3:15

05 Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet - Found a Wonderful Savior 2:24

06 Arizona Dranes and Choir - He is My Story 3:13

07 Ernest V. Stoneman and His Dixie Mountaineers - I Remember Calvary 3:31

08 Blind Willie Johnson - Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There 2:58

09 Rev. W.M. Mosley - If You Follow Jesus 2:48

10 Blind Benny Paris & Wife - Hide Me in the Blood of Jesus 2:35

11 Wade Mainer - I'll Be a Friend to Jesus 2:44

12 Tennessee Mountaineers - Standing on the Promises 2:40

13 Mother McCollum - Jesus is My Aeroplane 3:23

14 Sam Jones - I've Got Salvation 2:59

15 Blind Alfred Reed - I Mean to Live for Jesus 2:51

16 Heavenly Gospel Singers - When Was Jesus Born? 3:13

17 Blue Sky Boys - Come to the Savior 2:53

18 Dorothy Melton - I Want Jesus to Walk With Me 2:40

19 Laura Henton - He's Coming Soon 3:00

20 Okeh - Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers - Return Again 3:19

21 Blind Gary Davis - I am the True Vine 3:18

22 Bela Lam and His Greene County Singers - Sweet Story of Old 2:45

23 Elder Harris - I'll Lead a Christian Life 3:21

24 Famous Blue Jay Singers - I'm Leaning on the Lord 3:12

25 Blind Willie Harris - Where He Leads Me I Will Follow 3:20

26 Luther Magby - Jesus is Getting Us Ready 3:02

CD5

01 Silver Leaf Quartette - Daniel Saw the Stone 3:11

02 Alfred Karnes - Called to the Foreign Field 3:11

03 Ridgel's Fountain Citians - Hallelujah to the Lamb 2:41

04 Deacon A. Wilson - You Need Jesus on Your Side 3:13

05 Pace Jubilee Singers - You'd Better Mind 3:09

06 J.T. Allison's Sacred Harp Singers - Exhilaration 3:06

07 Ernest Phipps and His Holiness Singers - If the Light Has Gone Out of Your Soul 3:00

08 Brown's Ferry Four - Keep on the Firing Line 2:34

09 Bailes Brothers - Romans Ten and Nine 2:54

10 Wade Mainer - Standing Outside 3:05

11 Monroe Brothers - Sinner, You Better Get Ready 2:37

12 Blind Willie McTell - I Got to Cross the River of Jordan 4:39

13 Dock Reed and Vera Hall Ward - Free at Last 1:37

14 Bessie Johnson's Sanctified Singers - The Whole World in His Hand 2:59

15 Mahalia Jackson - Amazing Grace 2:20

16 Blind Mamie Forehand - Honey in the Rock 2:44

17 Seventh Day Adventist Choir - On Jordan's Stormy Banks We Stand 2:41

18 Elder J.E. Burch - My Heart Keeps Singing 3:09

19 Joshua White - I Don't Intend to Die in Egyptland 2:58

20 Daniels Deason Sacred Harp Singers - Primrose Hill 2:57

21 Carter Family - Keep on the Sunny Side 2:50

22 Mrs. L. Reed & Mrs. T.A. Duncans - Light in the Valley 3:38

23 Georgia Peach - When the Saints Go Marching In 2:45

24 Jimmie Strothers - Down to the Shore 2:21

25 Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Strange Things Happening Every Day 2:45

26 Rev. T.T. Rose - Goodbye, Babylon Pt. 2 2:55

CD6

01 Rev. J.M. Gates - Gettin' Ready for Christmas Day 3:02

02 Rev A.W. Nix - Black Diamond Express to Hell Part 1 2:51

03 Rev. A.W. Nix - Black Diamond Express to Hell Part 2 3:03

04 Rev. J.C. Burnett - The Downfall of Nebuchadezzar 2:52

05 Rev. Isaiah Shelton - The Liar 3:01

06 Rev. Emmet Dickinson - Hell and What it Is 2:52

07 Elder J.E. Burch - The Church and The Kingdom 3:28

08 Rev. T.E. Weems - If I Have a Ticket, Lord, Can I Ride? 3:00

09 Rev. Benny Campbell - You Must Be Born Again 2:38

10 Rev. E.D. Campbell - Take Me to the Water 3:14

11 Jubilee Gospel Team - Oh Lord, Remember Me 3:12

12 Rev. E.S. (Shy) Moore - Christ, the Teacher 3:01

13 Rev. Johnny Blakey - King of Kings 3:15

14 Elder Otis Jones - O Lord, I'm Your Child 3:06

15 Rev. Webb - Moses Was Rescued by a Negro Woman 3:01

16 Rev. George Jones - That White Mule of Sin 3:07

17 Deacon Leon Davis - Deacon's Prayer Service 2:55

18 Rev. S.J. Worell - The Prodigal Son 3:05

19 C.H. Gatewood - Well of Salvation 3:31

20 Rev. F.W. McGee - Jonah in the Belly of the Whale 3:22

21 Rev. J.C. Burnett - The Gambler's Doom 3:18

22 Hallelujah Joe - The Prodigal's Return 2:58

23 Rev. T.E. Weems - God is Mad With Man 3:05

24 Rev. J.M. Milton - The Black Camel of Death 3:06

25 Rev. J.M. Gates - Death Might Be Your Santa Claus 3:00

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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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VA - Wrap It Up (The Isaac Hayes And David Porter Songbook) [2022]

SOUL/ROCK/BLUES

VA - Wrap It Up (The Isaac Hayes And David Porter Songbook) [2022]

This collection gathers twenty‑four recordings shaped by the songwriting partnership of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, tracing how their work moved through the Stax family of labels and into wider territory during the 1960s and early 1970s. The sequence begins with Homer Banks’ “60 Minutes of Your Love,” arranged by Gene “Bowlegs” Miller, and sets the tone for a set built around strong grooves, clear structures, and the direct emotional writing that defined the pair’s catalogue. The Emotions, Rachel Sweet, Freddie King, and Peter Frampton appear early, each bringing a different studio sound to the material.

Familiar titles sit alongside less‑traveled pieces. “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “Soul Man,” and “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby” are represented through versions by The Righteous Brothers, Sam & Dave, and Otis Redding with Carla Thomas. Other tracks show how far the catalogue reached, with ZZ Top, Delaney & Bonnie, Marcia Ball, and Archie Bell & The Drells offering interpretations shaped by their own sessions and producers.

The set is mastered at Sound Mastering and presented mainly in stereo, with four tracks in mono. Liner notes by Tony Rounce provide context for the recordings and the writers’ influence. Across its span, the compilation shows the adaptability of Hayes and Porter’s songs and the range of artists who carried them forward. (B)

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Track list

01 Homer Banks - 60 Minutes of Your Love 2:25

02 Emotions - As Long as I've Got You 3:16

03 Rachel Sweet - B-A-B-Y 3:08

04 Freddie King - Can't Trust Your Neighbor 3:57

05 Peter Frampton - May I Baby 3:40

06 Aretha Franklin - You're Taking Up Another Man's Place 3:29

07 Righteous Brothers - Hold On, I'm Comin' 2:34

08 Peter Gallagher - I've Got to Love Somebody's Baby 3:56

09 Edwin Starr & Blinky - I'll Understand 2:20

10 Bishops - I Take What I Want 2:38

11 Z Z Top - I Thank You 3:25

12 Delaney & Bonnie - My Baby Specializes 3:17

13 Marcia Ball - Never Like This Before 2:58

14 Sam & Dave - Soul Man 2:39

15 Ruby Johnson - Left Over Love 2:48

16 Soul Children - The Sweeter He is (Parts 1 & 2) 6:19

17 Johnnie Taylor - Toe Hold 4:00

18 Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - When Something is Wrong With My Baby 2:47

19 Archie Bell and The Drells - Wrap it Up 2:48

20 Keith (Powell) and Billie (Davis) - You Don't Know Like I Know 2:22

21 Hassles - You Got Me Hummin' 2:23

22 Mable John - Your Good Thing (Is About to End) 2:59

23 Charlie Rich - Love is After Me 2:28

24 Danny White - I'm Dedicating My Life 2:57

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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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VA - Come And Get It, The Herald Records Story [2013] (3 x CDs)

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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