Rhythm & Western Vol.7 Jambalaya (CD)

Release Date: 02/17/23

28 great tracks from an era when black Blues artists were pursuaded by their record labels to record Country and Western classics

We're kicking off with Nat King Cole doing 'Wolverton Mountain', a country music song and a big crossover hit that established Claude King's career as an American country singer-songwriter in 1962, then another version of the Gene Autry C&W classic 'Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle' by Screamin' Jay Hawkins this time. Amos Milburn turns square dance into boogie-woogie, followed by Baby Washington and Bobby Bland with two 'melanated' western tunes. Titus Turner gives a new spin to Hank William's classic 'Jambalaya' and R&B vocalist Johnny Thunder is next with 'Don't Be Ashamed' a song that has a strong C&W and Gospel flavor. Memphian Rosco Gordon gives a perfect example of 'Ebony Country Music' with the self-penned 'Sally Jo' originally released on Sun Records. Same for Little Willie John and the Young Jessie tunes. Washboard Sam is next with a proto-Western Swing number titled 'Crazy About Nancy Jane' and Piano Red's 'Big Rock Joe From Kokomo' brings to mind Moon Mullican and all the other Hillbilly piano players he often also inspired.
West Coast sax supremo Maxwell Davis is doing a nice version of 'Hey Good Looking' followed by Ray Sharpe and his 'Bus Song', Solomon Burke with 'Almost Lost My Mind', Lou Rawls, Joe Seneca, and Sam & Dave. Fans of Country and Rockabilly singer Warren Smith are probably familiar with his version of 'Tell Me Who' that features a prominent steel guitar, I included here the version by R&B singer Big Maybelle. Reverend Moore and His Gospel Singers are giving another example of how Black Gospel music heavily influenced C&W with his version of the traditional 'Glory Glory To His Name'. Once again Mickey & Sylvia deliver another great 'melanated' C&W tune, just like Joe Tex with his 'Wicked Wicked Woman', and The Coasters with their classic 'Along Came Jones', Brook Benton, Little Arthur Matthews, and Buster Brown.