70 Years Of The Sun Sound Volume 02: The R&B Performers (CD)

Release Date: 01/14/22

Rhythm & Blues Memphis Style - 30 Sun Rhythm and Blues songs

Koko Mojo Records (KM-CD-154) 70 Years of The Sun Sound Volume 02 is the second tribute to Florence, Alabama-bred Samuel (Sam) Cornelius Phillips. The album looks at his labels; Sun, Flip and Phillips International, with the spotlight being shone upon the R&B Performers.'
On 3 January 1950, Phillips opened the Memphis Recording Service at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, and two years later in February 1952 the Sun Record Company was formed. In the summer of 1958 Phillips brought property on 639 Madison Avenue in Memphis a few blocks from his old studio because the original studio outgrew its Union Avenue location. The Sam Phillips Recording Service 639 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, opened in 1960. Phillips in 1961 through to 1964 opened a studio in Nashville located in the Cumberland Lodge building.
Koko Mojo (KM-CD-154) 70 Years Of The Sun Sound Volume 02 'The R&B Performers' looks at the 70-year history of Phillips labels. The album by design does not feature the household names which are catered for on numerous other compilations. The album looks at the artists who had often one release or faded from public view but left behind a musical legacy. The album is in a chronological year order from 1953 through to 1963. The recordings shuffled around to balance the style and enhance the listening pleasure, and the concept is focused upon titles released on 78 and 45 RPM and includes some album tracks.
The featured Negro acts include; Rufus 'Hound Dog' Thomas Jr., Bear Cat (The Answer To Hound Dog) and Tiger Man, which Elvis Presley also recorded, Little Junior's Blue Flames provide Feelin' Good, and Love My Baby which became a rockabilly classic when covered by Hayden Thompson (see ACCD113). The versatile Billy 'The Kid' Emerson offers several different approaches to R&B music with, The Woodchuck, Move Baby Move, Something For Nothing, and Red Hot, which became a rockabilly classic when Billy Riley and Bob Luman recorded it. The left-handed one-man blues musician Doctor Ross offers the jumping, Chicago Breakdown and The Boogie Disease, Rosco Gordon indulges in R&B and rockabilly with, Love For You Baby, Shoobie Oobie, Cheese And Crackers (from the pen of Hayden Thompson) and Sally Jo. The variety is heightened with the inclusion of; future member of the Drifters Bill Pinkey, the legendary, James Cotton, the Jackie Wilson-ish Freddie North, Jeb Stuart and The Chippers go country, Frank Frost uses the guitar skills of Roland Janes and Frank Ballard with Phillip Reynolds Band conclude the fun.