Junior Parker - Singles Collection 1952-62 (CD)

Born in Mississippi in 1932, Herman "Junior" Parker moved with his family to Memphis in the '40s and grew up surrounded by the blues, learning harmonica and being mentored by the great Sonny Boy Williamson. He toured with Howlin' Wolf and then with B.B. King and Bobby Bland in The Beale Streeters before forming The Blue Flames, and being spotted by Ike Turner, who recorded him for Modern Records. He signed to Sam Phillips' Sun Records, before moving to the Duke label. He had developed what one critic called a "honeyed, velvet-smooth" voice, and as another writer said, "deserted downhome harmonica blues for uptown blues-soul music", having ten R&B and pop hits during the '50s and into the 1960s. This 50-track 2-CD set comprises all the A & B sides he released on the Modern, Sun and Duke labels in this era, and naturally features all his hits during this key first decade of his career, when he had all his Top 20 hits. It features the Top 10 R&B entries "Feelin' Good", "Next Time You See Me", "In The Dark", "Driving Wheel" and "Annie Get Yout Yo-Yo". It also includes his original version of "Mystery Train", recorded for Sun, which Elvis Presley recorded a couple of years later. It's a fine showcase for an artist who has not generally had the attention which he merits and who was a fine songwriter, as well as a top-class and distinctive blues stylist.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. You're My Angel
2. Bad Women, Bad Whiskey
3. Feelin' Good
4. Fussin' and Fightin' Blues
5. Mystery Train
6. Love My Baby
7. Can't Understand
8. Dirty Friend Blues
9. Sittin' Drinkin' and Thinkin'
10. Please Baby Blues
11. Backtracking
12. I Wanna Ramble
13. There Better Not Be No Feet (In Them Shoes)
14. Driving Me Mad
15. Mother-In-Law Blues
16. That's My Baby
17. Next Time You See Me
18. My Dolly Bee
19. That's All Right
20. Pretty Baby
21. Pretty Little Doll
22. Peaches
23. Sitting and Thinking
24. Wondering

Disc: 2

1. Barefoot Rock
2. What Did I Do
3. Sweet Home Chicago
4. Sometimes
5. Five Long Years
6. I'm Holding on
7. Stranded
8. Blue Letter
9. Dangerous Woman
10. Belinda Marie
11. You're on My Mind
12. The Next Time
13. That's Just Alright
14. I'll Learn to Love Again
15. Stand By Me
16. I'll Forget About You
17. Seven Days
18. Driving Wheel
19. How Long Can This Go on
20. In the Dark
21. Annie Get Your Yo-Yo
22. Mary Jo
23. Sweeter As the Days Go By
24. I Feel Alright Again
25. Someone Somewhere
26. Foxy Devil