Various Artists - Groovin The Blues / Various (CD)

Groovin' The Blues - Watching the success of indie labels like Atlantic, Chess, Specialty, Imperial, and others, industry giant RCA decided to re-enter the Rhythm & Blues field. RCA had dominated blues recording during the late 1920s and '30s, but the company dropped most of it's blues artists, along with many of it's country artists, during wartime raw materials rationing. In 1954, RCA decided to get back in the game, hiring A&R man Danny Kessler away from Columbia's OKeh label. The experiment ended in 1957 after notching up just one major hit, Mickey & Sylvia's Love Is Strange. Lack of hits didn't mean lack of great music. Recording in New York and in the South, Groove drew on a wide range of artists from top-drawer vocal groups like the Du Droppers to future smooth jazz star George Benson to blues guitar star Roy Gaines to west coast jazz Shorty Rogers calling himself Highpockets Henderson to classic New Orleans barrelhouse pianist Champion Jack Dupree. Even country blues legend Sonny Terry was on the roster. Groove releases were filled out with some great unknowns as well as singular artists like Bertice Reading, who began in R&B but went on to become a cabaret star in England. The bands were always top-notch, including session genius Mickey Baker as well as bandleaders Paul Williams and Buddy Lucas. In an exclusive deal with RCA/Sony in New York, Bear Family acquired access to the entire Groove catalog, restoring the masters to pristine sound and finding rare and unpublished photos. Award-winning R&B historian Bill Dahl wrote the extensive essays.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Lost Jawbone - Sonny Terry
2. Goin' Back Home - Cousin Leroy
3. The Ups Champion - Jack Dupree
4. No Dice - Buddy Lucas
5. Hold Me Baby - Sue Allen ; Oscar Black
6. Louise - Sonny Terry
7. Love Blues - Clayton Love
8. There Goes - That Train Maymie Watts
9. 'Taint Right - Big Tiny Kennedy
10. Don't Leave Me - Little Tommy Brown
11. 41 Highway - Cousin Leroy
12. Tell Me Baby - Sonny Terry
13. I Got Drunk - Buddy Lucas
14. Romance in the Dark - Zilla Mays
15. I Need a Good Woman - Big Tiny Kennedy
16. What Makes Me Love You So - Oscar Black
17. Hootin' Blues No 2 - Sonny Terry
18. You've Been Good to Everybody - the Du Droppers
19. Catfish - Cousin Leroy
20. Beantown Boogie - Bertice Reading
21. Lonesome Bedroom - Cousin Leroy
22. Lonely Road Blues - Champion Jack Dupree
23. Throw This Old Dog a Bone - Sonny Terry
24. I Need Help - Buddy Lucas
25. I Took You in Baby - Sonny Terry
26. Won't You Forgive Me - Little Tommy Brown
27. Story of My Life - Champion Jack Dupree
28. I Wash My Hands - Bertice Reading
29. I'll Live My Life Alone - Oscar Black ; Sue Allen
30. Juice Head Woman - Sonny Terry
31. Sentimental Blues - Sonny Brooks
32. Into Each Heart (Some Tears Must Fall) - Oscar Black
33. Wait Till Next Week - Baby Big Connie