7 / 8
slightly better known for they had two monster hits for Aladdin and Capitol.
Led by the magnificent voice of Rudy West. They all came from Newport
News, Virginia and their career lasted well into the Sixties, although with
new personnel. The track here
Lawdy Miss Mary
is a super version of the
ChuckWillis song and has never been issued before. The reason - well, a month
after they signed to Capitol and hit with a million-seller
Ling Ting Tong
- and
Capitol would certainly have enforced their contract. Three other songs were
discovered from this session. Detour are investigating!
Apart from these rocking groups there are also single artists like Sonny
Terry and Roy Gaines. Terry is by far the oldest performer on the album having
been born in Georgia in 1911. Totally blind by the age of sixteen he became a
musician as the only way of supporting himself and fell in with Blind Boy
Fuller and later, Brownie McGhee. He recorded first in 1938 and from then on
his career was set, with opportunities to record coming constantly. Usually he
worked as a duo with McGhee - with whom he was associated for many years,
but here the latter takes a background role in the very exciting opening rocking
blues,
Ride And Roll
. Roy Gaines, though, is from Texas, one of a stellar group
of Houston guitarists. He cut his musical teeth with Clarence Holloman, who
recorded for Duke, Cal Green, guitarist with the Midnighters and Johnny
Copeland. He became very adept and versatile working with Chuck Willis and
on his own. His two tracks show him rocking hard on
Dat Dat De Dum Dum
and displaying real pyrotechnics during the solo on
Worried ‘Bout You Baby
.
7