Time Life Rock 'N' Roll Era R&B Gems II

TRACKS:BETTY LOU GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES - BOBBY FREEMAN MONA - BO DIDDLEY (NIGHT TIME IS) THE RIGHT TIME - RAY CHARLES IDOL WITH THE GOLDEN HEAD - THE COASTERS PRISCILLA - EDDIE COOLEY AND THE DIMPLES EVERY NIGHT (I PRAY) - THE CHANTELS BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN - CHUCH BERRY I CAN'T QUIT YOU BABY - OTIS RUSH BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY - JIMMY REED I PITY THE FOOL - BOBBY BLAND ALL I COULD DO WAS CRY - ETTA JAMES I IDOLIZE YOU - IKE AND TINA TURNER THAT'S WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE FOR - THE SPINNERS THAT'S HOW HEARTACHES ARE MADE - BABY WASHINGTON DRIVING WHEEL - LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER CRY TO ME - SOLOMON BURKE DOGGIN' AROUND - JACKIE WILSON MIDNIGHT STROLL - THE REVELS WHO DO YOU LOVE - THE SAPPHIRES I (WHO HAVE NOTHING) - BEN E. KING I WAKE UP CRYING - CHUCK JACKSON MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF - JERRY BUTLER Product Description

One Among Hundreds From The Time-Life Rock & Roll Era Series

The heavily-promoted and massive Time-Life "mail order only" series of CDs of about 12-15 years ago constantly reminded you that "you can't get these in any store" and seemed intent, at the time, to corner the market on everything from the Big Band Era to Pop, Country, R&B, Soul and R&R. In addition to single artist releases, they put out year by year volumes covering the best hits of 1940 to (as far as I can tell) 1969, interspersed with theme releases such as The Unforgetable `50s, The Late `50s, and The `60s: Last Dance among many many more.

Since there was little real competition in terms of sound quality and program notes at the time, I suppose quite a few bought into the hype, although it was an expensive venture since they also charged quite a bit more for each disc than the normal going rate. Now here we are with options like Ace Of London, Eric Records, Jasmine, Bear Family, Collectables, Collector's Choice, Rhino, Varese-Sarabande, Razor & Tie, etc., and suddenly these Time-Life releases are popping up for sale all over the place, and mostly at prices considerable less than when they were first issued.

The sound quality is superb and in the insert with this volume you get just over three pages of background notes written by Rock historian John Morthland along with nice photos of Otis Rush, Jerry Butler, The Spinners (on stage), and Jeanette "Baby" Washington. There is also a discography of the contents showing label details and chart performances (where applicable).

Following are the contents: 1) Betty Lou Got A New Pair Of SHoes - Bobby Freeman; 2) Mona - Bo Diddley; 3) (Night Time Is) The Right Time - Ray Charles - who can forget that memorable episode of The Cosby Show where they pantomimed to this classic); 4) Idol With The Golden Head - The Coasters; 5) Priscilla - Eddie Cooley & The Dimples; 6) Every Night (I Pray) - The Chantels; 7) Brown-Eyed Handsome Man - Chuck Berry; 8) I Can't Quit You Baby - Otis Rush; 9) Bright Lights Big City - Jimmy Reed; 10) I Pity The Fool - Bobby Bland; 11) All I Could Do Was Cry - Etta James; 12) I Idolize You - Ike And Tina Turner; 13) That's What Girls Are Made For - The Spinners; 14) That's How Heartaches Are Made - Baby Washington; 15) Driving Wheel - Little Junior Parker; 16) Cry To Me - Solomon Burke; 17) Doggin' Around - Jackie Wilson; 18) Midnight Stroll - The Revels; 19) Who Do You Love? - The Sapphires; 20) I (Who Have Nothing) - Ben E. King; 21) I Wake Up Crying - Chuck Jackson; 22) Make It Easy On Yourself - Jerry Butler.

Several here can be considered hard-to-find cuts: tracks 1, 5, 8, 14, 18, and 19. A bargain at the price currently reflected. October 13, 2007

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