West Coast sax supremo Maxwell Davis is doing a nice version of "Hey Good Looking" followed by Ray Sharpe and his "Bus Song", Solomon Burke with "Almost Lost My Mind", Lou Rawls, Joe Seneca, and Sam & Dave. Fans of Country and Rockabilly singer Warren Smith are probably familiar with his version of "Tell Me Who" that features a prominent steel guitar, I included here the version by R&B singer Big Maybelle. Reverend Moore and His Gospel Singers are giving another example of how Black Gospel music heavily influenced C&W with his version of the traditional "Glory Glory To His Name". Once again Mickey & Sylvia deliver another great "melanated" C&W tune, just like Joe Tex with his "Wicked Wicked Woman", and The Coasters with their classic "Along Came Jones", Brook Benton, Little Arthur Matthews, and Buster Brown. The Platters are doing a memorable version of Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 Tons" that features their fabulous bass singer Herb reed on lead vocals. The closing number (as usual) is an old-timey solo number sung this time by black cowboy Percy Marshall. This a reminder that African Americans pioneered this music and taught it to white folks. As black musician and writer, Queen Esther wrote in a very interesting piece titled "The Truth About Black People and Country Music" African American Lesley Riddle for example befriended the Carter family, found and transcribed Negro spirituals for them, and gave them guitar lessons, thus establishing the bedrock of country music. Black fiddler and guitarist Arnold Shultz – the son of a former slave, from a family of musicians and performers – played a pivotal role in the life of Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass. He gave him his first gig, introduced him to the blues, and taught him a Kentucky “thumb style” guitar technique that would make musician Chet Atkins famous. Bill Monroe said that Arnold Shultz was his best friend and always spoke of him fondly. Tee Tot Payne, a colored guitarist and street performer from Louisiana, was the only teacher and mentor to the legendary Hank Williams, teaching him passing chords and how to write songs. Keep all this in mind next time you are listening to white Country Music!
01. Nat King Cole – Wolverton Mountain (Kilgore, King) Capitol ST 1793 1962
02. Screaming Jay Hawkins – Take Me Back To My Boots and Saddle (Whitcup, Powell, Samuels) Epic LN 3448 1958
03. Amos Milburn – Square Dance Boogie (Robinson) Aladdin 3056 1950
04. Baby Washington – Deep Down Love (Curtis) Neptune 116 1960
05. Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland – Close To You (Malone) Duke 332 1961
06. Titus Turner - Jambalaya (Williams) Okeh 6907 1952
07. Johnny Thunder – Don’t Be Ashamed (Vann) Diamond D-129 1962
08. Rosco Gordon – Sally Jo (Phillips, Gordon) Sun 305 1958
09. Little Willie John – A Little Bit Of Loving (Cooley) King 5003 1956
10. Young Jessie – Do You Love Me (Jessie, Ling) Modern 973 1955
11. Washboard Sam – Crazy About Nancy Jane (Sam, Ball) Bluebird B-6518 1936
12. Piano Red – Big Rock Joe From Kokomo (Cotton) Groove 0023 1954
13. Maxwell Davis – Hey Good Lookin’ (Wiliams) Aladdin 3114 1951
14. Ray Sharpe – The Bus Song (Wilson) Gregmark 14 1962
15. Solomon Burke – I Almost Lost My Mind (Hunter) Atlantis 2131 1962
16. Lou Rawls – Love Love Love (David, McRae, Wyche)) Shar-Dee 702 1959
17. Joe Seneca – Rick-A-Chick (Seneca, Lee) Everest 9-19321 1959
18. Sam & Dave – Keep A Walkin’ (Alaimo, Elgin) Roulette 4419 1962
19. Big Maybelle – Tell Me Who (Miles) Savoy 1500 1956
20. Mickey and Sylvia – There’ll Be No Backing Out (Gibson, Taylor) Vik 4X0297 1957
21. Rev Gatemouth Brown & His Gospel Singers – Glory, Glory (No writer Credit) Audio Fidelity 5921 1960
22. Joe Tex – Wicked Woman (Arrington) Jalynne 1051961
23. The Coasters – Along Came Jones (Leiber, Stoller) Atco 45-6141 1959
24. The Platters – Sixteen Tons (Travis) Mercury 7180 1958
25. Brook Benton – Crazy In Love With You (Benton, Otis) Vik 4X0336 1958
26. Little Arthur Mathews – Hot Diggety Dog (Belvin, Hodge) Dig 117 1956
27. Buster Brown – Raise A Ruckus Tonight (Brown, Robinson) Fire 516 1962
28. Percy Marshall – Leaving Town (McTell) Prestige Bluesville 1040 1961
