Various Artists - Southern Bred 15 Louisiana New Orleans R&b / Var (CD) - CD

Details: Unquestionably the aural feeling of this album is varied, full of hot recordings, and offers an eclectic assortment of recordings. The songs are not used in chronological order they are used to fit with the album and add a variety of sound. Most importantly due to the time frame of the recordings the sound and style for some artists may have changed, no matter what the songs are "A" grade performances. As always, the sequence of artists and styles sit comfortably side by side and this album focuses on Rhythm & Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Instrumental gems, and up-tempo Blues music. The wealth of recorded material and quality artists create a real "gumbo" of music namely; Smiley Lewis, Oscar McLollie and His Honeyjumpers, Roy Brown this time with His Mighty Men. There are two solo recordings from the talented Richard Berry, one of which is as wild as anything by Little Richard and one recording with The Lockettes, all being from different years of his career, and the versatile Tommy Ridgley returns this time with a Rock 'n' Roll recording. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown provides an instrumental which Revival band The Blue Cats covered on their self-titled album in 1980. The riot of rhythm goes on to showcase R&B veterans; Rudy Green, Blind Billy Tate, Ray Johnson, Calvin Spears, Fat Man Matthews and The Four Kitten, Jay Nelson and His Jumpers. Both The Gondoliers and The Hawks contain important local musicians in their line-ups and the sleeve notes tell the story. Two R&B songstresses grace the album, Mickey Champion who has Jazz influences and Irma Thomas who became internationally famous from 1960 onwards with her changing approach to R&B. The sound on I Hate To See You Go is enriched by the inclusion of Rockin' Blues which brings a punch to the sound, through the inclusion of Drifting Charles, Lonesome Sundown, Little Walter and His Jukes, Guitar Grable, and The Musical Kings.