Wednesday, October 8, 2014

CD Review: Various Artists, No More Doggin': The RPM Records Story, Volume 1, 1950-53

Highly Recommended

Some of the greatest post-war rhythm and blues came from Modern, RPM, Flair and Meteor, a constellation of record labels owned by the four Bihari brothers. While most of their music was recorded in Los Angeles, they had a secondary base of operations in Memphis. Initially, they purchased masters from Sam Phillips recorded at his Sun studio. Later, they hired Ike Turner to work as a talent scout and to supervise recording sessions.

Modern released over 500 R&B singles between 1945 and 1957. RPM released about 200 singles between 1950 and 1957, while Flair and Meteor had considerably fewer. Ace Records in the U. K. is gradually releasing the Bihari catalog of recordings. They have previously issued 2-CD “best of” sets from Meteor and Flair. Now they are releasing two 2-CD packages from the larger RPM files. Volume 1 covers the years 1950 to 1953, and Volume 2, due later this year, will feature songs from 1954 to 1957. Some of the Biharis' most successful artists released some or all of their records on RPM.

Because some of these songs have been released on previous Ace CDs, it is their policy to use alternate takes, when available. About half of these 52 songs are alternate takes. This makes little difference, since they are usually quite similar to the master takes.

RPM's first record was a Dixieland jazz version of “Alabamy Bound” by trumpeter Clyde Hurley's small group, with vocal by Adele Francis. Beginning with their second release, “Happy Payday” by Austin McCoy, the remainder of the songs on these two CDs are either country blues or urban R&B.

The mainstay of RPM was B. B. King, who released 15 singles from 1950 to 1953, and another 21 from 1954 to 1957. Eight of them are collected here, including his breakthrough hit, “Three O'Clock Blues” from 1951. 


There are seven songs by Memphis singer and pianist Rosco Gordon, including his hits “Booted” and “No More Doggin'.” One side of each of Howlin' Wolf's two RPM releases is also included. (Both Gordon and the Wolf were involved in a contract dispute between the Biharis and the Chess brothers in Chicago. It was settled when the Biharis signed Gordon and Wolf moved into the Chess kennel, a trade that ultimately favored Chess.)


West Coast jump bluesman Jimmy Nelson is represented by five cuts, including his signature tune, “T-99 Blues.” Texas country blues specialist Lightnin' Hopkins contributes four selections. Ike Turner takes the lead on two records, one of them a duet with his second wife Bonnie. Turner proteges Sunny Blair, Junior Brooks and Houston Boines have one selection apiece, as do notable Memphis bluesmen Willie Nix and Big Walter Horton (billed as “Mumbles”). Detroit's Eddie Kirkland sings a duet with the uncredited John Lee Hooker.

RPM was known for its great vocal group records, especially those by the Jacks and Arthur Lee Maye and the Crowns, but most of them were released after 1953. Only two vocal group sides are included here, both by the Robins, moonlighting as the Nic Nacs, in which they attempt to duplicate their success on Savoy backing Little Esther. Teenager Mickey Champion, a Little Esther soundalike, sings the lead. There is also a selection by Ms. Champion as a solo artist.


Collections like this one usually include a few unexpected pleasures and this is no exception. There are two lively sides by little-known L. A. jump bluesman Jimmy Huff. Tenor saxophonist Jay Franks contributes a breathless instrumental, “Stripped Gears.” There are also chances to hear Gene Forrest (later of Gene and Eunice) and actor Harry Caesar (as “Little Caesar”) singing bluesy ballads.

In sum, there are several terrific R&B records and very few duds on these two CDs. The only drawback is that collectors may have some of them on other CDs.

Disc 1: Clyde Hurley, Alabamy Bound; Austin McCoy, Happy Payday, Part 1; Luke Jones, Mama, Oh Mama; B. B. King, B. B. Boogie; The Other Night Blues; She's Dynamite; Three O'Clock Blues; Fine Lookin' Woman; Memphis Eddie, Good Time Woman; Gene Phillips, Big Fat Mama; The Nic Nacs, Found Me a Sugar Daddy; Gonna Have a Merry Christmas; Junior Blues, Whiskey Head Woman; Mickey Champion, Good For Nothin' Man; Rosco Gordon, Rosco's Boogie; Saddled the Cow; Booted; Jimmy Nelson, T-99 Blues; Fine Little Honey Dripper; Alexander Moore, If I Lose You, Woman; Willie Nix, Try Me One More Time; Howlin' Wolf, Riding in the Moonlight; I Want Your Picture; Lightnin' Hopkins, Bad Luck and Trouble, Jake Head Boogie; Mumbles (Big Walter Horton), Black Gal. (74 min.)

Disc 2: Rosco Gordon, No More Doggin', New Orleans Wimmen; Just in From Texas; We're All Loaded; Lightnin' Hopkins, Last Affair; Another Fool in Town; Sunny Blair, Glad to Be Back Home; B. B. King, Shake It Up and Go; Woke Up This Morning; Please Love Me; Ike Turner, Trouble and Heartaches; Jay Franks, Stripped Gears; Bonnie and Ike Turner, My Heart Belongs to You; Houston Boines, Superintendent Blues; Jimmy Huff, She's My Baby, Don't You Know?; Eddie Kirkland, It's Time For Lovin' to Be Done; Jimmy Nelson, Sweetest Little Girl; Meet Me With Your Black Dress On; Cry Hard Luck; Gene Forrest, Aching and Crying; King Perry, Vaccinate Me, Baby; Welcome Home, Baby; Melvin Daniels, I'll Be There; Little Caesar, Chains of Love Have Disappeared; Frankie Irvin, False Love. (74 min.)

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