This instalment presents a selection from key independent labels of the area, including Sam Cooke’s SAR and Richard Vaughn’s Arvee, as well as choice items from Aladdin, Liberty, Imperial and Ebb, and collectable releases from more obscure imprints. Famous names on CD1 of this 60-track 2CD set include the Olympics, the Valentinos (aka the Womack Brothers) with ‘Lookin’ For A Love’, the Rivingtons with ‘Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow’, and Johnnie Morisette with ‘Meet Me At The Twistin’ Place’, while CD2 features ‘Ko Ko Mo’ hitmakers Gene & Eunice, both sides of a 1962 single on Rush by Don & Dewey, early recordings by future stars Johnnie Taylor and Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, and a young Sly Stone as a member of the Viscaynes.
Soul fans of the early 1960s could often figure out the geographic origins of new singles as much by the ‘sound’ as by any knowledge of sometimes obscure artists and labels, with the output of West Coast studios tending to have a ‘harder’ sound in comparison with some more sophisticated (for the era) productions from the opposite coast or the regions of the Great Lakes. Here we have music from the formative period of the soul era in Los Angeles.
Also available as 2LP vinyl collectors edition, featuring 28 of the most sought-after tracks and colour insert.
TRACK LISTING
CD Tracklisting:
CD One
1. Soothe Me (The Simms Twins)
2. Right To Love (The Simms Twins)
3. The Smile (The Simms Twins)
4. You’re Pickin’ In The Right Cotton Patch (The Simms Twins)
5. Stay Where You Are (The Olympics)
6. Baby, It’s Hot (The Olympics)
7. Come On (Earl Nelson)
8. No Time To Cry (Earl Nelson)
9. Lookin’ For A Love (The Valentinos)
10. Somewhere There’s A Girl (The Valentinos)
11. Damper (Johnnie Morisette)
12. Meet Me At The Twistin’ Place (Johnnie Morisette)
13. Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere (Johnnie Morisette)
14. Here Comes The Night (Part 1) (Jimmy Norman)
15. Here Comes The Night (Part 2) (Willie Moon Man Echols_
16. The Heebee Jeebees (Wally Cox)
17. I Can’t Help It (Wally Cox)
18. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Rivingtons)
19. Deep Water (The Rivingtons)
20. My Reward (The Rivingtons)
21. Waiting (The Rivingtons)
22. The Love I Just Lost (Beamon Young)
23. Some Day (Beamon Young)
24. That Much Of Your Love (Donald Woods)
25. Memories Of An Angel (Donald Woods)
26. All By Myself (Zeke Strong And His Queen Tones)
27. Your Heart Must Be Made Of Stone (Zeke Strong And His Queen Tones)
28. This Is The Nite (The Valiants)
29. Love Game (The Valiants)
30. Frieda Frieda (The Valiants)
CD Two
1. Soul Motion (Don And Dewey)
2. Stretchin’ Out (Don And Dewey)
3. A Whole Lotta Woman (Johnnie Taylor)
4. Why, Why, Why (Johnnie Taylor)
5. Never, Never (Johnnie Taylor)
6. Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day) (Johnnie Taylor)
7. Looking Back (Johnny Guitar Watson)
8. The Eagle Is Back (Johnny Guitar Watson)
9. Johnny Guitar (Johnny Guitar Watson)
10. Cuttin’ In (Johnny Guitar Watson)
11. Sweet Lovin’ Mama (Johnny Guitar Watson)
12. The Angels Gave You To Me (Gene And Eunice)
13. I Mean Love (Gene And Eunice)
14. I Ain’t Guilty (The Crawford Brothers)
15. It Feels Good (The Crawford Brothers)
16. Just Like That (The Robins)
17. Oh No (The Robins)
18. Glory Of Love (The Velvetones)
19. I Love Her So (The Velvetones)
20. I Pity You Fool (Jennell Hawkins)
21. Don’t Worry Bout Me (Jennell Hawkins)
22. Heavenly Angel (The Viscaynes)
23. Yellow Moon (The Viscaynes)
24. Uncle Sam Needs You (The Viscaynes)
25. That’s All I Ask (Tommy Knight)
26. There’s No Pain (Tommy Knight)
27. Lucy Lee (Lloyd George)
28. Sing Real Loud (Lloyd George)
29. She’s All Right (Troy Walker)
30. I’m Gettin’ Hip (Troy Walker)
LP Tracklisting:
SIDE ONE
1. Meet Me At The Twistin’ Place (Johnnie Morisette)
2. Right To Love (The Simms Twins)
3. Soul Motion (Don And Dewey)
4. No Time To Cry (Earl Nelson)
5. The Heebee Jeebees (Wally Cox)
6. That Much Of Your Love (Donald Woods)
7. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (The Rivingtons)
SIDE TWO
1. Soothe Me (The Simms Twins)
2. Stay Where You Are (The Olympics)
3. Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere (Johnnie Morisette)
4. Somewhere There’s A Girl (The Valentinos)
5. Here Comes The Night (Part 1) (Jimmy Norman)
6. Deep Water (The Rivingtons)
7. Some Day (Beamon Young)
SIDE THREE
1. Lookin’ For A Love (The Valentinos)
2. Your Heart Must Be Made Of Stone (Zeke Strong And His Queen Tones)
3. Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day) (Johnnie Taylor)
4. Looking Back (Johnny Guitar Watson)
5. That’s All I Ask (Tommy Knight)
6. She’s All Right (Troy Walker)
7. Frieda Frieda (The Valiants)
SIDE FOUR
1. Cuttin’ In (Johnny Guitar Watson)
2. Never, Never (Johnnie Taylor)
3. This Is The Nite (The Valiants)
4. There’s No Pain (Tommy Knight)
5. Yellow Moon (The Viscaynes)
6. The Smile (The Simms Twins)
7. Waiting (The Rivingtons)