Welcome Back!

After somewhat of a low-key weekend getting some well earned rest and recuperation, I return here with something new for you that’s been in the pipeline for sometime now.

Of late I’ve been digging a lot of Jump Blues and R&B, the proper stuff as apposed to the talent-less modern rubbish which seems to have been re-branded as R&B, in a poor attempt to shift a few extra units! My collecting habits have been recently reflecting this also. Today’s mix is made up of a few 45’s, some new and some not so, pulled together from my crates.

Here we go! Whack the volume right up for this one! Kicking things off is Harmonica and Guitar maestro Slim Harpo with ‘Don’t start Cryin’ Now’ on the Excello Record label. A real stomper which shakes the dance floor awake like a British Nanny!

I scored The Universals Sing 45 during a recent digging trip on the South Coast. They are a group I profess to knowing nothing about, and a quick jaunt on Google failed to turn up anything note worthy. The 45 has both swing and Doo-Wop elements in its make up, the sassy vocals and tidy horn work round things up very nicely!

Little Richard rocks out on ‘The Ivories’ with ‘True, Fine Mama’, a great little toe-tapper and lifted here from a London records 45 that I scored some time ago. Its laid dormant in my crates for a while now, but screamed out to be included here.

“Mama Get Your Hammer” was the B-Side to Bobby Paterson & The Quintets fifth release on V-Tone Records and met with minimal success. The group disbanded in 1962 with the various members going their own separate ways musically. The wacky lyrics really make this 45!

Big Joe Louis joins up with The Soul Investigators for this tasty retro joint. Heavy on the organ chops, this one bowls along taking no prisoners! Big Joe Louis’ vocals project right across the track making this a total winner!

The Originator steps up next with ‘Back To School’, which sees Bo Diddley waxing lyrical about the merits of attending and doing well at school. Released on the Checker label, this leans toward the Rock & Roll sound but still retains all the right ingredients to be included here.

Cecil McNabb Jr. gives us ‘Move’ on Syd Nathan’s monumental King Record label. This is another rip roaring piano excursion which plays towards the Hillbilly market Syd Nathan originally set the label up to accommodate.

Hailing from Jackson, Tennessee, Kenny Parchman recorded several cuts with the legendary Sun record label including ‘Tennessee Zip’ in 1956. For some unknown reason all were strangely pulled from release at the last minute?? A solid dance floor 45!

Titus Turner released several R & B outings during his career, I hadn’t come across this particular 45 before, so when it showed up at one of my favourite South Coast spots it went straight into the ‘Yes Please’ pile! Check out the ripping horn solo’s!

The Utopians 45, ‘Dutch Treat’ was a record I had been after for a long while. After much nagging and pestering, I finally persuaded Jamie Coughlan to relinquish it from his crates for a tidy price! I love the almost Doo-Wop-esque vocal back beat, which for me, makes this a great record!

Rounding things up are The Objectives and ‘Oh My Love (Come Back To Me)’ on the Jewel label. This is the flip to ‘Love Went Away’, a great Carolinas 45 which seems to be getting big spins of late, and rightly so!

I hope you enjoy today’s mix as much as I did putting it together!. I have several brand spanking new guest contributions simmering on the back burner for you all. I’ll be back here later in the week with the first of them so don’t wander too far!

Track List

Slim Harpo – Don’t Start Cryin’ Now – Excello Records

The Universals Sing – Have Mercy Baby – Southern

Little Richard – True, Fine Mama – London

Bobby Peterson Quintet – “Mama Get Your Hammer” – V-Tone Records

Big Joe Louis & The Soul Investigators – “Go-Go Train” – Timmion Records, Inc.

Bo Diddley –“Back To School” – Checker

Cecil McNabb Jr – Move – King

Kenny Parchman – Tennessee Zip – Sun

Titus Turner – All Around The World – Wing

The Utopians – Dutch Treat – Imperial

The Objectives – Oh My Love (Come Back To Me) – Jewel Records

Download Mr Double Down Presents We Got Rhythm, We Got Blues HERE