​With volume 21 we were heading for Tennessee and Arkansas, where we will continue to be with volume 22. Not surprising because these regions produced a multitude of artists whose names are etched in the memory of lovers of American roots music worldwide. This is also apparent from the tracks on this album. Just think of Memphis Slim, Louis Jordan, Big Maybelle, Stick McGhee, Washboard Sam, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Johnny Shines, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Johnny Ace, Little George Smith or Sonny Boy Williamson. They ensure that a wide range of roots genres are covered. Jump blues, gospel, rhythm & blues and early rock 'n' roll are naturally abundant.
Once again this volume in the Southern Bred series gathers the best of the diverse American roots music. We would like to repeat once again that with this series, you can bring home the best rhythm & blues and related genres from the middle of the last century without any struggle.

​The name of saxophonist Jimmy Cavallo probably means little to you and maybe nothing at all. Not surprising because you will not come across his name when you go through the charts from the fifties. His greatest achievement dates from the 1956 film ‘Rock, Rock, Rock’. He appeared in it three times and also provided the title track. Unfortunately, Jimmy was overshadowed in the charts by Bill Haley, who operated somewhat in the same style. Unjustly, by the way, because when you listen to Jimmy's repertoire, you inevitably realize that his songs were just as danceable and hit-sensitive than those of his more famous colleagues.
It is rocking, swinging, jumping and bopping a volonté. But Jimmy Cavallo is not easy to catch. He also manages to put down sublime slows with 'Teenage Lover' and 'Cherry Pie'. He manages to make all this even more attractive through his clever sax work.
In addition, the 36-page booklet by Bill Dahl gives you all the information about Cavallo's career and the tracks. As always, there are rare photos and illustrations that embellish the whole. Recommended!

​With volume 20 we were still in Louisiana and New Orleans, but with volume 21 we turned our noses towards Tennessee and Arkansas. Rhythm & blues is also part of the cultural heritage in these states. The album is subtitled ‘On The Floor’ and is taken from Chicago Sunny Boy, a harmonica-driven instrumental blues, which he recorded for Meteor in 1953. Chicago Sunny Boy is maybe better known as Joe Hill Louis.
Over 28 tracks, your ears will once again be spoiled with excellent rocking rhythm & blues and mid-century blues from well-known and lesser-known artists from Tennessee and Arkansas.
It's a fact that if you follow the complete Southern Bred series, you have the very best blues and rocking rhythm & blues from the American hotbeds in your record collection.

​'Atomicat Rockers' is the latest series to be launched by the label Atomicat. Over 5 volumes we are treated to the rocking and rolling songs that accompanied the often wild life of the youngsters in the fifties.
The first part is titled 'Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie' and judging by the cover it was also heavy in the middle of the last century. Composer Mark Armstrong collected 28 songs for this collection that reflect the atmosphere of that time. Rock 'n' roll and rocking rhythm & blues recorded between the early 1950s and early 1960s.
With this new series, Atomicat has once again hit the bull's eye. Incidentally, the first part immerses you in a beautiful sound quality, in the songs that gave color to the lives of young people in the fifties. With 4 issues to go, we can already close with 'an unmissable series'.

​December 15 marks the 100th anniversary of Alan Freed's birth. A reason for Bear Family to release a more than formidable compilation in the 'Memorial Series' under the title 'A Hundred Years Of Rock 'n' Roll'. You can certainly say that the legendary d.j. the ultimate top DJ in the fifties was in America. His radio shows were sublime, inspiring and connecting an entire generation of teenagers. But there was more. The rising popularity of rhythm & blues, which evolved into white rock 'n' roll, prompted Alan to program the original rhythm & blues recordings of the African-American artists into his radio shows. Freed certainly and perhaps even unconsciously contributed to the fight against discrimination through his Moondog Radio Shows.
With this album you'll enjoy catchy rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll chatted by Freed's inspired presentation and interspersed with commercials, while also witnessing the way Alan Freed modeled generations of DJs. For over an hour this album immerses you in the American radio nostalgia of the fifties. A unique experience!
As quickly as he rose to prominence, Alan's popularity also declined due to the ‘payola affair’, where DJs were paid for promoting records through their radio shows. This album not only provides a perfect picture of Freed's radio shows, but also the 36-page booklet, prepared by Bill Dahl, with extremely rare photos and graphics, tells the story of Alan Freed and the artists he cared about. Freed passed away, barely 43 years old, on January 20, 1965. Rock and roll never got a better friend.

In America, the word ‘hootenanny’ is used for something or someone that one cannot immediately name. With us, the term more or less became established through the music program 'Jools Holland's Hootenanny' broadcast by the BBC on New Year's Eve. The album 'Atomicat Hootenanny' is not only a wonderful compilation to dive into the new year, but also a collection of 30 songs that you can enjoy all year round. Rock 'n' roll, rhythm & blues and blues of the very best kind!
It is already self-evident, but this 'Atomicat Hootenanny' compiled by Mark Armstrong is again a bull's eye and ideal to provide your end-of-year parties with stylish music.

​With 'Shun Immoral Behaviour, We'll Raise A Ruckus Tonight' we arrive at the last rock 'n' roll commandment. Actually we are back to the first commandment 'Defy The Devil's Music, Dig That Rock 'n' Roll' and the circle is complete. We may be 'off' again and standing with our feet on the ground after the perils the other commandments warned us about, but they made us wiser, making us even more 'party-minded'. Of course that includes the necessary drinks and exciting rock 'n' roll. You have to take care of the necessary amount of alcohol yourself, the 30 songs bundled here will take care of the rock 'n roll. Once again, well known names including Wanda Jackson, The Treniers, Big Joe Turner, Stick McGhee, Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris and The Platters are paired with lesser-known but equally amazing artists.
In short, the tenth rock 'n' roll commandment again has to offer formidable rocking rhythm & blues and rock 'n roll. 'The Ten Commandments of Rock 'n' Roll' is a series well worth buying in full. You won't regret it!

​In 2019, the German B.B. and The Blues Shacks celebrate their 30th anniversary. For that occasion, a beautiful box with 3 CDs was released, which offered a nice overview of their evolution. An evolution that has not yet reached its peak, because their youngest 'Breaking Point' is once again classy. The album contains 15 songs, 12 of which were written by guitarist and vocalist Andreas Arlt and Michael 'Maddy' Arlt, lead vocals and harmonica. The other 3 songs are covers. Covers that fit seamlessly with their own songs. Those own songs are of such a high level that they are practically indistinguishable from the covers.
It's clear that the Arlts are great at writing songs that do justice to the fifties rhythm & blues in a 'little big band setting'. Michael's bluesy voice and his impressive performance on the blues harp, Andreas' sublime string playing and Fabian Fritz's creative input on keys are formidably supported by drummer Andre Werkmeister and bassist Henning Hauerken. Add to that the sporadic addition of Tom Müller on sax and trumpeter Stefan Gössinger and Germany has its own Roomful Of Blues. ‘Breaking Point’ lifts B.B. and The Blues Shacks to the next level. Recommended!

​With volume 4 we come to the end of the 'Motorvatin'' mini-series with songs from the 'Green Book' period. With this volume, compiler Little Victor wishes to pay tribute to those who paved the way for the African-American community to participate in the automotive sector and racing, and more specifically to Wendell Scott (1921-1990), one of the first African-American racing drivers in the world. the NASCAR. He was also the first African-American to win a race in the Grand National Series, the highest level of NASCAR. Sadly, he passed away without getting the official trophy.
As this series confirms, again 28 tracks that have the car as a source of inspiration. Obviously a lot of catchy rhythm & blues and blues.

With 'money', the necessary evil, as the theme, the KokoMojo label recently released a beautiful compilation with, how could it be otherwise, 'Money, Money, Money' as the title. The review can still be read here . Since for the most among us the money does not just blow into our house, work has to be done. That brings us straight to the thematic album 'Off To Work' compiled by Little Victor. While it was often no fun for whites in the middle of the last century, the African-American worker had no choice, so he or she had to take the most dangerous and dirtiest jobs in order to earn a living. Enough material for the rhythm & blues artists to express it musically. You get 28 tracks about work, the menger wage, losing the job, the hard labor and finding a job.
With these formidable songs that can be categorized under blues and rhythm & blues, 'Off To Work' rightly pays tribute to the African-American community in the last century, working under less favorable conditions. Great album!

​With volume 20 we dive for the eighth and very last time into the rich musical tradition of Louisiana and New Orleans. As the title of this volume 'Mardi Gras In New Orleans' indicates, composer Mark Armstrong focuses on the music that provides Mardi Gras with the necessary atmosphere.
Mardi Gras or 'Fat Teddy', is the day before Ash Wednesday, better known as Carnival, which is exuberantly celebrated in New Orleans. Parades with colorfully dressed participants are accompanied by energetically playing bands. Mardi Gras also has its typical colors, namely purple, green and gold. During the parades, all kinds of gadgets are thrown out, especially the necklaces or beads are very popular. Whoever wears the most around his neck, therefore, enjoys a lot of attention. As said before, music is of the utmost importance. The 28 tracks, from well-known artists, regional performers and two New Orleans bred Italian artists, provide a captivating glimpse into the amusing and danceable music that brightens up Mardi Gras.
We can certainly conclude that both this album, as well as the seven previous ones that placed the spots in Louisiana and New Orleans, introduced us to formidable recordings that artists from those regions released in the past. That is precisely the advantage of compilations like this, that you only get the most beautiful rhythm & blues presented on a tray. The next volumes in the Southern Bred series will take us through the music of Tennessee and Arkansas.

​As we reported earlier, 'Stroll-A-Rama', just like its brothers 'Jive-A-Rama' and 'Bop-A-Rama', received a sequel with a second volume. The reviews of the last two have already appeared on this site. Now it is of course the turn of 'Stroll-A-Rama', another atmospheric album with danceable grooves that contain rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll, rockabilly and doo-wop. Thirty tracks, carefully composed by Mark Armstrong, with beautiful artwork from Henrique San, catapult you like a tsunami back to the fifties and early sixties.
Anyone who has volume 1 of 'Stroll-A-Rama' in their record collection knows that they want volume 2 next to it without hesitation.

​Money is necessary for everyone, even if it is only to provide for the necessities of life. Providing for their necessities and building a little wealth was not self-evident for the African/American community for decades. It is therefore certainly not abnormal that a large number of artists from that community saw the opportunity to make songs about it. Thirty of those songs can be found on this album composed by Little Victor. Thirty tracks, the vast majority of which even have the word 'money' in the title and can be cataloged under awesome blues and rhythm & blues.
‘Money Money Money’ is another formidable concept album released by the KokoMojo label. And while we're on the subject of money, this album is more than worth your hard earned money.

​Also on volume 19 in the 'Southern Bred' series, we remain in Louisiana and New Orleans and we refresh ourselves again with the traditional music from the half of the last century, which is rich in the region. This rich tradition is once again translated into a beautiful mix of blues, rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll, in short danceable party songs. It is the seventh and penultimate album that places the region in the spotlights. The eighth and final album about this region will focus on the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Despite the fact that seven compilations have already been devoted to the rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll from Louisiana and New Orleans, none of these albums contain inferior tracks. The reason why we are already looking forward to volume 20, which is scheduled for september 17th. 

​The treasury of musical gems from the Louisiana and New Orleans region seems inexhaustible. Because number 18 from the 'Southern Bred' series, which listens to the name 'Jumpin' From Six To Six', is already the 6th release that places artists from these regions in the spotlight. There are 28 songs that will make your mouth water. Characteristic of this album is the balance between two genres. On the one hand, there are artists who remained faithful to the traditional rhythm & blues, on the other hand there are also a number who switched to the successful rock 'n' roll at that time. You could actually sum it up as 'when rhythm & blues turned to rock 'n' roll'.
Volume 18 in this series once again sent a lot of catchy music through our speakers. And we still haven't heard everything from the Louisiana and New Orleans area. Because volume 19, which will be released on September 3, also digs again into the rich music tradition of the region.

​‘Do Not Commit Adultery, The Cheater’ is the eighth commandment of the ten commandments of rock 'n' roll. A subject that often gave rise to cool blues and rhythm & blues. Music genres that, because of the emotional nature they have, just like country, are extremely suitable for expressing the feelings that adultery entails. Compiler Mark Armstrong has again done his utmost to reproduce the feelings associated with adultery in the form of 30 tracks.
Much doom and gloom for the artists on this 'Do Not Commit Adultery, The Cheater'. As a listener, however, you benefit from it, because once again you have 30 fantastic songs in your collection with this album.
The penultimate, the Ninth Commandment, is titled ‘Fend Off Impassiveness, Lonesome For A Letter’ and is scheduled for release on September 17.

The marketing of the 'Popcorn Blues Party' volumes was the impetus for The Mojo Man to start this 'Popcorn Story' series. Long before the genre was given the name 'Popcorn', the music described as such already existed. Belgium may be a small country, but in this it was big. After all, this music owes its name to the square farm in Vrasene, near Antwerp, which has been converted into 'Dancing Popcorn'. Popcorn is a genre that is still very attractive today. The reason for this can be found in the quality of the songs. After all, the black rhythm & blues of the mid-20th century stands head and shoulders above the other music genres from that period. It is often difficult to find the real Popcorn classics on CD or vinyl. It is therefore commendable that the Koko-Mojo label now bundles a number of those high-flyers. On this first volume you will already find 28 tracks that have the 'real Popcorn vibe'. Exciting black rhythm & blues, soul and rocking rhythm & blues at a high level!
We are already looking forward to volume 2, which is planned for release on October 1.

​Recently we reviewed 'Shilly Dilly' an album from the 'Koko-Mojo Original' series or the next album in that series is already announcing itself. 'Knockdown' with the subtitle 'and lubricate the gear' serves again 28 tracks. 28 tracks that once again balance between authentic rhythm & blues, rocking rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll.
Each album in the 'Koko-Mojo Original' series has its own emphasis. 'Knockdown' distinguishes itself by its mainly uptempo tracks that seriously hit you. Guitar driven, dynamic songs that don't shy away from a raw and harder sound. 'Knockdown' is therefore yet another bull's eye.

Volumes 1 and 2 in this series were published in 2019, which focuses on songs from the period that 'The Green Book' was important. The mass production of the car manufacturers made it possible for many Americans to realize their dream on wheels. The people could move more easily, they went exploring and tourism was born. Without a manual or guide, it was quite an undertaking to find your way in the immense country. You may have had a car, but where were you going to drive? The help with this was 'The Green Book' by Victor Hugo Green. It became the manual for African/American road trippers. The first volume of ‘Motorvatin’ dedicated compiler Little Victor to the author of the book. Volume two was a tribute to German immigrant Nick Dreystadt who saved Cadillac from a financial crash and made it possible for the black community as well to get a car. Volume three is dedicated to Garrett Morgan. He patented several of his inventions, but the most important invention he introduced in 1923 was  'the three-position traffic sign', the predecessor of what we know as the traffic lights. From then on, it controlled the right of way at intersections and saved countless lives. You can read the entire history around this on the digipack.
The 28 tracks on this album naturally deal with various car types, traffic, car breakdown and everything related to that. Awesome rhythm & blues and blues, vocal and instrumental from the golden era.
Moreover, 'Motorvatin' volume 4’ is already under construction. Keep an eye on this site for a review!

'Be Empathic, She's A Flirt', that's the seventh rock 'n' roll commandment. If you thought she was honest, forget it, because before you know it, she'll be rambling the opposite through your brain. Dust enough for 30 great songs, as can be heard on this album.
A relationship sometimes has sharp edges, which are not always perfectly removable. That inspired artists to catchy rhythm & blues, rock 'n' roll and rockabilly. Enjoying this album, we are already looking forward to 'Commandment Eight' which is entitled 'Do Not Commit Adultery, The Cheater'. That promises!

​Volume 17 'Down Yonder We Go Ballin' in this series takes another look at remarkable recordings by artists from Louisiana and New Orleans. Hotbeds that inspired many rhythm & blues artists to beautiful songs. Old School rhythm & blues, jump blues, zydeco but also the later rock 'n' roll was recorded with great enthusiasm and craftsmanship. Also now, on this fifth album that puts the R&B rockers from Louisiana and New Orleans again in the spotlight, compiler Mark Armstrong once again managed to lay claim to 28 excellent tracks, which do justice to the diversity. As we mentioned in previous reviews, New Orleans rhythm & blues has a distinctive sound, so does this compilation.
It is becoming more and more clear that many songs recorded in this region in the middle of the last century did not get the attention they deserved. Fortunately, the 'Southern Bred' series ensures that these songs still reach the general public. For volume 18 you have to wait a little longer. It will be on the market on August 20th.

​With regard to the 'Ten Commandments of Rock 'n' Roll', we are over halfway with 'Be Faithful, Let's Jump The Broomstick', also the sixth commandment. This means something like 'let's live together and stay faithful'. Love therefore radiates from the 30 tracks, carefully composed by Mark Armstrong.
Volume 6 of 'The Ten Commandments Of Rock 'n' Roll' again contains excellent rock 'n' roll and rocking rhythm & blues. August 6 is the release date of volume 7, which is titled ‘Be Empathic, She's A Flirt.’ We are already looking forward to it and keep an eye on this site for the review.

​With this album we are once again in the 'Koko-Mojo Original' series. The compiler is still Little Victor aka 'The Mojo Man' and again he selected 28 great tracks. The title is taken from the song that doo-wop group The Flamingos recorded for the Checker label in 1956. Whether you can also call the other 27 tracks 'shilly' is up to you, but they are fun in any case.
'Shilly Dilly' contains 28 super rhythm & blues tracks in various forms from the heydays of the genre, some of which even contain a good dose of humor. Successful compilation!

​Apparently there are still a lot of recordings of female African-American singers gathering dust. A shame, because as once again appears from volume 7 in the 'Rock And Roll Vixens' series, there are a lot of gems in between. Gems of singers who are hardly known to us or even not at all. After all, at the time of these recordings, from the early fifties to roughly the mid sixties, most of those recordings did not reach Europe. Fortunately, they now reach us through carefully curated collectors like this one. It is also not all lesser known ladies who adorn this album.
'Rock and Roll Vixens' is a series that is full of great female rocking rhythm & blues. As this volume shows again, a series that certainly deserves a place in the record collection of every fan of authentic, awesome and dynamic rhythm & blues by Afro-American singers from the middle of the last century.

​Strong album from the 79 years old ‘bard’ Roger Chapman. Almost six decades of being a rocksinger results in releasing one of his best albums.  Strongly recommended!