Music City Story
Music City Story
3
CDs
CD (Compact Disc)
Herkömmliche CD, die mit allen CD-Playern und Computerlaufwerken, aber auch mit den meisten SACD- oder Multiplayern abspielbar ist.
- Label: Ace
- Bestellnummer: 1241681
- Erscheinungstermin: 24.1.2011
Ab den 1950er Jahren war das traditionsreiche US Label Music City aus Berkeley CA Quelle für inspirierte Doo Wop, R&B und Soul Musik, und darüber hinaus eins der langlebigsten, unabhängigen Musiklabels dieser Ära. Die exzellent ausgestattete 3CD-Box verschafft mit 78 Songs einen sehr guten Überblick. Das Gros der hier versammelten Aufnahmen liegt, obwohl man auch in den Genres Jazz bis Surf zuhause war, bei schwarzen Vokal-Formationen aus den 50er, 60er und 70er Jahren. Von smooth Blues in den frühen 1950ern, über R&B, Instrumentals, Rock’n’Roll, Proto-Soul in den frühen 1960ern bis zu Funk und Moden Soul in den 70er Jahren. mit Acts wie Crescendos, Gaylarks, Rovers, 5
Lyrics oder Alvin Smith.
Das 48 Seiten-Booklet kommt mit umfangreichen Linernotes und vielen, seltenen Memorabilia-Photos aus den Music City-Archiven.
Ray Dobard’s Music City Records of Berkeley, California, across the Bay from San Francisco, is a catalogue of mythic proportions that has been cherished for decades by a small hardcore of R&B, vocal group and, latterly, soul fanatics. Based on the available evidence – 50-odd 45 and 78rpm releases – and a lot of hearsay and rumour, many have spent hours fantasising about the purported riches in the possession of its famously protective, zealous owner.
Ace Records is thus proud to unlock the Music City vault for the edification and entertainment of the world at large with the 3CD set “The Music City Story”, an unprecedented survey of the label’s 25-year operation, and an excellent primer for Ace’s forthcoming genre- and artist-based compilations of Music City material, telling the story with many rare gems from the catalogue and a surfeit of previously unissued goodies.
Although Ray Dobard experimented with recording a variety of genres, the legend of Music City is predicated on its role as a premier exponent of black rhythm and blues styles, with a strong regional flavour. Most significantly, the sound of Music City was street. Much of what appeared on the label and lies in its voluminous cache of unreleased recordings can be said to reflect the evolution of black popular music between the early 50s and the mid-1970s. It reflects reality: this is what was heard in clubs and juke joints, at high school auditoria and rec centres, rent parties or literally out on the sidewalk, with all the dissonance and unoriginality that might imply, but matched equally by huge, invigorating dollops of innocence and exuberance, and a surprising amount of inspiration.
Amongst the set’s 78 tracks are names familiar to doo wop and blues collectors – the Crescendos, Gaylarks, Rovers, 5 Lyrics, Alvin Smith etc – while behind several others lurk famous names (James Brown, Lou Rawls) or others soon to be famous (Sugar Pie DeSanto, members of Sly & the Family Stone). From the raucous jump blues of Del Graham’s ‘Your Money Ain’t Long Enough’ to the hip street soul of Darondo, the breadth of genres represented is extensive, but the overall emphasis in “The Music City Story” is upon the black vocal group, be it 50s, 60s or 70s vintage. It is the rich seam of Bay Area groups mined by Music City that collectors most closely associate with the label. Dobard had only a couple of minor hits – the 4 Deuces’ popular ‘W-P-L-J’, Johnny Heartsman’s raucous ‘Johnny’s House Party’ – but kept the tape machine running pretty much constantly for much of his quarter-century in the business.
It has been many years since as significant a stash as Music City’s has come to light, and accompanying the tantalising musical treats is an extensive, heavily-illustrated sleeve note detailing the label’s history. Given that the late Dobard was notorious evasive, an air of mystery has always surrounded his activities in music, but this is the first time a recounting of the Music City saga has been based upon hard data, rather than supposition. Documents, letters, tape box annotations, discographical notes, session chatter, even recorded phone conversations form a considerable body of evidence, that helps bring into focus what this fiercely independent and pioneering black entrepreneur achieved. Ray was no Dootsie Williams or Jake Porter, but nevertheless, a picture emerges of a fascinatingly complex figure, whose role in the black music scene in the mid-20th century cannot be discounted. As venerable East Bay bandleader Johnny Talbot puts it, “to me, Ray Dobard was the foundation of Bay Area music. There was hardly anyone who did anything later who didn’t bump into Ray, so he had to be a foundation.”
Das 48 Seiten-Booklet kommt mit umfangreichen Linernotes und vielen, seltenen Memorabilia-Photos aus den Music City-Archiven.
Product-Information:
Ray Dobard’s Music City Records of Berkeley, California, across the Bay from San Francisco, is a catalogue of mythic proportions that has been cherished for decades by a small hardcore of R&B, vocal group and, latterly, soul fanatics. Based on the available evidence – 50-odd 45 and 78rpm releases – and a lot of hearsay and rumour, many have spent hours fantasising about the purported riches in the possession of its famously protective, zealous owner.
Ace Records is thus proud to unlock the Music City vault for the edification and entertainment of the world at large with the 3CD set “The Music City Story”, an unprecedented survey of the label’s 25-year operation, and an excellent primer for Ace’s forthcoming genre- and artist-based compilations of Music City material, telling the story with many rare gems from the catalogue and a surfeit of previously unissued goodies.
Although Ray Dobard experimented with recording a variety of genres, the legend of Music City is predicated on its role as a premier exponent of black rhythm and blues styles, with a strong regional flavour. Most significantly, the sound of Music City was street. Much of what appeared on the label and lies in its voluminous cache of unreleased recordings can be said to reflect the evolution of black popular music between the early 50s and the mid-1970s. It reflects reality: this is what was heard in clubs and juke joints, at high school auditoria and rec centres, rent parties or literally out on the sidewalk, with all the dissonance and unoriginality that might imply, but matched equally by huge, invigorating dollops of innocence and exuberance, and a surprising amount of inspiration.
Amongst the set’s 78 tracks are names familiar to doo wop and blues collectors – the Crescendos, Gaylarks, Rovers, 5 Lyrics, Alvin Smith etc – while behind several others lurk famous names (James Brown, Lou Rawls) or others soon to be famous (Sugar Pie DeSanto, members of Sly & the Family Stone). From the raucous jump blues of Del Graham’s ‘Your Money Ain’t Long Enough’ to the hip street soul of Darondo, the breadth of genres represented is extensive, but the overall emphasis in “The Music City Story” is upon the black vocal group, be it 50s, 60s or 70s vintage. It is the rich seam of Bay Area groups mined by Music City that collectors most closely associate with the label. Dobard had only a couple of minor hits – the 4 Deuces’ popular ‘W-P-L-J’, Johnny Heartsman’s raucous ‘Johnny’s House Party’ – but kept the tape machine running pretty much constantly for much of his quarter-century in the business.
It has been many years since as significant a stash as Music City’s has come to light, and accompanying the tantalising musical treats is an extensive, heavily-illustrated sleeve note detailing the label’s history. Given that the late Dobard was notorious evasive, an air of mystery has always surrounded his activities in music, but this is the first time a recounting of the Music City saga has been based upon hard data, rather than supposition. Documents, letters, tape box annotations, discographical notes, session chatter, even recorded phone conversations form a considerable body of evidence, that helps bring into focus what this fiercely independent and pioneering black entrepreneur achieved. Ray was no Dootsie Williams or Jake Porter, but nevertheless, a picture emerges of a fascinatingly complex figure, whose role in the black music scene in the mid-20th century cannot be discounted. As venerable East Bay bandleader Johnny Talbot puts it, “to me, Ray Dobard was the foundation of Bay Area music. There was hardly anyone who did anything later who didn’t bump into Ray, so he had to be a foundation.”
- Tracklisting
- Mitwirkende
Disk 1 von 3 (CD)
- 1 The 4 Deuces: W-p-l-j
- 2 Del Graham: Your money ain't long enough
- 3 Golden Boy: Keep me satisfied, baby
- 4 Al Joseph Harris: A prayer
- 5 Sidney Grande: Guitar blues
- 6 Alvin Smith: On my way
- 7 Mr. Undertaker: Here lies my love
- 8 The Midnights: Annie pulled a hum-bug
- 9 The Twilighters: Late last night
- 10 The Rovers: Ich Bon Tami-Daschi
- 11 Johnny Heartsman: Johnny's stomp (Early Version)
- 12 The Gaylarks: Tell me, darling
- 13 The 5 Lyrics: I'm a workin' man
- 14 The 5 Campbells: Morrine
- 15 Gloria Jean: I don't stand no quittin'
- 16 The Dreamers: Crossing the river
- 17 The Golden West Singers: This wicked race
- 18 Jerry
- 19 The 5 Swans: Lil Tipa-Tina
- 20 Jimmy "T99" Nelson: The wheel
- 21 Jasper Evans: Wrong doing woman
- 22 The Gayteens: Ding dong
- 23 Leon Pryor: From the bottom of my heart
- 24 Al Bennett: Bury me in the South
- 25 Unknown Duo: The wallflower
- 26 Keine Künstlerinformation: Big six radio ad
Disk 2 von 3 (CD)
- 1 Johnny Heartsman: Johnny's House Party (Parts 1 & 2)
- 2 The 3 Honeydrops: Rockin' satellite
- 3 Lord Luther: Just one more chance
- 4 The Fidels: Love me tender
- 5 Gene Lee & The Blues Rockers: Gonna blow out the lamp
- 6 Wally & Theresa: Are you my boyfriend
- 7 The Marcels: Indian Jane
- 8 Robbie Meldano: I need you baby
- 9 Pee Wee Kingsly: Flippin' and a floppin'
- 10 The Holidays: Station l-o-v-e
- 11 Jimmy Raney: Blues all around
- 12 The Klixs: Elaine
- 13 Johnny George: Music city hop
- 14 The Five Crystels: Heaven's Own Choir
- 15 Kary Lynn: Dynamite
- 16 The Pagans: Lover's plea
- 17 William Moore: The slopp
- 18 Beverly my darling
- 19 The Satelitte Band: Party at Vern's
- 20 The Crescends: My heart's desire
- 21 You gave me love
- 22 Little Lynn: I walk in circles
- 23 Bob & Jessie: Church on the hill
- 24 Little Willy Littlefield: Love you all night long
- 25 The Night Caps: Mirage
- 26 Keine Künstlerinformation: Magnificient montague radio spot
Disk 3 von 3 (CD)
- 1 Scheming
- 2 All around the world
- 3 The Franciscans: Ocean of love
- 4 D'Vonya White: The kasavubu waltz
- 5 The 4 Rivers: Nature boy
- 6 The Derbys: Lonely one
- 7 Jackie Day: Don't fence me in
- 8 The Italics: I feel so blue
- 9 Fantastics!: I'm waiting
- 10 The Swingin' Brothers: What to do
- 11 The Powell Brothers: You are my love girl
- 12 Johnnie Marie Thorne: I can't take any more
- 13 The Music City Soul Brothers: Something in my eye
- 14 Music City Swingers: Passing thru music city
- 15 The Music City All Stars: Do the philly
- 16 Lou Rawls: Too late to cry
- 17 Wanda Burt: Feeling fine, feeling good
- 18 The Soul Brothers: She's coming back
- 19 The Heavenly Tones: He's all right
- 20 The Two Things In One: Stop telling me
- 21 The Soul Sensations: A man that is not free
- 22 Darondo: Didn't I
- 23 The Ballads: Loving you isn't enough
- 24 The Teardrop Tears: When we get married [Part 2]
- 25 The Performers: Farewell goodbye my love
- 26 Keine Künstlerinformation: Kye newsbeat spot