Ernie Freeman was an R&B pianist, organist, bandleader, composer and arranger, born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1922, and who started playing swing music during the ‘30s before leading the first all-black US Navy Band in WWII. In the late ‘40s he started playing R&B with Ernie Fields and Earl Bostic, and in the early ‘50s formed his own band, making his first records in 1955, and was in the vanguard of the vogue for grooving organ and sax-based instrumentals in the rock ‘n’ roll era. 

This 59-track 2-CD collection comprises most of his A and B sides on the Middle-Tone, Cash Imperial and Liberty labels from this era, plus selected titles from his Imperial and Liberty albums “Jivin’ Around”, “The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”, “Teistin’ Time” and “Soulful Sounds Of Country Classics”. It features his R&B No. 1 “Raunchy” and No. 5 “Jivin’ Around”, plus his other pop and R&B hits “Dumplin’s”, “Indian Love Call”, “Rockin’ Red Wing”, “Theme From Dark At The Top Of The Stairs” and “The Twist”. 

He was at the heart of a particular strand of instrumental pop during a key era of the market’s evolution, and this is a substantial and entertaining showcase for his distinctive style of R&B.

CD 1
1. NO NO BABY Ernie Freeman Combo with Carmen Davis (Middle-Tone MT-009) 1955 
2. TWO THINGS I LOVE The Voices With The Ernie Freeman Band (Cash 1011) 1955 
3. HEY NOW The Voices With The Ernie Freeman Band (Cash 1014) 1955 
4. MY LOVE GROWS STRONGER The Voices With The Ernie Freeman Band (Cash 1014) 1955 
5. JIVIN' AROUND PTS. 1 & 2 Ernie Freeman (Cash 1017) 1955 
6. ROCKIN' AROUND Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5381) 1956 
7. LOST DREAMS Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5381) 1956 
8. FUNNY FACE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5391) 1956 
9. RAINY DAY Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5391) 1956 
10. SPRING FEVER Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5403) 1956 
11. WALKING THE BEAT Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5403) 1956 
12. A TOUCH OF THE BLUES Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5419) 1956 
13. RETURN TO ME Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5419) 1956 
14. THE RIVER BOAT Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5444) 1957 
15. SWING IT (THE RUNAWAY) Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5444) 1957 
16. BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND  Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5461) 1957 
17. DUMPLIN'S Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5461) 1957 
18. RAUNCHY Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5474) 1957 
19. PUDDIN' Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5474) 1957 
20. THE TUTTLE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5486) 1958 
21. LEAPS AND BOUNDS Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5486) 1958 
22. THEME FROM IGOR Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5499) 1958 
23. SHAPE UP Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5499) 1958 
24. INDIAN LOVE CALL Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5518) 1958 
25. SUMMER SERENADE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5518) 1958 
26. AFTER SUNSET Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5527) 1958 
27. JAMBOREE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5541) 1958 
28. JUNIOR JIVE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5541) 1958 
29. SCHOOL ROOM ROCK Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5551) 1958

CD 2
1. BLUES AFTER HOURS Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5551) 1958 
2. LIVE IT UP Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5566) 1959 
3. MARSHMALLOWS, POPCORN AND SODA POP Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5574) 1959 
4. THE HONEYDRIPPER Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5574) 1959 
5. A SUMMER LOVE Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5612) 1959 
6. ALWAYS WITH YOU Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5612) 1959 
7. BIG RIVER Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5633) 1959 
8. NIGHT SOUNDS (BACKSTAGE HOP) Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5633) 1959 
9. ROCKIN' RED WING Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5656) 1960 
10. DARK EYES Ernie Freeman (Imperial ) 1960 
11. THEME FROM "THE DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS" Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5693) 1960 
12. COME ON HOME Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5693) 1960 
13. SWAMP MEETING Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5732) 1961 
14. THAT'S ALL Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5732) 1961 
15. CONQUEST Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5769) 1961 
16. SWINGIN' PREACHER Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5769) 1961 
17. THE TWIST Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5793) 1961 
18. WHAT AM I LIVING FOR Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5815) 1962 
19. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5815) 1962 
20. THE STRIPPER Ernie Freeman (Imperial 5841) 1962 
21. HALF AS MUCH Ernie Freeman (Imperial 55515) 1962 
22. FLYIN' HIGH Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Jivin' O Round' Imperial 9030)  1957
23. BLUESY ME Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Jivin' O Round' Imperial 9030)  1957
24. SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME Ernie Freeman (From the album 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' Imperial 9133)  1960
25. NIGHT THEME Ernie Freeman (From the album 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' Imperial 9133)  1960
26. VOLARE Ernie Freeman (From the album 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' Imperial 9133)  1960  
27. DIANE Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Twistin' Time' Imperial 9157)  1961
28. I'M MOVIN' ON Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Soulful Sounds Of Country Classics' Liberty LRP3264)  1962
29. I DON'T HURT ANYMORE Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Soulful Sounds Of Country Classics' Liberty LRP3264)  1962
30. I WALK THE LINE Ernie Freeman (From the album 'Soulful Sounds Of Country Classics' Liberty LRP3264)  1962