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ARTIST: Frank Sinatra TITLE: All The Way: Best Of The Capitol Years 1953-60  GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ACRSLP1699  FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Frank Sinatra’s career took a significant turn when he signed with Capitol Records in the 1950s. After a slump in popularity, he reinvented himself, transitioning from a pop crooner to a more sophisticated, swinging artist, defining the album as an art form. This period, often considered his artistic peak, produced some of his most iconic and influential recordings, setting the stage for his legendary status. This LP, "Best of the Capitol Years," is a definitive collection that captures the essence of that remarkable era. It features a powerful selection of songs that showcase Sinatra’s unmatched vocal phrasing and the lush, brilliant arrangements that became his signature. The album swings from the joyful exuberance of "I've Got The World On A String", "You're Sensational", and "Young At Heart" to the romantic charm of hits like "Love And Marriage" and "Witchcraft". It also includes the heartfelt balladry of "All The Way" and the triumphant anthem "High Hopes". The collection showcases the full breadth of his genius, from the playful duet "Hey! Jealous Lover" and the whimsical "Ol' Mac Donald" to the melancholy beauty of "Learnin' The Blues". A celebration of timeless melodies, from the iconic "Three Coins In The Fountain" to the cinematic "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)", this collection is an essential document of a cultural giant at the peak of his powers, confirming his place as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Feel the sincerity in "You're The Nearest Thing To Heaven" and the playful swagger of "Guess Things Happen That Way". From the heartbreak of "All Over Again" to the classic character study in "Frankie's Man, Johnny" and the romantic simplicity of "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen", this LP is a definitive look at a true American icon.

ARTIST: Cliff Richard TITLE: Gee Whizz, It's Cliff! The Chart Hits 1958-62 GENRE: Rock ‘n’ Roll CAT NO: ACRSLP1700 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Cliff Richard first exploded onto the British music scene in the late 1950s as a rock and roll pioneer, quickly becoming the UK's first true teen idol. He spearheaded the charge of homegrown talent, providing a powerful, domestic answer to the American rock sound. His early career, spanning from 1958 to 1962, saw him evolve from a rebellious rock 'n' roller to a charismatic pop superstar, a transformation perfectly captured in his chart history. This album is a testament to his versatility and the enduring appeal of his music. This LP, "Gee Whizz, It's Cliff: The Chart Hits 1958-62," is a definitive collection that charts that very journey. It opens with the raw energy of his debut hit "Move It", followed by the quintessential rock and roll of "High Class Baby" and "Livin' Lovin' Doll". The album showcases his transition to mainstream pop with beloved classics like "Living Doll" and the title track, "Gee Whizz It's You". Featuring hit after hit, from the heartfelt ballads like "I Love You" and "When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart" to the vibrant energy of "The Young Ones" and "Bachelor Boy", this collection is a testament to the versatility that made him a legend.
The album also includes classic tracks that showcase his range and enduring appeal, such as the melodic "Theme For A Dream", the reflective "I'm Lookin' Out The Window", and the hopeful "A Voice In The Wilderness". With hits like "The Next Time" and the energetic "It'll Be Me", this collection is an essential record for understanding the birth of British pop music.

ARTIST: Big Joe Turner  TITLE: Honey Hush: The R&B Hits 1950-60 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ACRSLP1701 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Big Joe Turner was one of the most powerful and influential blues shouters of all time, whose booming voice and charismatic presence played a pivotal role in the birth of rock and roll. He bridged the gap between jump blues and the emerging rock and roll sound of the 1950s, a true pioneer who brought the raw energy of rhythm and blues to a wider audience. This album focuses on his key R&B chart-hit singles from 1956-1960, a defining period in his career. "Honey Hush The R&B Hits 1956-60" is an electrifying collection that captures Big Joe Turner at his best. This LP features his most iconic tracks, including the classic anthems that became a blueprint for rock and roll: "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and "Flip Flop And Fly". The album showcases his incredible vocal power and a tracklist filled with essential hits like the swaggering title track "Honey Hush" and the soulful "Chains Of Love". From the mournful "Still In The Dark" to the party atmosphere of "Well Alright", this collection captures the full emotional and sonic range of his talent. The album’s tracklist demonstrates his mastery of the genre, moving seamlessly from the smooth R&B of "The Chill Is On" to the lively jump blues of "T.V. Mama". The collection also includes classics like "Sweet Sixteen" and "Corrine, Corrina", showcasing the rich, diverse sound that made him a legend. From the insistent rhythm of "Rock A While" to the confident swagger of "Lipstick, Powder And Paint", this is a must-have album for anyone interested in the foundational years of rock and roll.

ARTIST: The Imperial Gospel Singers TITLE: Leave It All To Him: The Savoy & Gospel Singles 1958-62 GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ACRSLP1702 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

The Imperial Gospel Singers were a celebrated gospel group renowned for their powerful, harmonized vocals and deeply spiritual performances. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, they became a cornerstone of the Savoy label, which was at the forefront of gospel music. Their sound was a powerful blend of traditional gospel fervor and polished vocal arrangements, a style that left an indelible mark on the genre and continues to inspire today. This LP, "Leave It All To Him: The Savoy & Gospel Singles 1958-62," is a powerful testament to their legacy. It is a definitive collection of their work from this golden era, showcasing their most uplifting and poignant singles. From the soulful call of "Swing Low" to the comforting message of the title track "Leave It All To Him", the album is a spiritual journey. It features the powerful declaration of faith in "I'll Shout When I Get Home", the poignant "Fountain Of Blood", and the uplifting "My Change Will Come". The collection’s tracklist demonstrates their mastery of the genre, moving seamlessly from the smooth harmonies of "In My Father's House" to the soulful guidance of "Show Me The Way" and "Guide My Weary Feet". It includes a breadth of spiritual themes, from the hopeful "If You Wait" to the timeless narrative of "Lazarus". With every track, from "Reach Out And Touch Him" and "The Sower" to "Down On Me", this album is a must-have for any fan of classic gospel music and a vital document of a key period in the genre's history.

ARTIST: Tennessee Ernie Ford TITLE: Shotgun Boogie: The Country Hits Collection 1949-56 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1703 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Tennessee Ernie Ford was a hugely popular American singer and television host, known for his distinctive bass-baritone voice and a unique blend of country, blues, and boogie-woogie. As a star for Capitol Records from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, he became a crossover sensation, defining the sound of country music for a generation while finding massive success on the pop charts. This LP, "Shotgun Boogie: The country hits collection 1949-56," is a fantastic anthology of his most influential recordings. It features a powerful selection of his signature "boogie" tracks, including the hard-driving title song, "The Shotgun Boogie", "Smokey Mountain Boogie", and "Blackberry Boogie". The collection also highlights his knack for storytelling and theatricality on iconic songs like "Mule Train", "River of No Return", and his legendary, career-defining hit, "Sixteen Tons". The album showcases his incredible versatility, moving seamlessly from the high-energy "Country Junction" to the poignant folk ballad "The Ballad of Davy Crockett". It also features classic duets with Kay Starr, "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" and "I'll Never Be Free". With additional gems like "The Cry of the Wild Goose" and the playful "Tailor Made Woman", this album is a must-have for fans and a testament to an American music legend at his commercial peak.

ARTIST: Coleman Hawkins TITLE: Hawk's Flight 1937-48 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACRSLP1704 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Coleman Hawkins, widely known as "Hawk," was one of the most important and influential figures in jazz history. He single-handedly established the tenor saxophone as a major solo instrument, transforming it from a novelty into a powerful and expressive voice. The period from 1937 to 1948 was particularly crucial for Hawkins, as he returned from Europe and entered his most productive years, bridging the gap between the structured swing era and the improvisational freedom of bebop.
"Hawk's Flight: 1937-48" is a definitive collection that showcases the soaring artistry of a true jazz master. It features his most iconic and revered recording, the breathtakingly beautiful "Body & Soul", which remains a masterpiece of lyrical improvisation. The album highlights his versatility with classic standards like "Honeysuckle Rose", "Stardust", and "She's Funny That Way", as well as his groundbreaking forays into bebop, captured on tracks like "Disorder At The Border" and "Picasso".
The collection masterfully documents the evolution of jazz through the work of one of its greatest soloists. Tracks like "Riffitide" and "Stuffy" demonstrate his rhythmic ingenuity and sophisticated improvisational style, while the swinging "Crazy Rhythm" and "Voodte" show his enduring command of the swing idiom. With timeless renditions of "The Man I Love" and "April In Paris", alongside bebop-inflected numbers like "Bean & The Boys", this collection is an essential document of a jazz genius at the very peak of his powers.
 

ARTIST: Oscar Peterson  TITLE: Oscar Peterson Plays The Great Composers 1953-54 Vol. 1 (3CD) GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9185  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

The legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was one of the most admired of his era, his speed and dexterity matching that of his idol Art Tatum, drawing on swing, blues and classical influences in his music. He is perhaps most famous for his recordings with his classic trios of the 1950s, and this 71-track 3-CD collection captures him in that era on a series of early album releases on Norman Granz’s Clef label in which he interprets the work of the some of the most renowned of the Great American Songbook composers. The collection features the entire contents of the albums “Oscar Peterson Plays Cole Porter”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Irving Berlin”, “Oscar Peterson Plays George Gershwin”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Jerome Kern” and “Oscar Peterson Plays Richard Rodgers”. On these albums he works in his favoured trio format with bass player Ray Brown and variously with guitarists Barney Kessel and Ray Ellis. He is a master interpreter of this kind of repertoire, bringing his special stamp to some of the finest pop and jazz standards, and it’s a great showcase for one of the genre’s most illustrious practitioners.

ARTIST: Oscar Peterson TITLE: Oscar Peterson     Oscar Peterson Plays The Great Composers 1954-56 Vol. 2 (3CD) GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9186  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

The legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson was one of the most admired of his era, his speed and dexterity matching that of his idol Art Tatum, drawing on swing, blues and classical influences in his music. He is perhaps most famous for his recordings with his classic trios of the 1950s, and this 52-track 3-CD collection captures him in that era on a series of early album releases on Norman Granz’s Clef label in which he interprets the work of the some of the most renowned of the Great American Songbook composers. The collection features the entire contents of the albums “Oscar Peterson Vincent Youmans”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Harry Warren”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Harold Arlen”, “Oscar Peterson Plays Jimmy McHugh” and “Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie”.  On these albums he works in his favoured trio format with bass player Ray Brown and variously with guitarists Barney Kessel and Ray Ellis, with drummer Buddy Rich also featured on the “Plays Count Basie” album. He is a master interpreter of this kind of repertoire, bringing his special stamp to some of the finest pop and jazz standards, and it’s a great showcase for one of the genre’s most illustrious practitioners.

ARTIST: The Pied Pipers  TITLE: Dream - The Singles Collection 1939-48 (2CD) GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3599 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Pied Pipers were one of vocal groups who graduated from being featured performers with the big bands of the swing era to careers as recording artists in their own right, and enjoying a string of hits during their heyday in the 1940s. With the fine female vocalists Jo Stafford and June Hutton as members of the group at various time during these years, they had a distinctive harmony style that was very much of it era, their repertoire encompassing swing material, ballads and pop novelty songs and more. Having made early records for RCA as an 8-piece group they became a quartet and spent three years with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra before splitting with him and striking out on their own.  This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides of early releases on the RCA-Victor and Ammor labels,  and then most of their releases on the Capitol label from this era. It features their US No. 1 “Dream” plus all their other ten US hits, including the Top 10 entries “Mairzy Doats”, “The Trolley Song”, “In The Moon Mist”, “Open The Door, Richard”, “Mam’selle” and “My Happiness”. They were a group who very much captured the spirit of their time, and this is an entertaining showcase for their particular brand of vocal group pop.

ARTIST: Lenny Bruce TITLE: Comedy & Controversy - The Original Albums 1958-61 (2CD)  GENRE: Comedy/Spoken Word CAT NO: ADDCD3600 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Lenny Bruce was a stand-up comedian, satirist and social observer who was one of the first really controversial figures of stand-up comedy, adopting an unstructured free-wheeling approach that addressed topics no-one else would go near, and not afraid to employ shock tactics in his language and reference points, which eventually saw him convicted of obscenity, although he was pardoned posthumously. One  critic said he was “ a comic right out of the jazz world….colossally irreverent…..ribald….even sometimes rough”.This 35-track album comprises most of the contents first four albums of his for the Fantasy label – “Interviews Of Our Times”, “The Sick Humor Of Lenny Bruce”, “I Am Not A Nut, Elect Me! (Togetherness)” and “American” – unfortunately, there was not room for his 19-minute performance “The Palladium”. The contents of the albums range across a spectrum of topics, satirising the hypocrisy and pretence of American life, religion, showbiz, political and national affairs, and more – the targets for his barbed commentary know no boundaries. The year after “American” was released he was arrested on stage, and by 1966 he was dead from a drug overdose at the age of 50. He broke new ground in comedy and counterculture and this album captures him in the core era of his career, and is a startling showcase for one of the boldest and most challenging comedians of all time.

ARTIST: Bobby Day TITLE: Rockin' Robert!! The Singles Collection 1954-62 (2CD) GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ADDCD3601 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

R&B singer Robert Byrd, better known as Bobby Day, recorded in many guises, starting with The Hollywood Flames, (see The Hollywood Flames “Buzz, Buzz, Buzz - The Singles Collection 1950-62” Acrobat ACTRCD9116), and then with various other groups and as a solo artist, but always recognisable from his distinctive voice, and best-known for his big hit with his original version of “Rockin’ Robin”. This 58-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides of releases on the Swing Time, Cash, Specialty, Modern, Atlantic, Spark, Zephyr, Class & Rendezvous labels from this era. It features solo performances and recordings as Bob & Earl, The Question Marks, The Original Turks, The Voices, Bobby Byrd & The Byrds, David Ford & The Ebbtides, The Sounds, The Crescendos, Robert Byrd and Bobby Day & The Satellites. It includes his No. 2 US hit and UK chart entry “Rockin’ Robin”, plus his other US hits “Little Bitty Pretty One”, “Over And Over, “The Bluebird, The Buzzard And The Oriole”, “That’s All I Want”, “Gotta New Girl” and “Gee Whiz”. He was a significant personality in the R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and pop scene of the ‘50s and ‘60s and this is a comprehensive and entertaining selection of his work.

ARTIST: The Highwaymen TITLE: The Complete Releases 1960-62 (2CD) GENRE: Folk CAT NO: ADDCD3602 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Highwaymen were an American folk group of the early 1960s, very much a part of the coterie of folk bands who emerged from the college folk scene of that era, typified also by The Kingston Trio and The Brothers Four. They made a huge impact in 1960 with their single “Michael (Row The Boat Ashore), which was a No.1 on both sides of the Atlantic. However, their main focus was their album career, and this 39-track collection comprises all the titles from their first three albums “The Highwaymen”, “Standing Room Only!” and “Encore”, from which came their hit singles “hit “Michael, (Row The Boat Ashore)”, plus their other hits “The Gypsy Rover”, “Cotton Fields”, “I’m On My Way”. Also included is their US chart entry “The Bird Man”, with narration by Burt Lancaster, which did not come from one of the albums.  The collection primarily features traditional material arranged by lead singer Dave Fisher, plus other folk standards. They were a group that remained faithful to the roots of their music, while performing in the contemporary style of the folk boom of that era, and this is an enjoyable showcase for their distinctive approach.


 

ARTIST: Jazz Gillum  TITLE: A Career Anthology 1934-49 (4CD) GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACQCD7198  FORMAT: 4CD BUY HERE: £19.00

William McKinley “Jazz” Gillum, born in Indianola, Mississippi, in 1902, was a blues singer, songwriter and harmonica player, who moved to Chicago in the 1920s and teamed up with Big Bill Broonzy and others. He started recording in the mid-1930s and over the next 15 years recorded regularly, creating a number of classics of the genre. Around 1938, he made some of the first blues records to feature an electric guitar. This 97-track 4-CD collection comprises most of his career releases under his own name on the Bluebird, Melotone and RCA-Victor labels. It features classic compositions like “Key To The Highway”, “Don't You Scandalize My Name” and “Look On Yonder Wall”, and early and recordings of songs like “I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town”, and includes recordings with notable musicians of the day – Big Big Broonzy, Black Bob, Blind John Davis, George Barnes, Washboard Sam, Joshua Altheimer, Alfred Elkins, Roosevelt Sykes, Big Maceo Merriweather, Ransom Knowling, Eddie Boyd, Willie Lacey, Judge Riley and others. He was a stylish and influential performer, making music which was accessible and entertaining, and this substantial and comprehensive overview of his core career offers a fine showcase for his distinctive approach to the blues.

ARTIST: Gerry Mulligan TITLE: Gerry Mulligan Meets - Classic Collaborations 1957-59 (3CD) GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9184 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Jazz saxophonist, bandleader, composer and arranger Gerry Mulligan was perhaps the best-known and most celebrated exponent of the baritone sax in the history of genre. Although a native New Yorker, he became associated with the West Coast “cool school” of modern jazz in the 1950s and participated in numerous landmark recordings during his career. He became especially well-known for his collaborations during the early ‘50s with trumpeter Chet Baker (see “The Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker Collection 1952-53” Acrobat ADDCD 3339), but later in the decade he also made albums with several other jazz luminaries of the era, and this collection comprises the complete contents of five of those. This 33-track 3-CD collections features the titles from from the Verve albums “Getz Meets Mulligan in Hi-Fi”, “Gerry Mulligan - Paul Desmond Quartet”, “Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster”, “Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges”, and the Riverside album “Mulligan Meets Monk”. Quite apart from the headline collaborators , it also includes performances by notable musicians of the day who were in the bands – Joe Benjamin, Lou Levy, Ray Brown, Jimmy Rowles, Mel Lewis, Claude Williamson, Buddy Clark and more. Capturing  the great saxophonist creating albums with his illustrious peers, it naturally offers an enlightening and enjoyable showcase for his unique talents.

ARTIST: Johnny Mathis  TITLE: Early Years - Selected Albums 1956-58 (2CD) GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3595 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Johnny Mathis, who, as these notes are being written in March 2026, is still a much-loved and respected figure in popular music at the age of 90, has been one the most distinctive and successful singers in popular music for the last seven decades. His velvet voice and immaculate phrasing enabled him to transcend the genres to encompass, sophisticated pop, jazz, easy listening and even disco over the years, and he had over 80 hits from the 1950s through to the ‘80s (see Johnny Mathis “    The Complete US Singles As & Bs 1957-62” Acrobat ADDCD3171). He began his recording career just as the long-playing album format was becoming a burgeoning medium, soon followed by the stereo boom and he was ideally placed to take advantage of that. This 46-track 2-CD collection features just about all the titles from his first albums for Columbia, “Johnny Mathis”, “Wonderful, Wonderful”, “Warm” and “Swing Softly”. Mostly comprising his trademark versions of classics from the Great American Songbook, and with accompaniments directed by great arranger/composers of the day - Percy Faith, Ted Macero, Bob Prince, Manny Albam, Gil Evans, and John Lewis – the collection offers a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for his unique talent as a song stylist, captured at the start of what would be a long and illustrious career. 

ARTIST: The King Sisters TITLE: It's Love Love Love - The Singles Collection 1939-47 (2CD)  GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3596 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The King Sisters were a family group comprising six sisters, although they performed and recorded as The Four King Sisters, with the numbers actually varying over the years. Modelling themselves on their idols The Boswell Sisters, they came to the fore just as the Boswells retired in the late 1930s, and for the next decade were to some extent rivals of The Andrews Sisters. They initially performed and recorded as the featured group with the orchestras of Horace Heidt and Alvino Rey, having hits with both, and then had more hits through the 1940s under their own name. This 52-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides on the Brunswick, Bluebird, Victor and RCA labels from this era, and features all their career hits under their own name, including the Top 10 entries “The Hut-Hut Song” and “Love, Love, Love”, plus “The Trolley Song”, “I’ll Get By” and more, along with Top 5 hits with Horace Heidt, “Hot Lips”, “Oh Marie” and “It’s The Natural Thing to Do”, and hits with Alvino Rey. They were a vivacious and stylish ensemble, equally skilled at jazzy high-speed harmonies and atmospheric ballads, who very much captured the spirit of their era, and this collection offers a substantial and enjoyable showcase for their distinctive contribution to the swing era.

ARTIST: John Barry TITLE: Hit And Miss - The Singles & Albums Collection 1956-62 (2CD) GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3597 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Bandleader, composer, arranger and producer John Barry was a key figure in the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll scene in the UK during the mid-to-late 1950s and into the ’60s, before going on to become a hugely successful and respected composer of film music, in particular being associated with the themes for the James Bond movies over the years. His band was very much involved in the early TV pop shows in the UK, and he was at the forefront of the creation of a strand of British guitar-based instrumental rock ‘n’ roll to rival the output of the USA. He was closely associated with EMI throughout this era, and this 69-track 2-CD collection (records were very short in that era) comprises most of his A&B sides on Parlophone and  Columbia from this era, plus selected titles from the albums “Six-Five Special”, “Drumbeat”, “Stringbeat” and the movie soundtrack “The Beat Girl”. It features all his UK hits from these years, including “Hit And Miss” (the theme of the TV show “Juke Box Jury”, which he composed), “Blueberry Hill”, “Walk Don’t Run”, “Black Stockings”, “The Magnificent Seven” and “The James Bond Theme”. He became a highly significant personality in the world of movie music, and this collection traces his early days as he operated successfully at the heart of the UK pop scene.

ARTIST: Al Terry TITLE: Good Deal Lucille - The Singles Collection 1946-62 (2CD) GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3598 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Al Terry was a country singer and guitarist, born in Louisiana in 1922, and was not only associated with the Cajun style of the bayous through his career but was also one of the first country artists to develop a rockabilly style. He first performed on radio when he was 13, and made his first records in 1946. He is best known for his landmark No. 8 country hit in 1954 with his composition and rockabilly classic “Good Deal, Lucille”. This 50-track 2-CD collection features A & B sides of his releases on the Gold Star, Feature, Champion, Bella, Hickory, Dot & Index labels from this era, and includes his country hits with “Good Deal, Lucille” and “Watch Dog”. It features duet recordings with Wilma Lee Cooper and Rusty & Doug Kershaw. He was a stylish vocalist who occupies a particular niche in the country music landscape of the era, and this collection offers an entertaining overview of his core career.

ARTIST: Johnny Cash TITLE: Next In Line: The Early Country Hits 1955-59 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1693  FORMAT: LP BUY HERE: £18.00

Step back in time to the dawn of a legend with this essential Johnny Cash collection. This LP is a powerful showcase of the early years that forged his timeless sound, drawing from his iconic tenure at Sun Records and his pivotal transition to Columbia. It captures the raw energy and storytelling that made him the "Man in Black". You'll find the very foundation of his sound here, from the stark emotional weight of "So Doggone Lonesome" to the iconic rhythm of "I Walk The Line". The collection perfectly encapsulates his early hits that defined an era, including "Train Of Love", "Next In Line", and the rockabilly spirit of "Home Of The Blues". It's a journey through the evolution of a country music giant, covering his signature boom-chicka-boom beat and his earliest forays into poignant narratives. The album is a masterclass in songwriting, blending humour and heartbreak with timeless tales. Experience the powerful narrative of "Big River" and the cinematic scope of "Don't Take Your Guns To Town". This collection also showcases his lyrical versatility, from the heart-wrenching balladry of "The Ways Of A Woman In Love" to the straightforward swagger of "What Do I Care". You'll also hear his more rockabilly-infused style on tracks like "Come In Stranger" and the defiant spirit of "I Got Stripes".

ARTIST: Clarence "Frogman" Henry TITLE: Ain't Got No Home: The Singles Collection 1956-62 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ACRSLP1694 FORMAT: LP BUY HERE: £18.00

Step into the swampy, soulful world of New Orleans legend Clarence "Frogman" Henry. This essential LP is a powerful showcase of the unique vocal talent that made him a star, featuring his signature hit "Ain't Got No Home", a track that captures his famous vocal switches from a frog-like croak to his smooth baritone. The collection also includes his other chart-topping classics, such as the heartfelt "(I Don't Know Why) But I Do" and the timeless pop standard "You Always Hurt The One You Love".
This album is a testament to the versatility of one of music's most charming and original voices. It delves deeper into his catalogue, revealing a rich tapestry of rhythm and blues and pop. Experience the heartbreak in tracks like "Troubles, Troubles", "Lonely Tramp", and "Lost Without You". Hear his more upbeat, classic R&B sound on "Come On And Dance", and his more contemplative side on "I'm A Country Boy" and "On Bended Knees". The LP showcases his ability to move effortlessly between genres, from the sweet melody of "Dream Myself A Sweetheart" to the spirited defiance of "The Jealous Kind". With a track list full of character and emotion, including deep cuts like "I Found A Home", "It Won't Be Long", and "A Little Too Much", this collection captures the full scope of Henry’s artistry. It’s an essential album for any fan of New Orleans music and the golden age of rhythm and blues.

ARTIST: Lightnin’ Hopkins  TITLE: Nothin' But The Blues: The Decca & Herald Years 1953-58 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACRSLP1695 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Step into the deep, soulful world of Texas blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins. This powerful LP captures the raw, unfiltered essence of a true blues master, presenting a definitive collection of his work from a golden era. The album showcases his iconic guitar work and deeply personal lyrics, seamlessly moving from the mournful lament of "Cemetery Blues" and "The Blues Is A Mighty Bad Feeling" to the hard-driving rhythms of his instrumental boogies. It is a masterclass in the artistry of a one-man band, with Hopkins commanding the listener's attention through every track. Experience the blistering energy of tracks like "Lightnin's Boogie", "Movin' On Out Boogie", and the playful "Grandma's Boogie", which demonstrate his complete command of the instrument. Alongside these are the heartfelt ballads and storytelling that were his hallmark, including the classic "Evil Hearted Woman" and "I'm Wild About You Baby". The LP also features hidden gems like the sentimental "Remember Me" and the swinging "Hopkins Sky Hop". From the classic "Nothin' But The Blues" and the heartfelt "I Had A Gal Named Sal", to the hopeful "Finally Met My Baby" and the poignant "Lightnin' Don't Feel Well", this collection is an essential document of one of the most important figures in the history of American music. It is a journey through the heart of the blues, a raw and honest portrait that every fan of the genre should own.

ARTIST: Dinah Washington TITLE: This Bitter Earth: Her Greatest Hits 1948-60 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACRSLP1696 FORMAT: LP BUY HERE: £18.00

Experience the timeless artistry of the "Queen of the Blues," Dinah Washington. This essential LP is a masterclass in vocal power and emotional depth, featuring some of her most iconic performances. It showcases her incredible versatility, from the soulful blues of "I'll Never Be Free" and "I Only Know" to her pop and jazz standards like the Grammy Hall of Fame-winning "What A Diffrence A Day Makes". The album presents a powerful collection of hits, including the chart-topping duet "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" and the hauntingly beautiful "This Bitter Earth". This LP highlights her full emotional range, from the sassy confidence of "Long John Blues" to the heartbreaking plea of "Am I Asking Too Much". She moves effortlessly from the pain of love lost on "Cold, Cold Heart" to the romantic happiness of "I Wanna Be Loved". The collection further demonstrates her command of different styles, from the uptempo joy of "A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in)" and the playful "TV Is The Thing (This Year)" to the resigned heartache of "I Don't Hurt Anymore". Tracks like "Teach Me Tonight" and "Unforgettable" reveal her unique ability to infuse classic melodies with a blues sensibility, making every song her own. With her unmatched phrasing and delivery on every track, from the powerful "Wheel Of Fortune" to the deeply personal ballads, this collection is a definitive look at a true American music icon.

ARTIST: Jackie Wilson TITLE: Doggin' Around: The Hits Collection 1957-62 GENRE: Soul CAT NO: ACRSLP1697 FORMAT: LP BUY HERE: £18.00

Experience the dynamic artistry of "Mr. Excitement," Jackie Wilson, with this essential collection of his early hits. This LP is a testament to the vocal powerhouse who seamlessly blended R&B, pop, and soul like no one before him. It features his iconic debut single "Reet Petite" and the soulful, chart-topping smash "Lonely Teardrops", which cemented his place as a solo superstar. The album showcases his incredible vocal range, moving effortlessly between styles. From the heartfelt balladry of "To Be Loved", the soulful pleas of "I'm Comin' Back To You", and the desperate heartache of "The Greatest Hurt", the LP reveals his profound emotional depth. This contrasts beautifully with the uptempo, rock and roll energy of "That's Why (I Love You So)" and the infectious rhythm of "I'll Be Satisfied". You’ll also find the smooth elegance of tracks like "A Woman, A Lover, A Friend" and the soulful grooves of "Doggin' Around". The collection captures the full spectrum of his artistry, from the soaring vocals of "My Empty Arms" to the late-night mood of "Night". It’s a comprehensive look at the foundation of a career that would influence generations of performers. From the introspective sorrow of "Alone At Last" and the heartfelt declaration in "Talk That Talk", this collection is a must-have for any fan of classic American music. Every track, including "You Better Know It" and "I Just Can't Help It", is a testament to his groundbreaking talent.

ARTIST: The Miracles TITLE: You Better Shop Around: The Early A-Sides 1958-62 GENRE: Doo Wop CAT NO: ACRSLP1698 FORMAT: LP BUY HERE: £18.00

This LP charts the rise of The Miracles, one of Motown's most influential groups. Featuring the genius of lead singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson, this album presents their earliest recordings, from the doo-wop rhythm of "Got A Job" to the polished, chart-topping hit "Shop Around". It captures the group's journey to stardom, showcasing the tight harmonies and musical innovation that would define the Motown sound for decades to come. This LP is a powerful showcase of their extraordinary early catalog. It includes the powerful emotional delivery of "Way Over There" and the soulful classic "You've Really Got A Hold On Me", which became one of their most beloved songs. This collection highlights the full emotional range of the group, from the heartbreaking sorrow of "Broken Hearted" and "What's So Good About Goodbye" to the defiant rhythm of "Ain't It Baby" and the upbeat optimism of "Mighty Good Lovin'". Fans will find timeless tracks like "I've Been Good To You" and "I'll Try Something New" alongside powerful gems that tell the story of their early years, such as "I Need Some Money" and "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues". From the sassy energy of "Bad Girl" to the infectious groove of "The Feeling Is So Fine", this definitive collection is a testament to the talent that laid the groundwork for countless R&B and soul artists, making it an essential piece of music history.

ARTIST: Al Jolson  TITLE: Sonny Boy - The Hits Collection 1912-47 (4CD) GENRE: Pop, Nostalgia CAT NO: ACQCD7197  FORMAT: 4CD BUY HERE: £19.00

Al Jolson was one of the biggest showbiz stars of the first decades of the 20th century, his career spanning vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio and recording, and he legendarily recorded some of the most memorable songs of the era. During the early decades of his career, he performed regularly in blackface make-up, during the era when this was an acceptable and normal style of presentation, which lasted well into post-war years. As a result of his popularity, success and high profile, he had a huge number of hits, and this 91-track 4-CD collection consists entirely of all his career hits as listed in Joel Whitburn’s book “Pop Memories 1890-1954” and also in the early Billboard charts. Among those are the 22 records listed as No. 1s, which include “Sonny Boy”, “Swanee”, “Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye” “You Made Me Love You”, “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody”, “When The Red Robin”, “There’s A Rainbow Round My Shoulder”, “I’m Sitting On Top Of The World”, “California Here I Come”, and many more from Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley. He was a hugely influential and distinctive performer and this substantial collection, capturing the essence of his style and talent, is a fine showcase for his significant recorded legacy.

ARTIST: Toni Harper TITLE: Candy Store Blues - The Singles & Albums Collection 1948-60 (3CD) GENRE: Jazz, Pop CAT NO: ACTRCD9183 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

The American jazz and pop singer Toni Harper was a remarkable performer, beginning her career as a child star, and  first appearing on stage as a dancer at the age of 12, then starting to sing with noted jazz orchestras a couple of years later, immediately having her first hit 1948 when she was 14. After a few quiet years, she started recording albums in the mid-1950s and made some high-quality jazz and sophisticated pop collections before retiring from the business in 1960 in her early’30s. This 73-track 3-CD collection comprises a significant proportion – around 70% - of her career recorded output, and includes singles for Columbia and Verve with the bands of Eddie Beale, Herb Jeffries, Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Bregman, plus the tracks from her album “Toni” on Verve, and the albums “Lady Lonely” and “Night Mood” on RCA. It includes her 1948 R&B hit single “Candy Store Blues”. On her Verve album she is accompanied by Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Alvin Stoller. She was an unusual, distinctive and stylish performer, and this selection of recordings from across her career is an enlightening showcase for her often unheralded talents.

ARTIST: Kenny Burrell  TITLE: Early Years - Blue Note Sessions 1956-58 (2CD) GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3591 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Kenny Burrell is an American modern jazz guitarist, composer, bandleader and educator, born in 1931 and still alive at the age of 94 as these notes are being written. Making his recording debut in 1951, he became a valued and versatile sideman, recording and performing prolifically for over 65 years through to 2015, in a huge variety of recording settings. He also recorded and performed, leading his own bands, and quite early in his career recorded a number of sessions under his own name for Alfred Lion’s Blue Note label, from which came his first albums, all taking advantage of the opportunity for extended performances on the new LP format. This 21- track 2-CD set comprises titles from those sessions for Blue Note during his early years as a bandleader, and features all the titles from the Blue Note albums “Introducing Kenny Burrell”, “Kenny Burrell” and “Blue Lights Vol. 1” and most of the titles from the album “Blue Lights Vol. 2”. Musicians in his groups include tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, pianists Tommy Flanagan, Duke Jordan and Bobby Timmons, bassists Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers and Sam Jones, drummers Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey, trumpeter Louis Smith, tenor saxophonists Frank Foster, Junior Cook and Tina Brooks and percussionist Candido Camero. He is a stylish and fluent improviser and these early titles are an enjoyable showcase for his distinctive approach to jazz guitar.

ARTIST: Tommy Garrett TITLE: The 50 Guitars Of Tommy Garrett And More 1961-62 (2CD)  GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3592 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

During the era when the 12” long-playing album was becoming an increasingly widespread and popular medium, especially after the introduction of stereo recording as a norm in the late 1950s, record companies were seeking out styles and concepts of easy-listening music specifically designed to take advantage of the burgeoning market. Tommy “Snuff” Garrett was a DJ from Texas, who became a producer at Liberty Records in Los Angeles in 1959 at the age of 21, producing acts like Bobby Vee and Johnny Burnette, and became A&R director after a few years He alighted on an approach that he called “The 50 Guitars Of Tommy Garrett”, with a lesser-used adjunct of “The 25 Pianos Of Tommy Garrett”, and with arranger Ernie Freeman, whose hits included “Jivin’ Around” and “Raunchy”, he created a guitar-based sound using notable west coast session guitarists like Laurindo Almeida, Al Caiola, Barney Kessel and others, including himself, and the series of concept albums carried on through into the 1970s. This 60-track 2-CD set features albums from the  beginning of that series, comprising the titles from the albums “50 Guitars Go South of The Border Vols. 1 & 2”, “50 Guitars Visit Hawaii” and “50 Guitars Go Country”, plus the Tommy Garrett album “25 Pianos Play Evergreens Of Broadway”. It was one of those masterstrokes of concept creation, production and marketing, and this collection offers an atmospheric introduction to a highly distinctive brand of easy listening music, which was very much of its era, but remains absolutely timeless.

ARTIST: Will Bradley TITLE: Will Bradley - Beat Me Daddy - The Singles Collection 1939-47 (2CD) GENRE: Jazz, Swing, Boogie-Woogie CAT NO: ADDCD3593 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Will Bradley was a trombonist and bandleader who came to the fore during the swing and big band era of the late 1930s, and developed a strand of music during the early 1940s which took advantage of the then-current popularity of boogie-woogie music.  Using a jazz and R&B-flavoured big band style, and often recording as a smaller group, he was aided in this by his featured drummer and singer Ray McKinley and his pianist Freddie Slack, who went on to have hits in his own right. Not all his recordings were boogie-woogie efforts, and he produced a great deal of stylish swing records, based around his trombone work, many of them featuring vocalists Ray McKinley, Jimmy Valentine, Louise Tobin, Lyn Gardner, Terry Allen and others. This 46-track 2-CD set comprises selected A & B sides from his releases on the Vocalion, Columbia, Joe Davis, Beacon and Signature labels from these years. It features his US No. 2 hits “Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar” and “Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat”, plus his other hits “Down The Road A Piece”, “Celery Stalks At Midnight”, “There I Go”, “High On A Windy Hill” and Cryin’ The Boogie Blues”. His was a very distinctive strand of the music of this era, and he was one of the most noted hitmakers in the boogie-woogie genre.

ARTIST: The Soul Stirrers TITLE: Never Turn Back - The Singles Collection 1940-49 (2CD) GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ADDCD3594 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Soul Stirrers were one of the most noted gospel groups of the post-war decades, although they were formed as long ago as the 1930s, becoming one of the innovative groups during the 1940s who moved from the traditional “flatfooted” highly arranged quartet style towards the freer “hard gospel” style of the new era. They are perhaps most famous for the period during the 1950s when the future soul legend Sam Cooke was with the group and got a hugely significant grounding the business, but among cognoscenti they are equally renowned for this period, when their lead singer was Rebert “R.H.” Harris, who introduced the “swing lead” style as two singers exchanged lead vocals to build emotional intensity. This 49-track 2-CD collection comprises releases on the Bronze, Down Beat, Harlem and 20th Century labels during this era followed by most of their substantial body of recordings made for the Aladdin label from 1947 to 1949 before they joined the Specialty label, and were joined by Sam Cooke. They were one of the most influential gospel groups of the day and this collection offers, we hope, a substantial, inspiring and uplifting showcase for their bold and distinctive approach to gospel music during what was a golden era for the genre.

ARTIST: Perez Prado  TITLE: King Of The Mambo: The Singles Collection 1949-62 (3CD) GENRE: World Music CAT NO: ACTRCD9180  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Perez Prado was a Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader who was one of the most prominent personalities who popularised the mambo Latin dance during the early 1950s, his profile and success brining him the accolade of “The King Of The Mambo”. Born in 1916, he was a popular bandleader in Havana during the late 1940s before moving to Mexico in 1949 to start his recording career, and moving to the USA in the early ‘50s. He caused a sensation by topping the charts with “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” in 1955 on both sides of the Atlantic, and following with another No. 1 “Patricia” in 1958. This 83-track 3-CD collection comprises early sides from his Mexican releases and most of the A and B sides of his singles in the USA for RCA during this era. It includes his two No. 1 singles with “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” and “Patricia”, plus other US hits with “Guaglione”, “Paris” and “Patricia Twist”. The album is a feast of infectious and evocative Latin music, featuring many of Prado’s compositions as well as mambo treatments of popular standards. It’s a substantial and entertaining showcase for an innovative and influential artist.

ARTIST: Buddy Cole TITLE: The Many Moods Of Buddy Cole: Seven Classic Albums 1958-60 (3CD) GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9181 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Buddy Cole, born in Illinois in 1916, was a jazz and easy listening pianist, organist, composer, arranger and orchestra leader, who was famous for accompanying artists like Bing Crosby, Johnnie Ray and Rosemary Clooney but who established a reputation with his trademark style of concept albums during the 1950s combining jazz styling with smooth arrangements of Great American Songbook standards. This 77-track 3- CD collection comprises the titles from his albums “Have Organ, Will Swing”, “Hot And Cole”, “Sleepy Time Gal”, “Powerhouse”, “Most Recorded Songs Of All Time” and “Swing Fever”, and most of the titles from his album “Buddy Cole Plays Cole Porter”. It features him in various musical settings, playing solo piano and Hammond organ, recording with small groups and with full orchestras, so offers a range of contexts in which to appreciate his different approaches to the repertoire. He was an influential figure, helping to popularise the Hammond organ in mainstream pop music, and this collection is a substantial and enjoyable showcase for his music.

ARTIST: Burl Ives  TITLE: The Wayfaring Stranger: Selected Classics 1941-62 (3CD) GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ACTRCD9182 FORMAT: CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Burl Ives was a unique and remarkable entertainer, a folk and pop singer and guitarist, composer, radio performer and stage and film actor, who helped to popularise traditional folk music across all generations but also had pop hits in his later career. Born in Illinois in 1909, he gave up training to be a teacher to become an itinerant troubadour-style entertainer, working on radio and once jailed for vagrancy in Utah. After Army service in WWII, and appearing in Irving Berlin’s “This Is The Army”, he became a radio regular, and started recording, reviving many US and British folk songs. His early recordings of songs like “Blue Tail Fly”, “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and “I Know An Old Lady” became children’s radio favourites for decades. This 87-track 3-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides from releases on the Columbia & Decca labels from these years, plus selected titles from the Decca albums “A Collection of Ballads & Folk Songs”, “Ballads & Folk Songs Vol 2”, “Folk Songs - Dramatic And Humorous”, “Women (Folk Songs About The Fair Sex)”, “Wild Side Of Life”, “Men: Songs For And About Men”, “Down To The Sea In Ships”, “Songs Of Ireland”, “Capt. Burl Ives Ark”, “Old Time Varieties”, “Australian Folk Songs” and “Cheers”. It includes his hits “Riders In The Sky", “Marianne”, “A Little Bitty Tear”, “Funny Way Of Laughing”, “Call Me Mr. In-Between” and “Mary Ann Regrets”. He was a one-of-a-kind performer, and this selection from his prolific recorded canon is a celebration of his distinctive contribution to popular culture.

ARTIST: Eileen Rodgers TITLE: Anything Goes! Singles, Albums & Broadway 1955-62 (2CD)  GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3588 FORMAT: CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1930, Eileen Rodgers began her career as a local nightclub performer before joining Charlie Spivak’s orchestra, giving her a grounding as a big band singer. In the early ‘50s she got work on radio and was offered a recording contract with the Columbia label. Making her first records in 1955, she was one of those singers with her roots in the middle-of-the-road styles of the post-war decade, and who were unlucky enough to come to the fore just at the point when rock ‘n’ roll was arriving in the charts. She nevertheless scored several hits, before turning her talents towards the Broadway stage in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. This 57-track 2-CD collection comprises most of the A&B sides of singles on the Columbia and Kapp labels, plus the titles from her Columbia album “Blue Swing”, and selected songs from her performances in cast recordings of her Broadway shows “Oh Captain”, “Fiorello”,  “Tenderloin” and “Anything Goes”. It includes her US pop hits “Miracle Of Love”, “Give Me”, “The Wall”, “Don’t Call Me Sweetie”, “Third Finger, Left Hand” and “Treasure Of Your Love”. She was a stylish and versatile performer, and this collection is a worthy introduction to an artist we don’t hear too much about.

ARTIST: The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi TITLE: The Peacock, Vee Jay & Checker Singles & Albums Collection 1956-62 (2CD) GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ADDCD3589 FORMAT: CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi were one of the premier gospel groups of what was a golden age for gospel in the immediate post-war decades, as the music developed its more commercial stylings and positioning from its traditional roots. Acrobat already has on catalogue a 2-CD set devoted to the group’s earlier career (“The Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi 1943-54” Acrobat ADDCD3003), and this collection picks up the story from that point with only a couple of titles duplicated on the two collections. This 48-track 2-CD collection comprises just about all the A&B sides of their singles on the Peacock and Vee Jay labels from these years, plus the tracks from their Peacock album “Precious Memories”, not otherwise featured on singles, and their Checker album “I’ll Go”. It features performances in what was known as the “hard gospel” style of the day, with the line-up including renowned lead singer and songwriter Archie Brownlee, fellow songwriter Lloyd Woodard, and after Brownlee’s tragic death from pneumonia in 1960 at the age of 34, another distinctive lead voice of Roscoe Robinson. They were a hugely popular and influential group, and this collection captures them at the height of their powers.

ARTIST: Willie Mabon TITLE: I'm Mad: The Early Years Collection 1953-62 (2CD) GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ADDCD3590 FORMAT: CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Willie Mabon, born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1925, was a blues singer, pianist and songwriter, who was very much of the Chicago school of blues performers, and enjoyed a career peak with two US R&B No. 1s in 1953, although he never reached the long-term heights of some of his more renowned contemporaries, and eventually moved to Europe in the 1970s to become part of the thriving blues scene in France and the UK. This 42-track 2- CD collection comprises most of his releases during this era on the Apollo, Aristocrat, Parrot, Chess, Mad, Formal & Solar labels, plus other Chess recordings which were not released at the time. It features his two No. R&B hits, “I Don’t Know” and “I’m Mad” and his 1955 R&B Top 10 hit “Poison Ivy”, along with other notable recordings including Willie Dixon’s “Seventh Son”. As a city blues artist, his songwriting often had a wry, tongue-in-cheek approach to social commentary, and his music had an urbane and stylishly streetwise feel, which comes across through this trawl across the primary era of his career.

ARTIST: Abbey Lincoln  TITLE: Early Years: The Albums Collection 1957-61 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9179  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Abbey Lincoln, born in Chicago in 1930, was a jazz vocalist and songwriter, who also became an actress and civil rights activist during the 1960s, and was married to renowned jazz drummer Max Roach. Greatly influenced by Billie Holiday, her stock-in-trade was the delivery of heartfelt versions of classic standards, as well as seamlessly interpolating her vocals into extended jazz improvisations. Scott Yanow at allmusic.com calls her “A dramatic performer whose interpretations were full of truth and insight – she always meant the lyrics she sang”. This 53-track collection features all the titles from albums at the start of her career, “A Story of A Girl In Love” on Liberty, “That’s Him”, “It’s Magic” and “Abbey Is Blue” on Riverside, “Straight Ahead” on Candid, and selected titles from the Max Roach albums “Moon-faced And Starry-eyed” on Mercury, and “Percussion Bitter Sweet” on Impulse. It features recordings with some of the noted jazz musicians of the era, including The Benny Carter Orchestra, and in the small groups, Kenny Dorham, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Max Roach, Benny Golson, Philly Joe Jones, Stanley Turrentine, Ray Bryant, Booker Little, Eric Dolphy and others. She was a highly distinctive song stylist and this is an enlightening and enjoyable showcase for an artist who is sometimes referred to as the last of the great jazz singers.

ARTIST: Ernie Freeman TITLE: Jivin' Around: The Singles & Albums Collection 1956-62 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ADDCD3584 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

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.

ARTIST: Georgie Shaw  TITLE: Somebody Else's Love Song: The Singles & Albums Collection 1953-59 GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3586 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Georgie Shaw was one of the old-school big-voiced pop singes of the early 1950s, somewhat in the mould of Eddie Fisher, who had to try to adapt to the cataclysmic changes in the pop market heralded by the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll in the charts. The fact that his last hit came in 1956 maybe tells its own story, but his versatility kept him competitive through to the end of the decade.  This 45-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides of his singles on Decca and MGM/Metro from these years, plus all the tracks from his Decca album “One For My Baby”. It features his US pop hits “Till We Two Are One”, “Somebody Else’s Love Song” and “A Faded Summer Love”, and his duet hit with Kitty Kallen “Go On With The Wedding”.He was a stylish and extrovert performer, able to turn his hand to different strands of pop, and this collection is a an enjoyable showcase for a talented vocalist who, had he arrived on the scene a few years earlier, could have been a much bigger star.

ARTIST: The Light Crust Doughboys TITLE: Swinging Down In Texas: The Singles Collection 1932-41  GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3587 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Light Crust Doughboys occupied a very unusual niche in popular music. They were a western swing band from Texas, created and organised in the early 1930s by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas, in order to promote the company’s brand of Light Crust Flour on radio and link that to advertising. The company’s president Lee O’Daniel, a natural showman, was at the heart of the strategy and often travelled to perform and record with the group. They became major stars and their recording career in their original incarnation lasted for around a decade. They recorded prolifically, and this 54-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides from their releases on Vocalion and Okeh from this era. It features western swing versions of classic country, folk, blues, jazz and pop songs like “Waiting For The Robert E. Lee”, “Washington And Lee Swing, “El Rancho Grande”, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”, “Chinatown My Chinatown”, “Birth Of The Blues”, “It Makes No Difference Now”, “My Blue Heaven” and many more. It features ace western swing musicians Jim Boyd, John Parker, Cecil Brower, Kenneth Pitts, Dick Reinhart, Marvin Montgomery and others. They were pioneers of the western swing genre, and this is a hugely entertaining set.

ARTIST: The Mississippi Sheiks TITLE: Sittin' On Top Of The World: The Collection 1930-35 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACTRCD9178 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

The Mississippi Sheiks were a country blues guitar and fiddle group of the early 1930s, variously comprising a trio or quartet, whose music ranged across various styles, incorporating popular material of the day as well as original compositions. The core of the group was the Chatmon family (sometimes spelt Chatman) from the Mississippi Delta, of whom the best known was Armenter Chatmon, who was also known as Bo Carter. The line-up also included Lonnie and Sam Chatmon, plus Walter Vinson, also known as Walter Jacobs. Making a living touring the southern states, they recorded for the Okeh, Columbia, Paramount and Bluebird labels through the first half of the decade, and became extremely influential and well-known, not least through their landmark hit “Sitting On Top Of The World”, which became a timeless standard, performed and recorded by dozens of artists over the years. This 69-track 3-CD collection comprises most of their career recordings, and includes other classics like “Stop And Listen Blues” and “Things About Comin’ My Way”. It’s atmospheric and evocative music, designed to entertain, and the collection is a substantial showcase for their distinctive brand of blues.

ARTIST: Ray Bryant TITLE: The Essential Ray Bryant: Trio & Solo Albums 1956-59 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3585 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Born in Philadelphia in 1931, Ray Bryant  learnt piano from an early age, playing in church, but soon switched from classical to jazz, and turned professional when he was 14. In the late ‘40s he toured with Tiny Grimes’ band, and then was a solo pianist in Syracuse,N.Y. before returning to Philadelphia to play  in clubs there, accompanying visiting musicians like Lester Young and Charlie Parker, and for a while was Carmen McRae’s accompanist until he began recording as soloist and leader. Although he was a fluent player in the bebop idiom, he combined blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, and stride in a distinctive, soulful, and swinging style; as Scott Yanow at Allmusic.com says, “no one played ‘After Hours’ quite like him”. This 37-track 2-CD comprise most of the titles from the albums with his trio “Ray Bryant Trio” on Epic, “Ray Bryant Trio” on Prestige, and “Ray Bryant Plays” on Signature, and from the solo album “Alone With The Blues” on New Jazz.  It also includes 1959 No. 12 R&B hit single “Little Susie” on Signature.It features recordings with bass players Wyatt Ruther, Ike Isaacs and Tommy Bryant and drummers Kenny Clarke, Jo Jones, Osie Johnson, Specs Wright and Oliver Jackson. His music was always accessible and entertaining, with fluent improvisations, and this collection of recordings from his early years is an enlightening showcase for his particular brand of jazz piano.

ARTIST: Various Artists  TITLE: The Greatest Country Hits Of 1951 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACTRCD9177  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

This release continues the series of multi-CD sets which comprises selected collections of the biggest US country hits of each year during the 1950s and early ‘60s, and this one looks at the earlier era of the decade in 1951. It was an unusual year, in that many fewer records than normal made it into the charts, with some records spending multiple weeks (even months) in the chart and at No. 1, so despite the fact that this 78-track collection features most of the records that appeared in Billboard’s Best Selling Retail Folk (Country & Western) Records, Most Played Juke Box Folk (Country & Western) Records and Country & Western Records Most Played by Folk Disc Jockeys charts, the records all fit onto a 3-CD set. (The collection omits several records which are unavailable for copyright reasons). There were plenty of established names from the 1940s still enjoying success, like Red Foley, Ernest Tubb, Eddy Arnold and Gene Autry, but new artists from the honky-tonk scene were making their impact around this time, with Hank Snow, Lefty Frizzell, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Carl Smith all having several hits. Patti Page is the only solo female artist featured, although Mary Ford, Margaret Whiting and Anita Carter are there in duets, and as is often the case with these collections there are also one or two collectable obscurities. It’s a fascinating and entertaining musical snapshot of the country scene as the music industry was embarking on a new decade, and with an in-depth 12,000+ word booklet with background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information, it gives a solid overview of the most popular country music of the year.


ARTIST: Various Artists  TITLE: The Christmas 1956 Billboard Top 100 GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ACQCD7194 FORMAT: 4CD BUY HERE: £19.00

As adjuncts to our popular “America’s Greatest Hits” series of collections for each calendar year in the 50s and early ‘60s, we have already produced collections based on landmark moments in the Billboard charts – “The First Top 100 Nov. 1955” (ACQCD7062), “The First Hot 100 Aug. 1958” (ACQCD7083), “The First Hot 100 of the '60s” (ACQCD7097), “The 'Heartbreak Hotel' Top 100” (ACQCD7122)and “The Day The Music Died - Feb 3rd 1959 Hot 100” (ACQCD7134), “The 'Telstar' Hot 100 December 22nd 1962” (ACQCD7144), “The Twist” Hot 100 Jan. 25th 1962”, “The 1000th Billboard Chart 7th September 1959”(ACQCD7164),  “The American Bandstand Us Top 100 5th Aug. 1957”,  “The JFK Inauguration Hot 100 20th January 1961” (ACQCD781) and “The 20th Anniversary Billboard Chart July 1960“. Rather than try to find another landmark anniversary this year, we have chosen to home in on the Christmas charts, which were often important in people’s lives, and start with 1956, a hugely important “turning point” year in pop, as rock ‘n’ roll got fully established. This collection features just about every record from the Hot 100 of 22nd December 1956, apart from two titles which are unfortunately unavailable for copyright reasons.  It provides a fascinating and evocative snapshot of the music scene at what was a dynamic and exciting time as new names and new music made their impact. We reckon the Top 5 was about as brilliant a line-up as any you could wish to see. As always with these chart collections, it includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings towards the bottom of the chart, of which even seasoned pop enthusiasts may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information.


ARTIST: Various Artists  TITLE: The 1953 R&B Hits Collection GENRE: R&B, BLUES CAT NO: ACQCD7195 FORMAT: 4CD BUY HERE: £19.00

This release fills in another of the gaps in our strand of R&B and country collections associated with Acrobat’s popular “America’s Greatest Hits” series, this one focusing on the top R&B records in the US Billboard charts during 1953. This great value 91-track 4-CD anthology includes, with the exception of certain records which are unavailable for inclusion due to copyright restrictions, just about every record which appeared during the year in the published Top 10 “Best Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records” and “Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues” charts. It was a fascinating time in R&B, with different elements of the genre creating the musical landscape from which rock ‘n’ roll was would soon emerge – Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown and Big Joe Turner had hits during the year, not to mention Big Mama Thornton’s original version of “Hound Dog”  – and the collection sees doowop groups like The Clovers and The Orioles jostling for elbow room with electric blues artists like B.B. King, Little Walter and Muddy Waters, and old school jump blues bands like Buddy Johnson, alongside solo singers like Big Maybelle, Chuck Willis and Varetta Dillard. As with all these collections, it provides a window onto a dynamic and exciting musical environment, and includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings of which even enthusiasts of the genre may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information.


ARTIST: Various Artists TITLE: America's Greatest Your Hit Parade Hits 1938 GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ACQCD7196 FORMAT: 4CD BUY HERE: £19.00

One of Acrobat’s most popular and successful series are the America’s Greatest Hits collections – 4-CD sets featuring the biggest hits from the Billboard charts from 1940, when the Billboard record sales chart was launched, through to 1962. However, before the Billboard chart was first published, the popular US weekly radio show Your Hit Parade, sponsored by Lucky Strike, began producing a chart in 1935, which was sometimes a Top 10, sometimes a Top 15, so we decided to take the America’s Greatest Hits format back into the Your Hit Parade era of the 1930s. This 95-track 4-CD collection comprises every record that featured in the Your Hit Parade chart during 1938. It was a varied musical landscape, with the big swing orchestras like those of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman making their mark, though often with middle-of-the-road vocal performances rather than jazzy pieces, although there’s plenty of hot stuff here too, from Duke Ellington, Chick Webb with Ella Fitzgerald and Red Norvo with Mildred Bailey. Along with them are the big dance bands who were popular on radio, including Guy Lombardo, Shep Fields, Larry Clinton, Horace Heidt, all with their featured vocalists, who included fine singers like Martha Tilton, Helen Forrest and Bea Wain, plus some of the top solo singers of the era, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Rudy Vallee and Fred Astaire among them, competing with each other as they recorded the future classics of the Great American Songbook that were coming out of Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley. It’s an enjoyable and fascinating musical snapshot of the era, complete with a 12,000 word booklet with notes on each track, and full discographical and chart information.