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ARTIST: Leroy Carr  TITLE: A Career Anthology - Vocalion & Bluebird Recordings 1928-35 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACSCD6012  FORMAT: 6CD COMING SOON: £22.00

Leroy Carr was one of the most important of all the early blues singers and songwriters. Music historian Elijah Wald called him "the most influential male blues singer and songwriter of the first half of the 20th century”. He was a pianist and singer, developing a distinctive and sophisticated laid-back style with a hip urban feel that was different from most of his country blues contemporaries. Working for much of his career with guitarist Scrapper Blackwell, he produced a substantial body of work in a few short years – his impact and influence is made all the more extraordinary by the fact that he succumbed to the effects of alcohol addiction in 1935 at the age of 31. This 130-track 6-CD collection comprises just about all his releases on the Vocalion and Bluebird labels, plus some titles that were not released at the time, and featuring many performances with Scrapper Blackwell, plus some with Josh White. It includes famous compositions like “How Long, How Long Blues”, “Blues Before Sunrise”, “Papa’s On The House Top”, “When The Sun Goes Down”, “Midnight Hour Blues”, “Shady Lane Blues”, “Hurry Down Sunshine” and more. It’s a substantial and comprehensive showcase for the work and talents of one of the genre’s true greats.

ARTIST: Josephine Baker  TITLE: J'ai Deux Amours - The Collection 1926-60 GENRE: Pop, Jazz, World, Nostalgia CAT NO: ACTRCD9174 FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00

Although a lot of the musical focus in the years after the cataclysmic mid-‘50s arrival of rock ‘n’ roll in the charts was on the personality singers, there were several strands of instrumental music which featured highly in the charts, and although the music comes from the rock ‘n’ roll era, by no means all of the records were rock ‘n’ roll-based. On the rock ‘n’ roll and R&B front, there were the guitar groups like the Ventures in the USA and The Shadows in the UK, plus the organ-based sounds of Johnny & The Hurricanes, Bill Black and Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez. There were plenty of orchestral hits, often with movie themes, plus some piano pieces and hangovers from an earlier era, along with Latin tunes, dance craze tunes, country records and novelty items. This 87-track 3-CD collection comprises most of the instrumental hits that made the US Top 10 and UK Top 5 from these years, plus some selected collectable obscurities and wild cards. It makes for fascinating listening, looking at the charts from a particular angle, and many of the records will spark special memories for baby-boomers who grew up through those years

ARTIST: Elmer Bernstein  TITLE: Movie Themes, Mood Music & More 1952-62 GENRE: Film Music, Pop, Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3577 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Elmer Bernstein was a composer and conductor who became renowned for his work in films and TV, writing, scoring and recording some of the most renowned and recognisable themes in in Hollywood history. He is not related to the renowned composer of stage musicals Leonard Bernstein. Born in 1922, he served in the USAF in WWII, working in Armed Forces Radio, and came to the fore in the early 1950s when he started writing for movies. This 44-track 2-CD collection primarily features soundtrack and commercial recordings of themes and other music written for films and albums during the first decade of his career. In addition, it includes selected titles from his albums “Blues And Brass” for Decca and “Movie & TV Themes” on the Choreo label. It includes “The Man With the Golden Arm”, “Staccato’s Theme”, “The Magnificent Seven”, and “Walk On The Wild Side”, plus themes from “The Ten Commandments”, “The Comancheros”, “To Kill A Mockingbird” and more. Although he composed for many different genres of film, his style was very distinctive, characterised by dramatic and atmospheric melodies and arrangements that invariably conjured up the mood and imagery of the subject. Comprising a selection of works from his early career, this collection offers an entertaining and evocative showcase for that style. 

ARTIST: Joni James TITLE: The Mood Albums 1960-61 GENRE: R&B, Pop, Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3578 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Joni James was a hugely successful American recording artist of the 1950s and ‘60s, having 25 hits by 1960, and was one of the few singers who were able to maintain the momentum of her career through from the middle-of-the-road pop era of the early ‘50s through into the post-rock ‘n’ roll era of the later decade and beyond. She was one of the first artists to concentrate on the album market, successfully releasing at least four a year through the formative years of the stereo LP boom. So prolific was she that it is hard to put together a representative collection of her albums, so we have chosen to bring together four albums from a period at the start of the 1960s which have a common thread, using the “Mood” concept in their titles. This 48-track 2-CD collection therefore comprises all the tracks from her themed albums for MGM, “I’m In The Mood For Love”, The Mood is Swinging”, “The Mood Is Romance” and “The Mood Is Blue”. Across the albums she works with the orchestras of Tony Acquaviva, Jack Marshall and Jimmie Haskell – on the “I’m In The Mood For Love” album she works within the “Hundred Strings And Joni” framework which she had previously established. She was a stylish performer of sophisticated pop, heard in this collection with interpretations of Great American Songbook standards, and it’s an enjoyably showcase for her distinctive approach.

ARTIST: Bob Brookmeyer TITLE: The Brookmeyer Bands - Early Years 1954-56 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3579 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Bob Brookmeyer, born in 1929, was a jazz trombonist, a renowned exponent of the valve trombone, who came to the fore during the 1950s with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra and in the Stan Getz group, before starting his career leading his own bands, as well as playing with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry and others. His compositional style drew on contemporary classical writing, incorporating atonality, chromatic harmony and other techniques to develop distinctive themes and structures. This 32-track 2-CD set comprises the titles from several of his early albums, on which he is leader, co-leader or featured perfomer. They comprise “Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet feat. Bob Brookmeyer” on Prestige (later released on the Prestige LP “The Dual Role Of Bob Brookmeyer”), “Bob Brookmeyer Featuring Al Cohn” on Storyville, “The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet” on Pacific Jazz, “Bob Brookmeyer Plays Bob Brookmeyer” on Clef and “The Bob Brookmeyer Quintet” on Prestige (also part of “The Dual Role Of Bob Brookmeyer”). It features performances with Teddy Charles, Teddy Kotick, Ed Shaughnessy, Al Cohn, John Williams, Bill Anthony, Frank Isola, Henri Renaud, Jimmy Gourley, Red Mitchell, Jimmy Rowles, Buddy Clark, Mel Lewis and Jimmy Raney. Capturing him in the early years of his career, it’s an enlightening introduction his music and an enjoyable showcase for distinctive style of playing and composing.

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: Jimmie Rodgers TITLE: A Career Anthology - RCA & Bluebird Releases 1927-33 GENRE: Country, Folk CAT NO: ACFCD7524  FORMAT: 5CD COMING SOON: £19.00

Jimmie Rodgers was one of the true pioneers of country music, often called “The Father Of Country Music” as well as “The Singing Brakeman” (he worked on the railroads before becoming a professional musician), who broke new ground with his landmark hillbilly recordings of the late 1920s and early ’30s. His achievements were all the more remarkable, given that he died from tuberculosis in 1933 at the age of 35, having been first diagnosed with the disease in 1924. He has been cited as an inspiration by artists from all walks of popular music across the decades. He was especially famous for his trademark yodelling, with his recordings featuring a series of his renowned “Blue Yodels”. This 110-track 5-CD collection comprises just about all his career releases, which came out on the Victor and Bluebird labels. It naturally features all his best known classics – “In The Jailhouse Now”, “Brakeman’s Blues”, “Waiting For A Train”, “Blue Yodel No. 1”, “Mule Skinner Blues” and more. He was a hugely important and influential personality whose impact in country, blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll is still making itself felt. This collection offers a substantial and thorough overview of his music and career, and an entertaining showcase for his unique and innovative music.

ARTIST: Various Artists TITLE: Instrumental Hits of The Rock 'n' Roll Era 1957-62 GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ACTRCD9173 FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00

Although a lot of the musical focus in the years after the cataclysmic mid-‘50s arrival of rock ‘n’ roll in the charts was on the personality singers, there were several strands of instrumental music which featured highly in the charts, and although the music comes from the rock ‘n’ roll era, by no means all of the records were rock ‘n’ roll-based. On the rock ‘n’ roll and R&B front, there were the guitar groups like the Ventures in the USA and The Shadows in the UK, plus the organ-based sounds of Johnny & The Hurricanes, Bill Black and Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez. There were plenty of orchestral hits, often with movie themes, plus some piano pieces and hangovers from an earlier era, along with Latin tunes, dance craze tunes, country records and novelty items. This 87-track 3-CD collection comprises most of the instrumental hits that made the US Top 10 and UK Top 5 from these years, plus some selected collectable obscurities and wild cards. It makes for fascinating listening, looking at the charts from a particular angle, and many of the records will spark special memories for baby-boomers who grew up through those years

ARTIST: Sophie Tucker  TITLE: Red Hot Mama - All The Hits And More 1911-37 GENRE: Nostalgia, Easy Listening, Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3573 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Sophie Tucker was one of the innovative female stars of the early recording era, a Russian-born immigrant who became a hugely popular singer, comedian, actress and radio personality, and was a natural on the vaudeville stage.  She became a movie actress, as well as building a parallel career in the UK, and remained active and visible well into the post-war decades. She became famous for her risqué material and performed extrovert songs that brought her the nicknames of “Red Hot Mama” and “Last Of The Red Hot Mamas”. This 49-track 2-CD collection comprises all her twenty career hits, plus selected releases on the Okeh, Columbia, Columbia UK, Vocalion UK ‘Broadcast Twelve’ series, Parlophone  and Decca labels from this era.  It features her classic best-known hit “Some Of These Days”, along with “Red Hot Mama”, “My Yiddishe Momme”, “I’m The Last Of The Red-Hot Mamas”, “After You’ve Gone”, “I Ain’t Got Nobody”, “The Man I Love” and “The Lady Is A Tramp” – those hits obviously include early versions of songs that became enduring standards, and there are plenty more of those in the set as well. She was a highly distinctive larger-than-life personality and this collection is an entertaining showcase for the qualities that made her such a popular artist across several decades.

ARTIST: Mel Walker TITLE: Rockin' Blues - The Singles Collection 1950-53 GENRE: R&B, Blues CAT NO: ADDCD3574 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Walker was an R&B singer, born in Texas in 1928, and a schoolmate of pianist Floyd Dixon, who came to the fore after being discovered by singer, bandleader, composer and producer Johnnie Otis in 1949 – Otis was a legendarily influential mover and shaker in the R&B world during that era. Most of Walker’s success came as a result of his association with Otis, sometimes recording with another of Otis’ protegés Little Esther Phillips. His style was smooth and heavily blues-influenced. He did not record prolifically, and this 43-track 2-CD collection comprises singles with the band of Johnny Otis, plus duets with Little Esther and solo releases on the Savoy, Regent and Mercury labels during this era, along with titles recorded for Savoy and Mercury which were not released at the time. It  features the R&B No. 1s “Mistrustin’ Blues” and “Cupid Boogie”,  the R&B No. 2s “Rockin’ Blues” and “Gee Baby”, and the R&B Top 10 hits “Wedding Boogie”, “Far Away Blues”, “Cry Baby” and “Call Operator”. His career was curtailed by his arrest on narcotics charges, and he never made it back into the big time, dying prematurely at the age of 36 from an apparent drug overdose. He was a stylish and underestimated performer, and this collection offers an enlightening insight into his all-too brief career.

ARTIST: Georgie Auld TITLE: Let's Jump - Selected Recordings 1944-51 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3575 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Georgie Auld was a tenor saxophonist of French-Canadian extraction, born in 1919, whose family moved from Toronto to New York in 1929, by which time he had already started learning to play the saxophone - first an alto and then a tenor. He started working in swing bands in the late ‘30s, notably those of Bunny Berigan and Artie Shaw, and then in the early ‘40s with Benny Goodman, proving a stylish and versatile soloist. The bands he led during the mid-1940s are seen as excellent transitional units between swing and bop. This 50-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings leading his own bands on the Apollo, Guild, Musicraft, Discovery and Roost labels during these years, before he joined Count Basie’s Octet and then started making albums for Coral in the ‘50s. It includes selected titles featuring vocalists Sarah Vaughan and Lynne Stevens. There are  performances with Charlie Shavers, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Butterfield, Al Cohn, Manny Albam, Erroll Garner, Shadow Wilson, Neal Hefti, and Gerry Mulligan as band members. Comprising a mixture of standards and original compositions, it’s a style of jazz that does not challenge musical boundaries, but is designed to be entertaining and accessible, and those are objectives he readily achieves.

ARTIST: Angelic Gospel Singers TITLE: Touch Me Lord Jesus -The Singles Collection 1949-62 GENRE: Gospel CAT NO:  ADDCD3576 FORMAT: 5CD COMING SOON: £12.00

The Angelic Gospel Singers were formed in 1944 in Philadelphia by Margaret Allison, and were one of the groups that helped move gospel music from its established base in jubilee quartets towards the freer and less structured approach of the 1950s groups who provided a training ground and springboard for soul singers of the 1960s. A quartet comprising Allison with her sister Josephine McDowell, Ella Mae Norris and Lucille Shird, they made a huge impact with their first release in 1949, a million-selling hit with “Touch Me, Lord Jesus”, which propelled them into public consciousness, and they remained in the vanguard of contemporary gospel through into the ‘60s. This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises most of the A & B sides of their releases on the Gotham and Nashboro labels during this era, including recordings which they made for Gotham with the Dixie Hummingbirds. Along with their big debut hit “Touch Me Lord Jesus”, it features many classic gospel songs like “Angels Watching Over Me”, “There Must be a Heaven Somewhere”, “Just Jesus”, “Tell the Angels”, “Milky White Way” and “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”, plus many of Margaret Allison’s own fine compositions. It’s 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: Johnny Cash TITLE: Next In Line: The Early Country Hits 1955-59 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1693  FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £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 COMING SOON: £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 COMING SOON: £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 Difference 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 COMING SOON: £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 COMING SOON: £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 catalogue. 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: The Golden Gate Quartet     TITLE: Early Years - Bluebird, Victor & Okeh Recordings 1937-43 GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ACTRCD9172  FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00

The Golden Gate Quartet is one of the longest-established gospel quartets of all time, with the group still performing 90 years after its inception, maintaining continuous visibility through regular line-up changes as existing members retire. Formed in 1934 as the Golden Gate Jubilee Singers in Norfolk, Virginia, they were pioneers in the commercial dimension of the genre in the, and got a regular radio show in South Carolina in 1936, which led to a recording contract with Bluebird, with whom they stayed until joining Okeh/ Columbia.  This 83-track 3-CD collection comprises a significant proportion of their A & B sides on the Bluebird, Victor, Okeh and Columbia labels during this first crucial early era of their career, with most of the releases coming out as under the name The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet – they dropped the ‘Jubilee’ when they joined Okeh. This collection features their classic early line-up of William Langford and Henry Owens (tenor), Willie Johnson (baritone) and Orlandus Wilson (bass). The collection features some of their most noted recordings, including “John The Revelator”, “Samson And Delilah”, “Rock My Soul” and “Jonah In The Whale”. It’s a substantial overview of this period of their career when they established their reputation, when they enjoyed massive acceptance outside the church, and is a great showcase for their distinctive approach to gospel.

ARTIST: Kenny Dorham  TITLE: Early Years  - The Original Albums 1953-56 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3568 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Kenny Dorham was a jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader, born in Texas in 1924, who was always highly regarded and widely respected, without breaking into the upper echelons of the genre alongside high profile giants like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. Jazz writer Garry Giddins said that “Dorham's name has become ‘virtually synonymous with 'underrated’’”. Beginning his recording career in 1945 as the bebop revolution took hold, he recorded as a sideman with a host of major names, most notably Charlie Parker, until recording his first session leading his own band in 1953, for the Debut label. This 2-CD collection comprises the complete original contents of four of his early albums as leader – “The Kenny Dorham Quintet” on Debut, “Afro-Cuban” and “'Round About Midnight – ‘Live’ At The Cafe Bohemia” on Blue Note and “Kenny Dorham & The Jazz Prophets” on ABC-Paramount. He records with various quintet and sextet line-ups (expanded with percussion on “Afro-Cuba”), which feature significant jazz names of the day, including Jimmy Heath, Walter Bishop, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, J.J. Johnson, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Oscar Pettiford, Bobby Timmons, Arthur Edgehill and more. Featuring a mixture of original compositions and standards, it showcases his qualities as both trumpeter and leader.

ARTIST: Fabian   TITLE: Hound Dog Man - The Singles & Albums Collection 1959-62 GENRE: Pop, Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ADDCD3569 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Fabian was an archetypal example of the coterie of teen idols who came to the fore in the wake of rock ‘n’ roll, as the artist managers and producers sought out good-looking teenagers who they thought could be moulded into potential pop stars marketed to the huge receptive teen market, regardless of whether they were particularly talented or not. Born Fabian Forte in Philadelphia in 1943, he was from that city’s Italian-American community, as were some of the entrepreneurs who owned the successful record companies based there. He was spotted by Robert Marcucci, co-owner of Chancellor Records, who already had Frankie Avalaon under contract, who persuaded the 15-year-old and his family that he could be a star. This 67-track 2-CD collection comprising the A & B sides of his singles on the Chancellor and Dot labels from these years, along with selected tracks from his albums “Hold That Tiger”, “Fabulous Fabian”, “Good Old Summertime” and “Rockin’ Hot”. It features all his career chart entries including the Top 10 hits “Hound Dog Man”, “Turn Me Loose” and “Tiger”, plus “I’m A Man”, “Come On And Get Me”, “This Friendly World” and more. Disillusioned, he left the record business in 1963 and went into movies. This collection is a substantial and reasonably comprehensive musical narrative of the major part of the career of a reluctant teen idol.

ARTIST: Morgana King TITLE: The Early Years - Classic Albums 1956-59 GENRE: Jazz, Pop, Easy Listening CAT NO: ADDCD3570 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Morgana King was a jazz and sophisticated pop singer, who also became a successful movie actor, and juggled the two careers across three or four decades. The daughter of Sicilian parents, she was born Maria Morgana Messina in Pleasantville, NY, in 1930, she started singing professionally when she was 16, and in her early ‘20s was spotted performing in a Greenwich Village club, which eventually led to a recording contract with Mercury. This 49-track 2-CD collection comprises all the titles from her albums “For You, For Me, Forever More” on Emarcy, “Sings The Blues” on Mercury  “Let Me Love You” on United Artists and “Greatest Songs Ever Swung” on RCA, plus titles from singles on Mercury. It features performances with top class small jazz groups, which variously include noted names like Harvey Leonard, Terry Gibbs, Barry Galbraith, Ernie Furtado, Chauncey Welsch, Hank Jones, Al Caiola, Mundell Lowe, Jimmy Jones, Chuck Wayne, and others.  She later made her screen debut as Mama Corleone in the 1972 movie “The Godfather” and became a major star. This collection provides a great introduction to her music via her early albums and offers substantial and entertaining showcase for her stylish and elegantly distinctive way with a song.

ARTIST: Roy Acuff & His Smoky Mountain Boys TITLE: The Godfather Of Country - Selected Singles 1936-61 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3571 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Roy Acuff was a hugely important personality in the development of modern country, a singer and fiddle-player who became an influential music publisher with songwriter Fred Rose as owners of the the Acuff-Rose company in Nashville, helping to move the industry from its hillbilly origins towards the singer-based styles of the post-war era. He was so popular in his day that hank Williams said: “He's the biggest singer this music ever knew. … For drawing power in the South, it was Roy Acuff, then God.” Born in Tennessee in 1903, he started performing in the 1930s on the medicine show circuit before forming his first bands, which eventually became The Smoky Mountain Boys. He recorded prolifically through the years and this 54-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides of his releases on the Vocalion/Conqueror, Okeh, Columbia, Capitol, Decca and Hickory labels from the quarter-century period it covers. It features all his US pop and country hits from these years, including the Top 10 hits, “The Prodigal Son”, “I’ll Forgive You But I Can’t Forget”, “Write Me Sweetheart”, “(Our Own) Jole Blon”, “Waltz Of The Wind”, “Once More”, and other classics like “The Great Speckled Bird”, “Wabash Cannonball” and “Tennessee Waltz”. He was a highly distinctive talent, and addressing as it does a dynamic and varied era in the genre, this collection showcases Roy’s music across the years.

ARTIST: Marion Harris TITLE: All The Hits And More 1916 -1930 GENRE: Nostalgia, Easy Listening, Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3572 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Marion Harris was one of the most popular and successful female singers in the early era of the recording industry, and she had a concentrated string of hits during those years, often recording the original hit versions of songs which went on to become ubiquitous standards of the Great American Songbook. Born Mary Harrison in Indiana in 1896, she started performing in vaudeville in Chicago around 1914, and made her debut in an Irving Berlin revue on Broadway the following year, which led to a recording contract with the Victor Talking Machine Company. This 45-track 2-CD collection comprises all her 43 US hits on the Victor, Columbia and Brunswick labels, plus selected bonus tracks. It features the No.1s “After You’ve Gone”, “St. Louis Blues”, “Look For The Silver Lining” and “Tea For Two”, plus early hit versions of future classics like “I Ain’t Got Nobody”, “I’m Nobody’s Baby”, “Beale Street Blues”, “Who’s Sorry Now”, “I’ll See You In My Dreams”, “The Man I Love” and more. She was a song stylist who was very much of her era, performing not so much in the Roaring Twenties style, but more in the mainstream pop mode which was equally characteristic of the times. It’s a fine showcase for her distinctive way with a song, and an evocative window onto the popular music of the day.

ARTIST: Various Artists TITLE: The Philadelphia Labels Hits Collection 1957-62 Vol. 1: Swan, Chancellor & Guyden GENRE: Pop, Rock 'n' Roll, R&B CAT NO: ACTRCD9170  FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00
              
Philadelphia was a hugely active, powerful and influential city in the pop music of the late 1950s and early ‘60s, partly reflecting the creative and commercial energy of the Italian-American community there. A number of successful independent record companies were established there, which mostly had one or two highly successful acts and a number of lesser-known ones, who also had hits. Acrobat has compiled two 3-CD collections to bring together all the hits from these labels during these years, and this first volume is devoted to the Swan label, with the songwriting and production team of Bob Crewe and Frank Slay at its core, the Chancellor label, whose founders and driving forces were Robert Marcucci and Peter De Angelis, and Guyden, a sister label of Jamie (see Vol. 2) plus the small imprints Landa and XYZ. Swan’s biggest names, who had multiple hits, were Freddy Cannon, Danny & The Juniors, Dicky Doo & The Don’ts and Billy & Lillie, plus many who had one-off successes, while Chancellor’s principal stars were Frankie Avalon and Fabian, along with Jodie Sands and many others with one or two hits. Just about every track in this 91-track 3- CD set was a Top 100 or Hot 100 chart entry, so it’s a thoroughly entertaining insight into a particular aspect of the music scene of the time, with plenty of collectable obscurities alongside the big names

ARTIST: Various Artists TITLE: The Philadelphia Labels Hits Collection 1957-62 Vol. 2: Cameo, Parkway & Jamie GENRE: Pop, Rock 'n' Roll, R&B CAT NO: ACTRCD9171 FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00
    
Philadelphia was a hugely active, powerful and influential city in the pop music of the late 1950s and early ‘60s, partly reflecting the creative and commercial energy of the Italian-American community there. A number of successful independent record companies were established there, which mostly had one or two highly successful acts and a number of lesser-known ones, who also had hits. Acrobat has compiled two 3-CD collections to bring together all the hits from these labels during these years,, and this second volume is devoted to the Cameo label, founded by the songwriting and production team of Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe, assisted by David Appel, and its sister label Parkway, with the same personalities at its head, plus the Jamie label, founded by Harold Lipsius, who also acquired Guyden. Cameo’s biggest stars, who had multiple hits were Charlie Gracie and Bobby Rydell, plus notable names like Dee Dee Sharp and The Orlons, along with many who had one-off successes. Parkway’s principal star was Chubby Checker, along with The Dovells, while many of Jamie’s hits came from guitarist Duane Eddy. Just about every track in this 94-track 3- CD set was a Top 100 or Hot 100 chart entry, so it’s a thoroughly entertaining insight into a particular aspect of the music scene of the time, with plenty of collectable obscurities alongside the big names.  

ARTIST: Ella Johnson with The Buddy Johnson Orchestra TITLE: That's The Stuff - The Singles Collection 1940-57 GENRE: R&B, Blues CAT NO: ADDCD3564 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
R&B singer Ella Johnson, born in South Carolina in 1919, was the sister of pianist and bandleader Buddy Johnson, and when she was a teenager she joined him in New York to start performing with his band at the Savoy Ballroom, drawing comparisons with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She made her first records in 1940, and ffter a decade or more having hits with Buddy she branched out and made records under her own name in the 1950s, and was active into the rock ‘n’ roll era. This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises releases with The Buddy Johnson Orchestra and under her own name on the Decca, Harlem, Mercury and Wing labels from these years. It includes all the US pop and R&B hits on which she is featured, among them the R&B No. 1 “When My Man Comes Home”, the R&B No. 2 “That’s The Stuff You Gotta Watch”, plus “I Don’t Care Who Knows”, “Hittin’ On Me”, “I’m Just Your Fool”, “Gotta Go Upside Your Head”, “I Don’t Want Nobody” and “Bring It On Home To Me”. She was a fine singer who was a very important part for brother Buddy’s success over the years, and she was one of the artists who bridged the gap between jump blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll during the ‘40s and ‘50s.

ARTIST: The Art Van Damme Quintet   TITLE: The King Of Jazz Accordion – Five Early Albums 1947-54 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3565 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Art Van Damme was one of those very rare animals – a jazz accordionist, and he became undoubtedly the most prominent exponent of his instrument in the history of the genre. Born in Michigan in 1920, he took up the accordion when he was nine, and studied classically after his family moved to Chicago in 1934. He started recording in the mid-1940s around the time he started working for NBC radio, and while his style and sound was compared to Benny Goodman’s clarinet technique, his early albums were very much in the style that was called “cocktail jazz”, and none the less entertaining for that. This 56-track 2-CD collection comprises all the tracks from five of his first six  albums – the 10” LP “Cocktail Capers” and the 12” LP “More Cocktail Capers” for Capitol, and the 12” albums “Martini Time”, “The Van Damme Sound” and “Manhattan Time” on Columbia. He almost invariably performed in a quintet format, the personnel generally featuring Charles Calzaretta (vibes), Claude Schneider or Fred Rundquist (guitar), Lew Skalinder (bass) and Max Mariash (drums). He was an absolute master of his instrument, and his arrangements of the many Great American Songbook standards included here, plus a number of original compositions, make for enlightening, fascinating and entertaining listening.

ARTIST: Nat Shilkret & The Victor Orchestra TITLE: The Hits Collection 1924-32  GENRE: Easy Listening, Nostalgia CAT NO: ADDCD3566 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

This is another in our series of collections devoted to the great innovative bandleaders of the early age of commercial recording in the 1920s and ‘30s, whose orchestras were primarily dance bands, performing the new music coming from Broadway and Tin Pan Alley when many future Great American Songbook standards were being composed and recorded for the first time, but also playing some ‘hot’ jazz-influenced music along the way. Clarinetist and pianist Nat Shilkret’s orchestra recorded for Victor, as is clear from his orchestra’s name, and he had more hits than we could fit on a 2-CD set, so this 47-track collection comprises as many of those hits as we could accommodate, omitting a couple of which we could not locate usable copies, and those that made the lowest positions. It includes hits not only as the Victor Orchestra, but also under the names The International Novelty Orchestra, The Troubadours and The Virginians. It features the No. 1 “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”, and the Top 3 hits “All Alone Monday”, “Hallelujah!”, “Diane”, “The Sidewalks of New York”, “Jeannine (I Dream Of Lilac Time)”, “You Were Meant For Me”, “Pagan Love Song” and “Chant of The Jungle”, with performances by featured vocalists Elliott Shaw, Johnny Marvin, Franklyn Bauer, Scrappy Lambert, Frank Munn, Lewis James, Paul Small and others. It’s an evocative collection that captures the unique style and spirit of the times.

ARTIST: Claude King TITLE: The Road To Wolverton Mountain - Complete Releases 1947-62 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3567 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
        
Claude King was a country music singer, songwriter and guitarist, born near the country music hub of Shreveport, Louisiana in 1923. He got a baseball scholarship to the University of Idaho, and served in the US Navy during WWII, before starting to play country music, joining the new radio show The Louisiana Hayride when it started broadcasting from Shreveport in 1948. Working in a band with future star Tillman Franks, he made his first records in 1947, and recorded occasionally during the ‘50s for Gotham in 1950, for Specialty in 1952, and DeeJay in 1957, before joining Columbia in 1961 and having a debut hit with his first single followed by his landmark country No. 1 with “Wolverton Mountain” in 1962. This 34 track 2-CD  collection comprises all his A&B sides on the President, Gotham, Specialty, Dee-Jay and Columbia labels from these years, plus the tracks from his Columbia album “Meet Claude King” not otherwise released on singles. It features his US pop and country hits from this era, including the country No. 1 “Wolverton Mountain”, along with “Big River, Big Man”, “The Comancheros”, “The Burning Of Atlanta”, “I’ve Got The World By The Tail” and “Sheepskin Valley”. It’s as complete and substantial a collection as we could compile from this era, and it’s an admirable showcase for a distinctive and talented artist.

NEW RELEASES July 2025 

ARTIST: Memphis Minnie TITLE: The Queen Of Country Blues - Selected Recordings 1929-53 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACQCD7193  FORMAT: 4CD COMING SOON: £19.00
              
Lizzie Douglas, otherwise known as Memphis Minnie, was a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter from Mississippi, born in 1897, who ran away from home when she was 13 to start playing on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. She started performing with her second husband Kansas Joe McCoy and they made their first records in 1929 – she remained active as a performer and recording artist until the 1950s. She was without doubt one of the true pioneers among female country blues artists. This 99-track 4-CD collection comprises selected A and B sides from her releases on the Columbia, Vocalion, Decca, Bluebird, Okeh, Regal, Checker and J.O.B. labels covering the spectrum of her career – she recorded over 200 titles, so this set offers a representative selection. It Includes classics like “Bumble Bee”, “When the Levee Breaks, “Me And My Chauffeur Blues”, Nothing in Rambling” and many more. Apart from the recordings with Kansas Joe McCoy, it also features performances with Casey Bill Weldon, Little Son Joe and others. Among the blues artists of her era, she was particularly influential, not least as her career spanned a crucial quarter century in the genre. This collection offers a substantial and nicely representative showcase for her distinctive style of blues.

ARTIST: Thelonious Monk TITLE: The Early Albums 1951-54 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3559 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
    
Thelonious Monk was one of the most innovative and influential of the pioneering bebop pianists and composers with a uniquely distinctive and idiosyncratic style characterised by an angular, percussive and occasionally dissonant approach. He came to the fore in the 1940s, so when the era of the vinyl long-playing album dawned in the 1950s, he was ideally placed to take advantage of it. This 38-track 2-CD collection comprises the titles from his first 10” LPs on Blue Note and Prestige. The first two on Blue Note, “, “Genius Of Modern Music Vols. 1 & 2”, combine titles from sessions in the late ‘40s which were released as singles with some from 1951 sessions. The Prestige titles from the albums “Thelonious”, “Thelonious Monk Quintet Blows for LP”, “Thelonious Monk Quintet” and “Thelonious Monk Plays”, were conceived as album projects, featuring extended performances, for which dedicate sessions were done from 1952 through to 1954.We also include bonus titles from a solo session in Paris in 1954. It features performances in the various Trio, Quartet, Quintet and Sextet line-ups with noted musicians of the day, including Gene Ramey, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, Gary Mapp, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Percy Heath, Al McKibbon, Ray Copeland, Frank Foster, Curley Russell and more. It’s a set which captures one of the true greats of the genre at a key period of his career.

ARTIST: Teddy Wilson   TITLE: All the Hits And More 1935-39 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3560 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Teddy Wilson is often referred to as the definitive swing pianist, stylish, elegant and technically and artistically brilliant, and adept in any setting, be it solo, small bands or orchestras, as a leader or sideman. He was  renowned as one of the most sensitive and sought-after accompanists, especially by female vocalists of the day, and is particularly  celebrated for his work with Billie Holiday. In the era before the introduction of the Billboard charts in 1940, Joel Whitburn’s respected book “Pop Memories 1890-1954”, which lists artists hits based on various sources, and also the Your Hit Parade chart published by the popular radio show, are treated as the most reliable guides as to what were “hits”. This 47-track 2-CD collection comprises all Teddy Wilson’s 38 career hits based on those sources under his own name, along with selected A & B sides from this era. It Includes the No. 1 hits “Carelessly” and “You Can’t Stop Me From Dreaming”, and other Top 3 hits with “The Way You Look Tonight”, “Pennies From Heaven” “There’s A Lull In My Life” and “Remember Me”.It includes performances by featured vocalists Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Helen Ward, Red Harper and others, and recordings with major jazz names likes Roy Eldridge, Lionel Hampton, Ben Webster, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Cozy Cole, Harry James, Buck Clayton and more, featured in his ensembles. Looking at his career from a particular angle, his hits, it’s a great showcase for an important and influential artist.

ARTIST: Ray Peterson   TITLE: Tell Laura I Love Her - The Singles Collection 1957-62 GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3561 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Ray Peterson, born in Texas in 1935, was a singer with an extraordinary four-octave range, enabling him to reach extremely high notes, and that distinctive talent enabled him to get a recording contract with RCA after he moved to Los Angeles. He had a number of hits, the biggest and most memorable of which were with two very different landmark songs – the teenage tragedy saga “Tell Laura I Love Her”, and the dramatic balled “The Wonder Of You”, later taken to new heights by Elvis Presley. This 36-track 2-CD collection comprises most of his A and B sides on the RCA and Dunes labels from this era, which include the titles from his album “Tell Laura I Love Her”. It features his big US hits with the original versions of “The Wonder of You” and “Tell Laura I Love Her” and his other hits from these years, including “Goodnight My Love”, “Answer Me My Love”, “Corrine Corrina” and “Missing You. He was a highly distinctive and notable talent, who was one of the many artists whose career was submerged by the British Invasion, and this collection offers a enjoyable overview of his work from the primary era of his career.

ARTIST: Cathy Carr TITLE: Ivory Tower - The Singles & Albums Collection 1953-62  GENRE: Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3562 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Cathy Carr, born Angelina Cordovano in the Bronx in 1936, was a child star on TV and performed in WWII with the USO, and later sang with the bands of Sammy Kaye and Johnny Dee. 
She got her first recording contract in 1953 when she was 17, and between 1956 and 1962 she had a run of half a dozen US hits, of which the biggest was her No. 2 chart debut in 1956 with “Ivory Tower”. She was very much a singer of the pre-rock ‘n’ roll era, who adapted to the new music by retaining her teen focus, and not moving on to more sophisticated styles until long after her chart career ended. This 58-track 2-CD collection comprises most of her A & B sides on the Coral, Fraternity, Roulette, Smash and Laurie labels from this era, along with almost all the titles from her albums “Ivory Tower” on Fraternity and “Shy” on Roulette. It features all her career hits, including the No. 2 “Ivory Tower”, along with “Heart Hideaway”, First Anniversary”, I’m Gonna Change Him”, “Little Sister” and “Sailor Boy”. It has performances with some notable orchestras of the day, including Don Costa, Dan Belloc, Lew Douglas, Hugo Peretti, Joe Reisman, Henry Glover and Billy Mure. It’s a substantial and enjoyable showcase for an artist we don’t hear too much about, but who was a stylish and distinctive performer.

ARTIST: Bill Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers TITLE: The Singles Collection 1934-51 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3562 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
        
Bill Boyd, born in 1910 and raised on a farm in Texas, survived the hard times of the Depression by getting work performing on radio as well as working on the farm. 

He was a singer and guitarist, a fan of early hillbilly star Jimmie Rogers, and became one of the pioneers of the style which became known as Western Swing when he formed his band The Country Ramblers in the early 1930s. With his own radio show in those days, called “The Bill Boyd Ranch House”, he recorded well over 200 sides for the Bluebird and RCA labels from his 1934 debut through into the 1950s, when the careers of Bill and his brother Jim started to wind down. This 54-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A and B sides from his releases on the Bluebird and RCA-Victor labels from across his career. It features his US country hits “Shame On You” and “New Steel Guitar Rag”, along with western swing classics like “Under The Double Eagle”, “Wah-Hoo”, “Fan It”, “Beaumont Rag” and “I’ve Got Those Oklahoma Blues”, offering a selection of both vocal and virtuoso instrumental performances. It is naturally a highly selective compilation from his large body of work, and only crosses over to a small extent with Acrobat’s existing single-CD Bill Boyd Collections “Saturday Night Rag 19934-36” (ACRCD132) and “Lone Star Rag 1937-39” (ACRCD145). He was a ground-breaking artist and this is an enjoyable overview of his recording career.
 

NEW RELEASES June 2025 

ARTIST: Sonny Rollins TITLE: The Prestige Albums 1953-57 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRD9168  FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00
              
Sonny Rollins, who at the time of writing is still alive at the age of 94, is one of the giants of modern jazz, and along with John Coltrane, perhaps the most influential personality as far as the tenor saxophone in jazz is concerned. So long and varied has his stellar career been that it is impossible to identify the most significant highlights – all one can do is pick out key moments, periods and collaborations which are notable and interesting, and this collection aims to do exactly that. This 3-CD collection is devoted to early albums which he made for the Prestige label at the dawn of the vinyl long-player era, when jazz musicians and record companies began to devise concept albums with the opportunities offered by the new format. This set comprises the tracks from eight original 10” and 12” albums on the Prestige label - “The Sonny Rollins Quartet”, “Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet”, “Sonny Rollins Quintet feat. Kenny Dorham”, “Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk”, “Work Time”, “Sonny Rollins & Clifford Brown Plus Four”, “Tenor Madness” and “Saxophone Colossus”. They feature Sonny mainly in quartet and quintet formats with a significant cohort of major names - Kenny Drew, Percy Heath, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, Roy Haynes, Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Kenny Clarke, Kenny Dorham, Elmo Hope, Thelonious Monk, Ray Bryant, Clifford Brown, Richie Powell, George Morrow, Max Roach, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Tommy Flanagan and others. It’s a fascinating and entertaining snapshot of an important time in his career.  

ARTIST: Jay McShann TITLE: Hootie Swings The Blues 1941-56 GENRE: R&B, Blues, Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9169 FORMAT: 3CD COMING SOON: £15.00
    
Jay McShann was an R&B, blues and jazz pianist, singer, composer and bandleader, originally hailing from Oklahoma but basing himself in Kansas City. He played an important role during the 1940s and ‘50s scene as a leading performer of a particular style of R&B which spanned the various shades of the genre, and provided an important vehicle for top vocalists of the era like Jimmy Witherspoon and Walter Brown, as well as an early staging post for fellow Kansas City luminary Charlie Parker.  This 77-track 3-CD collection comprises recordings, both solo and with his various line-ups, from these years on the Decca, Capitol, Aladdin, Premier, Mercury, Supreme, Swing Time/Downbeat, Modern, Rex Hollywood and Vee Jay labels. It includes the No. 1 R&B hit “Ain’t Nobody’s Business (Pts 1&2)” featuring Jimmy Witherspoon, and his other hits “Get Me On Your Mind”, “Buttermilk”, “Hot Biscuits” and Hands Off”. It features performances by featured vocalists Jimmy Witherspoon, Walter Brown, Julia Lee, Numa Lee Davis, Lois Booker, Maxine Reed and Priscilla Bowman. Although he continued performing through the rest of the century, this collection captures an era at which he was at the peak of his influence and relevance, and is a great showcase for his distinctive style of R&B and blues.

ARTIST: Johnny & The Hurricanes   TITLE: The Singles & Albums Collection 1959-62 GENRE: Pop, Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ADDCD3555 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Johnny And The Hurricanes occupy a unique and distinctive niche in pop music as creators of a very particular strand in the boom in rock ‘n’ roll instrumentals in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio, they specialised in adapting traditional tunes into the rock idiom, using their unusual Hammond chord organ sound alongside a saxophone on their hit sides, but also featuring guitar on B sides and albums. This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises the A&B sides of their singles on the Warwick and Big Top labels, plus the tracks from their Warwick albums “Johnny & The Hurricanes” and “Stormsville”, and their Big Top album “The Big Sound Of Johnny & The Hurricanes”, not otherwise released on singles. It features their career hits “Crossfire”, “Red River Rock”, “Reveille Rock”, “Beatnik Fly”, “Down Yonder”, “Revival”, “Rocking Goose”, “You Are My Sunshine”, “Ja-Da”, “Old Smokie” and “High Voltage”. They immediately became hugely popular in Europe, and The Beatles were the support act when they played the Star Club in Hamburg in 1962. This is a thorough overview of their key early career and a fun showcase for their unmistakable sound.

ARTIST: Nellie Lutcher   TITLE: Real Gone - The Singles Collection 1947-56 GENRE: R&B, Jazz, Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3556 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Nellie Lutcher was an American R&B, jazz and pop singer of the 1940s and early ‘50s, with a highly distinctive vocal style, which influenced other singers including Nina Simone. She was unusual in that she became especially popular in the UK, where she toured in the early ‘50s.  This 54-track 2-CD collection comprises most of her A & B sides on the Capitol, Okeh, Epic, Decca and Liberty labels from this era. It features all her US R&B and pop hits, including the R&B No. 2 and pop No. 15 “Real Gone Guy”, the R&B No. 2s “Hurry On Down” and “Fine Brown Frame”, and the Top 10 hits “Come And Get It, Honey”, “Cool Water”, “Do You Or Don’t You Love Me”, and “The Song Is Ended”, plus her duet hit with Nat King Cole “For You My Love”. It includes performances in her early career with a small R&B combo, including notable jazz musicians like Tiny Parham, Charlie Barnet,  Harry ‘Sweets' Edison and Sidney Catlett, and in her later career with the orchestras of Billy May, Hal Mooney and Sy Oliver. She called time on her recording career around 1957, so this collection is a reasonably representative career overview, and a thoroughly enjoyable showcase for a talented and stylish performer, who transcended the R&B and pop idioms with ease.

ARTIST: Billy Grammer TITLE: Early Years - Singles & Albums 1948-62  GENRE: Country CAT NO: ADDCD3557 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Billy Grammer was a country singer and an accomplished guitarist, who enjoyed a successful career through the 1960s, as a mainstay of The Grand Ole Opry, until turning his attention to designing and manufacturing his famous model of “Grammer Guitar”. As a high-profile figure in country music, he delivered the invocation at the opening of the new purpose-built Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. This 53-track 2-CD collection comprises the A and B sides of his singles on the Scoop, Plaza, Monument, Everest, Decca and Tap labels, plus most of the tracks from his Monument album “Travellin’ On”, his Monument EP “Grammer Guitar”, and the Decca album “Gospel Guitar”. It features his No. 4 million-selling US pop hit “Gotta Travel On”, and his chart entries from these years “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and “The Kissing Tree”. This collection captures the first important formative years of his career, when he established his reputation, and is a nicely representative showcase.

ARTIST: George Olsen & His Music TITLE: The Hits Collection 1925-45 GENRE: Easy Listening, Nostalgia CAT NO: ADDCD3558 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
        
George Olsen was a drummer and bandleader from Portland, Oregon, who made his name playing in hotels and then in Broadway shows, and despite latterly not being one of the best known names of the era had a string of 49 hits between 1925 and 1945. He played the characteristic mix of styles of dance bands in the 1920s, featuring a blend of hot dance music alongside his more familiar style of middle-of-the-road orchestral music, gradually introducing featured singers after his initial hits, and becoming typical of the “sweet” orchestras of the 1930s who were popular on radio. This 49-track 2-CD collection solely comprises all his career hits, which came out on the Victor, Columbia and Majestic labels. It includes the No. 1 hits “Who”, “Always”, “A Precious Little Thing Called Love”, “Lullaby Of The Leaves” and “The Last Round-Up”, plus the Top 3 hits, “Sunny”, “Drifting And Dreaming”, “Horses”, “Someone To Watch Over Me”, “Blue Skies and “The Best Things In Life Are Free”. There were no notable stars among his featured vocalists, but they include Fran Frey, Bob Borger, Bob Rice, Jack Gifford, his wife Ethel Shutta, Paul Small, Dave Marshall, Joe Morrison Judith Blair and Ray Adams. Featuring only his hits, this is a thorough look at one of the consistently popular and successful bandleaders of the ‘20s and ‘30s.

NEW RELEASES May 2025 

ARTIST: Sarah Vaughan TITLE: Classic Early Albums 1955-59 GENRE: Pop, Jazz CAT NO: ACQCD7191  FORMAT: 4CD COMING SOON: £19.00
              
Sarah Vaughan was one of the peerless female sophisticated pop vocalists of the post-war decades who established herself as pianist and singer with the big bands of Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine before embarking on a solo career, having a string of hits for Musicraft, Columbia and Mercury through into the ‘50s. As the album era dawned, she was ideally placed to bring her talents as a masterly interpreter of the Great American Songbook to bear on a succession of albums on the Mercury and Emarcy labels. This 90-track 4-CD comprises the complete original content of seven of those albums from the later 1950s - “Sarah Vaughan”, “In The Land Of Hi-Fi”, “Sassy”, “Swingin’ Easy”, “In A Romantic Mood”, “No Count Sarah” and the double-LP “Sarah Vaughan Sings Broadway: Great Songs from Hit Shows”. It sees her working with a range of accompaniments, from her own jazz trio, and the great jazz octet of Clifford Brown, through the Count Basie Band (minus Count Basie), and the orchestras of Ernie Wilkins, featuring Cannonball Adderley, and Hal Mooney. It’s a marvellous showcase for her unique way with a song, and a substantial collection featuring one of the finest singers of the time performing some of the finest songs.

ARTIST: The Dixie Hummingbirds TITLE: The Singles & Albums Collection 1939-62 GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ACQCD7192 FORMAT: 4CD COMING SOON: £19.00
    
The Dixie Hummingbirds were one of the longest-established and most influential gospel groups in the history of the genre, their career, through various evolving line-ups eventually lasting more than 80 years. Their style developed from the jubilee quartet approach of the 1930s through the ‘hard gospel’ of the music’s golden era in post-war years to the more soul-tinged style of later times. This collection spans their development from their original line-up as their style gradually changed, with lead singer Ira Tucker being a constant link through the whole of the set. This hugely substantial 110-track 4-CD collection comprising most of the A & B sides of their releases on the Decca, Manor, Apollo, Gotham and Peacock labels from these years, plus the titles from their Peacock albums “A Christian Testimonial” and “In The Morning” not otherwise released on singles. It features Ira Tucker, James Davis, Barney Parks, Wilson Baker, William Henry, Beachy Thompson, Paul Owens, Howard Carroll, James Walker, William Bobo and others. Their music inspired many gospel, soul and R&B artists, with the likes of Jackie Wilson and James Brown adapting their extrovert style and showmanship for the secular market. It’s an inspiring and uplifting overview of nearly a quarter of a century of their career. 

ARTIST: Victor Feldman  TITLE: An Englishman Abroad - The First US Albums 1957-61 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ADDCD3551 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
                        
Victor Feldman was an English jazz pianist, percussionist and vibraphone player, who made such an impression as a teenage musician on the pioneering modern jazz scene in his home country in post-war years, that Ronnie Scott advised him to move to the USA to find a wider arena for his talents, which he did in 1955. He readily found work performing and recording with a variety of bands, including Woody Herman’s Herd, Buddy De Franco and others. He was soon offered the chance to lead his own group in recording sessions, and over subsequent years he regularly fronted bands in the studio while still working assiduously with the top names on the scene. This 38-track 2-CD collection all the tracks from his first four albums under his own name recorded and released after his move to the USA – “Vic Feldman On Vibes/Mallets Aforethought” on Mode, “The Arrival Of Victor Feldman” and Latinsville” on Contemporary and “Merry Olde Soul” on Riverside. His line-ups on these sessions variously include Scott LaFaro, Stan Levey, Conte Candoli, Vince Guaraldi, Al McGibbon, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Hank Jones, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. British jazz musicians who forged successful careers competing on the US scene were few and far between and it’s a huge tribute to Feldman’s talent that he enjoyed a long and successful career there – this collection helps to demonstrate why.

ARTIST: Gene And Eunice TITLE: From Ko Ko Mo To Poco Loco - The Singles Collection 1954-62  GENRE: R&B, Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3552 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00

Gene Forrest and Eunice Levy were one of the boy/girl duos, like Shirley & Lee, who were an integral element of the R&B scene in the late 1950s and early 60s – they were both from Texas, but met up in Los Angeles when they were both in their early ‘20s and trying to forge careers as R&B songwriters and singers in the mid-1950s. Gene Forrest initially made records for John Dolphin’s Recorded In Hollywood label and then Aladdin, before they teamed up as Gene & Eunice to record their song “Ko-Ko-Mo” for the small Combo label, and then re-recorded it for Aladdin to score a debut hit. They went on to have a couple more hits as they recorded together into the 1960s. This 41-track 2-CD collection comprises most of their A & B sides on the Recorded In Hollywood, RPM, Combo, Aladdin, Case and Lilly labels from these years, with some solo recordings as well as performances as a duo. It includes Gene Forrest titles with The Eddie Beale Fourtette, Freddie Simmons Quintet, Gene Forrest Combo and The Four Feathers, and Eunice Levy recordings with the Jake Porter Combo. It features their three R&B and pop hits - “Ko Ko Mo” and “This Is My Story” from 1955, and “Poco Loco” from 1959, bookending the most successful part of their career. They were very much part of that particular era in pop/R&B, and this is about as complete an overview of their core career as we could assemble, and it makes for thoroughly entertaining listening. 

ARTIST: Ted Weems & His Orchestra TITLE: All The Hits And More 1923-48 GENRE: Easy Listening, Nostalgia CAT NO: ADDCD3553 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
        
Ted Weems was a violinist who started a dance band at college in Pennsylvania around 1920, and after performing for US President Warren Harding embarked on a successful professional career in 1923, securing a recording contract with Victor and immediately having big sellers. He went on the enjoy chart success on a regular basis through into the ‘40s and achieved a landmark late-career success when his earlier recording of “Heartaches” was a surprise US No. 1 in 1947. He was responsible for introducing Perry Como to the scene as his vocalist during the 1930s. This 50-track 2- CD collection comprises all his 36 US hits, plus selected A & B sides from his releases during these years on the Victor, Columbia, Decca and Mercury labels. It features his No. 1s with “Heartaches”, “Somebody Stole My Gal” and “The Man From The South”, and his other Top 5 hits with “A Smile Will Go A Long, Long Way”, “Blue-Eyed Sall”, “My Baby Just Cares For Me”, “Peg O’ My Heart”, “Piccolo Pete”, “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” and “Mickey”. Along with Perry Como, his featured singers include Dusty Roads, Parker Gibbs, Art Jarrett, Elmo Tanner, Red Ingle, Mary Lee, Shirley Richards and Snooky Lanson. He was typical of the high-profile dance bands who enjoyed success on radio, as ‘live’ performers and on record during this era, and this is an entertaining trawl across his most successful work.

ARTIST: The Easy Riders TITLE: The Singles & Albums Collection 1957-61 GENRE: Folk CAT NO: ADDCD3554 FORMAT: 2CD COMING SOON: £12.00
    
The Easy Riders were a folk group comprising the established songwriting team of Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr and Frank Miller, who had had success as writers before taking advantage of the booming interest in folk on he college scene. Terry Gilkyson had written the No. 1 hit “The Cry Of The Wild Goose” for Frankie Laine and Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1950, followed more hits, and as a team they had written Dean Martin’s No. 1 “Memories Are Made Of This”, in 1955. As a folk group, they were precursors of The Kingston Trio and The Brothers Four, but were considerably older – all born during WWI – so did not have the fresh-faced college-boy appeal of those groups. They recorded prolifically during their few years together, and this 62-track collection comprises the A & B sides of singles on Columbia and Kapp from these years, plus the titles not otherwise released on singles from their albums “Marianne And Other Songs You'll Like”, “Blue Mountain” and “Wanderin': Folk Songs by The Easy Riders” on Columbia, along with “Rollin’” on Kapp, along with selected titles from their Kapp album “Remember The Alamo”. It features their 1957 No. 4 hit “Marianne” and chart entry with “Tina”, and their original version of the Brothers Four hit “Greenfields”.  They were pioneers in the folk revival and as successful songwriters had a significant influence on the genre, and this is a great showcase for their distinctive style of folk.

ARTIST: Bo Diddley TITLE: Say Man! The Singles & More 1955-62 GENRE: Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ACRSLP1687  FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                   
They called him the Originator for a very good reason. Bo Diddley was the foremost bridge between blues and rock ’n’ roll, facilitated in no small part by his “Bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp” sound, the famous “Bo Diddley beat”. He was a master of invention too, inventing his name, his persona and style, and his own guitar. Put simply, he was one of those artists whose importance and influence as a pioneer of popular music far outweighed the commercial and chart success he enjoyed during his career. With just nine U.S. R&B and two Pop chart successes across a career spanning five decades, Diddley was not exactly a hit-making machine. But his legacy is such that echoes of his music pervade rock, pop and hip-hop to this day. This LP revels in Diddley’s guitar genius and features 16 of his greatest and most iconic tracks including “I'm A Man”, “Diddley Daddy”, “Pretty Thing”, “Mona”, “Say Man” and “Road Runner”. Once he had scored his first No.1 with “Bo Diddley” the shape of popular music changed forever. His influence is clear to see, through some of the work of artists, - and Diddley devotees - like Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Otis, Cliff Richard, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, U2, and George Michael. Every time a song uses the “Bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp” motif, Diddley’s legacy lives on.

ARTIST: Merle Travis TITLE: The Picking Pioneer: 1946-49 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1688 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

The influence of Merle Travis may not be widely known, but it is certainly widely felt across the whole of popular music. A pioneer of what came to be known as “Travis picking”, the technique can be heard in songs by a diverse range of artists, including Fleetwood Mac, John Denver, Simon and Garfunkel, even Taylor Swift.  He also invented his own guitar, influencing the subsequent design of Les Fender’s iconic Fender Telecaster electric guitar. He was a highly successful singer-songwriter from the mid 1940s onwards, gaining more fans after Tennessee Ernie Ford covered the Travis-penned “Sixteen Tons” in 1955. He would go on to become an elder statesman figure at the peak of the folk revival in the mid 1960s, largely due to his influential concept album, “Folk Songs Of The Hills”, released in 1947. This collection shines a spotlight on his early career, the most successful and productive period for this pioneer of picking. It includes 16 of his finest singles, self-penned and arranged from traditional tunes including “No Vacancy”, “Cininatti Lou”, “Divorce Me C.O.D.”, “Nine Pound Hammer”, “Steel Guitar Rag”, “Merle's Boogie Woogie” and “What A Shame”.

ARTIST: John Lee Hooker  TITLE: Boogie Chillen': The Early Years 1948-62 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1689 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

John Lee Hooker, known as “The King of the Boogie” and “the Boogie Man”, was a true Blues icon. Quality rather than quantity is the key to Hooker’s singular success. He did not have a huge number of hits in the R&B chart, but those that did make a major impact would provide some of the key musical architecture for future blues and rock artists. When he came to prominence in the late ‘40s, he was playing blues in a way that was regarded as somewhat spare, his dark repetitive vocals supported only by his amplified guitar and his stamping foot. His was no overnight stardom. Having paid his dues over many years, once he started recording, he did so prolifically. This fine collection of his earlier songs demonstrates Hooker’s blues virtuosity while at the same time establishing his work as a signpost to a deeper understanding of the British Blues explosion. It features a host of early hits including the iconic No.1’s “Boogie Chillen'” and “I'm In The Mood”, alongside “Hoogie Boogie”, “Hobo Blues”, “Crawlin' King Snake”, “Dimples”, “No Shoes” and, naturally, the timeless “Boom Boom”

ARTIST: Billie Holiday TITLE: God Bless Lady Day: The Best Of 1936-42 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACRSLP1690 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

The life and career of Billie Holiday was underscored by triumphs and tragedies. One of the greatest artists of her generation, no-one conveys deep emotion better than ‘Lady Day’. Hers was a new jazz voice, influenced by jazz instrumentalists, with its ability to manipulate tempo and phrasing in bold and enthralling ways. The great Frank Sinatra was both a friend and a fan of her music. He said of her in 1958, “With few exceptions, every major pop singer in the U.S. during her generation has been touched in some way by her genius. It is Billie who was, and still remains, the greatest single musical influence on me.” In fact, her legacy carries across the generations, with artists such as Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, and Amy Winehouse citing her as an influence. This collection traces an important six years of her early recording career which built the platform for the huge commercial success she enjoyed during the mid to late 40s, before she began to succumb to the lifestyle which eventually destroyed her. It features iconic and beautifully harrowing recordings such as “Summertime”, “Strange Fruit”” Night & Day”, “God Bless The Child” and “Solitude”, demonstrating her unique and unmistakable way of interpreting the songs. It is a fascinating and beguiling musical journey.    

ARTIST: Roy Hamilton TITLE: GDon't Let Go: The Chart Singles 1954-62 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ACRSLP1691 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                    
A giant of the R&B and pop scenes in the 1950s and 60s, Roy Hamilton’s nickname “The Golden Boy of Song” was richly deserved. A mentor to Elvis Presley, and the only act Jerry Lee Lewis never wanted to follow on stage, Hamilton’s beautiful baritone voice was carefully honed and crafted. His versions of pop standards, like “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and “Unchained Melody” have not only stood the test of time, they have become the benchmarks of how ballads should be sung.  The fact that Hamilton’s music is rarely heard today is a tragedy and underlines the need for a collection of this gifted performer’s music. Beyonce clearly felt the same way, having sampled Hamilton’s “Don’t Let Go” on the prelude to “Texas Hold ‘Em” on her “Cowboy Carter” album. For decades his family has lobbied to have Hamilton inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Listen to this fabulous collection, and you will see why he deserves wider recognition as we take in “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “Ebb Tide”, “Unchained Melody”, “Everybody's Got A home”, “Pledging My Love” and “You Can Have Her” along with many more

ARTIST: Tony Bennett TITLE: Stranger In Paradise: The Early Hits 1951-62 GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ACRSLP1692 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                                    
Tony Bennett ranks among the most popular, successful and highly respected popular vocalists of the last half-century and more, so much so that a full sixty years after his chart debut in 1951, his credibility among the contemporary pop audience was such that he achieved his 70th chart hit in 2011 with a duet with Lady Ga-Ga. He was one of the many successful crooners of the post-war era to come from the diaspora of Italian immigrant families in the north-western states of the USA, and build a career first as a hit singles artist, and then a major album seller, before achieving appreciation among music fans who weren’t born when he made his chart debut. With an apparently effortless ability to deliver a song exactly as it feels it should be done, and a relaxed and assured demeanour, he is one of the peerless performers in popular music. This beautiful 16 track LP comprises the best A-sides he released during the first decade and more of his career, and naturally features his biggest US and UK chart hits which he enjoyed during that period, including his signature song “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” plus the classic No.1s “Because Of You”, “Cold Cold Heart”, “Rags To Riches” & “Stranger In Paradise”. It’s a hugely entertaining insight into the early career of a unique talent.

ARTIST: Johnny Ace TITLE: Aces Wild: Greatest Hits 1952-56 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ACRSLP1681  FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                   
Johnny Ace lived the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle some years before the true birth of rock ’n’ roll. By all accounts, it was to be the death of him, too. Perhaps surprisingly for the son of a preacher man, he was a notorious philanderer, with a fascination for guns, prone to violent, drunken outbursts. He was an absentee husband and father, dishonourably discharged from the United States Navy, and banned from his parents home for playing the blues - a real prototype of a rock ’n’ roll bad boy. Yet it cannot be denied the man born John Alexander was destined for musical greatness. He was a gifted pianist, songwriter, and soulful R &B singer who enjoyed two short years in the limelight, scoring several No. 1 hits, and recording and performing with some of the most esteemed R&B artists of the time. That it would all come to a bloody end on Christmas Day 1954, at the dawning of the rock ’n’ roll era, just adds to his mystique and the legend of Johnny Ace. This 16 track LP comprises the best of his releases under his own name on the Flair and Duke labels. It features all his eight Top 10 R&B hits, including the No.1s “My Song”, “The Clock” and “Pledging My Love” and the Top 3 hits “Cross My Heart” and “Saving My Love For You”, along with Johnny Moore & The Three Blazers’. It provides a fascinating insight into his solo output and showcases his talents as an accompanying pianist.

ARTIST: Johnny Maestro & The Crests TITLE: Little Miracles: The Sweetest Singles 1957-61 GENRE: Doo Wop CAT NO: ACRSLP1682 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Aficionados of Doo-wop will have long been acquainted with the heavenly harmonies of Johnny Maestro and The Crests, and yet this sublime group has often been overlooked in retrospectives of the genre. Ground-breaking from the very start, this was the first racially mixed group to hit the big time. Their hits included up-tempo pop songs, to dreamily rendered love ballads, and they enjoyed significant success in the late 1950s and early 1960s. However, theirs is a story of a band ahead of its time, in a country that was much divided in terms of race and ethnicity, and it was this that ultimately led to its demise. This stunning collection showcases the talents of Johnny Maestro and The Crests; classic songs, effortless harmonies, possessing a rare timeless quality that still sound fresh today. It includes all of their biggest hits during this period including “Sweetest One”, “Sixteen Candles”, “The Angels Listened In”, “Trouble In Paradise”, “I’ll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)” and “Little Miracles”. It is a true celebration of doo wop joy

ARTIST: Kitty Wells  TITLE: Honky Tonk Angel: A Decade Of Hits 1952-62 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1683 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Kitty Wells made for an unlikely trailblazing feminist icon, with her gingham dresses and plain, uncomplicated voice. Yet this quiet, unassuming housewife and mother with a passion for country music and one of the longest and most lovingly stable marriages in the business, championed the downtrodden woman through her music, inciting controversy along the way. She proved the male-centred country music establishment wrong by headlining her own shows, and selling millions of records in a career spanning over fifty years. Wells opened the door for female country artists like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Patsy Kline, and Reba McEntire. Parton said of Wells, “Kitty Wells was the first and only Queen of country music, no matter what they call the rest of us”. Lynn stated, “If I had never heard of Kitty Wells, I don’t think I would have been a singer myself”. For McEntire, Wells was quite simply her “hero”. This collection showcases Kitty Well’s finest decade from 1952-62 featuring her biggest hits including “It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”, “Release Me”, “Making Believe”, “Repenting”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Heartbreak USA” and “Unloved, Unwanted”. It is a true celebration of Honky Tonk at its best. 

ARTIST: Dinah Shore TITLE: Doin' What Comes Natur'lly: Greatest Singles 1944-52 GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ACRSLP1684 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Dinah Shore was one of the USA’s most popular and successful entertainers, her peak recording career spanning the war years and the immediate post-war decades, when she also became a high-profile TV host with her own weekly Chevrolet-sponsored show, which more or less defined the USA in the 1950s. She was one of the very first female singers to come to prominence purely as a solo artist, rather than as a big band singer, and was such a prolific chart performer that, having had her first hit in 1939, she had racked up more than 50 hits by the end of the ‘40s, including memorable No.1s like “I’ll Walk Alone”, “Anniversary Song”, “The Gypsy” and “Buttons And Bows”. She continued scoring hits through what was often called the “Golden age of popular music” in the early ‘50s, scoring her final chart entry in 1960, by which time the rock ‘n’ roll and teen revolution had largely superseded artists of her generation. This fantastic 15 track LP provides a great introduction to Shore’s prolific success by featuring the recordings which brought her greatest popularity. On top of her huge hits already mentioned, it also includes “Candy”, “Dear Hearts & Gentle People”, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Sweet Violets”, all showcasing her distinctive style and talent and provides an entertaining and nostalgic celebration of an artist who was such a glamorous icon of her era.

ARTIST: Roy Orbison TITLE: Go! Go! Go! Best Of 1956-62 GENRE: Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ACRSLP1685 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                    
"The Caruso of Rock", "The Big O", epithets given to one of the greatest singer-songwriters the world has ever known. Winner of five Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and pride of place in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Roy Orbison quite literally changed the face and sound of popular music. In a career spanning three decades, Orbison was at one point more popular than The Beatles. He revolutionised song structure, and popularised rock in the bolero style, forever changing the genre. Lifelong Orbison fan, Bruce Springsteen said of his hero, "he had the ability like all great rock 'n' rollers to sound like he dropped in from another planet and yet get the stuff that was right to the heart of what you were livin' in today, and that was how he opened your vision." He was an unlikely pop star with his dark glasses, black outfits and dyed black hair, but somehow it all came together with that powerful, yearning, falsetto voice. Orbison's style and delivery smacked of vulnerability, his dark ballads betraying the fragility of the male ego. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1987, and the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame the same year. In 1989 he entered the Musicians Hall Of Fame and Museum, and received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. Elvis Presley called him "the greatest singer in the world", and his influence was immense, with Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, and k.d. Lang all acknowledging the impact "The Big O" had on their music. These early recordings of the great man's work tell the story of a legend in the making.

ARTIST: Sonny Boy Williamson II TITLE: Do It If You Wanta: The Best Trumpet & Checker A-Sides 1951-62 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACRSLP1686 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00
                                    
There are perhaps few characters in the history of popular music who were as mysterious, as they were brazen than Aleck Ford, AKA Sonny Boy Williamson II. The true story of Sonny Boy Williamson II remains shrouded in mystery and uncertainty, and it seems this was Ford’s intention, but to what ends, nobody can say. One thing is certain though - he was one of the all-time greats of the harmonica, a bone fide bluesman, talented and charismatic in equal measure. His influence cannot be overstated. The first incarnation of the band that would become the Rolling Stones was named after him: Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys; B.B King described him as “the King of the harmonica”; and maybe there would have been no Howlin’ Wolf, or Elmore James without Williamson’s mentorship and support. The British Blues explosion of the late 1960s certainly owed much to Williamson and his compatriots. This carefully curated collection of this colourful and charismatic performer’s work showcases just why he was one of the true legends of blues music. Interestingly, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, the same year as Sonny Boy Williamson I. It seems fitting that even in death and in honours they were inextricably linked. This collection hones in on his work that took the world by storm during his tenure with Trumpet and Checker in the 1950’s and early 60’s from his iconic “Eyesight For The Blind” through to “One Way Out”. It is a true celebration of one of the most mysterious characters in music.

ARTIST: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers TITLE: Classic Albums 1960-62 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACTRCD9165  FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00
              
Art Blakey was a jazz drummer and bandleader who made his name in big bands in the early ‘40s before espousing bebop with Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker later in the decade. In the mid-1950s he formed The Jazz Messengers, a group which he led for over 30 years, with evolving line-ups that made it a vibrant incubator for emerging talent, and featured some of the current and future great names of the era. This 3-CD collection comprises the complete contents of five albums which were derived from five studio sessions and two ‘live’ performances from Birdland during 1960 and ’61, and released over a two year period. Those albums are “Night In Tunisia”, the ‘live’ albums “Meet You At The Jazz Corner Of The World Vols. 1 & 2”, and “Mosaic” on Blue Note, and the Impulse album “Jazz Messengers!!!”. Musicians featured in the different line-ups are Art Blakey on drums, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Bobby Timmons and Cedar Walton on piano and Jymie Merritt on bass. Featuring standards and originals and some notable extended performances, this is a thoroughly entertaining feast of top class modern jazz played by one of the finest and most renowned groups in the annals of the genre.

ARTIST: Johnny Cash TITLE: The Complete Columbia Albums 1958-62 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACTRCD9166 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00
    
Johnny Cash broke the mould of country and rockabilly music in the mid-1950s, readily transcending the genres to have over 40 pop and country hits between his 1955 debut and 1962, including five country No. 1s. However, after he moved from Sun to Columbia in 1958, he released albums on a regular basis and became a major album seller. This 89-track 3-CD collection comprises all the tracks from eight of his original vinyl LPs on Columbia from these years. It features “The Fabulous Johnny Cash”, “Hymns”, “Songs Of Our Soil”, “Now, There Was A Song”, “Ride This Train”, “Hymns From The Heart”, “The Sound Of Johnny Cash” and “Blood Sweat & Tears”. The music ranges from mainstream pop/country, featuring many of Johnny’s original songs, to country songs with a religious message, and material that harks back to pioneer roots, some with spoken narratives. It’s a varied and enjoyable showcase for one of the true originals of the era, and captures the many facets of his talent and outlook in a substantial overview of this key period in his career.

ARTIST: Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys  TITLE: The Father Of Bluegrass - The Singles Collection 1940-60 GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACTRCD9167 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00
                        
Bill Monroe was a mandolin player, singer, songwriter and bandleader who, with his band The Bluegrass Boys, basing their name on the characteristic blue grass of the Kentucky landscape. In so doing, he effectively gave his name to an entire sub-genre of music - Bluegrass – which did not really exist under that name before he made his unique mark on the country scene in the 1940s. With its roots in Celtic music and old-time fiddle music for dancing, it also borrowed from blues and jazz, and was characterised by impressive high-speed virtuoso musicianship, with his band during this era providing a career platform for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. This 80-track 3-CD collection comprises selected A & B sides from his releases on Bluebird, Columbia and Decca from this era, and includes at least one side of just about all his releases. It features all his career hits in the US country chart, including the No. 3 “Kentucky Waltz”, the No. 5 “Footprints In The Snow”, and the Top 15 hits “Little Community Church”, “Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong”, “Wicked Path Of Sin”, “Toy Heart”, “When You Are Lonely”, Poison Love” and “Gotta Travel On”. As an original pioneer of the genre, his music is essential listening for every fan of bluegrass, and this substantial overview of the first two decades of his band’s career offers an enlightening and enjoyable insight into the roots of bluegrass.

ARTIST: Frances Langford TITLE: The G.I. Nightingale - The Singles Collection 1933-47  GENRE: Pop, Easy Listening, Nostalgia CAT NO: ADDCD3548 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Frances Langford was a singer and movie actress, who was popular during the golden age of radio, and enjoyed a successful career during the 1930s and ‘40s, becoming a favourite with US troops as he toured the military bases with Bob Hope during and after WWII, and acquiring the nickname “The G.I. Sweetheart”. She trained as an opera singer, but turned to pop when her voice changed after a tonsillectomy, and made her movie and radio debut in the early 1930s, leading to a recording contract. This 48-track 2-CD collection comprises selected A and B sides of her releases on the Columbia, Melotone, Brunswick, Decca and ARA labels from these years. It features all her career hits, including the No. 6 “Harbour Lights”, plus “I’m In The Mood For Love”, “I Feel A Song Comimg On”, “Easy To Love”, “Was It Rain”, “So Many Memories” and “Falling In Love With Love”. It features duets with Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee, and performances accompanied by the orchestras of Jimmy Dorsey, Victor Young, Harry Sosnik, Phil Ohman and Earle Hagen. She was a singer very much of her era, her repertoire drawn from Broadway and Hollywood, including movies in which she appeared, as well as the hot material coming from Tin Pan Alley, and this is an enjoyable showcase for her talents as an entertainer.

ARTIST: Ozzie Nelson & His Orchestra TITLE: All The Hits And More 1930-41 GENRE: Pop, Jazz, Nostalgia CAT NO: ADDCD3549 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00
        
A saxophonist and singer from New Jersey, Ozzie Nelson formed his band after graduating from Rutgers University in 1930, and gained visibility by manipulating a popularity poll in the New York Daily Mirror, beating beat Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra to top the poll, leading to a contract with Brunswick Records. Over the next decade he had nearly 40 US hits, many featuring him on vocals, with his future wife Harriet Hilliard on others. In the 1940s, he and Harriet originated and starred in a long-running radio and TV family sitcom “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, which eventually also starred their children, providing a Tv debut for future teen star Ricky Nelson. This 49 track 2-CD collection comprises all his 38 career hits plus selected A and B sides of his releases on the Brunswick and Bluebird labels from this era. It features his No. 1 “And Then Some”, the No. 2 “White Sails Beneath A Yellow Moon”, and the Top 5 hits “About A Quarter To Nine”, “Is It True What They Say About Dixie?”, “Roses In December”, “You Can’t Stop Me From Dreaming”, “Says My Heart”, “At Long Last Love” and “Little Skipper”, with vocal performances by Ozzie himself, along with Harriet Hilliard and Rose Ann Stevens. It’s an entertaining selection of his most popular material, including some of the Great American Songbook classics that originated during that era.

ARTIST: The Drinkard Singers feat. Cissy Houston TITLE: The Albums Collection And More 1956-62 GENRE: Gospel CAT NO: ADDCD3550 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00
    
The Drinkard Singers were a pioneering gospel group from Newark, New Jersey, sometimes seen as Newark’s answer to The Ward Singers and The Gospel Harmonettes, and it was famous as the launchpad for the careers of the great soul singers Cissy Houston (then known as Emily Garland) and Judy Clay (originally Judy Guions). They were also famous for being the first gospel group to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first to appear at the Newport Folk Festival. They began as a family group during the late 1940s comprising the children of Nicholas and Delia Mae Drinkard – the name Drinkard was mostly of Native American origin. They developed a more rocking, up-front style as traditional jubilee quartets went out of fashion, and opened for Clara Ward and Mahalia Jackson at Carnegie Hall in 1951. This 44-track 2- CD collection comprises their first 1954 singles for Savoy and three more Savoy/Regent tracks that were included on a later albums “A Gospel Program” and “Newport Spiritual Stars”, and then all the titles from their RCA album “A Joyful Noise”, and their albums on the Choice label in the early ‘60s “Yield Not to Temptation” and “Joy Unspeakable”. In the middle of that are ‘live’ recordings from their 1958 appearance at Newport, which came out of the Verve album “Gospel Singing At Newport”. We round off with a stunning performance from a 1963 TV show. It’s a great showcase for their uplifting, extrovert and inspiring style that is as close to soul as it is gospel.


 

NEW RELEASES March 2025 - Available Now

ARTIST: Chuck Berry TITLE: Let It Rock: Greatest Hits 1955-60 GENRE: Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ACRSLP1674  FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Pioneering rock ’n’ roller, Chuck Berry is one of the most important figures in popular music. His sound captured the imaginations of 1950s teenagers across the world like no other. Revered by artists like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Brian Wilson, and Joe Cocker, without Berry all would have sounded very different. Widely acknowledged as the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll, Berry was one of the very first musicians to be inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame when it launched in 1986.Speaking of launches, his music was considered so pivotal in the understanding of contemporary popular culture, that it is featured on the Golden Record, carried by space probe, Voyager 1 - still transmitting from the farthest reaches of the known universe. This collection features a veritable banquet of Berry’s greatest hits, showcasing the lyrical and musical talent that has made him such an iconic artist.

ARTIST: Tex Ritter TITLE: Don't Slam The Door: The Singles Collection  GENRE: Country CAT NO: ACRSLP1676 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Tex Ritter was one of the first “singing cowboys”, a singer and actor who started out singing on radio in Texas in the 1920s, soon moving to New York to appear on radio and on Broadway. He made his first records in 1933, going on to have a recording career that lasted four decades, and after his screen debut in 1936 in western movies, made more than 70 films through to the mid-1970s.He is best known on record for his pop hits with “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)”, the theme song of the landmark 1952 movie “High Noon”, “I’m Wastin’ My Tears On You” and “I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven” in 1962.This superb 16 track LP selects recordings from his first big hit in 1944 for the newly established Capitol Records through selected singles from the 1940s and ‘50s, the heyday of his career, to the early ‘60s. Encompassing children’s songs, faith-based material, and some of his trademark recitations as well as the more familiar fare of cowboy songs, it’s a substantial and varied showcase for his talent and his highly distinctive style.

ARTIST: Chick Webb  TITLE: Swing It!: Your Hit Parade Collection 1934-39 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACRSLP1677 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

King of Swing, one of the true “immortals of jazz”, Chick Webb needs little introduction. In his short life, he and his orchestra blazed a trail through the legendary Harlem jazz scene, scoring hit after hit. His talent as a drummer was legendary, so much so that Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich idolised Webb. As a bandleader, he introduced the world to one of the greatest singers of all time, Ella Fitzgerald; as a showman, he and his orchestra played to audiences of thousands. His many victories in the famous Battle of the Bands in the 1930s at the Savoy Ballroom are central to the whole jazz mythology. His struggles to overcome both racism and disability have inspired generations of artists, and neither prevented him from becoming a jazz superstar.This finely curated collection of Webb’s work showcases some of the many highlights from his short career as a named bandleader serving as a permanent reminder of the great man’s talents.

ARTIST: Elmore James TITLE: Shake Your Moneymaker: Best Of 1951-62 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ACRSLP1678 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

“King of the Slide Guitar”, and Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Elmore James brought something different with him from the Delta: Power. Known for his strident vocals, and his loud, attacking guitar skills, James has had a tremendous influence on rock, R&B, and blues music.Aiming for a sound “louder than God”, James thrilled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic throughout the 1950s until his untimely death in 1963.His unique sound and virtuosic playing  influenced and inspired a veritable who’s who of guitarist through the proceeding years, most notably Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer from Fleetwood Mac, and the Rolling Stones. This fine collection presents the very best of Elmore James’ music, in all its power and glory.

ARTIST: Sister Rosetta Tharpe TITLE: Shout, Sister, Shout: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Originator 1938-56 GENRE: R&B CAT NO: ACRSLP1679 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

The Godmother of Rock ’n’ Roll, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a rocker before they even existed. Pioneer of the electric guitar, in her view, playing it better than any man could, she blended gospel, blues, and R&B in new ways.The first gospel superstar, and the first crossover artist to rock up gospel music, her influence on future generations of musicians, would shape popular music. Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Eric Clapton, and Johnny Cash have all acknowledged the debt they owe to this highly unique performer.She was in a relationship with singer Marie Knight in the 1940s, an open secret in the music business, and has in later years become an icon among the global LGTBQ+ community. Her 1964 performance at a disused railway station in the north of England recorded by Granada Television was seen by future rockers, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Mick Jagger, and Jeff Beck, all of whom have acknowledged that the broadcast proved pivotal in the formation of their own bands. This carefully curated collection brings together Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s hits for the discerning listener keen to discover the true roots of rock ’n’ roll music.

ARTIST: Harry Belafonte TITLE: Me Say Day: The Singles Collection 1952-59 GENRE: Easy Listening CAT NO: ACRSLP1680 FORMAT: LP COMING SOON: £18.00

Harry Belafonte single-handedly introduced the world to calypso music, with an album so revered that it is lodged in the Registry of the National Library of Congress as a significant cultural work. A versatile singer with a unique, smooth, velvet-like voice, he mastered almost all musical genres. A talented actor on both stage and screen, Belafonte preferred to work on productions that held a strong social message. A self-proclaimed civil rights activist he was able to his huge influence in the music industry to originate the idea for, and was a key organiser of, the 1985 charity single, “We Are The World”, featuring several megastar performers, including Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Dylan. This fantastic collection showcases the music of a star who was described by Barak Obama as “a barrier-breaking legend”. Get prepared to be possessed by the powers of calypso.
 

ARTIST: Big Maceo Merriweather TITLE: Things Have Changed - Collected Recordings 1941-50 GENRE: Blues CAT NO: ADDCD3547  FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Big Maceo Merriweather was a blues pianist, singer and songwriter, born in Georgia in 1905, who moved to Detroit in the 1920s, to start playing professionally, and then to Chicago in 1941, where he met the influential singer and guitarist Tampa Red, who introduced him to Lester Melrose at RCA-Victor – he became a regular collaborator of Tampa Red. Over the next decade or so he recorded around ten sessions at which he recorded under his own name rather than as an accompanist. This 44-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings which were released under his own name on the Bluebird, RCA-Victor, Columbia, Specialty and Fortune labels from this era, plus some unreleased material. It includes his 1945 No. 4 R&B hit “Things Have Changed”. It also includes one recording with Tampa Red on which he shares the vocals with him. He plays with a number of noted blues musicians from the era on these sessions, including guitarists Tampa Red and John Brim, bassists Ransom Knowling, Alfred Elkins and Ernest Crawford, and drummers Clifford Jones, Tyrell Dixon, Melvin Draper, Charles Sanders and Alonzo Tucker. His style influenced many post-war blues pianists, and songs like “Worried Life Blues” have become staples of the blues repertoire. It’s a substantial overview of his career recordings and a thorough showcase for his distinctive style of blues.

ARTIST: The Brothers Four TITLE: Greenfields - The Singles & Albums Collection 1959-62 GENRE: Folk, Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3546 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

The Brothers Four were a folk group formed at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1957, and were part of the folk boom of the late ‘50s alongside the likes of The Kingston Trio. They played at clubs up and down the west coast after graduating and after meeting Dave Brubeck’s manager in San Francisco in 1959 got a recording deal with Columbia. They had a big hit with their second single “Greenfields” and had more hits through into the 1960s, as well as becoming prolific album sellers. This 56-track 2-CD collection comprises all their A & B sides on Columbia from this era, plus 31 selected titles from their five LPs from these years not otherwise released on singles. It includes tracks from their albums “Rally Round”, “The Brothers Four”, “Song Book”, “Best Music On/Off Campus” and “Roamin’”. It features the No. 2 hit “Greenfields” plus their other chart entries from these years “Green Leaves Of Summer” (from the movie “The Alamo”), “My Tani”, “Frogg” and “Blue Water Line”. This is folk music that was very much evocative of its era, and this collection is a substantial showcase for their particular brand of close-harmony folk.

ARTIST: Mantovani & His Orchestra  TITLE: All The Hits And More - Orchestral Classics 1936-62 GENRE: Easy Listening, Pop CAT NO: ADDCD3545 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Born in Venice, Italy, in 1905 into a musical family, he moved to the UK in 1912, and after studying at Trinity College formed his own orchestra, and during the 1930s became one of the most popular British dance bands. He started recording for Columbia and Decca in the UK, and had his first hit in 1936. Developing a sound and technique he called “Cascading Strings” he continued having hits on both sides of the Atlantic right through to the ‘60s, as well as being in the vanguard of the stereo album boom of the 1960s and ‘70s. This 45-track 2-CD collection comprises all his hits from this era on Columbia, Decca and London, along with selected classic orchestral recordings from his singles and EPs from these years. It features his UK No. 1 and US No. 8 with “The Theme From Moulin Rouge”, and his UK and US Top 10 hits with “Red Sails In The Sunset”, “Serenade In The Night”, “Charmaine”, “White Christmas” and Swedish Rhapsody”, and the Top 20 hit “Around The World”, plus hits with British singer David Whitfield, including the UK No.1 “Cara Mia”. It also includes famous orchestral pieces like “Warsaw Concerto”, “Cornish Rhapsody”, “Legend of A Glass Mountain”, “Dream of Olwen”, Intermezzo”, “Tales From The Vienna Woods” and others. For lovers of this style of lush melodic orchestral music it makes for a thoroughly entertaining programme.

ARTIST: Johnny Preston TITLE: Complete Releases - Singles & Albums 1959-62 GENRE: Pop, Rock 'n' Roll CAT NO: ADDCD3544 FORMAT: 2CD BUY HERE: £12.00

Born John Courville in Texas in 1939, he was of Cajun ancestry, and started singing at an early age, forming a rock ‘n’ roll band in his teens called The Shades, who were seen by local DJ J.P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper. Richardson offered Johnny the chance to record a teenage tragedy song he had written called “Running Bear” – the ‘Indian’ sounds on the record were performed by Richardson and country singer George Jones. The record went to No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic after Richardson was killed in the same plane crash as Buddy Holly. Preston had another top 10 hit and a few more hits through to 1961 as well as recording two albums. This 40-track 2-CD set comprises all his A & B sides on Mercury, and all the tracks from his albums from these years “Running Bear” and “Come Rock With Me” not otherwise released on singles. It features his US and UK No. 1 “Running Bear” and his Top 20 hits “Cradle Of Love” and “Feel So Fine” plus his other career hits “I’m Starting to Go Steady”, “Charming Billy”, “Leave My Kitten Alone” and “Free Me”. It’s as substantial an overview as can be achieved from this key era of his career, and a worthy showcase of his particular brand of pop/rock.

ARTIST: Ella Fitzgerald TITLE: All The Hits And More 1936-62 GENRE: Jazz, Pop, Easy Listening CAT NO: ACTRCD9164 FORMAT: 3CD BUY HERE: £15.00

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the great singers of the 20th century, a song stylist who could range readily across worlds of jazz, swing, big band, R&B and sophisticated pop, and who set the standards for many artists who followed, as she became a major album seller in the later decades of her career. However, she also had a significant number of hits in the pop and R&B market, and in the quarter century from 1936 through to the early 1960s she had over 60 entries in the various US and UK charts, included duets with other artists. This 73-track 3-CD collection comprises all her hits from this era, including her No. 1s with “A-Tisket, A Tasket”, “I’m Making Believe”, and “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall”, plus selected other titles from her releases on the Decca and Verve labels during this time.It features hits with Chick Webb & His Orchestra, the Benny Goodman Orchestra and her own Savoy Eight and Famous Orchestra, and includes her duet hits with the Mills Brothers, Ink Spots, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Delta Rhythm Boys. It also includes recordings with Duke Ellington, Leroy Kirkland, Gordon Jenkins and other top bands of the day. It showcases her peerless talents as she performs hits across the pop spectrum, reflecting the changing tastes of the era, and it makes for hugely entertaining listening.

ARTIST: Lionel Hampton With Oscar Peterson TITLE: Classic Sessions 1953-54 GENRE: Jazz CAT NO: ACFCD7523 FORMAT: 5CD BUY HERE: £19.00

For a couple of years in the early to mid 1950s the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson joined forces with long-established vibes player and bandleader Lionel Hampton as a member of his quartet and quintet, and they recorded a series of sessions for Norman Granz’s Clef and Verve labels, which resulted in a string of album releases during the early years of the vinyl long-playing album era. This 48-track 5-CD collection comprises just about all the titles they recorded at those sessions, including both versions of most of the tunes of which they recorded performances of different lengths – there are a number of significantly extended pieces. The core group at the sessions comprised Hampton and Peterson, plus Ray Brown on bass and Buddy Rich on drums, with clarinettist Buddy De Franco and guitarist Herb Ellis added at different sessions to make up a quintet, so it’s a stellar line-up. The titles were released on a variety of 10” and 12” LPs, which were “The Lionel Hampton Quartet Vols. 1 & 2”, “The Lionel Hampton Quintet Vols. 1 & 2”, “Lionel Hampton Plays Love Songs”, “Flying Home”, “Hamp’s Big Four”, “Hallelujah Hamp” and The High And The Mighty”. It’s a feast of top-class small group modern jazz, and is great entertainment from some of the big names in the genre.