Roscoe Gordon (his name sometimes also appeared as Rosco) was a blues pianist, singer and songwriter from Memphis. A pioneer of the Memphis blues style, creating what was known as the “Rosco Rhythm”, he was an associate of artists known as the Beale Streeters, who included Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland and B.B. King.
Gordon was born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 10, 1928, the youngest of eight children. He learned to play piano from his sister who took lessons. He got his own radio show in 1950 after winning a talent show, and was introduced to Sam Phillips of Sun Records and Johnny Otis, talent scout and producer for Modern Records, and they both influenced his recording career.
This 52-track 2CD set comprises most of his recordings from this era on the RPM, Chess, Duke, Sun and Vee Jay labels – confusingly, he often recorded for different labels simultaneously. It features his R&B No.1 Booted, and his other Top 10 R&B hits, which were the No.2s with No More Doggin’ and Just A Little Bit, and a No.9 with Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse). His “Rosco Rhythm”, was an influence on later musical styles such as Jamaican ska and reggae.
Gordon died at the age of 74 from a heart attack on 11 July 2002. He remains an influential figure in Memphis and beyond, this 2CD collection of his own recordings is an entertaining showcase for his distinctive talent and style.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
City Women |
Roscoe Gordon |
2 |
Roscoe's Boogie |
Roscoe Gordon |
3 |
Ouch! Pretty Baby |
Roscoe Gordon |
4 |
Saddled The Cow (And Milked The Horse) |
Roscoe Gordon |
5 |
Dime A Dozen |
Roscoe Gordon |
6 |
A New Remedy For Love |
Roscoe Gordon |
7 |
Booted |
Roscoe Gordon |
8 |
I Love You Till The Day I Die |
Roscoe Gordon |
9 |
Cold, Cold Winter |
Roscoe Gordon |
10 |
No More Doggin' |
Roscoe Gordon |
11 |
Maria |
Roscoe Gordon |
12 |
Tell Daddy |
Rosco Gordon with the Beale Streeters |
13 |
Hey, Fat Girl |
Rosco Gordon with the Beale Streeters |
14 |
New Orleans Wimmin |
Roscoe Gordon |
15 |
I Remember Your Kisses |
Roscoe Gordon |
16 |
What's You Got On Your Mind |
Roscoe Gordon |
17 |
Two Kinds Of Women |
Roscoe Gordon |
18 |
T Model Boogie |
Rosco Gordon with the Beale Streeters |
19 |
Trying |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
20 |
Dream Baby |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
21 |
Lucille (Looking For My Baby) |
Roscoe Gordon |
22 |
Blues For My Baby |
Roscoe Gordon |
23 |
Too Many Women |
Rosco Gordon with the Beale Streeters |
24 |
Wise To You Baby |
Rosco Gordon with the Beale Streeters |
25 |
Just In From Texas |
Roscoe Gordon |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
I'm In Love |
Roscoe Gordon |
2 |
Tomorrow May Be Too Late |
Roscoe Gordon |
3 |
We're All Loaded (Whiskey Made Me Drunk) |
Roscoe Gordon |
4 |
Rosco's Mambo |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
5 |
Ain't No Use |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
6 |
Three Cent Love |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
7 |
You Figure It Out |
Rosco Gordon and his Orchestra |
8 |
Just Love Me Baby |
Rosco Gordon |
9 |
Weeping Blues |
Rosco Gordon |
10 |
The Chicken (Dance With You) |
Rosco Gordon |
11 |
Love For You Baby |
Rosco Gordon |
12 |
Shoobie Oobie |
Rosco Gordon |
13 |
Cheese And Crackers |
Rosco Gordon |
14 |
Bad Dream |
Roscoe Gordon |
15 |
Tummer Tee |
Rosco Gordon with Joe Scott Orch. |
16 |
I've Loved And Lost |
Rosco Gordon with Joe Scott Orch. |
17 |
Sally Jo |
Rosco Gordon |
18 |
Torro |
Rosco Gordon |
19 |
A Fool In Love |
Rosco Gordon |
20 |
Just A Little Bit |
Rosco Gordon |
21 |
Goin’ Home (Tomorrow) |
Rosco Gordon |
22 |
The Dilly Bop |
Roscoe Gordon |
23 |
You'll Never Know (The Way I Feel) |
Roscoe Gordon |
24 |
What You Do To Me |
Rosco Gordon |
25 |
Surely I Love You |
Rosco Gordon |
26 |
Let 'Em Try |
Roscoe Gordon |
27 |
What I Wouldn't Do |
Roscoe Gordon |