This release fills in another of the gaps in our strand of R&B and country collections associated with Acrobat’s popular “America’s Greatest Hits” series, this one focusing on the top R&B records in the US Billboard charts during 1953.
This great value 91-track 4-CD anthology includes, with the exception of certain records which are unavailable for inclusion due to copyright restrictions, just about every record which appeared during the year in the published Top 10 “Best Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records” and “Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues” charts.
It was a fascinating time in R&B, with different elements of the genre creating the musical landscape from which rock ‘n’ roll was would soon emerge – Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Ruth Brown and Big Joe Turner had hits during the year, not to mention Big Mama Thornton’s original version of “Hound Dog”.
The collection sees doowop groups like The Clovers and The Orioles jostling for elbow room with electric blues artists like B.B. King, Little Walter and Muddy Waters, and old school jump blues bands like Buddy Johnson, alongside solo singers like Big Maybelle, Chuck Willis and Varetta Dillard.
As with all these collections, it provides a window onto a dynamic and exciting musical environment, and includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings of which even enthusiasts of the genre may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections.
It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record as well as full discographical and chart information.
CD 1
1. I DON'T KNOW Willie Mabon (Chess 1531)
2. FIVE LONG YEARS Eddie Boyd (J.O.B. 1087)
3. SAD HOURS Little Walter & His Night Cats (Checker 764)
4. I PLAYED THE FOOL The Clovers (Atlantic 977)
5. I'M GONE Shirley & Lee (Aladdin 3153)
6. JUKE Little Walter (Checker 758)
7. OOOH, OOOH, OOOH Lloyd Price (Specialty 640)
8. MY STORY Chuck Willis (Okeh 6905)
9. MEAN OLD WORLD Little Walter & His Night Cats (Checker 764)
10. MY SONG Johnny Ace (Duke R-102)
11. HEY MISS FANNIE The Clovers (Atl;antic 977)
12. GABBIN' BLUES Big Maybelle (Okeh 9311)
13. YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU B.B. King (RPM 363)
14. PORT OF RICO Illinois Jacquet (Mercury 8900)
15. BABY DON'T DO IT The Five Royales (Apollo 443)
16. DREAM GIRL Jesse & Marvin (Specialty 447)
17. CROSS MY HEART Johnny Ace (Duke 107)
18. TELL ME PRETTY BABY Lloyd Price (Specialty 452)
19. HEY MRS JONES Jimmy Forrest (United U-130)
20. AIN'T IT A SHAME Lloyd Price (Specialty 452)
21. YES I KNOW (WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN) Linda Hayes (Recorderd in Hollywood 244)
22. MAMA HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN Ruth Brown (Atlantic 986)
23. I BELIEVE Elmore James (Meteor 5000)
CD 2
1. PRETEND Nat King Cole (Capitol 2346)
2. LET ME GO HOME WHISKEY Amos Milburn (Aladdin 3164)
3. TRAIN, TRAIN Danny Overbea (Checker 768)
4. CRAWLIN' The Clovers (Atlantic 989)
5. WHOOPIN' AND HOLLERIN' Earl Forest (Duke 108)
6. MY KIND OF WOMAN Emitt Slay Trio (Savoy 886)
7. 24 HOURS Eddie Boyd (Chess 1533)
8. WOKE UP THIS MORNING B.B. King (RPM 380)
9. HOUND DOG Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thornton (Peacock 1612)
10. RED TOP King Pleasure (Prestige 821)
11. DAUGHTER, THAT'S YOUR RED WAGON Sax Kari & Gloria irving (States S-115)
12. BEAR CAT Rufus Thomas (Sun 181)
13. I WANNA KNOW Du Droppers (V 20-5229)
14. GOIN' TO THE RIVER Fats Domino (Imperial 5231)
15. TELL ME, MAMA Little Walter and the Night Cats (Checker 770)
16. I'M MAD Willie Mabon (Chess 1538)
17. GOIN' TO THE RIVER Chuck Willis (Okeh 6952)
18. HELP ME SOMEBODY The 5 Royales (Apollo 446)
19. OFF THE WALL Little Walter (Checker )
20. CRAZY, CRAZY,CRAY The 5 Royales (Apollo 446)
21. IS IT A DREAM The Vocaleers (Robin 114)
22. I'M GLAD Mitzi Mars (Checker 773)
23. ONE ROOM COUNTRY SHACK Mercy Dee (Specialty 458)
CD 3
1. WAY BACK HOME Big Maybelle (Okeh )
2. WILD, WILD YOUNG MEN Ruth Brown (Atlantic 993)
3. HITTIN' ON ME Buddy Johnson (Mercury 70116)
4. PLEASE LOVE ME B.B. King (RPM 386)
5. I FOUND OUT The Du Droppers (V 20-5321)
6. CAN'T I Nat King Cole (Capitol 2389)
7. THIRD DEGREE Eddie Boyd And His Chess Men (Chess 1541)
8. THE CLOCK Johnny Ace (Duke 112)
9. EARLY IN THE MORNING Roy Milton (Specialty 464)
10. YOU'RE MINE The Crickets (MGM 11428)
11. TIN PAN ALLEY Jimmy Wilson (Big Town 101)
12. MERCY MR. PERCY Varetta Dillard (Savoy 897)
13. MEND YOUR WAYS Ruth Brown (Atlantic 993)
14. GOOD LOVIN' The Clovers (Atlantic 1000)
15. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME Fats Domino (Imperial 5240)
16. DON'T DECEIVE ME Chuck Willis (Okeh 6985)
17. CRYIN' IN THE CHAPEL Sonny Til & The Orioles (Jubilee 5122)
18. TOO MUCH LOVIN' The 5 Royales (Apollo 448)
19. SHAKE A HAND Faye Adams (Herald 416)
20. DRAGNET BLUES Johnny Moore (Modern 910)
21. BABY IT'S YOU The Spaniels (Chance 1141)
22. ONE SCOTCH, ONE BOURBON, ONE BEER Amos Milburn (Aladdin 3197)
CD 4
1. HONEY HUSH Joe Turner (Atlantic 1001)
2. NADINE The Coronets (Chess 1549)
3. FEELIN' GOOD Little Junior's Blue Flames (Sun 187)
4. PLEASE HURRY HOME B.B. KIng (RPM 391)
5. ROSEMARY Fats Domino (Impwrial 5152)
6. IN THE MISSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE The Orioles (Jubilee 5217)
7. BLUES WITH A FEELING Little Walter and the Jukes (Chess 780)
8. TV IS THE THING Dinah Washington (Mercury 70214)
9. MONEY HONEY Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters (Atlantic 1006)
10. THE COME BACK Memphis Slim (United 156)
11. I HAD A NOTION Joe Morris (Herald 417)
12. DRUNK Jimmy Liggins (Specialty 470)
13. FAT DADDY Dinah Washington (Mercury 70214)
14. BANANA SPLIT Kid King's Combo (Excello 2009)
15. MAD LOVE Muddy Waters (Chess 1550)
16. MARIE Four Tunes (Jubilee 5128)
17. PERFECT WOMAN Four Blazes (United U-158)
18. MY COUNTRY MAN Big Maybelle (Okeh 7009)
19. COMIN' ON The Clovers (Atlantic 1010)
20. BABY DOLL Marvin & Johnny (Specialty XSP-479)
21. I'LL BE TRUE Faye Adams (Herald 419)
22. SOMETHING WRONG Fats Domino (Imperial 562)
23. SAVING MY LOVE FOR YOU Johnny Ace (Duke 118)
