This continues the strand of R&B and country collections associated with Acrobats highly popular Americas Greatest Hits series, this one focusing on the top R&B records in the US Billboard charts during 1951. This great value 97-track 4-CD anthology includes, with a few exceptions, every record which peaked in the Billboard R&B Best Sellers and Most Played in Juke Boxes Top 10 during that year the R&B charts were restricted to ten places during that era. The exceptions which are not included are those hits which were on the King and Federal labels, comprising nine titles, which we are unfortunately restricted from using.

However it does feature a host of well-known names like Amos Milburn, Johnny Otis, Muddy Waters, Nat King Cole, John Lee Hooker, Dinah Washington, Roy Milton, Howlin Wolf, and Percy Mayfield. In addition it also includes many unfamiliar names and records which will be welcome additions for collectors and fans alike. It provides a fascinating snapshot of a genre that was emerging from the R&B orchestra and jump blues era of the late 40s and was seeing the development of the sounds that were already laying the groundwork for the rock n roll explosion a few years later.

REVIEWS

This interesting and varied compilation of the most popular musicians from 1951 certainly deserves to be heard widely & often! - Paul Mooney (Blues & Rhythm)