[ Jasmine Records / CD ]
Release Date: Tuesday 8 November 2016
This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.
The unexpected success of Ray Charles' million selling Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music LP, in the Spring of 1962, led to a flood of soul and R&B artists recording C&W songs.
Including Ben E. King, Clyde McPhatter, William Bell, Arthur Alexander and most notably 'Little Esther' Phillips, whose million-selling revival of the old Ray Price hit 'Release Me' provides our title track (in closing, the remarkable Ted Taylor weighs in with his classic Answer Disc, 'I'll Release You').
Yet ironically, artists like Solomon Burke, LaVern Baker, Little Willie John, Brook Benton, Bobby Bland, Adam Wade, Varetta Dillard, Big Maybelle and Fontella Bass had long been singing Country, often enjoying great commercial successes.
Louisiana was another hotbed of R&B/C&W crossover, as evidenced by Elton Anderson, Cookie & His Cupcakes, Phil Phillips and particularly Fats Domino, who'd been singing Hank Williams' songs since the 40s.
This is a unique and irresistible collection of big hits and collectors' obscurities.
1. 'LITTLE ESTHER' PHILLIPS - RELEASE ME
2. ARTHUR ALEXANDER - I WONDER WHERE YOU ARE TONIGHT
3. COOKIE & HIS CUPCAKES - GOT YOU ON MY MIND
4. BIG MAYBELLE - COLD, COLD HEART
5. ADAM WADE - THE WRITING ON THE WALL
6. SOLOMON BURKE - JUST OUT OF REACH (Of My Two Open Arms)
7. RAY CHARLES - TAKE THESE CHAINS FROM MY HEART
8. BROOK BENTON - HOTEL HAPPINESS
9. LAVERN BAKER - SHAKE A HAND
10. BOBBY BLAND - WHO WILL THE NEXT FOOL BE
11. CLYDE McPHATTER - I'M MOVIN' ON
12. BEN E. KING - MY HEART CRIES FOR YOU
13. 'LITTLE ESTHER' PHILLIPS - WHY SHOULD WE TRY ANYMORE
14. LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - SHE THINKS I STILL CARE
15. ELTON ANDERSON - THE SECRET OF LOVE
16. ARTHUR ALEXANDER - I HANG MY HEAD AND CRY
17. FATS DOMINO - YOUR CHEATIN' HEART
18. FONTELLA BASS - I DON'T HURT ANYMORE
19. LAVERN BAKER - HEY MEMPHIS
20. WILLIAM BELL - PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING
21. PHIL PHILLIPS & THE TWILIGHTS - SEA OF LOVE
22. VARETTA DILLARD - A LITTLE BITTY TEAR
23. LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - BIG BLUE DIAMONDS
24. 'LITTLE ESTHER' PHILLIPS - AM I THAT EASY TO FORGET
25. RAY CHARLES - MAKING BELIEVE
26. ADAM WADE - AS IF I DIDN'T KNOW
27. BROOK BENTON - TAKE GOOD CARE OF HER
28. SOLOMON BURKE - I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW
29. TED TAYLOR - I'LL RELEASE YOU