Red Prysock, The Beat (1957)

Red Prysock, The Beat (1957)

Monday's lunch record is by Red Prysock. This is his third album on the Mercury label. It contains 12 tracks of power house sax instrumentals centered on the rock n' roll Big Beat sound. The rock world has evolved to include slick guitar riffs along with his sax honking and a predominate horn small band arrangements. The YouTube sample song is "Earth Rock" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPtDkR1E3V4  . . . bucko

Hen Gates And His Gaters, Rock And Roll (1957)

Hen Gates And His Gaters, Rock And Roll  (1957)

Friday's lunch record is titled Hen Gates - Rock and Roll. This album is on the Masterseal label. This album is a music exploitation budget album. All the music was recorded by Freddie Mitchell for the Derby label between 1947-1950. Freddie plays tenor sax and leads a small R&B band. The derby label went bankrupt in 1954 and they sold their master tapes. The buyers made up the name Hen Gates and retitled the artist and  all the songs in attempt to cash in on the rock & roll craze. The YouTube sample song is "The New Rock" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpzOnZWEQcg . . bucko

Les McCann Ltd., Plays The Shout (1960)

Les McCann Ltd., Plays The Shout  (1960)

Thursday's lunch record is a live album of Les McCann. This album featuring his trio Les on piano Leroy Vinegar (bass) and Ron Jefferson (drums). This album is on the Pacific Jazz label and recorded live at "The Bit" coffeehouse. This is classic mainstream expressive jazz. The YouTube sample song is "C Jam Blues" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uBE0aiGqTg . . bucko

Marvin Gaye, That Stubborn Kinda' Fellow (1963)

Marvin Gaye, That Stubborn Kinda' Fellow (1963)

Wednesday's lunch record is by Marvin Gaye. This is his second album for  Motown's Tamla label. It takes a sudden step away from his r&b roots into a bit more pop soul sound. Marvin wrote, played piano along with his dynamic vocals. The album produced several major hits,  "Pride & Joy" and "Hitch Hike".  Background vocals are by Martha & The Vandellas. The album contains 10 tracks. The YouTube sample song is "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0gsi2u3nCs  . . bucko

Big Luke' Sykes, Rock 'N' Roll At The Sugar Bowl (1957)

'Big Luke' Sykes, Rock 'N' Roll At The Sugar Bowl  (1957)

Tuesday's lunch record is an early rock & roll dance album 'Big Luke' Sykes. This album is on the Design label which was a subsidiary of Pickwick Intl. The twelve instrumentals feature the small band format with an alto sax leading the silly sock hop songs all titled with malt malt shop names, Banana Split, Doulble Dip, Tutti Fruiti, Tummy Ache and others. Generic studio knock off rock & roll album of unknowns to sell music for the Big Beat craze. Nothing on YouTube from this album. . bucko

Red Prysock, Fruit Boots (1956)

Red Prysock, Fruit Boots  (1956)

Monday's lunch record is  by Red Prysock. Red was one of the premier sax players that helped create Rock & Roll. This album is second to come out on the Mercury label. It contains 12 bootin' high energy tracks. As it says on the liner notes 'This is no record for the tame or timid. Unless you're explosive and of hardy constitution'. The YouTube sample song is "The Shakers" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQwkLwqk8oY . . bucko

Various, Big Band Jump (1982) r.1949-1953

Various, Big Band Jump (1982)  r.1949-1953

Friday's lunch record   is "Big Band Jump". This is a swingin' collection of hot big band jump R&B from the early 50's. This album is on the P-Vine label from Tokyo Japan under license of Delmark records Chicago Il. This is Vol. 9 in the series of 9 records in Black Music In The 50's. It features songs from The Cab Calloway Orch. The Ernie Fields Orch. and the Jimmy Hamilton Orch. The YouTube sample song is "Shotgun Boogie" (Cab Calloway 1949) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrRTYjSYCDE . . bucko



Cab Calloway

Ernie Fields

Jimmy Hamilton

Les McCann, Talk To The People (1972)

Les McCann, Talk To The People (1972)

Thursday's lunch record is by Les McCann. This jazz based album flashes with funk style as it waves it soul colors in songs. This album is on Atlantic records featuring seven tracks five by Les and two covers. "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye) and "Seems So Long" (Stevie Wonder). Les' vocals are soulfully superb along with his piano or clavinet playing. He is joined by Keith Loving (guitar)), James Rowser (bass), Donald Dean (drums) and Buck Clarke (percussion). The YouTube sample song is "Talk To The People" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSSOuEgVgxU . . bucko 

Marvin Gaye, M.P.G. (1969)

Marvin Gaye, M.P.G.  (1969)

Wednesday's lunch record is by Marvin Gaye. This album is on the Tamla label a part of Motown. This album received a modest reception despite his spectacular hit songs on it. Both the soul and pop charts rated the songs "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and "That's The Way Love Is" highly. This album is more soul than pop with the early elements of funk thrown into the mix. The YouTube sample song is "The End Of Our Road" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgrrMzp94lc . . bucko

Various, Sax Blowers & Honkers (1982) r. 1949-1953

Various, Sax Blowers & Honkers (1982)  r. 1949-1953

Tuesday's lunch record is a collection of early jazzy R&B rockers "Sax Blowers & Honkers". This album is on the P-Vine Special label from Tokyo Japan. These 14 tracks are licensed from Delmark Records. Many rare and special recordings by artists, Earl Johnson "Sausage Rock", Fred Jackson "Buck Fever", Fats Noel "High Time", Paul Basccomb "Pink Cadilliac", Jimmy Forest "Night Train", Cozy Egleston "Big Heavy" along with others. The YouTube sample song is "Everybody Get Together" (Teddy Brannon orch. 1949) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LKL5sB7WC0 . . bucko

Red Prysock, Rock 'n Roll (1955)

Red Prysock, Rock 'n Roll  (1955)

Monday's lunch record is by Red Prysock, This hot honkin' sax album was one of the first albums featuring the hip "Big Beat" music soon to be labeled rock & roll. The young teen age crowd clamoring to get their hands on these records and get the dance party swinging. On this album there are 12 tracks of honk, honk sax blowin'  to get your blood pumping and your feet jumping. The YouTube sample song is "Jumbo" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaA6oI-xFyM . . bucko

Red Prysock, Cryin' My Eyes Out (1983) r.1952-56

Red Prysock, Cryin' My Eyes Out (1983)  r.1952-56

Friday's lunch record is this collection of Red Prysock recordings. This album is on the Saxophone label a division of Mr. R&B Records. This collection consists of 16 tracks from his early career from 1952-1956. Red's hard blowin' honkin' style was one of the premiere creators of the rock & roll frenzy and exciting uproar of the New Beat that took the musical world by storm. Songs from Robin records along with his Mercury tracks from his first three albums. The YouTube sample song is "Hard Rock" (1952) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aRF3PgFK7Y . . bucko

Various, Tea Pad Songs Vol. 1 (1976) r.1933-1947

Various, Tea Pad Songs Vol. 1  (1976) r.1933-1947

Thursday's lunch record is the collection "Tea Pad Songs" Vol. 1.  This risqué jazz - Rhythm & Blues compilation album is filled with songs about marijuana or other drugs  and the usage during the thirties and forties. Artists include "Cab Calloway", "Julia Lee",  "Louis Jordan", "Floyd Ray", " Jimmie Lunceford", "Gene Krupa", "Cleo Brown", "Erskine Hawkins" and others. The YouTube Sample song is "Reefer Man" (Baron Lee & Blue Rhythm Band 1932) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsV9Sp138BA . . bucko

Les McCann, Live At Bohemian Caverns (1967)

Les McCann, Live At Bohemian Caverns (1967)

Wednesday's lunch record is by Les McCann a jazz pianist composer and vocalist. This album recorded live at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington D. C.  This album is released on the Limelight label. This performance features Les' trio which consists of Les McCann (piano), Leroy Vinegar (bass) and Frank Severino (drums). There are six tracks two are Les' compositions and a few extended jazz improvised standards.  The YouTube sample song is "Les McCann, Colonel Ryken's Fried Chicken" Les McCann, Colonel Ryken's Fried Chicken . . bucko

Marvin Gaye, I Want You (1976)

Marvin Gaye, I Want You (1976)

Tuesday's lunch record is by Marvin Gaye, This was his 14th album and his first since his "Let's Get It On" album from 1973. This is recorded on Motown's Tamla label. The sexual funk disco era soul influenced music is Marvin's creative soulful expression. The cover artwork is "The Sugar Shack" (1971) is by Ernie Barnes (1971), Songs include "I Want You", "Come Live Me Angel", "After The Dance" and others. The YouTube sample song is "Come Live With Me Angel" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBrCixJb89g . . bucko

Gene Phillips And The Rockers (1963)

Gene Phillips And The Rockers (1963)

Monday's lunch record is by Gene Phillips. This jump blues album is on the Crown label which reissued many recordings made on the Modern / RPM label from the early 1950's. Gene was the leader vocalist and guitar played that fronted a hot boogie jump blues band with the west-coast sound. There are ten of his tracks including "Crying Won't Help", "Punkin Head", "Cherry Red", Fatso" and others. The YouTube sample song is "Rock Bottom" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I631IwWHfvc . . bucko