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Elly Roberts reviews
Snapper Music PLC
- Released: January 2005
- Format: 4-CD Boxset
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat.no.: 0341557232
- Extras: Comprehensive historical booklet, 48 pages
Long before Berry Gordy formed Tamla Motown records in the early sixties, there was label flourishing in the windy city.
Chicago based Vee Jay Records (formed 1953) a tiny, black family owned businesshad a roster of artists who were the envy of the competition. Famously,theyissued the first Beatles records in the USA before Columbia took them on. Someartists became household names, whereas others continued to thrive at a lesscommercially successful level.
Big Blues names such as John Lee Hooker, Elmore James and Jimmy Reed took thelead on the genre. Budding stars like Gladys Knight held the soul flag aloft.Gospel family The Staple Singers had early success through the label. Doo Wopexponents The Spaniels did well in the cross-over market.
Collectively,the label took on board a very eclectic attitude which guaranteeda successful ownership until its demise in 1966 due to a welter of debts.
The eclectic concept is reflected in this comprehensive four disc boxset,spread over 115 tracks, which all serious music lovers should own. The funstarts in the 50s, then the 60s and two back-up discs.Formatting the tracklisting must have been a monumental task. The juxtapositionof styles works beautifully.
Star artist has to be Jimmy Reed, the man who strongly influenced the RollingStones early sound. Keef Richard must have been eating and sleeping Reed.Looks like Billy Boy Arnold also had an influence on them too – Wish You Wouldis a dead ringer for early Stones. Original version of Chubby Checkersworld-wide hit The Twist, written and recorded by Hank Ballard and TheMidnighters proves a revelation. Gerry Butlers Need To Belong is absolutevocal heaven. The Jackson 5 covered Rockin Robin in the seventies,but Ray Smiths is a rush of blood: outrageously rocknroll.
Cool jazz makes a welcomed inclusion: taste the loungy piano grooves of WyntonKelly on Surrey With The Fringe On Top and Lee Morgans sultry sax playon Just In Time. Precursour to Northern Soul, Betty Everetts GettingMighty Crowded is magnificent, over a decade before the style became popularas a spin-off of Soul in the mid to late 70s.
Something for everyone. Fantastic.
Weblink:Snapper Music.com
Tracks include :
Disc 1 (The ’50s) Jay McShann & Priscilla Bowman – Hands Off, Eddie Taylor – Big Town Playboy, Jimmy Reed – Aint That Lovin You Baby, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters – The Twist
Disc 2 (The ’60s) John Lee Hooker – Boom,Boom, Rosco Gordon – Just A Little Bit, Eddie Harris – Exodus, Gladys Knight & The Pips – Every Beat Of My Heart
Disc 3 (Still Jumpin’) The Dells – Jo Jo, Memphis Slim – Rockin The House, Rosco Gordon – No More Doggin
Disc 4 (Windy City Round Up) Little Richard – Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On, The Staple Singers – The Last Time, The Pyramids – Shakin
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.