Various – 30th Birthday Celebration – Blues and R&B

For once in our history we are stacking them high and selling them cheap with 4 CDs to give you the flavour of Ace over the past 35 years. Each CD takes on two related genres and rather than deliver all the hits, are here to entertain, amuse and at time surprise with the odd rarity. As the man said when asked what kind of music he liked 'good music' and there is plenty of that with these 80 cuts across 4 CDs. The blues / R&B set opens with the three of the kings of the Blues Elmore, the Wolf and John Lee, though the current indisputable King of the blues B.B. makes a wonderfully low-key appearance later. By the way, the version of House Rent Boogie here has never been released on CD before. We go down home for a couple of cuts from Drifting Slim and Joe Hill Louis, before heading back up town, going way out west with some cool LA sounds from John Watson and Pee Wee Crayton just two of the great guitarists to be found here. Check the lyric on Big Duke's Hey Dr Kinsey never has an academic report on sexual proclivities been put to music with such deep-felt passion. Young Jessie continues the discussion on Don't Happen No More while Lil Greenwood and Helen Humes are one either side of him with clear opinions on the matter also. Of all people Ike Turner cools things out with a fine rockin' instrumental. The set closes with a beautiful soulful performance from Little Johnny Taylor that we have never issued before.

Track Listing:
1. Hand in Hand - Elmore James - 2:51   2. Dog Me Around aka How Many More Years - Howling Wolf - 2:43   3. House Rent Boogie - John Lee Hooker - 2:59   4. You're an Old Lady - Driftin’ Slim - 3:02   5. Boogie in the Park - Joe Hill Louis - 2:47   6. Too Tired - Johnny "Guitar" Watson - 2:40   7. Mean Old Frisco - B.B. King - 2:30   8. Poppa Stoppa - Pee Wee Crayton - 2:39   9. Root Beer Sizzle Sazzle Sizzle - Three Bits Of Rhythm - 3:11   10. Going Mad - Saunders King - 2:33   11. Hey Dr. Kinsey - Big Duke Henderson - 2:45   12. Central Rocks - The Great Gates - 2:36   13. Love Me Tonight - Little Willie Littlefield - 3:09   14. Booted - Rosco Gordon - 3:07   15. Boogie All Night Long - Lil Greenwood - 2:22   16. Don't Happen No More - Young Jessie - 2:26   17. Real Fine Daddy - Helen Humes - 2:15   18. Twistin' the Strings - Ike Turner - 2:42   19. The Mess Around - Richard Berry / Jennell Hawkins / The Lockettes - 2:36   20. Stop Fooling Around - Little Johnny Taylor - 3:18

Reviews:

1. AllMusic - Jason Ankeny 
Founded in 1975 by record dealer Ted Carroll, former Horslips manager Roger Armstrong, and industry vet Trevor Churchill, Britain's Ace Records -- its name borrowed from producer Johnny Vincent's legendary American label -- reigns among the world's most ambitious and rewarding reissue imprints, restoring to print untold numbers of long-lost R&B, soul, and rock & roll classics overlooked by major labels in their rush to endlessly repackage the same shopworn hits. One of four anniversary compilations issued in celebration of Ace's 30th birthday, this 20-track compilation spotlights the label's jaw-dropping blues and R&B catalog, which includes material licensed from such seminal American labels as Specialty, Modern, Stax, and Old Town -- no other label treats this music with as much reverence and affection, and while the track listing may contain rarities and minor hits, few compilations so effectively translate the true scope and spirit of the golden age of rhythm and blues. Highlights include Big Duke Henderson's "Hey Dr. Kinsey," Joe Hill Louis' "Boogie in the Park," Elmore James' "Hand in Hand," and Ike Turner's "Twistin' the Strings."