Big Joe Turner - All the Classic Hits 1938-1952 (5 CD, 2003/FLAC)

 

Classic Hits 1938-52 is a five-disc, 123-track collection of Big Joe Turner's earliest recording sessions before finding stardom with his mid-'50s R&B sides. While this JSP set isn't extravagant, it's a luxury to have Turner's sides for National, Aladdin, Freedom, MGM, and Imperial remastered and together in one collection. The final disc also includes the Boss of the Blues' first recordings for Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun of Atlantic Records: "Chains of Love," "Sweet Sixteen," "Poor Lover's Blues," and "Still in Love (With You)." Turner tackles blues, swing, and fiery up-tempo jump blues, assisted by Pete Johnson, Wynonie Harris, Pee Wee Crayton, Budd Johnson, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Joe Houstin, Albert Ammons, Don Byas, Art Tatum, and Hot Lips Page. 

Rory Gallagher- Blues [3 CD, 2019/FLAC]

 

From the vaults of the Rory Gallagher estate’s tape archive comes this collection of rare and unreleased recordings of Rory playing his favourite blues material. Ranging from never heard before tracks to special guest sessions with legendary blues artists (Muddy Waters / Albert King) and lost radio sessions, this album uncovers Rory’s love of the blues throughout his solo career from 1971 right through to 1994.

Rick Derringer - Joy Ride - Solo Albums 1973-1980 (4 CD, 2017/FLAC)

 Originally finding fame with The McCoys and their hit, ‘Hang On Sloopy’, Rick Derringer worked with both Johnny and Edgar Winter, as well as Steely Dan, before going solo in 1973 for “All American Boy”. Co-produced with Bill Szymczyk, who would later produce the Eagles, “All American Boy” features guest appearances from Joe Walsh, Suzi Quatro and Edgar Winter, and features his best known hit, ‘Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo’. The album also features ‘Hold’, a song co-written with a then relatively unknown Patti Smith.The bonus tracks include mono single versions of ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll, Hoochie Koo’ and ‘Teenage Love Affair’.

Produced by Rick himself, “Spring Fever” followed in 1975, and includes a revisit to the aforementioned ‘Hang On Sloopy’, as well as the Rufus Thomas classic, ‘Walkin’ The Dog’. The album includes guest appearances from Chick Corea on Moog, New York Doll David Johansen on electric harmonica, as well as both Johnny and Edgar Winter. Mono single versions of ‘Hang On Sloopy’ and ‘Don’t Ever Say Goodbye’ are included as bonus tracks.

Forsaking a strictly solo career to form the hard rocking “Derringer” band from 1976 -1978 , Rick returned to recording solo for “Guitars And Women” in 1979, co-produced by Todd Rundgren. Featuring drummer Myron Grombacher and guitarist Neil Geraldo, both from Pat Benatar’s band, the songs range from pure power pop, not surprising considering Todd Rundgren’s involvement, to near heavy metal with ‘It Must Be Love’ and ‘Need A Little Girl (Just Like You)’, written by Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen.

Rick saw in the 1980s with “Face To Face”, which completes this four CD set. Forming a strong writing partnership with bassists Donald Kisselbach, the album includes a cover of Neil Young’s classic ‘My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)’, and now includes a mono version ‘Let The Music Play’.

Hot Tuna - Original Album Classics (5 CD, 2011/FLAC)

 

1970 - Hot Tuna: Live 

1972 - Burgers 

1973 - The Phosphorescent Rat 

1975 - America's Choice 

1976 - Hoppkorv 

 

VA - We Can Fly Vol.1-5 [5 CD, 2008]

 

The five-volume We Can Fly series presented rare psychedelic rock spanning the mid-'60s to the early '70s, mostly centering on U.K. psych of the late '60s, though there's a little spillover from both the British Invasion and early prog rock eras. It's not all from the U.K., either, with a good number of entries from Continental Europe, as well as stray items from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and even Lebanon.