Sometimes one is reminded that success in the music business isn't always proportional to talent. If it were, then these songs would've been huge hits, and we all would've grown up hearing them. Alas, it was not to be, but thanks to Ace Records, they're now available and preserved for posterity. Ram Records was founded in 1956 by session guitarist/songwriter Mira Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, which at the time was the home of the wildly popular and influential Louisiana Hayride radio show. Since because of this there was a lot of talent flowing into Shreveport, Mira decided to build a studio and try her luck. Commercially most of these records were only regional hits at best (though some were leased out to larger labels such as Chess) and disappeared rather quickly(the original 45's are rare as hen's teeth), but Ram recorded arguably some of the best rock n' roll, r'n'b and rockabilly of the period.
This is a fine overview of Ram's output. Several great tracks here, but some of the standouts include both of the awesome Roy "Boogie Boy" Perkins tracks (if you can listen to "Ba Da" and you ain't dancin' around the room, then you be dead), the original version of "Flat Foot Sam" by T.V. Slim, the cool r'n'b instrumental "Red Beans and Rice" by Scatman Patin, the rockin' guitar instrumental "Pow Wow", which was recorded by Mira Smith herself under the name Grace Tennessee and the American Spirits, and last but not least, what is considered to be one of the greatest and most sought after rockabilly tracks ever recorded, the Lonesome Drifter's "Eager Boy". The original 45 of Eager Boy is EXTREMELY scarce, and fetches thousands of dollars whenever one does turn up at auction. It's easy to see why. Awesome energy with a great guitar lick and way cool backwoods vocals courtesy of the Drifter himself. (text from Amazon review by "El Freak")
1. Ba Da - Roy 'Boogie Boy' Perkins
2. Red Beans And Rice - Scatman Patin With Linda Brannon
3. Cheaters Can't Win - Margaret Lewis
4. Flat Foot Sam - T.V. Slim And His Heartbreakers
5. Mailman, Mailman - Sonny 'Golden Boy' Williamson
6. Come Back Betty - L.C. Steel
7. I'm Leaving - Linda Brannon
8. Bow Wow Puppy Love - Jimmy Bonin
9. Drop Top (Tk 1) - Roy 'Boogie Boy' Perkins
10. Reconsider Me - Margaret Lewis
11. Hippy Ti Yo - Bobby Page
12. Wherever You Are - Linda Brannon
13. Pow Wow - Grace Tennessee And The American Spirits
14. Let Me Feel It - Elgie Brown
15. Girl In The Street - Vincent Williams
16. Ginning (Tk 1) - Scatman Patin
17. Baby Please Forgive Me - Troy Webb
18. What Did You Do Last Night - Rocky Robin & The Riff Raffs
19. Night Creature - The Run-A-Ways
20. Anyway You Do - Linda Brannon
21. Eager Boy - The Lonesome Drifter
22. Lonesome Heart - Charlotte Hunter
23. El Rancho Grande Rock - The Star Marks
24. Lovers Land - Ernest Walker
25. Louisiana Twist - 'June Bug' Bailey
available on Amazon
No comments:
Post a Comment