New 1997 Release
With the release of Selections, Sweet Honey in the Rock, formed in Washington, DC in 1973, moves toward the quarter century mark with a look back at their finest recordings on the Flying Fish and Redwood labels between 1976 and 1988. The repertoire of this powerful a cappella ensemble of African-American women singers covers an unprecedented range of original and traditional songs based in their people's historical legacy of resistance against oppression. Their sound is earthy, solid, and refreshing, with an exciting range of vocal styles and harmonic blends. In this two-volume anthology, they bring us the core of a repertoire that has made them one of the world's premiere a cappella vocal ensembles. (Thirty-four tracks, including two that are previously unissued.)... Bernice Johnson Reagon / Carol Lynn Maillard / Evelyn Maria Harris / Louise Robinson / Patricia Johnson McQueen / Yasmeen / Ysaye M. Barnwell / Shirley Childress Johnson / Aisha Kahlil / Nitanjau Bolade Casel......US$25.95
Walk Around Heaven: New Orleans Soul Gospel
While the music of Irma Thomas has always been rooted in the African American gospel sound, this is her first all-gospel album. Inspired by the support of many of the best gospel musicians and singers in New Orleans today, Irma's vocal performances achieve a remarkable balance of commitment, passion and power. This music, in the black classical tradition of Mahalia Jackson and Bessie Griffin, is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
"A sweet, stormy voice that's only improved with time." --Musician
"One of the finest soul singers alive, a performer with rare and striking audience rapport." --Boston Globe
". . . her aim is true and her roots are strong, and that voice is as sultry and soulful as it ever was." --Goldmine
"Her strong, smoothly phrased soul singing is as powerful as ever." --N.Y. Times
"She's not just one of New Orleans premiere contemporary vocalists, she's one of the world's." --New Musical Express
"This is gospel, straight from her Baptist church, and oh my, is it good. Put Irma Thomas on, turn it up, close your eyes, and feel the music. This is the real stuff, indeed." --Baby Boomer Collectibles
Irma Thomas, lead vocals / Tara Darnell, vocals / Pamela Landrum, vocals / Earl J. Smith, Jr., vocals / Charles Elam III, vocals / Sammy Berfect, Hammond B-3 organ, piano / Dwight Franklin, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, vocals / Anthony R. Brown, guitar / Donald Ramsey, bass / Lawrence Baulden, bass / Herman V. Ernest, III drums / David Farrell, tambourine..... US$15.95
It's been a long, hardworking year, but the holidays are here at last. Time to kick back with Bullseye Blues Christmas, 11 treasurable tracks of the blues you can use all season long. From the fiery guitars of Little Jimmy King and Smokin' Joe Kubek to Michelle "Evil Gal" Willson's sassy vocals and Charles Brown's cool-Yule song stylings, producer Ron Levy brings you a stocking full of the best in contemporary blues from coast to coast. Included are two songs recorded especially for this album and four more that have never been commercially released! It all adds up to a solid set of seasonal blues that's sure to be a favorite year after year. US$15.95
From Robert Nighthawk to Rory Block, from Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown to Ronnie Earl, J.B. Hutto to Ted Hawkins, this two-disc sampler presents some of the best blues recorded anywhere in the last 25 years. The fact that this is all incredible blues music was recorded under the banner of one label group, Rounder Records, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1995, is of secondary importance. So sit back and let Rounder take you on a trip around the blues world of the last 25 years, from Nighthawk and Hutto in Chicago to Hawkins and Lowell Fulson in Los Angeles, to Marcia Ball, Charles Brown and Smokin' Joe Kubek in Texas, to Champion Jack Dupree and Professor Longhair in New Orleans, back home to the Delta sounds of Johnny Shines and Robert Jr. Lockwood. All for one special low price! Also featuring: Ronnie Earl, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, Tracy Nelson, the Holmes Brothers, Bluestime, Smokey Wilson, Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball, the Persuasions, Roomful of Blues, Jimmy McCracklin, Ron Levy and many others. Thirty tracks.
This Album also features new blues sensation Preston Shannon, and his "Beale St. Boogaloo", (Shannon-Ross-Hines-Franklin/Levtronic Music, BMI, from Bullseye Blues 9545 Break the Ice). Memphis' Preston Shannon is one of the most exciting discoveries of the `90s, a powerful guitarist with a compelling and soulful voice that sounds like a cross between Otis Redding's and Bobby Womack's. He toured for a couple of years as a member of soul singer Shirley Brown's band; in concert he sang Womack's part in the soul duet Brown had done years before with Womack himself. More recently, he and his fine band won the National Blues Competition; augmented by the fabulous Memphis Horns. This album was cut at Memphis' Crosstown Recorders, with Ron Levy producing. US$15.95
James
Brown Is BackThe Godfather of Soul, the hardest working man in show business is at it again. He is back with one of his most dynamic albums. This album will prove to you the awesome talent of Mr. Brown is still as strong as ever. The numerous stories surrounding the quality and greatness of his latest performances are captured in this new album. This is a must have for any collection of this great entertainer's musical works. US$15.95
This 1983 release presents newly-recorded versions of classic holiday songs, done up in the Stax/Muscle Shoals soul style of the mid-'60s. Includes Wilson Pickett, Mary Wells, Ben E. King, Martha Reeves, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave), Shirley Alston, and others. "This is a must record, if only to somehow let these artists know that we still think they're great." --Austin Chronicle. Wilson Pickett / Mary Wells / Ben E. King / Martha Reeves / Sam Moore / Shirley Alston / US$15.95
Deck the halls and fill the dance floors 'cause Christmas time is here again. Enjoy the holiday festivities as Bob Marley & the Wailers (with a youthful Bob Marley singing the ska song "Sound the Trumpet"), Freddie McGregor, Alton Ellis, the Heptones, and the rest of the Studio One crew wish you 12 tracks' worth of Merry Christmas. "Christmas gems . . . timeless collection. . . . The Clement Dodd productions displays his trademark genius, as well as the remarkable talents of the performers who passed through his studio doors (perhaps under mistletoe?) throughout the '70s." --CMJ. Johnny Osbourne & the Family Group / Brent Dowe / Alton Ellis / Dillinger & the Brentford Harmonicas / The Wailers featuring Bob Marley / Tennessee Brown & the Silvertones / Leslie Millner & the Brentford All Stars / The Heptones / Dobby Dobson / Freddie McGregor US$15.95
Since 1970, Rounder Records has released a panorama of roots-based music from America and around the world. Our first Christmas collection represents this lively variety, with songs from throughout our catalog. Along with favorites from some of our best-known holiday releases, we've included four performances created especially for this album and three more that have never been issued on CD. From Riders in the Sky's nostalgic "Christmas at the Triple X Ranch" to Bahamian Joseph Spence's startling version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," there's something for everyone under the Rounder Christmas tree. US$15.95