Koko Mojo Records

You heard about the Koko-Mojo series (30 volumes), the Southern Bred series (20 volumes) and Boss Black Rockers (10 volumes). The Mojo Man compiled a brandnew series with dancefloor killers only! 24 dark black Blues and Rhythm and Blues songs, handpicked by the man himself!

With this album we are once again in the 'Koko-Mojo Original' series. The compiler is still Little Victor aka 'The Mojo Man' and again he selected 28 tracks.

This is the bomb! It goes off with spectacular flair. From back at a time when it was the sax (not the guitar) that was the primary instrument in rock’n’roll, the various artists on This Is The Night: Lessons In Wild Saxophonology (Koko Mojo) run the gamut from Rosco Gordon’s “Tummer Tee,” Jimmy Tolliver’s “Hoochie Kootchie Koo” and Kansas City Jimmy’s “Cheating Woman” to Screaming Joe Neal’s “She’s My Baby,” Johnny Wright’s “Look At That Chick” and Otis Riley’s “Little Miss Bibbitty Bobbitty Boom” (highlights all). But wait, there’s more. From “Hot Tamales” by Noble Watts, “Way Out” by The Vibrators and “I’m Gonna Whale On You” by the politically incorrect Little Arthur Mathews to “Huchia Cuthia Lovin’ Man” by King Alex & The Untouchables,” these unbelievably great jump-blues and rockin’ rhythm rides will have you heaving and twitching. Scouring the depths of ‘50s and ‘60s sides (with some ‘40s thrown in too), it never fails to amaze how many poppin’ pulsating slabs of wax were made by little-known artists from long-ago and far-away. Well, here they are!

Stamping their identity all over this compilation album are the female singers of 50s and early 60s generations trying to make a name for themselves in a largely male dominated industry. What the listener will experience with ‘Cat Scratchin’ is a variety of songs, with a variety of styles that show flashes of sophistication and songs borne out of more primitive foundations. There’s plenty of attitude as well as honesty, not to mention a mental toughness as well as vulnerability that serves up a perfect balance of emotions. Most tracks give the suggestion of late 50s and early 60s periods in history with the rhythm and blues ranging from late-night torchbearers such as the excellent ‘Please Give Me A Match’ performed by Rebecca Williams, to the tub-thumping, boisterous racket that is ‘Holy Mack’reel’ from equally animated vocals of Prentice Moreland.

Starting with its 20th anniversary in 1991, every five years brings another double Alligator collection, and 2011 was no exception. While the 35th edition –released in 2006 – logically featured 35 songs, the compilers couldn't quite squeeze 40 onto this 40th anniversary disc, even though owner Bruce Iglauer does admit to fading a few endings off prematurely in order to maximize the list, which hits 38 selections. The trick with these albums is to both pay tribute to the label's storied past while including enough recent acts to connect the dots between the house-rocking music Iglauer built his company on, and the more modern yet still roots-based sounds he's released during the last five years.

Chess Blues is a superlative four-CD box set featuring important tracks by all the main stars of the label (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson), as well as much previously unreleased material. A well-done retrospective of Chicago blues in its heyday, as recorded by America's greatest blues label, Chess.