Sam Price

This single CD from the European Classics label collects all of pianist Sammy Price's prewar recordings as a leader. Despite its title, only two titles preceded the 1940-41 period: "Blue Rhythm Stomp" by Price's Four Quarters in 1929, and "Nasty But Nice," which finds Price on the same day accompanying trombonist Bert Johnson. Otherwise, the music features Price's Texas Blusicians, New York-based septets and octets put together especially for recordings. The emphasis is on blues, with Price taking several vocals, but such notable guests as altoist Don Stovall, trumpeters Shad Collins and Emmett Berry and (on four songs) tenor great Lester Young uplift the music. Recommended to small-group swing collectors.

Billy Price and Otis Clay: Two singers separated by a generation come together in a performance that moves the Southern soul tradition a little bit further up the road. Pittsburgh rhythm and blues singer Billy Price and deep Southern soul/gospel icon Otis Clay worked with masterful guitarist/producer Duke Robillard to create their first full-album collaboration, This Time For Real On This Time for Real, the singers have selected an array of soul and R&B songs from the catalogues of artists including Joe Tex, Sam & Dave, the Spinners, Los Lobos, Syl Johnson, and Bobby Womack as well as new versions of two songs originally recorded by Clay. The two friends have performed and worked together occasionally since 1982, but this is by far their most extensive collaboration to date.

Sam Cooke - 8 Classic Albums plus Bonus Singles (2013) {4CD Box Set, Real Gone Music RGRNBCD01 rec 1957-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.27 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 612 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 27 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957-60, 2013 Real Gone Music | RGRNBCD001
Jazz / Soul / Rhythm & Blues / Gospel / Funk / Blues

Collecting the albums the soul singer made as he transitioned from gospel to the world of secular music, Eight Classic Albums gathers up a massive collection of both albums and singles of the great Sam Cooke. Featuring his work between 1957 and 1960, this four-disc set contains Sam Cooke, Encore, Tribute to the Lady, Hit Kit, I Thank God, Cooke's Tour, Hits of the Fifties, and Swing Low. The compilation doesn't contain much in the way of liner notes or supplemental material, so while it makes for a great Sam Cooke starter kit, it doesn't provide much in the way of extra information.

This is exuberant music-making with real life to it. Whoever is responsible for the feeling of spontaneity, it embraces every performance, and the shifting colors from one selection to the next insures enough variety. First-rate side musicians come and go, and vocalist Joy Denalane embodies an iconic blues singer in Sam Cooke’s plaintive “A Change Is Gonna Come.”