Percy Mayfield Blues Laureate: RCA Years CD - Import

Percy Mayfield's tenure at RCA in the early 1970s is often unfairly overlooked in favor of his '60s work for Tangerine and other labels, but the compilation BLUES LAUREATE, thankfully, seeks to correct that error. Mayfield's inimitable way with a phrase, pouring the soul of a sensitive crooner through the gutsy style of a blues vocalist, is evident everywhere here, as is his excellent songwriting and well-crafted, expressive lyrics. BLUES LAUREATE is a great place to get introduced to a fine chapter in the career of this R&B icon.

Raven presents for the first time ever on CD the very best of Percy Mayfield's recordings for RCA in the early 1970s. Renowned as the greatest songwriter the blues has ever known, Mayfield essayed a successful recording career that stretched from 1949 to 1971. His subtle emoting and impeccably nuanced phrasing elevated him to the pantheon of singing greats. Idolized by the likes of Bob Dylan, Mose Allison and Elvis Presley, his songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Jimmy Scott, Fiona Apple, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Count Basie, Paul Butterfield and of course, Ray Charles, for whom he penned Hit The Road Jack and many others. Recorded in New York City with Eric Gale, David Spinozza, Chuck Rainey, Snooky Young, Bernard Purdie, Richard Tee and other crack musicians, these RCA sides compare favorably with the best of his work for the Specialty and Tangerine labels over the preceding 20 years.

Liner Note Author: John Dowler.