Big Joe Turner Joe Turner/Rockin' Blues CD

2 LPs on 1 CD: JOE TURNER (1957)/ROCKIN' BLUES (1958).
Includes original release liner notes by Guy Remark & Gary Kramer.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Presenting both JOE TURNER and ROCKIN' THE BLUES on one CD, this Collectables compilation is a quality double shot of Big Joe Turner's late-1950s output for Atlantic Records. Among the 28 tracks featured are the raucous "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (made famous by Bill Haley & the Comets), the boisterous "Well All Right," and the uplifting "The Chicken and the Hawk," all marked by careening piano lines and swinging rhythms. The latter part of the disc finds Turner balancing rock & roll tunes with straight-up blues numbers, belting out classics such as the heartsick "Chains of Love" and the melancholy "Trouble in Mind." Every song here benefits from Turner's commanding voice, which carries a sound as large as his massive frame. Although Turner's earlier recordings may have been more influential, these sessions, some of his last for Atlantic, showcase the vocalist as a seasoned performer at the top of his game.
This reissue from Collectables combines two classic Joe Turner Atlantic sides, Joe Turner and Rockin' the Blues, originally released in 1957 and 1958, respectively. Featuring 28 tracks, including a number of R&B staples that crossed over into the pop realm: "Shake Rattle & Roll," "Flip Flop & Fly," "Honey Hush," "Chains of Love," and more. This is a sure bet purchase and also sports the addition of the original LP track sequence that highlights jump blues cuts not often heard, which are just as enjoyable as the hits. ~ Al Campbell