Size: 104,9 MB
Time: 39:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1959/2006
Styles: Jazz, Soul, R&B, Rock
Art: Front
01. Midnight Ramble (2:33)
02. Linda (3:12)
03. The Shake (2:40)
04. Jay Walk (4:14)
05. Lil Brother (4:54)
06. Peter Gunn (2:53)
07. The Groove (3:09)
08. Snake Eyes (2:57)
09. Cuban Twilight (2:48)
10. Birth Of The Blues (2:32)
11. Chili (2:06)
12. Jest Smoochin' (Bonus Track) (2:42)
13. The Birth Of The Blues (Bonus Track) (2:32)
This is one fun dance record, right from the opening bars of "Midnight Ramble," a piece that sounds like a cross-breeding of "Bo Diddley," with both the sax and the lead guitar having fun with the central riff, and "Yakety Sax." Not everything here is as delightful, hypnotically frenetic as that Curtis Ousley semi-original, but most of the album is done with an infectious sense of humor, and even the predictable numbers here, like "Linda," with its tango tempo, is eminently listenable, if not exactly breaking any new horizons in R&B. Other tracks, like "Jaywalk" and "Lil Brother," are slightly more adventurous; and the band has a lot of fun with "Peter Gunn." The final two numbers, "Birth of the Blues" and "Chili," don't quite fit in with the rest of the record, both utilizing orchestral accompaniment in lieu of the band. ~by Bruce Eder
Have Tenor Sax, Will Play
Size: 82,9 MB
Time: 34:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1969/2015
Styles: Jazz Soul, Jazz Rock, R&B
Art: Front
01. Instant Groove (2:21)
02. Hey Joe (2:53)
03. Foot Pattin' (4:45)
04. Wichita Lineman (3:03)
05. Games People Play (2:44)
06. Sing A Simple Song (2:48)
07. The Weight (2:43)
08. La Jeanne (2:53)
09. Little Green Apples (2:43)
10. Somewhere (2:27)
11. Hold Me Tight (2:06)
12. Hey Jude (3:12)
King Curtis was the last of the great R&B tenor sax giants. Born Curtis Ousley in Fort Worth, Texas, he came to prominence in the mid-'50s as a session musician in New York, recording, at one time or another, for most East Coast R&B labels. A long association with Atco/Atlantic began in 1958, especially on recordings by the Coasters. He recorded singles for many small labels in the '50s -- his own Atco sessions (1958-1959), and Prestige/New Jazz and Prestige/Tru-Sound for jazz and R&B albums (1960-1961). Curtis also had a number one R&B single with "Soul Twist" on Enjoy (1962). He was signed by Capitol (1963-1964), where he cut mostly singles, including the number 20 R&B hit "Soul Serenade." He returned to Atco/Atlantic in 1965, where he remained for the rest of his life. He had solid R&B single success with "Memphis Soul Stew" and "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967). Beginning in 1967, Curtis started to take a more active studio role at Atlantic, leading and contracting sessions for other artists, producing with Jerry Wexler, and later on his own. He also became the leader of Aretha Franklin's backing unit, the Kingpins. He compiled several albums of singles during this period. All aspects of his career were in full swing at the time he was murdered in 1971. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. ~by Bob Porter
Instant Groove
