The Cats and the Fiddle was one of the pre-eminent pioneering R&B vocal groups of the 1930s. "The Fiddle" in the group's name is not purely whimsical: it alludes to the stand-up bass they used, while in jazz parlance each member of the group was a "hep cat," as in track 17 of this compilation, "Hep Cat's Holiday." And what a compilation it isÑ27 swinging, jiving mono recordings from 1939 to 1946. All songs are lightly accompanied by the infamous "fiddle" and guitar, but whatever it was that made whole generations go nuts over R&B music, these "Cats" have got a boatload of it! Listen to the title tune, a too-hip-for-words "Killin' Jive," "Gang Busters," "Thursday Evening Swing," "Nuts To You," "Mr. Rhythm Man," "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," "Public Jitterbug Number One," "That's On, Jack, That's On," "One Is Never Too Old to Swing," "Stomp, Stomp," "Life's Too Short" - these guys are simply cookin' on every one of these cuts. Over 77 minutes of the finest jive and swing you never got a chance to hear - an unbelievable bargain!

Listen to We Cats Will Swing for You in Real Audio

Led by the awesomely talented tenor Billy Williams, the Charioteers were the most gospel-sounding of the great black pop vocal groups of the Õ40s, a sound that did not translate into the record sales that Columbia record execsÑeager for an answer to DeccaÕs Ink SpotsÑwere hoping for. But to ears educated by the doo wop and soul groups to come, this groupÕs stuff is mighty fine, definitely vocal pop but hinting of the left turn towards R&B that vocal music was soon to take in the Õ50s. We are proud to present the *first-ever* compilation on CD of their work, with notes setting the scene for these 24 great sides.

Listen to Ride, Red, Ride in Real Audio

The Delta Rhythm Boys were not only one of the top black acts of their time, but also played a big role in breaking down color barriers in the entertainment field even while lending a helping hand to the Armed Forces Radio Service from which much of this material hails. We'd put their harmonies right up there with the Ink Spots, Mills Brothers and Charioteers. Includes five tracks cut with Mildred Bailey on the RockinÕ Chair Rhythm show.

Listen to Trav'lin' Light in Real Audio.

"Boys" is the reissue of a 1957 LP of the same name, from the end of the five-man Jazz quintet's long and illustrious career, beginning in 1934 at an Oklahoma university. The "Boys," in these all-accompanied, upbeat collection of 13 cuts, bring us a tasty mix of jazz/swing covers (the Gershwins' "'S Wonderful" and "It Ain't Necessarily So," Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies," Rogers and Hart's "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and Cole Porter's "It's All Right With Me." With wonderful humor and poise, the guys will begin a standard, then feel free to riff it into a joyous, upbeat, funny romp. "Poor Boy" and "Saturday Night Fish Fry" follow the basic rockabilly theme of "How'd I Get Into this Ridiculous Mess?" "There'll Be Some Changes Made," "The Riddle Song" and "Side By Side" are bright, upbeat foot-tappers, while "Young Man with a Horn" and "Something I Dreamed Last Night" are creamy-smooth slow-dance tunes. A varied repertoire with one thing in common—it's all wonderful stuff from the legendary, pioneering DRB.

Listen to Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered in Real Audio.

Twenty nine track compilation contains radio & movie soundtrack performances from 1941-45 from the legendary & innovative Delta Rhythm Boys, who were one of the first vocal groups to wear matching color uniforms (most prior groups wore only black tuxedos) & one of the first groups to choreograph their moves on stage. This features the songs "A-Sittin' & A-Rockin'," "East Of The Sun," "Star Dust," "Darktown Strutters' Ball," "How High The Moon" & others.

The Du Droppers were formed in 1952 from members of various Gospel groups, and the talented, veteran quartet are an important link between Gospel groups, Harmony groups and the rise of Doo Wop and Rock 'n Roll. 23 wonderfully rich (all accompanied) tunes, from the funny "Can't Do Sixty No More" (an answer to the Dominoes' hit "Sixty Minute Man" to the title tune, this CD is a get-down, adult-themed, boogying treat that makes us imagine just how powerful (and dangerous) this music must have sounded to people used to listening to Perry Como and Pat Boone. "Chain Me Baby," "Go Back," "I Wanna Know," "Get Lost," the racy "Little Girl, Little Girl (You Better Stop Talking in Your Sleep)" "Bambalam" and "I Found Out," "Ten Past Midnight," "Honey Bunch," "I Only Had A Little," "Drink Up," "Speed King" "Dead Broke" and "Let Nature Take Its Course." Surprisingly, as good as these songs are, this is the first time we've heard most of them. Great rockin' Doo Wop boogie from the early 1950s by a pioneering group that obviously should be much better-known!

Fisk University, originally the Fisk Free Colored School, was founded in Nashville, TN right after the Civil War, by northern missionaries. The school treasurer, a Gettysburg veteran named George White, loved music, and was moved by the slave hymns he would sometimes overhear in the refugee camps, but it was difficult to get his young students to sing them, as they were associated with slavery and things best forgotten. George began collecting and arranging these "secret songs," with the help of his secretary, Ella Sheppard, who brought him "O Freedom" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," lullabies her mother had taught her. In time, White and Sheppard collected over a hundred songs. In 1871, Fisk was on the brink of financial collapse, and George White took a group of young singers on the route of the Underground Railroad, hoping to "sing into the hearts" of the people and raise money to save the school. At first enduring racism and indifference, the group finally found some success in Ohio, and then made it to New York, where Henry Ward Beecher, in his Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, was so moved by their singing he commanded his wealthy parishioners to give generously to the Jubilee's cause. Suddenly the churches of metropolitan New York opened their doors to them, and people rushed to hear "the genuine soul music of the slave cabins, before the Lord led his people out of the house of bondage." This began a series of successful tours, to Britain, Europe and all over the United States that finally exhausted the young singers, yet raised enough to erase Fisk's debt and build beautiful new campus buildings. 18 authentic songs, some of our favorites: "Down By The Riverside," "De Gospel Train," "Were You There," "Rockin' Jerusalem," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See," "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands," "I'm Got A Home In-A Dat Rock," and the title tune. The CD cover and liner notes are actually a small book, with great old photos and the amazing story of the Fisk Singers. And, this is an "Enhanced" CD--if you load it into your computer's CD player, you can see a nicely-done visual presentation of the group's history with many photos, as well as photos and info from the recording session--very cool. Recommended.

Listen to "I'm Gonna Sing Till the Spirit Moves" and "Down By the Riverside" in Real Audio.

Forty three lilting, rockin' and proto-doowoppin' harmony cuts from Steve Gibson and The Redcaps one of the most popular jump and jive vocal groups of the 1940's. The Five Red Caps began in 1940 Los Angeles, moving to New York in search of fame and fortune. After meeting record label owner Joe Davis (Beacon) in 1943, the multi-talented group, who also played their own instruments, recorded 26 singles for Davis from 1943-46. From rhythm-oriented jive boogie, velvety Ink Spots-style ballads, and the earnest gospel sound, a lá groups of the 1930's such as the Golden Gate Quartet, the Five Red Caps did it all. The Redcaps enjoyed many hit records and appeared in movies, on radio and the emerging TV medium. Like many other groups of the period their roots can be traced back to the unprecedented influence of The Mills Brothers.

The Flamingos are in the elite of vocal harmony groups, considered by some to be one of the best; they emerged from the 1940's jazz idiom, and though they were certainly influenced by their precursors the Five Keys, Orioles etc., they were intent upon forging their own unique sound. From the Chicago neighborhood to the local black Jewish 'Church of God and Saints,' where they lived, worshipped and hung out, the young conglomeration practiced and performed (changing lead singers on the way) and subsequently were able to secure a deal with Chance Records. This was the first of many labels, including Parrot, Checker, Decca and End, for whom the group recorded, and certainly the Flamingos suffered through as much ignominy as any group could: non-payment of royalties, original compositions attributed to other writers, litigation, and the 'cover' phenomena, whereby a white artist would record a hit by a black group, and make off with the sales. (Pat Boone was a notorious raider.) Nonetheless, history was kinder, and the Flamingos have since been recognized as the innovators they are.

Listen to Ko Ko Mo in Real Audio

The Blazes were journeymen musicians, who had played in and around the Chicago club scene since 1940, though they didn't score a national hit until 1952, with "Mary Jo." Written by bassist/singer Tommy Braden, who didn't actually join the Blazes until 1950, it epitomized their blues-influenced jazz sound: walking bass, clean guitar tone, honking sax over blues progressions. However, it was a sound rooted in an earlier era, and was swept away by the tides of rock 'n roll, in spite of the superior musicianship of professionals such as the Blazes. Still, these 24 songs show why the idioms of blues and jazz are universal, and any of them could be performed today. Highlight: an original arrangement of "Mood Indigo," a summer breeze wafting by on a sultry July evening.

The Four Vagabonds were radio stars of the 1940s – they were considered by many to be the grandfathers of R&B harmony! Their commercial recordings make it clear that their real stock-in-trade was haunting romantic harmony ballads; the best of these can be truly described as classics of American folk and popular music.

When the four young black men first began harmonizing together in Norfolk, VA in 1934, they could hardly have imagined being invited four years later to New York to perform in the now legendary "From Spirituals to Swing" concerts at Carnegie Hall. About that time they cut their first recorded sides, laying down an amazing 14 tracks in 2 hours. Nearly 70 years later, the group is still spreading the Gospel and delighting audiences with their upbeat, rhythmic hits. "Good Book" is essentially a "best of" studio CD, containing 18 tunes. "I Soon Will Be Done With The Troubles Of This World," "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Rock My Soul," "Gospel Train"Ñwe've heard them before, but they're new and fresh here. "Oh Happy Day," "Down By The Riverside," "Swing Down Chariot"Ñthe GGQ invites us aboard the Gospel train, and it's a great ride!

Listen to Ezekiel Saw the Wheel and Down By the Riverside Real Audio.

When the GGQ burst onto the gospel music scene in the 1930's out of the Tidewater region of Virginia, black churches were quite musically conservative and not given to rhythmic experimentation or nods toward popular music. Thus there was a fair amount of head-shaking when the GGQ emerged as the leader of a very fine pack of Gospel groups during a very difficult and trying time in American history. Appearing on a North Carolina radio station led to a move north, then to a Bluebird recording contract. The strong beat and counterpoint in those first recordings are looked upon as a turning point in Gospel music, a rebirth of the spiritual. "Rock My Soul" has 20 marvelous tunes, recorded from 1937 to 1943, all of them upbeat, rhythmic, harmonic hits. Listen to "Golden Gate Gospel Train," "Jonah In The Whale," "Go Where I Send Thee" and the vocal "horns" on "Massa's In The Cold Cold Ground," the title tuneÑthis is amazing stuff. Humorous songs like "Preacher and the Bear" and "Jonah In the Whale" have as much novelty pop in them as Gospel. "Stalin Wasn't Stallin" (about the defeat of Hitler by the Russians) and "Comin' In On A Wing and a Prayer" feed nicely on the "God is on our side" sentiment of WWII. Not at all maudlin or dire like some Gospel groups, the GGQ are cheerful, joyous and celebratory in their music, and we think they are one of the best, and most interesting, of all time!

Listen to "Gospel Train in Real Audio.

The Harps of Melody were formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1930s (though this recording was made in the 1980s). Invoking the poignant history from which these African-American spirituals originated, the Harps performed extensively in the South, in churches and on radio, throughout their career. This CD is a rare opportunity to discover their sound, as exemplified by the songs 'Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread', and 'Roll Jordan Roll,' where they demonstrate, through their use of phrasing, trills and 'blue notes,' their command of the style. Their unique version of 'Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen' is distinctive and original. A must for any devotee.

Listen to I'm A Soldier in Real Audio

This CD is basically "The Best of The Ink Spots," part 2. The four Ink Spots recorded for the American Decca label from 1936 to 1951, and during that time made it to the Top 30 Hit Parade Charts with no fewer than 46 titles. Of these, 20 reached the Top 10, 6 of them making it to the number 1 slot, a phenomenal record! Here are 24 more of those hits and lesser-known but interesting titles, three of which, "I Wish I Could Say the Same," "Why Didn't You Tell Me" and "Don't Break A Promise," are re-issued here for the first time. The Spots' distinctive guitar intro, soaring falsetto of Bill Kenny, and "Hoppy" Jones' talking chorus are present on some of these songs, absent on others. "I Cover the Waterfront," "Java Jive," "Stop Pretending," "Slap That Bass," "It Isn't A Dream Anymore," "Please Take A Letter, Miss Brown," "I'll Get By," "You Were Only Fooling"… these are romantic, sentimental, the-definition-of-cool, rarely-heard tunes by one of the most influential vocal groups of the 30s, 40s and 50s, and lots of them!

Listen to Slap That Bass in Real Audio

We wish all history sounded this good! The Mills Bros. started singing together in 1925, combining barbershop harmony with the jaunty rythms of the swing era. It was a sweet combination that led to a 70 year career! From 1942's "Paper Doll" to their 1968 rendition of "Cab Driver", these harmonious gentlemen had a string of top-40 hits and enjoyed enormous popularity. Warning for purists: all the songs are accompinied to some degree, usually lighty. But don't miss this CD because of that -these guys are under the directory under "debonair". Every song is a treat "Lazy River", "You Always Hurt the One You Love", "'Till Then,"I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", "Someday", their marvelous hit "Glow Worm", "Standing on the Corner", and "Be My Life's Companion." Classic!

Listen to Someday in Real Audio

Along with the Mills Bros, the Ink Spots were the most popular black vocal group of the 1930's and 40's, though their careers spanned such duration, that groups are still performing under the Ink Spots name! Their trademark style, with a buttery tenor vibrato over spoken interludes by the bass vocalist, and elegant yet understated accompaniment, generated a spate of hits, including their first big chart appearance with "If I Didn't Care" in 1939. Having found their niche, a series of similarly-produced songs, including "I'll Never Smile Again," "Java Jive," "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire" and "I'll Get By," capitalized on the record-buying public's attention. Though there were many subsequent personnel changes, the group sustained both artistic quality and popular success, and no music collection is complete without the Ink Spots.

Listen to I'm Beginning To See The Light (With Ella Fitzgerald) in Real Audio

The four Mills Brothers had a style that combined the best elements of vaudeville, Negro minstrelsy and the barbershop quartet with elements of the new jazz sound. Their habit of cupping their hands over their mouths to create an orchestral sound (similar to effects created by Europe's Comedy Harmonists), was a sensational factor in their success story, and appearances on popular radio programs like "Rudy Vallee's Fleishmann's Yeast Hour" led to their first million-selling record, "Tiger Rag/Nobody's Sweetheart" in 1931. The Brothers endeared themselves to movie audiences the world over with appearances on such hits as "Big Broadcast of 1932" with Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, Cab Calloway and the Boswell Sisters. Included here are 23 lightly accompanied songs, some of our favorites: "You Rascal, You," "Dinah" and "Shine" with Bing Crosby, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" and "In The Shade of the Old Apple Tree" with Louis Armstrong, "How'm I Doin', Hey, Hey?," "Lazy River" and the title tune. This is classic, understated, tongue-in-cheek-funny stuff, the quintessence of jazzy, bluesy flapper/speakeasy cool. Too much good stuff! Highly recommended.

Listen to Paper Doll in Real Audio

They just don't make 'em like this anymore. The emotion wrung from every note, the grit and rawness. The Moonglows were a seminal vocal group in the development of the sound between the vocal jazz and jubilee groups to the then ermerging doo wop sound. Smooth harmonies on this enjoyable recording.

Listen to Most of All in Real Audio.

With lead Singer Sonny Till, The Orioles were the first African-American vocal group to target a young African-American audience. You'll hear elements of Gospel, Pop as well as Doo Wop sprinkled into the smooth harmonies in their many R&B hits such as "Tell Me" and "It's Too Soon To Know" and of course "Crying In The Chapel". The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Listen to Shrimp Boats in Real Audio.

Famous as the group from which soul singer Lou Rawls launched his solo career, the Pilgrim Travellers were one of the most hard-working and touring gospel groups of the 1950's. This value priced double CD set captures their intensity and fervor, and the sheer force of their conviction. Their intonation and the sound quality of the recording are well above average. Songs such as 'Jesus, I'm Thankful,' 'The Old Rugged Cross' and 'I Want My Crown' are personal and heartfelt testimonials to the power of salvation. Their most popular song, 'Jesus Met The Woman At The Well,' a Southern Spiritual, is an American art form.

Listen to " Jesus Hits like the Atom Bomb" in Real Audio.

Sam Cooke was one of the most influential singers and songwriters of the latter half of the twentieth century. Between l957 and 1965 he had 29 top 40 hits on the pop charts and 34 on the R&B charts. This recording is about his real roots as a gospel singer. As a boy he sang with two brothers and two sisters in a gospel group called the Singing Children. At age 15 he became the lead singer of the Highway Q.C.'s (yes, they became famous) which were tutored by members of the nationally renown Soul Stirrers. In return, the Highway Q.C.'s became almost like a farm club of future singers. Sam was recruited to take the place of the great R.H. Harris when he retired at the end of 1950. He proceeded to put his own stamp on the group, not only because of his voice, but the fact that he was the most prolific writer in the group. His songs include classics such as 'Nearer To Thee,' 'Be With Me Jesus,' 'Touch The Hem Of His Garment' and 'That's Heaven To Me.' This recording traces his gospel career, both unaccompanied and accompanied by small bands.

Listen to Peace In The Valley in Real Audio.

Well researched and compiled selection of classics tracks by one of the most successful of the early 50's R&B groups. Featuring their years on the King label this recording is a treat for fans of the clear, clean, sweet sound of the early vocal harmony groups. 25 tracks

Listen to Please, Baby, Please in Real Audio.