Early Black Rock 'N Roll Vol. 1 & 2

Shakey Jake

This post is born out of a couple things. 

Firstly, I took an interest in the Trikont label after KC's most unusual post of Black Country.  As a result I picked up more than a handful of incredible comps.  This is a label which select tracks meticulously and remaster them to perfection.  All have been a real joy to listen to and worth every cent.

More recently, KC and I were discussing how to incorporate some of the more rock type figures into Chitlins.  Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley were discussed and I was basically tasked with bringin these heavys to all of you followers.




Well, I thought to break the ice I would share these two amazing comps - guaranteed to have your media player on repeat.  We are revisited by more than a couple of artists which KC has profiled extensively;  Little Willie John, Howlin Wolf and Ike Turner to name a few.  But we are introduced to many seminal figures in the birth of rock like Shakey Jake, the Bill Davis Trio, Lazy Lester and Slim Harpo.



Vol. 1 1948 - 1958

 These two stellar mixes are mostly important for us at this juncture for the women they feature.  I'm certain KC has some greats comin down the line, so for now we get a taste of Big Maybelle, Etta James, Ruth Brown and several others.

The music here is so infectious, it's a guarantee that you'll be boppin around once you are into it.  It's easy to see why rock took off like it did, there's nothing but fun to be had listening to this stuff.  Even lyrical themes of love lost, aging and other downbeat subjects are given the uptempo, dancable treatment.

Translated from the Trikont site:

Long before Elvis had rolled his pelvis, or the Rolling Stones tapped into the Mississippi-Blues, and the legions of white bands made their electrified guitars roar, black Blues-Gospel & Jazz artists had laid the cornerstone for the musical revolution known as Rock n Roll! Besides well-known names like Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, or Bo Diddley. This comp also features many unjustly overseen musical pioneers.



Vol. 2 1949 - 1959

 From gospel singer Rosetta Tharpe, to Jimi-Hendrix-idol Johnny Guitar Watson, from Ike Turners early Rockabilly-blueprints, to the Doo-Wop-Rock of Ruth Brown. Other artists, including Magic Slim, Andre Williams, Big Maybelle, Rufus Thomas, Lazy Lester, Etta James, and Jesse Stone are featured on this release.

Big Maybelle

“Whatever you call it, it’s wonderful, spirited stuff, ranging from the primal blues spirit of Howlin’ Wolf to the rocking gospel of cover star Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the most influential female guitarist since the legendary Memphis Minnie. Fischer’s selection focuses on the seamier R&B which swept away the eunuch sentimentality of 1950s white pop “like a window being opened to let out the stale air”, as Nik Cohn characterised it: the lascivious snarls of Big Mama Thornton and Little Esther Phillips, the latter’s complaint of “Hound Dog”; the lothario charm of Johnny Guitar Watson; the automotive sex metaphors of Chuck Berry and Billy The Kid Emerson; the hypnotic-exotic rhythms of Rosco Gordon, John Lee Hooker and Bo Diddley; the black rockabilly of Tarheel Slim; and the downright weird, borderline tasteless fantasies of Andre Williams and Sly Fox.”    

(4/5 Stars, The Independent, UK)



Trikont Records
US-0392 / 0412
released 2010