Ballard,Hank & Midnighters 1952-1954 CD

Formed in late 1950, the first incarnation of Motor City vocal group The Royals was rumoured to have included Jackie Wilson and Levi Stubbs. By the time they were first discovered by bandleader Johnny Otis in late 1951, however, original members Henry "Hank" Booth and Charles Sutton had been joined by Lawson Smith and Ardra "Sonny" Woods who, together with their regular guitar accompanist Alonzo "Mister T" Tucker, were signed to Federal Records. The Royals' first three sessions, recalled the smooth, love-ballad style of The Orioles, but in early 1953 Smith left and his replacement Hank Ballard brought a whole new repertoire to the group. This, the first CD of The Midnighters' complete chronological recordings includes arguably the group's most influential early recordings.

1. I Know I Love You So 2. Starting from Tonight 3. Every Beat of My Heart 4. All Night Long 5. I'll Never Let Her Go 6. Moon Rise 7. Love in My Heart 8. 5th Street Blues 9. Shrine of St. Cecilia 10. I Feel So Blue 11. Are You Forgetting? 12. What Did I Do? 13. Get It 14. No It Ain't 15. That's It 16. Hello Miss Fine 17. Someone Like You 18. I Feel That-A-Way 19. That Woman - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters 20. Work with Me Annie - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters 21. Until I Die - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters 22. Give It Up - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters 23. Sexy Ways - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters 24. Don't Say Your Last Goodbye - Hank Ballard, the Midnighters