Parker,Junior Singles Collection 1952-62 CD

Born in Mississippi in 1932, Herman "Junior" Parker moved with his family to Memphis in the '40s and grew up surrounded by the blues, learning harmonica and being mentored by the great Sonny Boy Williamson. He toured with Howlin' Wolf and then with B.B. King and Bobby Bland in The Beale Streeters before forming The Blue Flames, and being spotted by Ike Turner, who recorded him for Modern Records. He signed to Sam Phillips' Sun Records, before moving to the Duke label. He had developed what one critic called a "honeyed, velvet-smooth" voice, and as another writer said, "deserted downhome harmonica blues for uptown blues-soul music", having ten R&B and pop hits during the '50s and into the 1960s. This 50-track 2-CD set comprises all the A & B sides he released on the Modern, Sun and Duke labels in this era, and naturally features all his hits during this key first decade of his career, when he had all his Top 20 hits. It features the Top 10 R&B entries "Feelin' Good", "Next Time You See Me", "In The Dark", "Driving Wheel" and "Annie Get Yout Yo-Yo". It also includes his original version of "Mystery Train", recorded for Sun, which Elvis Presley recorded a couple of years later. It's a fine showcase for an artist who has not generally had the attention which he merits and who was a fine songwriter, as well as a top-class and distinctive blues stylist.

1. You're My Angel 2. Bad Women, Bad Whiskey 3. Feelin' Good 4. Fussin' and Fightin' Blues 5. Mystery Train 6. Love My Baby 7. Can't Understand 8. Dirty Friend Blues 9. Sittin' Drinkin' and Thinkin' 10. Please Baby Blues 11. Backtracking 12. I Wanna Ramble 13. There Better Not Be No Feet (In Them Shoes) 14. Driving Me Mad 15. Mother-In-Law Blues 16. That's My Baby 17. Next Time You See Me 18. My Dolly Bee 19. That's All Right 20. Pretty Baby 21. Pretty Little Doll 22. Peaches 23. Sitting and Thinking 24. Wondering 25. Barefoot Rock 26. What Did I Do 27. Sweet Home Chicago 28. Sometimes 29. Five Long Years 30. I'm Holding on 31. Stranded 32. Blue Letter 33. Dangerous Woman 34. Belinda Marie 35. You're on My Mind 36. The Next Time 37. That's Just Alright 38. I'll Learn to Love Again 39. Stand By Me 40. I'll Forget About You 41. Seven Days 42. Driving Wheel 43. How Long Can This Go on 44. In the Dark 45. Annie Get Your Yo-Yo 46. Mary Jo 47. Sweeter As the Days Go By 48. I Feel Alright Again 49. Someone Somewhere 50. Foxy Devil