West Florida Rhythm & Blues / Various West Florida Rhythm & Blues / Various CD

TAMPA and ST. PETERSBURG in FLORIDA were the focal point from the late 1940s through to the early 1960s for what is nowadays a neglected and obscure centre of black R&B music, much of it focussed around the saxophonist and bandleader Charles Brantley. Brantley, along with his front man vocalist Clarence Jolly, was recorded in the early 1950s by New York record label owner Bob Shad and Jasmine is proud to release these sides as part of a twenty-five track compilation of jumping R&B and smootchy ballads from the Sunshine State. Also included are cuts by such acts as Gene Franklin and his Rockin' Spacemen and harmonica virtuoso Eugene 'Texas' Ray, along with the flamboyant Guitar Shorty, although these artists had to migrate to New York City, or in the case of Shorty, Chicago, to make their recording debuts. Jam-packed full of rare recordings, this collection will delight both R&B collectors and enthusiasts and will shed a welcome light on a hitherto undocumented area of post-war American Rhythm and Blues music

1. I Need You Baby - Clarence Jolly 2. You'd Better Change Your Ways - Clarence Jolly 3. Mean Mean Momma - Charles Brantley ; His Original Honeydippers 4. Beggin' Blues - Charles Brantley ; His Band 5. Every Man's Blues - Clarence Jolly with Charles Brantley ; His Band 6. Baby Take a Look at Me - Clarence Jolly with Charles Brantley ; His Band 7. Blues in the Morning - Manzie Harris ; His Band 8. Cryin' and Sighin'-1 - Manzie Harris ; His Band 9. Each Night About This Time - Charles Brantley ; His Band 10. Boogie Me Baby - Charles Brantley ; His Band 11. Irma Lee - Guitar Shorty 12. You Don't Treat Me Right - Guitar Shorty 13. I Feel So Lonesome - Charles Brantley ; His Band 14. Don't Leave Me - Clarence Jolly 15. Changing Love - Clarence Jolly 16. What's Come Over You - Texas Ray 17. Mary Ann - Texas Ray 18. Rock-A-Baby Rock - the Skyliners 19. Hackensack Part 1 - Gene Franklin ; the House Rockin' 20. Hackensack Part 2 - Gene Franklin ; the House Rockin' 21. Itchin' and Twistin' - Gene Franklin ; the Spacemen 22. Rockin' the Fish - Gene Franklin ; the Spacemen 23. Checker Shirt - Charlie Brantley and His Orch 24. Let Your Good Times Go-1 - Charlie Brantley and His Orch 25. You Said You Loved Me - Charles Brantley ; His Original Honeydippers