Hi Strung R&B Volume 7 Red Hot - Various Artists

johnaalex

Mar 234 min read

Hi Strung R&B Volume 7 Red Hot CD 26696

Released: 07/03/2025

Record Label: Koko Mojo Records

Reviewed by Terry Mead.19 /03/2025

Mastering: The Studio That Time Forgot, El Paso, Texas.

Coordinator: Dee Jay Mark Armstrong

Cover Design: Gito Lima

Quality Consultant: Frantic Franky

Photos: Rockstar Records Archive

Koko-Mojo- A Division of Rockstar Records.

Кoko Mojo Records showcases twenty-eight rousing rhythm & blues rockers with a dash of doo-wop music with the emphasis on jive dancing and added stroll tempos for a stylistic variety on Hi-Strung R&B, Volume 07, Red Hot.

The exhilarating R&B dance-fest sounds are sourced from the years 1949 through to 1962 "cut a rug kids and go crazy" is the message the music carries.

Koko Mojo Records endeavours to use some lesser-known and for some people, perhaps more obscure titles, and our philosophy is to compile songs of quality, with every album, it's "killer and no filler" ideology! You are listening to music from the past with a remastered sound that will shake the speakers.

Dee Jay Mark Armstrong - Buhl, Germany

Album Review: Let’s talk about those lesser-known obscure titles, Hubert Maxwell "Bumps" Myers starts us off with the lively trendy late 40s style track “Im Clappin & Shoutin” Bumps was an American jazz saxophonist. Known primarily as a tenor saxophonist, he also occasionally played alto and soprano sax. James Alfred Smith Preston was an American R&B Bandleader, alto saxophonist drummer and singer who made an important contribution to early rock n roll, “Let’s Hang Out Tonight” is a fine example of the R&B influence coming through in those days. Roy Hamilton’s 1961 release “You’re Gonna Need Magic” is one of his lesser-known works that has more of a pop influence but only reached 80 in the Billboard.

The Copesetics 1956 tune ”Believe In Me” comes across as a Frankie Lymon style arrangement with its jolly beat. The Cellos were a Short-lived doo wop harmony group who were regarded as a novelty act and never quite broke through, “What’s The Matter For You” relates to this one of those warm-up type songs has character though. Jimmy Ricks known for his duet with Lavern Baker “You’re the Boss” and the vocal lead in The Ravens, “Do You Promise” emphases his deep bass voice in what’s a neat sing a long number. The Epics “Let’s Dance” not to be confused with the Chris Montez song but a high speed energic track.

Eddie Hudson’s ”She’s Sugar Sweet” is a great primitive doo wop / early R&B released in 1958. Handclaps and vocals with an attitude!! What more do you need? Earl Wade was a baritone vocalist in groups The Crystals, Opals and Cadillacs, his 1958 song “Let Me Miss You” has a Little Richard air about it cracking bouncy beat. The Ko Kos “You’ve Been Cheating “the flip side to “The First Day Of School” is a nice harmonising number with a cool beat. The Adventurers “Your A Teenager Now” is a chirpy track with a deep sax interlude. The Egyptians “The Party Stomp” is a 1960 stomping instrumental that will mesmerise you to the dancefloor.

“Humble Bumble Bee” is one from The Platters pre-Mercury days unique harmonising tune with Herb Reed leading on vocals. The versatile doo wop harmonising group The Penguins are up next with “No There Ain’t No News Today” nice melody and soothing musical accompaniment, Wynona Carr backed by The Bumps Blackwell Band gives us “Nursery Rhyme Rock” clever lyrics incorporating some of the classic nursery rhymes in a hard fast jiving number. "Then there’s Connie Jordan, a madman who sings and flips his arms and ends up splashing sweat on everybody and kicking over the mike and screaming like a woman with the 1949 tune “I'm Gonna Rock (Til My Rocker Breaks Down)” its way ahead of its time maybe should have been re-released when the rock n roll train came in.

Kirk Taylor with “You Didn't Learn That In School” follows didn’t make the grade but has a good strolling beat. Big Al Downings 1960 rocker “Please Come Home” has been recorded with the pop style in mind it was the flip side to “Yes I’m Loving You”. Songwriter Eddie Cooley, who co-wrote the hit “Fever” with Otis Blackwell, was not a singer by trade, but did write and record “Priscilla” his one successful single which deserves more recognition in my mind. Billy (The Kid) Emerson more famous for his song “Red Hot” which isn’t to be confused on the last track of this album by The Five Scamps, gives us “I Never Get Enough” a perfect jiving floor filler. Harry Douglass “Oh Well A Watcha Gonna Do” is a doo wop number at its best with some outstanding vocals. Sammy Taylor formally with Joey Dee and the Starlighters’ was an American jump blues musician & songwriter his 1961 recording’ Switchin' In The Kitchen” comes across as an early soul sound with a lively beat. Although Joe Houston had a lustrous career with many big names he only had two chart hits, “Rock That Boogie” wasn’t one of them but deserves to be, it’s a cracking jiving tune with some prolific orchestral backing.

So, let’s summarise: Certainly, one for the R&B connoisseurs and the people that enjoying listening to unknown tracks it has a good blend covering the era 1949-1962 which show the progression of R&B from the early jazzed up blues to the more pop & soul standards.

Links to Social Media :

https://www.facebook.com/kokomojorecords/

www.koko.mojo.com/info@koko-mojo.com

Track List.

01 Bumps Mvers -Im Clappin' And Shoutin

02 Joe Turner- The Chicken And The Hawk (Up Up And Away)

03 Jimmy Preston- Let's Hang Out Tonight

04 Roy Hamilton- You're Gonna Need Magic

05 The Copesetics- Believe In Me

06 The Cellos- What's The Matter For You

07 Jimmy Ricks- Do You Promise

08 The Johnny Otis Show- Hey Hey Hey Hey