You could make a good argument that swing, bebop and even rock and roll had its beginnings in Kansas City, as the classic and relentless four to the bar beat that originated there gave us artists like Count Basie, Charlie Parker and blues shouter Joe Turner. This essential two disc set covers the singles that established Turner as possibly the most important R&B performer, with his unique and earth shaking voice booming over incessant and joyful grooves.
The earliest songs here are Turner’s bluesiest, such as “Lucille,” with him striking it big once he hooked up with Atlantic Records with big hits such as “Chains of Love” “Sweet Sixteen” and “The Chill Is On.” Rollicking jump tunes such as “Bump Miss Suzie,” “Well Alright,” “Flip Flop and Fly,” “Honey Hush” and the classic Shake Rattle and Roll” are not only the roots of what became “Rock and Roll” but include more double-entendres than Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.
Turner is backed up by some of the hardest swinging artists around, employing sax kings like Lee Allen, Red Tyler, Al Sears and King Curtis for the riffs and solos, with piano support including Fats Domino and longtime partner Pete Johnson, with even Connie Kay sitting in for some drum work. Turner’s popularity is reflected in the material, as the two versions of “Chains of Love” and “Honey Hush,” separated by 7 years reveal a polishing up for the white suburban audiences.
A number of these songs were bowdlerized and made palatable for the bobby soxers by the likes of Pat Boone and Bill Haley, but for my money this is the smoky juke joint you want to hang out in for the night. Roll ‘em, Pete!