Customer Reviews

Kings of Rhythm

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Thank God there was no Tina around when Ike and his band made this record in the early 50's. It rocks, roams and rolls like mad, real juke joint fun!

Disc 1 IKE TURNER 1. Cuban Get Away 2. You're Driving Me Insane 3. Troubles & Heartaches DENNIS BINDER 4. Nobody Wants Me 5. Early Times 6. You Got ME Way Down Here 7. I Miss You So LITTLE JOHNNY BURTON 8. Talking Bout Me 9. Why Did You Go Away 10. Walk My Way Home 11. One Day LOVER BOY 12. The Way You Used To Treat Me 13. Why Did You Leave Me CLAYTON LOVE 14. Why Don't You Believe In Me 15. Wicked Little Baby MARY SUE 16. Everybody's Talking 17. Love Is A Gamble IKE TURNER 18. Go To It (Stringing Along) 19. Loosely (The Wild One) MATT COCKRELL 20. Baby Please 21. Gypsy Blues JW WALKER (Big Moose) 22. Why Won't You Be True DISC 2 IKE TURNER 1. Cubano Jump (Hey Miss Tina) 2. All The Blues All the Time JW WALKER 3. JW's Blues 4. Sittin Here Wonderin 5. Can't You See My Baby JOHNNY WRIGHT 6. The World Is Your's 7. Suffocate BILLY GAYLES 8. I Miss You So 9. Night Howler 10. My Heart In Your Hands 11. A Woman Just Won't Do 12. I'm Tired Of Being Dogged Around IKE & BONNIE 13. Looking For My Baby 14. My Heart Belongs To You LOVER BOY 15. Love Is Scarce 16. Nobody Seems To Want Me LONNIE THE CAT 17. I Ain't Drunk 18. The Road I Have To Travel EUGENE FOX 19. Fox's Dream BROTHER BELL 20. Whole Heap Of Mama 21. If You feel froggish JOHNNY WRIGHT 22. The World Is Yours (alt)

I have mentioned the recently departed Ike Turner's rough and tumble drug-induced later lifestyle and his problems with ex-wife Tina Turner elsewhere in this space so there is no need to repeat that here. I have also mentioned Ike's key role as `talent spotter' in the 1950's for Chess Records (and Sun Records' Sam Phillips, I believe) and his pivotal role in the early move from R&B to rock & roll with the super-classic hit "Rocket 88". Thus, his place in musical history (with the appropriate asterisks) is secure. And should be.

This early effort "Blues King Plus" like a late Turner effort "Risin' with the Blues" (2006) is a place where Ike goes out in front and does many of the lead vocals, some successfully, some not. The instrumental work is excellent, as is to be expected on a Turner platter. But, to be honest, not all of the vocals made me want to jump, which I assume was Ike's intention here since some of the works are tributes to those like Louis Jordan who influenced the young Ike Turner. That said, his versions of "Trouble And Heartache ", " You're Driving Me Insane" and a jumping "Looking For My Baby" are , as is "Night Howler" and "Cubano Jump". We part company, however, on "Early Times", "The World Is Yours" and a couple of others where his voice cannnot carry the song.

You know what, go out and get some early Ike and the Rhythm Kings. Then you will be sure to get what Ike was all about and why he has a secure place in musical history. And remember that seminal "Rocket 88". I went crazy when I listened to it recently after not hearing it for a long time.

This is the transition from R&B to Rock & Roll. Raw tremelo heavy guitar, raucus blaring horns, and booze soaked soul shouts make this a must have for fans of the primitive.

Want to hear the birth of electric guitar rock, then buy this CD. The guitar sounds like it came from a scuzzy 16 year old in the neighborhood punk band. BUT it in fact was recorded half a decade ago, before your parents were even born! You may not realize, it but IKE TURNER ISSSSSSS the father of ROCK!