Customer Reviews

Legends of Specialty

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Johnny Ace wasn't the only balladeer making headlines in the R&B world of the early 50's. He had 3 cats continuosly knocking on his door at that time. One was the great Charles Brown and the other one was Percy Mayfield and the other was the great Ivory Joe Hunter.Oh there were many other R&B singers around this period but as far as ballad singers these 4 ruled in the R&B world. Percy's song "Please send me someone to love" is revered on the same level as Johnny Ace's "Pledging my love" and Charles Browns " Black Night". Please send me someone to love is a pure classic in another sense- It was the first song to hint at us all being one race-the human race-and in a subtle way protesting racism. This of course being done in 1950 long before Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye would make it popular. This is classic early 50's R&B from a cat who is truly missed and will never be replaced.

Really a terrific collection of an amazing singer and song writer, not as well known as he should be. A voice of enormous beauty and poignancy.

4.5 stars


Heaven please send to all mankind,
Understanding and peace in mind.
But if it's not asking too much
Please send me someone to love, someone to love.

Show all the world how to get along,
Peace will enter when hate is gone.
But if it's not asking too much,
Please send me someone to love...


Only a dyed in the wool cynic could possibly deny that Percy Mayfield's immortal words are as timely and touching now as they were 60 years ago, when his classic song 'Please Send Me Someone To Love' reached the top of the U.S. Billboard R&B charts in November, 1950.

Often remembered these days for penning several hit tunes for Ray Charles in the early-60s, most notably 'Hit The Road, Jack', it is Mayfield's stint with the legendary Specialty Records label in the early-50s though which arguably produced his most ground-breaking work. The twenty five tunes collected on Poet Of The Blues, spanning the years 1950 to '54, reveal an artist who not only enjoyed significant commercial success (seven top ten R&B hits), but whose artistic influence, albeit often indirectly, is still keenly felt today.

After leaving his native Louisiana in the early '40s, Mayfield spend several years in L.A. trying to launch his career before his talents were spotted by Specialty's famed producer, Art Rupe, who signed Percy to his label in 1950. As was often the case, Rupe's talent for nurturing hit-makers was swiftly rewarded with the success of 'Please Send Me Someone To Love' before the year was out. The combination of Mayfield's smooth but deeply emotive voice and heartfelt lyrics were further enhanced by Rupe's production skills. Using state-of-the-art studios, 'Pappy' (as Mayfield fondly dubbed his producer) was able to capture every nuance of Mayfield's blues and gospel drenched croon, while surrounding him with some of the most talented musicians to be found in L.A., including sax players like T. Maxwell Davis (Fletcher Henderson, T-Bone Walker), Jack McVea (Lionel Hampton, Charlie Parker) and drummer Jesse Sailes (BB King, Doris Day, Cher).

From the slow-swinging blues of 'Life Is Suicide' and the bayou groove of 'Louisiana', to the jumping R&B of 'Baby, You're Rich' and the salacious humour of 'Loose Lips', Mayfield's talents as both a performer and writer would influence many blues and soul singer/songwriters over the following decades (when he also cut many excellent sessions for the Tangerine, Atlantic and RCA labels), a fact clearly borne out by the huge list of artists who have covered his tunes.

So much more than simply a songwriting footnote in the careers of other more famous stars, it's about time the 'poet of the blues' received his dues.

Percy Mayfield was, at the start of his recording career, blessed with four attributes that combined to give him a string of hits,most of which are on this first volume of his Speciality Records output. Firstly, Art, Rupe the labels owner didn't stint on either using an excellent studio, Hollywood Recorders, or in hiring an excellent arranger,Maxwell Davis. Davis is the second part of the success, knowing as he did nearly all the musicians working in and around L.A. and gathering them together for the sessions, as well as arranging for the charts used.(If you want to hear some of Davis' other work try to get hold an Ace(UK)Records CD "The father of the West Coast Blues[good luck!]Thirdly as the pictures in the sleevenotes show Mayfield was, until he was disfigured in a car crash, a good looking man with an excellent stage presence which evidently drove females wild! Finally there's the writing and the singing. All except one track here was self written, and Mayfield wrapped himself round the lyrics with a distinctive delivery and a mellow phrasing and tone. The recordings cover the period August 1950 to October 1954. It's worth checking out the whole album rather than simply picking out 'the hits', because good as they are, other tracks are equally as good, with an interesting take on many of the subjects that are covered (and it's not all straight ahead 'love', but also wry observations about life).It's good to be able to look back at the early output of someone who genuinely deserves the epithet of the title, "Poet of the Blues".Essential listening!

Mayfield is a rhythm 'n' blues (more on the blues than the rhythm) vocalist from the early 50's. This disc features 25 sides, including his 7 Billboard top-10 singles, several previously unissued tracks and an alternate take or two. All 25 tracks were written by Mayfield (one co-written).

While Percy Mayfield is more likely known (or unknown, but should-be- known) as a songwriter (he wrote Ray Charles' #1 hit "Hit the Road, Jack"), he's also an incredibly expressive vocalist. As Billy Vera suggests in the liner notes, Mayfield has impressive phrasing, ala the early-Capitol era Sinatra, and a warmth and soul ala Ray Charles.

The backing bands here are mostly unfamiliar to me. The piano and sax work is especially intriguing. I'd be interested to hear more about such musicians as Willard McDaniel (piano) and Thomas Maxwell Davis (tenor sax), the latter of whom also led most of the sessions and wrote the arrangements.

Percy Mayfield stands alongside the likes of Hank Williams and Sam Cooke as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. His singing and the musical accompaniment on this album(and on Vol.2) are also exceptional. There's no point trying to put into words how good this stuff is. Just get it and listen.

Percy Mayfield's music & lyrics pulled me thru the best of times and the worst of times.This comes from a very personal point of view. Phil Lynott/Thin Lizzy(RIP) covered 'Memory Pain' that says it all how important Percy Mayfield is & was. Very heavy.

Percy Mayfield is great.. he's everything that other reviewers here say about him. But I was sorely disappointed in this disc. It may as well be titled "Percy Mayfield in the Box." Because these canned studio cuts are so cut and dried, compared to his actual performances. I'm a big fan of Percy but I am selling this disc.

You want the REAL Percy Mayfield? Do yourself a favor: skip this stale compilation and go buy "Percy Mayfield Live" right now! Everything on the live disc is better: the recording, the performer himself, the renditions, and not least, the band accompanying him.

Sorry to be so negative on this disc, but when I read reviews, I want honest opinions, not mindless praise of the sort that led me to buy this. Buy the other one, today!

Percy Mayfield Live