Vee-Jay: Definitive Collection [Box set]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B000TJ6AQ0
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,785 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Blues > Regional Blues > Detroit Blues
  • #88 in Music > R&B > Soul > Northern

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Jimmy Reed And His Trio - High And Lonesome

2. The Spaniels - Baby, It's You

3. The Spaniels - Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite

4. Floyd Jones And Band - Ain't Times Hard

5. Jimmy Reed And His Trio - You Don't Have To Go

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. John Lee Hooker - Dimples

2. Pee Wee Crayton - The Telephone Is Ringing

3. Snooky Pryor - Judgment Day

4. The Staple Singers - Uncloudy Day

5. Sonny Til's Orioles - For All We Know

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. The Swan Silvertones - Mary Don't You Weep

2. Memphis Slim - Steppin' Out

3. Rosco Gordon - Just A Little Bit

4. Jimmy Reed Baby - What You Want Me To Do

5. Donnie Elbert - Will You Ever Be Mine

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Christine Kittrell - I'm A Woman

2. Jerry Butler - Make It Easy On Yourself

3. The Four Seasons - Sherry

4. Gene Chandler - Rainbow

5. The Pyramids - Shakin' Fit

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For a label that lasted only 13 years and closed in 1966, Vee-Jay Records left a large legacy, though one that is largely underrecognized. This four-disc retrospective provides a corrective, documenting the range and richness of the catalog from the Chicago rival to Chess Records. Many know Vee-Jay as the first American label to license the Beatles (not included here) and to introduce the Four Seasons ("Sherry" is). But the depth of this set lies in the signature classics by artists including bluesmen John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed, gospel greats the Staple Singers and Swan Silvertones, doo-wop groups such as the Spaniels and Sonny Til's Orioles, and soul singers Jerry Butler and Gene Chandler. The well-known artistry merely scratches the surface of the sets' delights, as those familiar with such hits as Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" will finds revelation in the Vee-Jay originals (by Betty Everett and Gloria Jones, respectively). An auspicious launch to what promises to be an ambitious reissue program. --Don McLeese

Product Description

86-track boxed set contains the cream of the Vee-Jay label's run, from 1953 to 1966, including hits by Jimmy Reed,Jerry Butler & The Impressions, John Lee Hooker, The Four Seasons,Little Richard, The Staple Singers, The Dells, Betty Everett, The Swan Silvertones, Dee Clark, The El Dorados, Gene Chandler, The Spaniels, and many others, as well as amazing obscurities by less-well-known artists. Vee-Jay Records was the first nationally successful African-American owned record company. At one point it was bigger than even such powerhouses as Motown Records and Chess Records. Though Vee-Jay is now best known as the first American label to release records by The Beatles, it is classic singles like The Spaniels' "Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite," John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom," Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City," Betty Everett's "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)," Jerry Butler's "Make It Easy On Yourself," The Four Seasons' "Sherry," Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl," and Little Richard's "I Don't Know What You've Got But It's Got Me" that remain the label's enduring legacy. Contains 86 tracks spread across four CDs, along with a beautifully designed 40-page booklet packed with photos and featuring two essays: a historical overview and a detailed track-by-track commentary.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Update to my original review, October 15, 2007

By 

Eliminator Man (Plymouth, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vee-Jay: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

My original review of this set included a complaint that the song, The Twist, was missing. Just wasn't on the disc even though it was in the track listing and in the note. I checked AMG and their samples had the same problem my disc had. After I whined about this in my review I emailed Shout! Factory to complain to them. I got a nice email back from them and within a week I got a new copy of disc two sent to me in the mail. Excellent customer service and not what I was expecting which was to be ignored. I commend them for that.

I have the Bear Family Blowin' the Fuse set of R and B songs from 1946-1960 which also has Hank Ballard doing the Twist. That version is very close to the Chubby Checker version and I assume it was the model for the Chubby Checker version. The version on this disc is very different from those two with a very different rhythm structure. I think this was the first version. Nice to have all three.

Beyond that song, this is a nice box, sequenced well, fun to listen to, heavy on the Jimmy Reed as it should be. I would have included my favorite Jimmy Reed song, Shame Shame Shame, with some of that extra cd space that Mike mentions in his review.

The package is nice. There are notes on each song, similar to the notes in the Bear Family collection. Nice to have. I have no complaints about the package, but I wouldn't call it "gorgeous". That reviewer loses alot of credibility with his raving. My standard for a gorgeous box set package would be the Revenant boxes for Charlie Patton and Albert Ayler or maybe the deluxe limited edition of the Forever Changing Elektra collection.

So I'm happy with this and you will be too if you like this type of music or just want to start exploring the old stuff. Thanks for the new disc, Michael.

Unfortunately, while the Amazon system let me update my review, it wouldn't let me change my rating. I'd go four to five stars on this now, but the system won't let me change that.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A mishmash (but in a good way), December 10, 2007

By 

korova (Varosha) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vee-Jay: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

You're in a smoky, rundown dive bar. You know, the kind that's near a bus station, hasn't had a woman in it since 1957 and is called something like the Frolic Room or the Tick Tock. Sound good to you? Well, this box set is the jukebox in the joint.

Yup, there are a lot of great tracks here. The sequencing reinforces the somewhat scattershot nature of Vee-Jay though; rather than having a house-sound like, say, Stax or Chess, Vee-Jay covered several genres. The result is a mishmash of different styles, sounds, and attitudes. It's not a bad thing...just don't expect a highly focused experience. Just like that old jukebox under the buzzing neon beer sign, no?

Be sure to check Disc 2 carefully if you buy this set. As mentioned by earlier reviewers, "The Twist" may be missing. If you contact Shout Factory corporate customer service (NOT the customer service for their online store) they will send you a replacement disc without any hassles--at least they did so for me. It's nice that Shout Factory has made it easy to obtain corrected discs.

Bottom line: not an essential set but good for anybody who already has the basic building blocks in their blues, R&B, soul, and gospel collections. Also good for collectors who are into cover versions due to the inclusion of the originals of "Tainted Love" and "You're No Good", among others. The book is decently put together but could have included a lot more info about both songs and artists.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why so short?, August 26, 2007

By 

Michael J. Manning "mikeonthemike" (INDIANAPOLIS, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vee-Jay: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

David D. (reviewer below) obviously works for Shout Factory! as every single review by him is 5 stars for a Shout Factory! product (including the "Hootenany" dvd set!)

Track selection is nice but missing a few (didn't expect nor need the Beatles). Just dissapointed that only 22 songs or so per disc when most all of these songs are 2 1/2 minute R&B numbers. Hopefully the price will come down a little bit as $53 is too much money for a four disc box set in this day and age. Maybe shout factory will release some extended 1 disc sets of some of these great, but somewhat forgotten, R&B stars.