Issued under the rightful title, More Boss Black Rockers, The “Mojo” Man was charged with the (enviable) task of bringing these albums to life. To achieve such an outcome, More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 10: Lonely Lonely Train continues its exploration of Black African American rock ‘n’ roll by mining deep into the heart of a traditional rhythm and blues scene of 50’s America that eventually became rock ‘n’ roll, where you will hear established artists rubbing shoulders with the obscure. This is merely one segment of the attraction because the sounds blaring from the adjacent speakers is often wild in nature, raw and dangerous, just as it is scintillating, not to mention unhinged rock ‘n’ roll. Let’s face it, it’s the kinds of sounds that no doubt left many a jaw gaping as rock ‘n’ roll was ushered into the world for the very first time upon an innocent public, before evolving into the next big thing and continuing to resonate in the present with an equally feisty presence.
Quick, flip that last quarter for the final visit to 50’s rock ‘n’ roll! Perusing the lengthy list of rock ‘n’ roll contenders from the setlist of More Boss Black Rockers Vol. 10: Lonely Lonely Train, any attempt to arrive at a favourite makes for an impossible task because, quite simply, there’s not a dud in the house. There’s diversity aplenty with this closing chapter, ranging from vocal harmony groups, rhythm & blues and, of course, rock ‘n’ roll. It’s that last genre which is the main focus as it makes its presence felt via opening salvo ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ (Big Boy Myles), Jimmy Williams’ ‘C’mon Baby’, Edwin and Alvin’s ‘Shiverin’ and Shakin’, before Sonny Anderson enters the ring with Johnny and Dorsey’s ‘Lonely Lonely Train’. Further interest is generated by the vocal harmonies of The Jarmels’ ‘She Loves To Dance’, The Guytones’ ‘Baby I Don’t Care’, before shifting slightly with Little Richard who serves up a classy reminder with ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Happening’. Nathan Olsen-Haines (Koko Mojo Records)
More BOSS BLACK ROCKERS 10 - Lonely Lonely Train
A1 Big Boy Myles – Hickory Dickory Dock (Mandolph) Speciality 590 1956
A2 El Pauling & Royal Abbit – Please, Please, Be Mine (Pauling, Abbit) Federal -12398 1961
A3 The Five Masks – Polly Molly (Braggs) Jan 11-101 1958
A4 Roosevelt Grier – Struttin’ and Twistin’ (Grier) Liberty 55413 1962
A5 The Guytones – Baby I Don’t Care (Evans, Gibson) DeLuxe 6163 1958
A6 Curtis Knight – Gotta Have A New Dress (Horton, Knight) Shell 45-312-V 1962
A7 Jim Sweeney – Sick, Sick, Sick (Bryant, Bryant) Columbia 4-41201 1958
A8 Jimmy Williams – C’mon Baby (What’s Your Name) (Roberts, Katz) Cub K9039 1959
B1 Roy Tann – I Don’t Like It (Getz) Tan 3002 1957
B2 Ernie Tucker and His Operators – Betty and Bobby (Tucker) Musicor MU 1005 1961
B3 Wynona Carr – Touch and Go (Bono) Speciality 628 1958
B4 Little Richard – Ain’t Nothin’ Happening (Biggs, Thomas) RCA-Victor 47-4772 1952
B5 Edwin and Alvin – Shiverin’ and Shakin’ (Johnson, Johnson) Mercury 71549X45 1959
B6 The Jarmels – She Loves To Dance (Seneca) Laurie 3085 1961
B7 Sonny Anderson – Lonely Lonely Train (Burnette, Burnette)
B8 Jimmy Witherspoon – Move Me Baby (Davis) Federal 45-12156 1953
