Just as essential as the previous Rhino jump blues collection (volume five of the
Blues Masters series), this has classics by
Floyd Dixon ("Hey Bartender"),
Joe Liggins ("Pink Champagne"),
Joe Turner,
Wynonie Harris,
Ruth Brown,
Big Maybelle, and
Louis Jordan. It also takes some chances by presenting cuts by performers not strictly identified with the style, like
Louis Prima,
Bobby Charles (the original version of
Bill Haley's "See You Later Alligator"),
Little Richard, and
Faye Adams, whose rousing "I'll Be True" is a touchstone of early R&B.
–
Richie Unterberger, Rovi