CD - Various Artists: The Vee Jay Story

This is an old review but it's kept its place in the revamp because Vee-Jay was a trailblazer for many of the black owned labels that followed in its wake - and this CD is still available as at December 2007! Chess, Stax and Atlantic are all now somewhat better known as labels that developed and honed the blues, R&B and soul sound but the quality of the recordings on this double CD make Vee-Jay's mid 60s demise all the more unfortunate: You can read a little more about the history of the label here.

Vee-Jay regularly achieved crossover success but delivered consistently high quality examples of everything from downhome Delta blues to uptown Chicago soul. It made its name (and initial revenue) from doo-wop recordings and the genre is well represented here - the Spaniels 'Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite' is the best known example but there are also great recordings from the Dells, the Magnificents and the El Dorados (the fantastic up-tempo classic 'Bim Bam Boom').

The label also had an excellent gospel roster, so you'll find some excellent material from the Staple Singers, the Original Blind Boys of Alabama and the Swan Silvertones. Throughout the 2 CDs, alongside the well known material, there is enough slightly more obscure or difficult to get hold of material to provide interest for the new and experienced listener alike.
Alongside the biggies from Jimmy Reed ('Big Boss Man' and 'Bright Lights, Big City') there's the presence of Reed's excellent guitarist Eddie Taylor's 'Big Town Playboy', proving just how much Taylor contributed to the familiar Reed sound. John Lee Hooker is represented by the likes of 'Dimples' and 'In The Mood' but we also get the excellent Gene Allison's 'You Can Make It If You Try' (covered by the Rolling Stones) and Pee Way Crayton's 'I Found My Peace Of Mind'. Also included is the Fred Hughes track 'Oo Wee Baby, I Love You', reasonably well known but difficult to find and also one of the label's last successes before it went bust.

Elmore James, Memphis Slim and Billy Boy Arnold add to the blues representation and Jay McShann provides the bridge between big band and straight ahead R&B. And, of course, there are hits galore. Jerry Butler, Betty Everett, Rosco Gordon, Dee Clark, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Dells and Gene Chandler all contribute R&B performances that crossed over to the Billboard pop charts (and some found their way into the UK charts as well).
The breadth and depth of the recordings on this CD, along with their quality, really make this an essential purchase. In the UK at least, it has been difficult to get hold of, so get it while you can!

September 2002