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    • Cosimo Matassa Story

    06/18/2007 | Proper Box Uk 

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      COSIMO MATASSA STORY / VARIOUS (ENG)

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    All Music Guide Review

    Although he's far from a household name, it's hard to imagine the existence of New Orleans R&B without Cosimo Matassa. As owner and engineer at J&M Studios, housed in a reworked grocery store on Rampart Street, Matassa saw the birth of R&B, rock & roll, and soul pass through his doors between 1945 and 1956, and he was responsible for the early hits of Fats Domino, Little Richard, and many others during his tenure there. This amazing four-disc, 120-track box tells that story, and it is filled with marvelous recordings that burst with energy and vitality. There's so much to be astounded at here, and not just the steady rhythmic warmth of the Fats Domino sides or the ferocious energy that crackles from each and every Little Richard track ("Tutti Frutti," "Long Tall Sally," "Rip It Up," "Ready Teddy," "The Girl Can't Help It," "Heebie Jeebies"). There's also Smiley Lewis' piano and horn rendition of "Don't Jive Me" (not to mention his original version of "I Hear You Knocking"), Lloyd Price's sturdy "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," Dave Bartholomew's wry treatise on barroom crime, "Who Drank My Beer While I Was in the Rear," and Clarence Garlow's easy rolling "New Bon Ton Roulay." There's Professor Longhair's classic "Tipitina," Sugar Boy & His Cane Cutters' timeless "Jock-A-Mo," the Hawks' bright and infectious "It's Too Late Now" and Wee Willie Wayne's whistle and percussion gem, "Travelin' Mood." Then there's Huey "Piano" Smith's delightfully clanging and steamrolling "Everybody's Whalin'," Clarence "Frogman" Henry's goofy and immortal "Ain't Got No Home" and Earl King's crisply rocking "You Can Fly High." It all adds up to a truly impressive legacy, and again, it's impossible to imagine New Orleans R&B without the hand of Cosimo Matassa upon it. Matassa eventually had three studios in New Orleans, including Jazz City Studio on Camp Street, as well as a record pressing plant called Superior Plastic, and the record label he started in the late '50s, Rex Records. Later still he helped set up Sea-Saint Studio. This impressive and exhaustive set tells his story, and it rocks like it means to change the world. Truth is, the sides that Matassa recorded and engineered some 50 odd years ago have already changed the world many times over. Most of us just didn't know it. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

    Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • Artist
  • time
  • 1
  • Got a Brand New Baby
  • Little Mr Midnight
  • 2:21

  • 2
  • Four O'Clock Blues
  • Little Mr Midnight
  • 2:43

  • 3
  • Don't Jive Me
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 2:22

  • 4
  • Tra-La-La
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:31

  • 5
  • Teejim
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:37

  • 6
  • Agreeable Woman
  • Wayne, James
  • 2:33

  • 7
  • Two Faced Woman
  • Wayne, James
  • 2:52

  • 8
  • Rockin' with Fes
  • Byrd, Roy "Baldhead"
  • 2:03

  • 9
  • Stormy Weather
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:53

  • 10
  • My Ding-A-Ling
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:15

  • 11
  • Reeling and Rocking
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:21

  • 12
  • Lawdy Miss Clawdy
  • Price, Lloyd
  • 2:33

  • 13
  • Chee Koo Baby
  • Price, Lloyd
  • 2:13

  • 14
  • Sweethearts
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:30

  • 15
  • I'm Gone
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:20

  • 16
  • Teachin' and Preachin'
  • Royal Kings
  • 2:02

  • 17
  • Bouncin' the Boogie
  • Royal Kings
  • 1:59

  • 18
  • Early Sunday Morning
  • Sha-Weez
  • 2:23

  • 19
  • Who Drank My Beer While I Was in the Rear
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:51

  • 20
  • Country Gal
  • Bartholomew, Dave
  • 2:26

  • 21
  • Baby
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:23

  • 22
  • New Bon Ton Roulay
  • Garlow, Clarence
  • 2:55

  • 23
  • Got No Use for You
  • Walker, T-Bone
  • 2:40

  • 24
  • Long Distance Blues
  • Walker, T-Bone
  • 3:03

  • 25
  • I'm Thankful
  • Matthews, Fat Man
  • 2:27

  • 26
  • Little School Girl
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:40

  • 27
  • I-Yi
  • Hawks
  • 2:39

  • 28
  • Candy Girl
  • Hawks
  • 2:16

  • 29
  • Don't Leave Me Baby
  • Fulson, Lowell
  • 3:00

  • 30
  • The Things That I Used to Do
  • Guitar Slim [Eddie Jones]
  • 3:01

  • 31 (2)
  • Well, I Done Got Over It
  • Guitar Slim
  • 2:29

  • 32 (2)
  • Tipitina
  • Professor Longhair
  • 2:39

  • 33 (2)
  • Let's Have Some Fun (Honey)
  • Slim Saunders
  • 2:17

  • 34 (2)
  • Jock-A-Mo
  • Sugar Boy & His Cane Cutters
  • 2:27

  • 35 (2)
  • I Didn't Want to Do It
  • Spiders
  • 2:42

  • 36 (2)
  • You're the One
  • Spiders
  • 1:58

  • 37 (2)
  • Blue Monday
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 2:43

  • 38 (2)
  • Baby's Gone
  • Mitchell, Bobby & The Toppers
  • 2:07

  • 39 (2)
  • Sister Lucy
  • Mitchell, Bobby & The Toppers
  • 2:29

  • 40 (2)
  • 'Til I Say Well Done
  • Kings
  • 2:05

  • 41 (2)
  • Every Dog Has His Day
  • Crayton, Pee Wee
  • 2:22

  • 42 (2)
  • Bluesy Me
  • Collins, Dave [R&B] & The Scrubs
  • 2:34

  • 43 (2)
  • Give It Up
  • Hawks
  • 2:09

  • 44 (2)
  • Nobody But You
  • Hawks
  • 2:21

  • 45 (2)
  • 21 (3x7=21)
  • Spiders
  • 2:21

  • 46 (2)
  • That's Enough
  • Spiders
  • 2:16

  • 47 (2)
  • Jump Children
  • Fats & Dave
  • 2:24

  • 48 (2)
  • Cat Music
  • Fats & Dave
  • 2:03

  • 49 (2)
  • Drunk Drunk Drunk
  • Kidds [R&B]
  • 2:39

  • 50 (2)
  • Ain't Gonna Do It
  • Pelicans
  • 2:27

  • 51 (2)
  • I Want to Be Loved
  • Bees
  • 2:43

  • 52 (2)
  • Toy Bell
  • Bees
  • 2:22

  • 53 (2)
  • You Know Yeah
  • Crayton, Pee Wee
  • 2:34

  • 54 (2)
  • Runnin' Wild
  • Crayton, Pee Wee
  • 2:29

  • 55 (2)
  • It's Too Late Now
  • Hawks
  • 2:09

  • 56 (2)
  • Real Gone Lover
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 2:33

  • 57 (2)
  • Low and Lonesome
  • Boo Breeding
  • 2:54

  • 58 (2)
  • Country Woman
  • Boo Breeding
  • 2:24

  • 59 (2)
  • Say Baby
  • Johnson, Willie [5]
  • 2:17

  • 60 (2)
  • That Night
  • Johnson, Willie [5]
  • 2:39

  • 61 (3)
  • What's It All About
  • Little Leo
  • 2:47

  • 62 (3)
  • Handwriting on the Wall
  • Little Leo
  • 2:35

  • 63 (3)
  • Mardi Gras Mambo
  • Hawketts
  • 2:13

  • 64 (3)
  • Your Time's Up
  • Hawketts
  • 2:35

  • 65 (3)
  • Eternally Yours
  • Barons
  • 2:18

  • 66 (3)
  • Boom Boom
  • Barons
  • 2:20

  • 67 (3)
  • Feel So Good
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:50

  • 68 (3)
  • I Hear You Knocking
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 2:45

  • 69 (3)
  • Travelin' Mood
  • Wayne, Wee Willie
  • 2:29

  • 70 (3)
  • I Remember
  • Wayne, Wee Willie
  • 2:12

  • 71 (3)
  • Baby
  • Bo, Little
  • 2:45

  • 72 (3)
  • So Glad
  • Bo, Little
  • 2:33

  • 73 (3)
  • Why Fool Yourself
  • Williams, Bernie & The Barons
  • 2:42

  • 74 (3)
  • I'm Just a Lonely Guy
  • Little Richard
  • 2:38

  • 75 (3)
  • Tutti Frutti
  • Little Richard
  • 2:24

  • 76 (3)
  • Do Baby Do
  • Kador, Ernest
  • 2:11

  • 77 (3)
  • Who's Been Fooling You?
  • Myles, Big Boy & The Sha-Weez
  • 1:52

  • 78 (3)
  • That Girl I Married
  • Myles, Big Boy & The Sha-Weez
  • 2:10

  • 79 (3)
  • Rich Woman
  • Li'l Millett & His Creoles
  • 2:38

  • 80 (3)
  • I'm in Love Again
  • Domino, Fats
  • 1:56

  • 81 (3)
  • On Bended Knee
  • Charles, Bobby
  • 2:14

  • 82 (3)
  • See You Later, Alligator
  • Charles, Bobby
  • 2:50

  • 83 (3)
  • So Glad You're Mine
  • Williams, Charles [Drums]
  • 2:13

  • 84 (3)
  • My Blue Heaven
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:08

  • 85 (3)
  • Try Rock 'N' Roll
  • Mitchell, Bobby
  • 2:07

  • 86 (3)
  • No No No
  • Mitchell, Bobby
  • 1:57

  • 87 (3)
  • Long Tall Sally
  • Little Richard
  • 2:08

  • 88 (3)
  • Slippin' and Slidin'
  • Penniman, Richard Wayne
  • 2:39

  • 89 (3)
  • I'm Wise (Slippin' and Slidin')
  • Bo, Eddie
  • 2:14

  • 90 (3)
  • Take It Easy, Greasy
  • Charles, Bobby
  • 2:12

  • 91 (4)
  • Rip It Up
  • Little Richard
  • 2:20

  • 92 (4)
  • Ready Teddy
  • Little Richard
  • 2:08

  • 93 (4)
  • Let the Good Times Roll
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:23

  • 94 (4)
  • Everybody's Whalin'
  • Smith, Huey "Piano" & His Rhythm Aces
  • 2:42

  • 95 (4)
  • Little Liza Jane
  • Smith, Huey "Piano" & His Rhythm Aces
  • 2:10

  • 96 (4)
  • Teardrop Eyes
  • Dukes
  • 2:43

  • 97 (4)
  • Cotton Picking Hands
  • Dukes
  • 2:37

  • 98 (4)
  • Rock 'N' Roll Dance
  • Price, Lloyd
  • 2:17

  • 99 (4)
  • The Girl Can't Help It
  • Little Richard
  • 2:32

  • 100 (4)
  • Heebie Jeebies
  • Little Richard
  • 2:15

  • 101 (4)
  • Don't Blame It on Me
  • Domino, Fats
  • 2:40

  • 102 (4)
  • Don't Feel Sorry for Me
  • Beasley, Jimmy
  • 2:14

  • 103 (4)
  • Little Coquette
  • Beasley, Jimmy
  • 2:13

  • 104 (4)
  • Down Yonder (We Go Ballin')
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 2:59

  • 105 (4)
  • Shame Shame Shame
  • Lewis, Smiley
  • 1:58

  • 106 (4)
  • Oooh-Wow
  • Montrell, Roy
  • 2:31

  • 107 (4)
  • (Everytime I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone
  • Montrell, Roy
  • 2:24

  • 108 (4)
  • Rockin' at Cosimo's
  • Allen, Lee
  • 2:50

  • 109 (4)
  • Stepping High
  • Blanchard, Edgar
  • 1:53

  • 110 (4)
  • I Feel Good
  • Shirley & Lee
  • 2:18

  • 111 (4)
  • I'm a Fool About Your Love
  • Fairburn, Werly
  • 2:12

  • 112 (4)
  • All the Time
  • Fairburn, Werly
  • 2:25

  • 113 (4)
  • I'm a Country Boy
  • Henry, Clarence "Frogman"
  • 1:54

  • 114 (4)
  • Ain't Got No Home
  • Henry, Clarence "Frogman"
  • 2:22

  • 115 (4)
  • Hickory Dickory Dock
  • Myles, Big Boy & The Sha-Weez
  • 1:48

  • 116 (4)
  • Just to Hold My Hand
  • Myles, Big Boy & The Sha-Weez
  • 2:12

  • 117 (4)
  • Oooh-Wee Baby
  • Neville, Art
  • 2:11

  • 118 (4)
  • Back Home to Me
  • Neville, Art
  • 2:24

  • 119 (4)
  • You Can Fly High
  • King, Earl [1]
  • 2:16

  • 120 (4)
  • Those Lonely, Lonely Feelings
  • King, Earl [1]
  • 2:38

    • Credits



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