Omnivore Recordings: Something Got A Hold On Me - The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume One 1963-1964 - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Something Got A Hold On Me - The Au-Jac Records Story, Volume One: 1963-1964 and it's quite cool. Opening with previously unreleased, Fatback by Lamont Esquires, this release is off to a great start. This instrumental features low key but tasty guitar lead with hot sax work, all over a tight rockin' R&B track. Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band is up next, first with a smart Latin influenced rocker, Please Don't Go, followed by solid soul track Because I Love You So. Little Sunny Daye with the Shydells Band gives us blues ballad, A Woman Like You with super vocals and cool lead guitar work under the lead. Very nice. Celestine does a great job on You Won with it's cool rhythm. Honkin' sax work sets this track apart giving it a distinctive early 60's feel. great track. Winfield Parker really delivers on blues ballad, When I'm Alone. With only the basics of backing, Parker shows real poise. Winfield Parker set out a real nice R&B track on One Of These Mornings with snappy drums, and soulful sax soloing. Spiritual, Take Care Of Me, is a powerful track by the Fruitland Harmonizers. Really cool! The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen perform Cryin Won't Help You, a really hot R&B track with a great beat and cool sax solo behind a raucous voice. Trash Can is performed by an unknown artist, with solid sax solo lead. The Monkey Cha Cha is another really nice instrumental with of course a Latin rhythm and guitar and keyboard lead by The Jolly Jax. Wrapping the release is Joe (Take 5) which was previously unreleased by The Jolly Jax. Stilladog...this one's for you. Excellent closer.

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Omnivore reissue of Ru-Jac catalog continues: 'Gene & Eddie with Sir Joe at Ru-Jac'

OMNIVORE’S REISSUE OF RU-JAC RECORDS CATALOG  CONTINUES WITH TRUE ENOUGH: GENE & EDDIE WITH SIR JOE AT RU-JAC  Gene & Eddie and Sir Joe were stars of Baltimore soul and R&B label. Compilation, out September 2, available on CD, digital and blue vinyl. BALTIMORE, Md. — Omnivore Recordings continues its restoration and reissue of the mid-’60s Baltimore-based R&B/soul label Ru-Jac Records with True Enough: Gene & Eddie With Sir Joe at Ru-Jac, the first-ever compilation of single sides by Washington D.C.’s sensational soul duo Gene & Eddie. Also included are the rare sides by Sir Joe, otherwise known as Joe Quarterman, producer/songwriter/artist, who produced and wrote many of the Gene & Eddie sides for Ru-Jac. The compilation is scheduled for September 2, 2016 release on CD, blue vinyl LP (with download card) and digital. Emerging from the very active East Coast ’60s soul scene, Gene, Eddie and Joe had been in bands and recording from the early part of the decade. They formed, or joined, regional acts with names like The Nightcaps, The Knights, Don Downing, The El Corols and The Maidens, sharing stages with bigger, national artists such as Major Lance, Garnet Mimms, Joe Simon, The Soul Children, and The Emotions. For all their ambitions, wider, national success never found them, and with only one local chart hit to their name, “It’s So Hard,” they eventually all called it quits to pursue other endeavors. However, these restored tracks give us a window onto a time when East Coast doo-wop met the soul explosion and got a little funky as it headed into the early ’70s.  Featuring rare photos and extensive liner notes, this is the definitive musical history of Gene & Eddie and Sir Joe Quarterman — True Enough! Omnivore’s Ru-Jac reissue initiative launched with the March 25 release of Mr. Clean: Winfield Parker at Ru-Jac. Track listing: 1. I Would Cry 2. I Tell You 3. Nobody Beats My Love (Sir Joe) 4. If You Give Up Your Love (Sir Joe) 5. You Don’t Fool Me 6. Let Me Go Easy 7. It’s So Hard 8. Sweet Little Girl 9. Let Me Go Easy (Alternate Version) 10. She’s True Enough 11. Baby, I’d Drop Every Thing (Sir Joe) 12. Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) (Sir Joe) 13. It’s No Sin 14. You’ve Got To Love Me Sometimes 15. Darling I Love You 16. Why Do You Hurt Me Bonus Tracks: 17. It’s So Hard  (Eddie & Gene and the Nightcaps) 18. Check You Later (Eddie & Gene and the Nightcaps) 19. A Guy For You* (Sir Joe) 20. You Don’t Fool Me (Stereo Mix)* 21. Let Me Go Easy (Stereo Mix)* *Previously unissued LP consists of tracks 1-16 with download card of entire CD program