Rufus Thomas

THE MEMPHIS SOUND AMBASSADOR
 

Memphis radio personality and longtime R&B showman, Rufus Thomas is one of the most beloved figures in the history of soul-funk and the renowned ambassador of “The Memphis Sound”. A truly unique personality, who called himself “The World’s Oldest Teenager” and “The Crown Prince of Dance”, he also ran talent shows on Memphis' famous Beale Street Mthat helped showcase the emerging skills of such influential figures as B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior MParker, Ike Turner and Rosco Gordon. Thomas had Mhis first success as a recording artist in 1953 with “Bear Cat” a funny answer to Big Mama Thornton’s M“Hound Dog”. It made number three on the R&B charts, giving Sun Records its first national hit. This Messential collection compiles the music of Thomas’ early years, including all of the great recordings he made for different labels such as Sun, Chess, Bullet, Star Talent and Meteor between 1950 and 1957. Somewhere between Chuck Willis and a young James Brown... this is real blues drenched classic MR&B with a bit of savage rock & roll in the pocket.

“One of the true movers and shakers of Memphis R&B. There's a lot of fun to be had with this set, while giving an underappreciated hero his due.” - Mark Deming
“His melodies, his riffs, his grooves are really like Beethoven. They're simple, they're direct, they hit hard, and they'll never Mbe forgotten.” - Paul Shaffer (musical director of the Late Show with David Letterman)

16-PAGE BOOKLET- RARE PHOTOS- VINTAGE MEMORABILIA - DETAILED LINER NOTES

RUFUS THOMAS, vocals, plus:

Joe Hill Louis, Rudy Mason, Floyd Murphy (guitar),
Kenneth Banks, Lewis Steinberg (bass)
Roy Johnson (bass)
Milt Buckner, Rosco Gordon, Billy “Red” Love (piano)
John Murry Daley, Houston Stokes, Ellis Bartee (drums)
James Wheeler, Herman Green, Evelyn Young (tenor sax),
Richard Sanders (baritone sax),
Willie Dee (trumpet), among others.
Further personnel information is detailed inside.

Recorded in Memphis (Tennessee), between 1950 and 1957.

TRACKS:

01 I’LL BE A GOOD BOY 2:52
02 I’M SO WORRIED 2:46
03 WHO’S THAT CHICK 2:38
04 DOUBLE TROUBLE 2:33
05 BEER BOTTLE BOOGIE 2:57
06 GONNA BRING MY BABY BACK 2:24
07 NIGHT WORKIN’ BLUES 2:42
08 WHY DID YOU DEE GEE? 2:29
09 CRAZY ABOUT YOU BABY 2:28
10 NO MORE DOGGIN AROUND (AIN’T GONNA BE YOUR DOG) 2:37
11 JUANITA 3:30
12 DECORATE THE COUNTER 2:24
13 MARRIED WOMAN 2:44
14 I’M OFF THAT STUFF 2:59
15 BEAR CAT (The Answer to Hound Dog) 2:49
16 WALKIN’ IN THE RAIN 2:19
17 TIGER MAN (King Of The Jungle) 2:45
18 SAVE THAT MONEY 2:38
19 THE EASY LIVIN’ PLAN 2:49
20 I’M STEADY HOLDIN’ ON 3:14

Total Time: 54:36