Lavern Baker

LaVern Baker was one of the most important female vocalists of any time or genre. Her musical styles ranged between ground-breaking rock & roll, cheerful R&B, early soul, jump blues and vocal-jazz. Whatever the style, Baker’s sound was unique – a soulful combination of unbridled lungpower and sophisticated phrasing. With the possible exception of Ruth Brown and The Chantels’ Arlene Smith, Baker had no equal until the arrival of Aretha Franklin. This collector’s edition compiles two of her complete albums for Atlantic: La Vern (1956) and LaVern Baker – Rock & Roll (1957). Both LPs contain the cream of the crop from Baker’s hitmaking stretch for the Atlantic label during her early years. In addition, we have included 4 bonus tracks consisting of hard to find sides from the same period. These splendid recordings feature a virtual who’s who of great sidemen, including King Curtis, Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, Taft Jordan, Sam “The Man” Taylor, Urbie Green, Al Caiola and Joe Marshall, among others.

“La Vern Baker had one of ‘50s R&B’s most booming voices.” - Goldmine magazine
“Most of the material here is first-rate and Baker is in terrific form, singing with power and grace.” - Stephen T. Erlewine (AMG)

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

LaVERN BAKER, vocals on all tracks, plus:

King Curtis, Willis Jackson, Sam “The Man” Taylor (tenor sax),
Budd Johnson (baritone sax),
Urbie Green (trombone)
Taft Jordan (trumpet),
Al Caiola, Mickey Baker (guitar)
Milt Hinton (bass)
Hank Jones,
Ernie Hayes (piano),
Joe Marshall, Connie Kay, Panama Francis (drums),
The Gliders (backing vocals), among others.
Further personnel information is detailed inside.
Produced by Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler.

Recorded in New York, between 1953 and 1960.

TRAKS:

La VERN
01 LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE 2:21
02 OF COURSE I DO 2:50
03 YOU’LL BE CRYING 2:55
04 MIRACLES 2:44
05 I’M IN A CRYING MOOD 2:50
06 MINE ALL MINE 2:12
07 HARBOR LIGHTS 2:19
08 I’LL NEVER BE FREE 2:19
09 ROMANCE IN THE DARK 2:59
10 EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL 2:08
11 HOW LONG WILL IT BE 2:42
12 FOOL THAT I AM 2:19

ROCK & ROLL
13 JIM DANDY 2:08
14 TRA LA LA 2:09
15 I CAN’T LOVE YOU ENOUGH 2:36
16 GET UP, GET UP (YOU SLEEPY HEAD) 2:18
17 THAT’S ALL I NEED 2:31
18 BOP-TING-A-LING 3:03
19 TWEEDLEE DEE 3:04
20 STILL 2:20
21 PLAY IT FAIR 2:54
22 TOMORROW NIGHT 3:11
23 THAT LUCKY OLD SUN 2:52
24 SOUL ON FIRE 3:01
25 MY HAPINESS FOREVER 2:43
26 HOW CAN YOU LEAVE A MAN LIKE THIS? 2:35
BONUS TRACKS
27 BUMBLE BEE 2:29
28 ST. LOUIS BLUES 2:25
29 SUBSTITUTE 2:19
30 DIX-A-BILLY 1:53

Total Time: 78:54