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Second Time Around Various artistsLet the Good Times Roll (Imperial/EMI/Capitol) The fascinating thing about this compilation, subtitled 20 of New Orleans' Finest R&B Classics 1949-1966, is how a distinctly regional sound was able to muscle into the national pop charts way back when. Today, while the culture of the Crescent City has been strong enough to prevent the utter homogenization of the distinct local R&B flavor, it's a long way from MTV – unless you're talking about the sound created by Manny Fresh and Cash Money Records, which is distinct but owes little overt allegiance to the region's R&B past. Listen to these tunes – Shirley and Lee's "Let the Good Times Roll," Lee Dorsey's "Ya Ya," Prince La La's "She Put the Hurt on Me," and Barbara George's fabulous "I Know" among them – and amid the rich vocals and rocked-up piano you can hear the threads that would eventually split into the very different worlds of soul and rock. Unlike many hits packages, this one boasts a number of songs that actually were big sellers, the aforementioned included, as well as others, like Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally," and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is" – along with "Let the Good Times Roll," the only tune with which most of today's listeners might possibly be familiar. For my money, George's song, which in 1961 went to number one on the R&B charts and number three on the pop charts, makes the whole disc worth owning. She was 18 when she wrote it and played piano on the recording, and although she was on the New Orleans scene for years after – and may still be – she never had another hit. (J.H. Tompkins) |
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