The Story of Vee-Jay: America's Premier Black Music Label (2002)

About this title: "America's Premier Black Music Label" says the small print on the front sleeve, and while that's highly disputable, Vee-Jay was undoubtedly one of America's premier black music labels from the mid-'50s to the mid-'60s. This two-CD, 50-song set is a strong and varied selection of their wares, focusing mostly but not exclusively on their hit singles and better-known performers. Vee-Jay went into every area of black music, and though their jazz roster isn't represented here to keep the scope more manageable, every other genre is: R&B, doo wop, blues, gospel, rock & roll, and early soul. As with ... read more

Tracks:

1. Bim Bam Boom [Jones]
2. Duke of Earl [Dixon/Edwards/Willi]
3. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) [Clark]
4. Oh What a Nite [Junior/Funches]
5. Hands Off [Bowman/McShann]
6. Dimples [Hooker/Bracken]
7. Big Town Playboy [Jones]
8. I Found My Peace of Mind [Bracken]
9. Wade in the Water [Traditional]
10. Mary Don't You Weep [Traditional]
11. For Your Precious Love [Brooks/Brooks/Butle]
12. You Can Make It If You Try [Jarrett]
13. Just a Little Bit [Bass/Washington/Tho]
14. Raindrops [Clark/Otis]
15. Every Beat of My Heart [Otis]
16. My Adorable One [Berger/Thompson]
17. Bright Lights, Big City [Reed]
18. It Hurts Me Too [Whittaker]
19. I'm Journeying On [Fountain]
20. Jesus Is the Answer [Colbert]
21. Up on the Mountain [Montague/Abner]
22. Baby It's You [Hudson/Gregory]
23. You're No Good [Ballard]
24. I Don't Know What You Got But It's Got Me [Covay]
25. Uncloudy Day [Alwood]
26. I'm in the Mood for Love [Hooker/Besman]
27. 12 Year Old Boy [London]
28. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On [David/Williams]
29. Honest I Do [Abner/Reed]
30. No More Doggin' [Gordon/Taub]
31. Hey Little Girl [Blackwell/Stevenson]
32. Moon River [Mancini/Mercer]
33. Let It Be Me [Becaud/Curtis/Delan]
34. I'll Be Forever Loving You [Arnold/Daniel]
35. Rainbow [Mayfield]
36. Stay in My Corner [Miller/Flemons/Stro]
37. Precious Lord [Dorsey]
38. Sinner Man [Owens]
39. Rockin'itis [Carter/Smith]
40. The Twist [Ballard]
41. Boom Boom [Hooker]
42. Big Boss Man [Smith/Dixon]
43. At My Front Door [Moore/Abner]
44. Mother Earth [Chatman/Simpkins]
45. If I Could Hear My Mother Pray [Vaughan/Rowe]
46. Getting Mighty Crowded [McCoy]
47. Make It Easy on Yourself [Bacharach/David]
48. Oo Wee Baby, I Love You [Parker]
49. Nobody But You [Clark]
50. Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite [Hudson/Carter]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.