The R&B Scene [Deram] (1998)

Having infamously turned down the Beatles after auditioning them in 1962, and then grabbing the Rolling Stones the following year as a consolation prize, Decca spent much of the next couple years snapping up a bevy of R&B-oriented U.K. rock acts. Many of them (though not the Stones) are represented on this 25-track compilation, which serves as a pretty broad snapshot of this aspect of the British Invasion as a whole. The good part is that you get to hear a lot of decent to excellent non-hits that will be unfamiliar to the ... Read More

Having infamously turned down the Beatles after auditioning them in 1962, and then grabbing the Rolling Stones the following year as a consolation prize, Decca spent much of the next couple years snapping up a bevy of R&B-oriented U.K. rock acts. Many of them (though not the Stones) are represented on this 25-track compilation, which serves as a pretty broad snapshot of this aspect of the British Invasion as a whole. The good part is that you get to hear a lot of decent to excellent non-hits that will be unfamiliar to the average British Invasion fan, from the grittiest and jazziest of the lot to pop stars who occasionally got into an R&B bag (like Dave Berry and Lulu).The not-so-good part is that a fair number of mediocrities are mixed in with the more exciting stuff. Too, even the fine obscurities here have mostly been easily available on other CD anthologies or single-artist collections, and many British Invasion collectors interested in this kind of material are likely to already have much of the best of it elsewhere. But there's no denying that the best half or so is dynamite, whether it's early British R&B-rock at its most feral (the Fairies' "Anytime at All" and Cops'n Robbers' "Gotta Be a Reason," both strongly reminiscent of the early Pretty Things); Lulu at her most raunchily soulful ( "I'll Come Running Over" ); an early example of a folk song being rocked up, though it falls short of being folk-rock (the Plebs' "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"); David John & the Mood's "To Catch That Man" (sometimes rumored to have been led by a very young David Bowie, though that's not the case); and the Hipster Image's "Can't Let Her Go" (the original version of a song subsequently covered by the Alan Bown Set), one of the best little-known midpoints between British R&B/mod rock and jazz. There are also plenty of efforts by stars-in-the-making that are cool or at least historically interesting, like the Birds (with Ron Wood), the Graham Bond Organisation (with a pre-Cream Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker), Davie Jones & the King Bees (led by the future David Bowie), Rod Stewart, and John Mayall (whose 1964 pre-Eric Clapton debut single, "Crawling Up a Hill," is pretty terrific). ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi Read Less

• All from $16.82
• Used Music from $16.82

• All Copies (1)
• Choose Release (1)

• Music Details
• Seller
• Sort U.K./EUR Sellers Price: Low to High Price: High to Low Condition Condition: Reverse Release Date Release Date: Rev Sellers Near Me

• CD, Good 2008, Deram UPC: 042284479820 See Item Details ▾

  Goodwill of Orange County BEST Santa Ana, CA, USA

  $16.82 Add to Basket

  	Edition: 2008, Deram CD, Good	Details: UPC: 042284479820 Discs: 1 Label: Deram Released: 2008 Alibris ID: 17619939017	Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: $3.47 Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
  Seller's Description: Good. This item has very light surface scratches that do not affect the use of the disc/s. This is a USED item. Case and cover may or may not have wear or damage. All items unless otherwise noted will include disc, case, and artwork. Codes have been used. Other contents such as booklets may vary, please inquire for details. All items ship Monday-Friday within 2-3 business days.
  ► Contact This Seller
  Hide Details ▴

2008, Deram UPC: 042284479820 CD See All from $16.82