Across the Tracks, Vol. 2: More Nashville R&B and Doo Wop
We continue our run of Nashville R&B; CDs with a return visit to the Champion group of labels featuring the productions of Ted Jarrett. Ted was one of the early black independent label producers, and to this day is still hunting for hit records on his T-Jaye label. With the release of the first volume ofAcross The Tracks(CDCHD 493) he has been accorded belated recognition for his past work by his Nashville home town. In a supplement of The Nashville Banner (28 November 1996), Ted had the front cover picture and story entitled (what else) ''Across The Tracks'' with the bye-line ''Reissue disc showcases Ted Jarrett's role in Nashville's R&B; and rock history.'' Then in the Nashville Scene of 12 December 1996, Daniel Cooper wrote a major article, ''Scuffling: The Lost History Of Nashville Rhythm & Blues''. Cooper noted that ''only now, all these years later, Nashville's R&B; legacy is beginning to gain wider recognition. AVI Records in the US and Ace Records in the UK have been deep into a reissue program of vintage recordings from the Excello vaults - much of it featuring Music City talent - and Ace also just released the essentialAcross The Tracks: Nashville R&B; and Rock'n'Roll. A superior collection of raw, urban-combo sides from the late 50s and early 60s, the Ace collection especially highlights the production and songwriting of local musician and all-round indie entrepreneur Ted Jarrett''. We have commissioned Daniel Cooper to write the notes to this second volume ofAcross The Tracks(he has also written the notes to ourWail Daddy!andSouthern Rhythms with Kid King's Combo, Louis Brooks and Skippy Brooks- both CDs from the Excello label). This time out we feature Nashville doowop from highly collectable groups the Kinglets and Charles Walker & the Daffodils along with the Champion R&B; stalwarts Larry Birdsong, Gene Allison and Earl Gaines. The quality blues tracks by Murfreesboro (Al Garner), Ted Jarrett, Cliff Butler and Arthur K Adams are almost impossible to find on the original records, as is the magnificent rockabilly of Chuck Harrod'sCrawdad Hole- a $1000 single! Yes, the musical quality ofAcross The Tracks Vol 2is every bit as high as that of the first volume.