The History of Rhythm and Blues - Volume Three: 1952 - 1957 (4 CD Boxset)

The History of Rhythm & Blues series of CDs is a cross-label project that attempts to chronicle the rise of R&B from a historical perspective. Its aim is to demonstrate the breadth of new forms which arose from the fusion of the various styles and to showcase the most influential records while highlighting many of the more obscure discs, whose importance to the story is less well-known.

Rhythm & Blues was one of the most identifiable musical art forms of the 20th Century, with an enormous influence on the development of both the sound and attitude of modern music. The History of Rhythm and Blues series investigates the accidental synthesis of jazz, gospel, blues, ragtime, country, pop and latin music into a definable form of black music, which in turn would influence pretty well all popular music from the 1950s to the present.

Volume Three investigates the growing urbanisation of the music; the impact on white teenagers; the prominence of the vocal groups; the gradual transition towards a more soulful expression of the blues. There is a detailed examination of the various rhythms that lie behind the music from Rumba Shuffle through New Orleans to Twist Beat.

"There’s so little on this box set that I wouldn’t be overjoyed to play you… an absolutely essential purchase… as good as any (other sets) and probably better than all…indispensable music… thoroughly, thoroughly recommended."
Mark Lamarr - BBC Radio 2, God’s Jukebox Featured Record of the Week June 6th 2009