R&B »

Early R&B

Evolving out of jump blues in the late '40s, R&B laid the groundwork for rock & roll. R&B kept the tempo and the drive of jump blues, but its instrumentation was sparer and the emphasis was on the song, not improvisation. It was blues chord changes played with an insistent backbeat. During the '50s, R&B was dominated by vocalists like Ray Charles and Ruth Brown, as well as vocal groups like the Drifters and the Coasters. Eventually, R&B metamorphosed into soul, which was funkier and looser than the pile-driving rhythms of R&B.

Early R&B Album Highlights

Chess Rhythm & Roll
Various Artists Chess Rhythm & Roll
The Georgia Peach
Little Richard The Georgia Peach
Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker
LaVern Baker Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker
Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 1
Various Artists Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 1
The OKeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957
Various Artists The OKeh Rhythm & Blues Story 1949-1957
Sixty Minute Men: The Best of Billy Ward & His Dominoes
Billy Ward & the Dominoes Sixty Minute Men: The Best of Billy Ward & His Dominoes
His Best
Bo Diddley His Best
The Birth of Soul
Ray Charles The Birth of Soul
Frat Rock!
Various Artists Frat Rock!
Wheelin' and Dealin': The Definitive Collection
Lee Dorsey Wheelin' and Dealin': The Definitive Collection
Lawdy!
Lloyd Price Lawdy!
Miss Rhythm (Greatest Hits and More)
Ruth Brown Miss Rhythm (Greatest Hits and More)
The Spirit of New Orleans: The Genius of Dave Bartholomew
Dave Bartholomew The Spirit of New Orleans: The Genius of Dave Bartholomew
Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers
The Clovers Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 [Box]
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 [Box]
Risque Rhythm: Nasty 50s R&B
Various Artists Risque Rhythm: Nasty 50s R&B
Bad Boy
Larry Williams Bad Boy
The Sun Story [Rhino]
Various Artists The Sun Story [Rhino]
The Best of Garnet Mimms: Cry Baby
Garnet Mimms The Best of Garnet Mimms: Cry Baby
Big, Bad & Blue: The Big Joe Turner Anthology
Big Joe Turner Big, Bad & Blue: The Big Joe Turner Anthology
Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans
Various Artists Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans
All-Time Greatest Hits & More: 1959-1965
The Drifters All-Time Greatest Hits & More: 1959-1965
Poet of the Blues
Percy Mayfield Poet of the Blues
Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters / Hank Ballard Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
At Last!
Etta James At Last!
50 Coastin' Classics: Anthology
The Coasters 50 Coastin' Classics: Anthology
Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
Hits from the Legendary Vee Jay Records
Various Artists Hits from the Legendary Vee Jay Records
My Blue Heaven: The Best of Fats Domino
Fats Domino My Blue Heaven: The Best of Fats Domino
Monkey Hips and Rice: The "5" Royales Anthology
The "5" Royales Monkey Hips and Rice: The "5" Royales Anthology
Fire/Fury Records Story
Various Artists Fire/Fury Records Story
The Roots of a Revolution
James Brown The Roots of a Revolution
The New Orleans Hit Story
Various Artists The New Orleans Hit Story
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 2 (1952-1955)
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 2 (1952-1955)
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3
The Best of the Chantels [Rhino]
The Chantels The Best of the Chantels [Rhino]
The Best of Smiley Lewis: I Hear You Knocking
Smiley Lewis The Best of Smiley Lewis: I Hear You Knocking
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 3 (1955-1958)
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 3 (1955-1958)
The Scepter Records Story
Various Artists The Scepter Records Story
Night Beat
Sam Cooke Night Beat
Blues Masters, Vol. 14: More Jump Blues
Various Artists Blues Masters, Vol. 14: More Jump Blues
The Ace Story, Vol. 1
Various Artists The Ace Story, Vol. 1
Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: West Coast Blues
Various Artists Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: West Coast Blues
Memorial Album
Johnny Ace Memorial Album
Candy!
Big Maybelle Candy!
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 4 (1958-1962)
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 4 (1958-1962)
The Best of Ray Charles: The Atlantic Years
Ray Charles The Best of Ray Charles: The Atlantic Years
Get out of the Car
Richard Berry Get out of the Car
R&B Dynamite
Etta James R&B Dynamite
OKeh Rhythm & Blues
Various Artists OKeh Rhythm & Blues
The Mercury Blues Story, 1945-1955: East Coast
Various Artists The Mercury Blues Story, 1945-1955: East Coast
Bloodshot Eyes: The Best of Wynonie Harris
Wynonie Harris Bloodshot Eyes: The Best of Wynonie Harris
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 2
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 2
Creole Kings of New Orleans
Various Artists Creole Kings of New Orleans
Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-1955
Various Artists Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-1955
Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings
Big Mama Thornton Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings
Her Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
Etta James Her Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: Southwest Blues
Various Artists Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: Southwest Blues
Golden Classics
Jesse Belvin Golden Classics
They Rock! They Roll! They Swing!: The Best of the Treniers [Epic/Legacy]
The Treniers They Rock! They Roll! They Swing!: The Best of the Treniers [Epic/Legacy]
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 5
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 5
Mighty Mighty Man!
Roy Brown Mighty Mighty Man!
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 1 (1947-1952)
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 1 (1947-1952)
The Specialty Story [Box]
Various Artists The Specialty Story [Box]
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 5 (1962-1966)
Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, Vol. 5 (1962-1966)
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 4
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 4
Hardcore Doo-Wop: In the Hallway-Under the Street Lamp
Various Artists Hardcore Doo-Wop: In the Hallway-Under the Street Lamp
The Greatest Johnny Otis Show
Johnny Otis The Greatest Johnny Otis Show
Deep Sea Ball: The Best of Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter Deep Sea Ball: The Best of Clyde McPhatter
Honkers & Bar Walkers, Vol. 1
Various Artists Honkers & Bar Walkers, Vol. 1
The Very Best of Johnny "Guitar" Watson [Rhino]
Johnny "Guitar" Watson The Very Best of Johnny "Guitar" Watson [Rhino]
Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
Roy Milton Roy Milton & His Solid Senders
The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Amos Milburn
Amos Milburn The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Amos Milburn
The Sound of the Swamp: The Best of Excello, Vol. 1
Various Artists The Sound of the Swamp: The Best of Excello, Vol. 1
Son of Frat Rock
Various Artists Son of Frat Rock
Joe Liggins & the Honeydrippers
Joe Liggins Joe Liggins & the Honeydrippers
Anthology [Rhino]
Ray Charles Anthology [Rhino]
The Walk: Jimmy McCracklin at His Best
Jimmy McCracklin The Walk: Jimmy McCracklin at His Best
The Southern Rhythm 'n' Rock: The Best of Excello, Vol. 2
Various Artists The Southern Rhythm 'n' Rock: The Best of Excello, Vol. 2
The Jubilee Recordings
The Orioles The Jubilee Recordings
Fever: The Best of Little Willie John
Little Willie John Fever: The Best of Little Willie John
Duke-Peacock's Greatest Hits
Various Artists Duke-Peacock's Greatest Hits
Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: Midwest Blues
Various Artists Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story 1945-55: Midwest Blues
Ultimate 50's R&B Smashes
Various Artists Ultimate 50's R&B Smashes
The Best of Excello Records
Various Artists The Best of Excello Records
The King R&B Box Set
Various Artists The King R&B Box Set
The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 1
Various Artists The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 1
Having a Good Time with Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns / Huey "Piano" Smith Having a Good Time with Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
Jump Jack Jump!
Wynona Carr Jump Jack Jump!
RCA Victor Blues & Rhythm Revue
Various Artists RCA Victor Blues & Rhythm Revue
The Best of 50's Jumpin' Jive
Various Artists The Best of 50's Jumpin' Jive
R&B Confidential, Vol. 1: The Flair Label
Various Artists R&B Confidential, Vol. 1: The Flair Label
Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1955
Various Artists Billboard Top R&B Hits: 1955
Groove 'N' Grind: 50's & 60's Dance Hits
Various Artists Groove 'N' Grind: 50's & 60's Dance Hits
Ace Story, Vol. 4
Various Artists Ace Story, Vol. 4
The Ace (USA) Story, Vol. 5
Various Artists The Ace (USA) Story, Vol. 5