La Vern/Rock & Roll

Digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the legendary vocalist. LaVern Baker was one of the most important female vocalists of any time or genre. Her musical styles ranged between ground-breaking Rock 'n' Roll, cheerful R&B, early Soul, Jump Blues and Jazz. Whatever the style, Baker's sound was unique a soulful combination of unbridled lungpower and sophisticated phrasing. With the possible exception of Ruth Brown and the Chantels' Arlene Smith, Baker had no equal until the arrival of Aretha Franklin. This collector's edition compiles two of her complete albums for Atlantic: La Vern (1956) and LaVern Baker Rock & Roll (1957). Both LPs contain the cream of the crop from Baker's hitmaking stretch for the Atlantic label during her early years. In addition, we have included four bonus tracks consisting of hard to find sides from the same period. These splendid recordings feature a virtual who's who of great sidemen, including King Curtis, Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, Taft Jordan, Sam the Man Taylor, Urbie Green, Al Caiola and Joe Marshall, among others. Hoo Doo Records.