Specialty Profiles: Lloyd Price

Album Review

As part of the Specialty Profiles series, New Orleans R&B belter Lloyd Price is spotlighted on several tracks he recorded for the Los Angeles-based label between 1952 and 1959. This is raucous R&B, not to be confused with Price's pop hits recorded for ABC-Paramount in the early '60s. The 14 cuts on this compilation combine lesser-heard gems like "If Crying Was Murder" and "Where You At?" with original chart-toppers "Oooh-Oooh-Oooh," "Restless Heart," "Tell Me Pretty Baby," "Ain't It a Shame?," and his first number one hit, "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," which featured Fats Domino on piano. This is essential material that should be in any R&B or early rock & roll collection. As an extra bonus, the Specialty Profiles series includes a sampler that showcases R&B gems by Specialty acts of the era, including Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Larry Williams, Percy Mayfield, Don & Dewey, Joe Liggins, Jesse & Marvin, and Guitar Slim.