Specialty Story, The

During the late '40s and the 1950s, few independent labels were as prominent or turned out quality R&B as consistently as Art Rupe's Specialty imprint. One primary factor in their success was Rupe and company's embrace of rock & roll -- a heretofore previously uncharted territory that a only a minority of the established indies dared to tread. The Specialty Story (1994) is a single-CD distillation of the bountiful five-disc box set of the same name. Specialty's prolific nature ensures that these platters are indeed the cream of what the moniker had to offer; however, studious enthusiasts and completists will inevitably want to locate the larger package -- especially as each featured performer is only given one entry here. That said, what is here can rightfully be assessed as "the best of the best." The anthology commences with Little Richard's crossover smash "Good Golly Miss Molly" -- which placed in the Top Ten of the pop as well as R&B surveys. If nothing else, the artist's flamboyant no-holds-barred bombast immediately captured the attention of teens from every race and (presumably) religion and creed. Both Joe Liggins' signature "Honeydripper" and his younger sibling Jimmy Liggins' "Cadillac Boogie" are suitable representations of their memorable contributions. The compilers wisely chose to highlight the criminally neglected sacred selections from the Specialty archives. Alex Bradford ("Too Close to Heaven") , Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers ("Touch the Hem of His Garment"), and the Lou Rawls-led Chosen Gospel Singers ("No Room in the Hotel") provide examples of the label's all too often neglected religious recordings. Returning to the secular side are similarly essential cuts from Lloyd Price ("Lawdy Miss Clawdy"), Art Neville ("Oooh-Wee Baby"), Larry Williams ("Slow Down"), Don & Dewey ("Leavin' It All Up to You"), Percy Mayfield ("Strange Things Happening"), Clifton Chenier ("Squeeze Box Boogie"), Roy Milton ("Oh Babe!"), Tony Allen & the Champs ("Nite Owl"), Mercy Dee Walton ("One Room Country Shack"), Johnny Fuller ("Haunted House"), and Jesse Belvin ("Where's My Girl"), who are all present and accounted for. ~ Lindsay Planer|