Linda Hayes: Atomic Baby - Hollywood R&B From The Platters First 'Dish' (1952-56) ... plus

Most of Linda Hayes' singles are on this 21-track compilation, including her number two 1953 R&B hit 'Yes I Know' and her lesser-known 1954 Top Ten 45, 'Take Me Back.' These 1952-1956 recordings don't include every last one of her releases - the 1954 single 'Play It Right'/'Your Back's Out' is missing - but otherwise everything seems to be here. There really isn't much separating the pleasantly full-voiced Hayes from many other singers straddling the early-'50s jump blues/R&B era and the dawn of rock & roll, other than her Platters association, a deeper tone than was customary for female singers in the genre, and those two hits. That makes this collection of almost exclusive interest to '50s R&B specialists, as the songs are on the rather formulaic side, though 'Yes I Know' is a natural standout owing to its semi-novelty as a sassy answer record (to Willie Mabon's number one R&B smash 'I Know'). Like some other vocalists who had a bit of early- to mid-'50s R&B success, she sounds like she might have been better cast as a jazz singer, not coming by the more raucous edge required by the changing times as naturally as some other performers - a greater problem when some of her material edged closer to doo-wop and rock & roll on her later recordings. Platters collectors will want to note the presence of a couple singles (including 'My Name Is Annie,' an "answer" record to the Midnighters' 'Work with Me Annie') with the Platters on backup vocals; she also duets with her brother (and Platters singer) Tony Williams on 'Oochi Pachi.' I added FOUR bonus tracks here: the 1959 single 'Hubba Hubba'/'Take the Hand of a Fool' and the previously undocumented early recordings with The Platters 'I Just Wanna Mambo' and 'Co-Operating Mama', which were hidden at the end of the session reel after 'My Name Ain't Annie'. Thanks, Daniele, for passing me this!! http://www.answers.com/

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