CRACKING THE COSIMO CODE - 60s New Orleans R&B and Soul
Released in conjunction with our site, Ace Records in the UK has put together a cracking package of gems cut at Cosimo Recording Studios in the 1960s:
"A compilation of New Orleans R&B and soul recordings in the post-Fats Domino era by Cosimo Code website founders: author John Broven, Red 'Soul Detective' Kelly and John 'Sir Shambling' Ridley... newly remastered pivotal New Orleans hits... are joined by influential local recordings... features stellar producers Allen Toussaint, Harold Battiste, Dave Bartholomew and notably Wardell Quezergue. 18 tracks new to Ace CD."
TRACK LISTING
1. OOH POO PAH DOO - JESSIE HILL
2. I GOT TO KNOW - EDDIE BO
3. TRICK BAG - EARL KING
4. NEW ORLEANS TWIST - BLAZER BOY
6. WE GOT A PARTY (PART II) - THE PARTY BOYS
7. THE JOKE - REGGIE HALL
8. KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE - DANNY WHITE
9. SECOND FIDDLE GIRL - BARBARA LYNN
10. YOU TOLD ME - WILLIE WEST
11. I'M GONNA GET YOU YET - THE TICK TOCKS
12. THIS IS THE CITY - BERNA-DEAN
13. WHO SHOT THE LA-LA - OLIVER MORGAN
14. THE MONKEY SPEAKS HIS MIND - DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
15. DID SHE MENTION MY NAME - RONNIE BARRON
16. GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN - LEE DORSEY
17. 99 PLUS 1 - JUNE GARDNER
18. TEASIN' YOU - WILLIE TEE
19. BAREFOOTIN' - ROBERT PARKER
20. TELL IT LIKE IT IS - AARON NEVILLE
21. POOR SAM - EARL KING
22. RELEASE ME - JOHNNY ADAMS
23. LOVER & A FRIEND - EDDIE BO & INEZ CHEATHAM
24. PLAY A CORNBREAD SONG FOR ME AND MY BABY - JOE HAYWOOD
With all tracks presented in their original glorious mono, the CD shot straight to the top of the Ace Top 20 shortly after it's release.
Here's what some of our friends had to say:
"Thank you so much for the Cosimo CD, it touched me so much. Thank God for people like you that care enough to write about our music history. It feels good to know that we won't be forgotten! Much love..." - Willie West
"Cracking the Cosimo Code stands as both a worthy introduction to this great project and a worthy send-off to a great man. At the same time, Cosimo Matassa would be delighted that listeners with no awareness of this music's rich history - and no interest in discographical esoterica - will nonetheless find this album irresistibly danceable."
- Ben Sandmel, Louisiana Cultural Vistas
"What a great mix of known, unknown (to me, anyway), and half-known. Never heard that version of 'The Monkey'... I don't think I ever knew this existed. Thanks again!" - Colin Escott
"Like so much music that emerged from Southern studios in the 1960s - Muscle Shoals and Stax being obvious examples - these are sessions that radiate a sense of efficiency and good times running in unusual harmony. You can only imagine that those vibes were facilitated in no small part by Matassa himself... It's a great record, and a fitting showcase to the work of a musical technician who gave his charges the space and the confidence to express themselves so wholeheartedly." - John Mulvey, Uncut
