Ray Agee - Another Fool Sings The Blues: An Introduction to the Blues of …. (2023)

He recorded regularly for more than a quarter of a century without scoring even one national hit, and he remains largely unknown outside of blues and R&B collector circles - but within those circles, Ray Agee is among the most highly rated and revered west coast bluesmen of his generation.

Blessed with a relaxed singing style akin to that of the great Bobby Bland (who cut Ray's song 'I've Been Wrong So Long' in 1960), Ray recorded for a swathe of the biggest and best California R&B labels in the 50s - the period covered by this new Jasmine collection - and his sessions were supervised by some of the highest profile names of both the era and genre, including Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller and Bob Geddins. That none became hits is no reflection on the high quality of the music this collection contains.

Although Ray's work has been extensively anthologised in the past, there has never been such a comprehensively assembled CD anthology - and never a UK CD anthology, either - covering his peak years before now. Anyone with even a passing interest in smooth, cool vocal blues will find plenty to enjoy here.