VA - Stompin' At The Savoy: Things Have Changed, 1951-1955 (2004)

The Savoy label is primarily known for classic jazz releases by the early pioneers of bebop such as Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, and Stan Getz. However, as these 21 compositions remind listeners, the label was also among those that helped establish rock & roll. For this edition of the Stomping at the Savoy series, Things Have Changed 1951-1955, listeners can relive or discover timeless R&B tracks like "Mercy Mister Percy" by Varetta Dillard and "Don't Be Angry" by Nappy Brown, in addition to excellent material by H-Bomb Ferguson, Earl Johnson (Earl King), and Stick McGhee. Since stellar artists like the Robins, Johnny Otis, and Little Esther had left Savoy prior to 1951, those artists are excluded from this series. The combination of 24-bit digital remastering and mid-line pricing makes the Stomping at the Savoy series an attractive compilation for both the novice and collector.~Stomping at the Savoy: Things Have Changed 1951-1955 Review by Al Campbell