Various Artists - Rhythm & Queens: Black Beauty's Rockin' Inferno 1942-1964 (2026)

This musical collection of 30 tracks honors the pivotal contribution of Black female artists to the foundation of rock and roll and soul between the early 1940s and the 1960s. The featured recordings illustrate how the fusion of jazz, jump blues, R&B, and gospel created the definitive blueprint for modern popular music. These original performances served as the structural prototypes for iconic hits later popularized by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard. The compilation underscores the historical significance of these pioneering women, whose creative influence defined the genre and paved the way for the evolution of soul music.

Tracklist:
1-1 Big Mama Thornton - HOUND DOG [2:49]
1-2 Blanche Thomas - YOU AIN’T SO SUCH A MUCH [2:22]
1-3 LaVern Baker - HEY MEMPHIS [2:29]
1-4 Mickey & Sylvia - NO GOOD LOVER [2:56]
1-5 Ruth Durand - I’M WISE [2:15]
1-6 Kitty White - I’M GONNA BE A FOOL NEXT MONDAY [2:00]
1-7 Dakota Staton - A LITTLE YOU [2:13]
1-8 Mary Ann Fisher - PUT ON MY SHOES [2:12]
1-9 Ki Ki Page & Plas Johnson & Orchestra - BIG BOY [1:41]
1-10 Baby Washington - MEDICINE MAN [2:20]
1-11 Ruth Brown - MAMA HE TREATS YOUR DAUGHTER MEAN [2:53]
1-12 Dolores Ware - CAN’T EAT, CAN’T SLEEP (CAN’T FIND NO PEACE OF MIND) [2:46]
1-13 Fontella Bass & Oliver Sain Orchestra - MY GOOD LOVING [2:27]
1-14 Linda Martell & The Anglos - THE THINGS I DO FOR YOU [2:01]
1-15 Odessa Harris - A ROCKIN’ GOOD WAY (TO MESS AROUND AND FALL IN LOVE) [2:32]
1-16 Lula Reed - WHAT MAKES YOU SO COLD [2:05]
1-17 Ann Cole - GOT MY MO-JO WORKING [2:36]
1-18 Big Maybelle - WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON [2:44]
1-19 Tiny Topsy - JUST A LITTLE BIT [2:36]
1-20 Etta James - SOMETHING’S GOT A HOLD ON ME [2:48]
1-21 Evelyn Freeman - DIDN’T IT RAIN [3:14]
1-22 Lucky Millinder And His Orchestra & Rosetta Tharpe - SHOUT, SISTER, SHOUT [2:49]
1-23 Gloria Irving - FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU [2:26]
1-24 Jeannie Barnes - CAN’T GET YOU OFF MY MIND [2:44]
1-25 Joe And Ann - RUNNIN’ AND FOOLIN’ [2:15]
1-26 Betty Everett - YOU’RE NO GOOD [2:18]
1-27 Sugar Pie DeSanto - SLIP-IN MULES (NO HIGH HEEL SNEAKERS) [2:48]
1-28 Sally Stanley - I’LL HAVE TO LET YOU GO [2:27]
1-29 Jessie Mae - DON’T FREEZE ON ME [2:16]
1-30 Annisteen Allen - FUJIYAMA MAMA [2:29]