...( Info )...

Blowing the Fuse is a killer series of compilation CDs issued by Germany's premier archivist label, Bear Family. Subtitled "R&B Classics That Rocked the Jukebox," each volume is compiled by year. 1954 was a boom year for jukeboxes across the United States as rhythm & blues and rock & roll maintained their collision course. This volume contains 29 affirmed classics of the early postwar years. The more well-known tunes of the era are given great balance by some nearly forgotten gems that are juxtaposed in the brilliant sequencing -- by producer Dave "Daddy Cool" Booth. Highlights from this volume are the Spiders' "I Didn't Want to Do It," the Cadillacs' "Gloria," the Chords' "Sh-Boom," Ray Charles' "It Should Have Been Me," and Dave Bartholomew's "Jump Children." The package is beautiful with Colin Escott's liner notes detailing every cut, accompanied by photographs and a lovely digipack. Sound quality is as good as it can be for archival material, making this a fine introduction to postwar R&B for the novice and a killer chronological listen for the connoisseur.

...( TrackList )...

Gee - The Crows
You're So Fine - Little Walter
Saving My Love for You - Johnny Ace
I'll Be True - Faye Adams
I Didn't Want to Do It- The Spiders
A Sunday Kind of Love - The Harptones / Willie Winfield
I Do- The "5" Royales
I'm Just Your Fool - Ella Johnson / Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra
The Things That I Used to Do - Guitar Slim
Lovey Dovey - The Clovers
It Should Have Been Me - Ray Charles
Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - The Spaniels
Big Heavy (Blue Light Boogie) - Cozy Eggleston
Work With Me Annie - The Midnighters
Jock-A-Mo - Sugar Boy Crawford
I Just Want to Make Love to You - Muddy Waters
I Feel So Sad - Chuck Willis
Sh-Boom - The Chords
Shake, Rattle and Roll - Big Joe Turner
Oh What a Dream - Ruth Brown & Her Rhythm Makers
Riot in Cell Block #9 - The Robins
Honey Love - The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter
Evil Is Goin' On - Howlin' Wolf
Opp Shoop - Shirley Gunter
Jump Children - Dave Bartholomew
Gloria - The Cadillacs / Jesse Powell Orchestra
You Upset Me Baby - B.B. King & His Orchestra
Hearts of Stone - The Charms
All Night Long - Joe Houston