Roy Lee Johnson When A Guitar Plays The Blues (CD)

1-CD Digipak (4-plated) with 39-page booklet, 30 tracks. Playing time approx. 73 mns.

The first, long overdue collection of rare but sought-after singles by Roy Lee Johnson, the underground hero of guitar freaks and deep soul fans. Includes Mister Moonlight, known to millions by the Beatles but originally by Dr Feelgood And the Interns (vocal: Roy Lee Johnson) and the first version of When A Guitar Plays The Blues, since revived by Albert Collins and Roy Buchanan. Eleven previously unissued tracks including four by underrated soul man, Curtis Smith, Roy Lee Johnson's fellow singer-guitarist in the Interns. The most soulful of Sixties soul packaged with all Bear Family's meticulous attention to detail including a lavishly illustrated essay by Martin Goggin.

Roy Lee Johnson first came to attention as the occasional vocalist with the Interns, a R&B band led by blues shouterDr Feelgood, aka Piano Red. But there's a whole lot more to this songwriter, guitarist and singer of soul with a capital 'S'. Roy Lee Johnson's little heard treasures of Southern soul are finally served up on one CD. Everything he recorded for Okeh, Columbia, Josie and Philips is here. There are gritty dance workouts, lilting soul ballads, ferocious instrumentals and devastating deep wrist-slashers from Muscle Shoals. Sixties soul reissues may be coin of the realm these days but few are quite as essential as this scorching collection ofRoy Lee Johnson's best performances.