Various - Groove Records Still Groove Jumping! (CD)

Various – Bob Jones Edition: Still Groove Jumping (CD)

Some labels were almost forgotten until rediscovered by passionate collectors – RCA’s Groove imprint is one of them. Originally created in the early 1950s as a subsidiary for “black product,” Groove produced some of the hottest rhythm & blues and black rock’n’roll sides ever cut. The first volume Groove Jumping! caused a sensation among fans and collectors. Now, by popular demand, here comes the long-awaited companion: Still Groove Jumping!

Sixteen electrifying tracks – including five previously unreleased – capture the raw excitement of mid-50s New York. At the heart of this set is the explosive guitar work of Mickey Baker, never more powerful than on Country Boy and Down To The Bottom, both written by Baker himself. Surrounding him is the stellar Groove house band: saxophone greats Sam “The Man” Taylor, Heywood Henry, King Curtis; bassists Al Lucas, Jimmy Lewis, Lloyd Trotman; drummers Herb Lovelle and Panama Francis. Many were seasoned jazz players, whose precision and swing gave these R&B sessions a unique polish – even if the public at the time favored a dirtier sound.

For collectors, this is a treasure chest: many of these sides were long buried, never reissued until now. Restored to top sound quality and accompanied by detailed liner notes, Still Groove Jumping is more than a CD – it’s a journey into the heart of New York’s R&B underground.

But don’t wait: Bear Family’s Bob Jones Editions are limited. Once sold out, this rare glimpse into Groove’s archives will vanish again. Grab it now – or regret missing one of the most authentic R&B experiences of the 1950s.

Bob Jones, mastering engineer, record collector, label owner and Welsh eccentric died in 2009. The young Jones came to London and got a job as an engineer with Decca Records. After returning from Madrid where he had worked for a Spanish record company, Bob started working for Pye Records, mastering tapes for the newly formed Charly Records, Ace Records among others. He moved on to CTS Studios in Wembley, mastering releases for Bear Family Records a.o. and confirming his reputation for quality. RCA also utilized Bob's skills in mastering on numerous Elvis releases, including the first two volumes of 'The Essential Elvis', with his contribution acknowledged on the album sleeves.

After CTS, Bob was asked by Ace boss Ted Carroll to become a founding member of Sound Mastering. There he continued mastering product for Ace as well as various other specialist labels such as Rockstar, Bear Family and Magnum Force. A great fan of Elvis Presley and Duane Eddy, he was privileged to master product by both artists.