Various Artists – I Love Paris – The Great American Songbook Goes R&B

Although for many decades it was principally the domain of jazz-styled singers and musicians, THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK has undergone a significant revival in recent years, in terms of the mass market's rediscovery of the genre.

Loosely defined, these are the most popular and enduring songs from the 1920s through to the 50s, most of which were written for Broadway theatre, musical theatre and/or Hollywood musical movies.

And although regular Pop Music has generally endured a somewhat difficult relationship with what has always been perceived as 'serious' music, many R&B and early Soul performers dabbled in the Great American Songbook over the years.

This unique compilation presents thirty memorable examples, featuring artists like Ray Charles, Big Maybelle, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, LaVern Baker, James Brown, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Timi Yuro, Ruth Brown and many more.

Many of these sides are hard to find elsewhere on CD.

Track Listing

1. RAY CHARLES - YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
2. JACKIE WILSON - I APOLOGISE
3. ROY HAMILTON - UNCHAINED MELODY
4. CLARENCE 'FROGMAN' HENRY - YOU ALWAYS HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE
5. KETTY LESTER - LOVE LETTERS
6. CLYDE MCPHATTER - THESE FOOLISH THINGS
7. TONY WILLIAMS - IF
8. (Little) ESTHER PHILLIPS - RELEASE ME
9. SAMMY TURNER - ALWAYS
10. ETTA JAMES - PRISONER OF LOVE
11. SAM COOKE - (I Love You) FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS
12. JESSE BELVIN - SUMMERTIME
13. TIMI YURO - LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART
14. BIG MAYBELLE - ALL OF ME
15. VARETTA DILLARD - WHAT'LL I DO
16. LITTLE WILLIE JOHN - SLEEP
17. LAVERN BAKER - WHEEL OF FORTUNE
18. FRANKIE LYMON - GOODY GOODY
19. JAMES BROWN - BEWILDERED
20. BEN E KING - AT LAST
21. JOHNNY NASH - AS TIME GOES BY
22. RUTH BROWN - I'LL GET ALONG SOMEHOW (Part 1)
23. JIMMY JONES - FOR YOU
24. GENE MCDANIELS - WHEN I FALL IN LOVE
25. JERRY BUTLER - AFTER THE LAUGHTER
26. MARV JOHNSON - SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN
27. BROOK BENTON - BLUES IN THE NIGHT
28. BIG JOE TURNER - CORRINE, CORRINA
29. BOBBY BLAND - ST JAMES' INFIRMARY
30. SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS - I LOVE PARIS