Rerun: Ike Turner - 1958-1959/Here And Now

Blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll icon Ike Turner passed away today at the age of 76. As a tribute to the highly influential music of this maligned pioneer of modern music, we will reprint a couple of Turner reviews from last year, two notable records of his recorded several decades apart:

NICK DERISO: It's been more than 50 years since Stan Lewis opened Stan's Record Shop in downtown Shreveport.

From his vantage point at the the top of Texas Avenue (I used to sneak down there after class), he would go on to create a once-lucrative business, then see the shop whither and go under (as vinyl died). But, all the while, he issued some of the nation's most influential artists on three separate independent, north Louisiana-based record labels.

In the the early 1990s, we got a digital opportunity to become reintroduced to his best work from the Jewel, Paula and Ronn imprints through a series of terrific CD reissues. Taken together, these labels moved around in every important Southern genre -- early rock 'n' roll, country, down-home blues, black gospel and swamp pop.

On one of those discs, Ike Turner's terrific "1958-59," we find an encapsulation of all of those many diversions.

Sometimes Ike comes close to blues here with slow-burns like "Down and Out" and "You Got to Lose."

More often than not, however, Turner is spinning a rhythmic hybrid, something one might call heavy R&B -- a very intense mixture of what would become full-bore rock 'n' roll. And fine, indeed. It's a tough sound, with horns and vocals right up-front, sometimes to the point of distortion.

This CD includes sides credited to Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm -- as well as Otis Rush and his band, and the Betty Everett and Willie Dixon Band. All include Turner (primarily on guitar, since the bands included keyboardists).

Speculating on who else is here is a hoot: For instance, the second version of "Tell Me Darling," I think, features legendary Muddy Waters sideman Otis Spann on piano.

That multiple-take feel travels throughout: There are three versions of "Matchbox." Then there's "I'm Gonna Forget About You," which is included in two versions; this sounds like a precursor to "Matchbox" itself.

So, OK, all of that duplication doesn't exactly make for a record you can listen to all the way through, over and over. But you are invited to mix and match versions as you program your CD player. Which, of course, I did.

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DERRICK: Just what Ike fans were waiting for.

The Clarksdale, Mississippi native returned to his roots with a barrel-house style blues recording that brings him back as a force on the music scene. The newest edition of his Kings of Rhythm band sounded tight and Ike picked right back up where he left off with his 50's sound.

Everybody seems to know more about Ike's history than his music, and that's too bad. You can't forget one, but should at least get to know the other.

Ike takes turns playing keyboards, bass and even a bit of drums on the album, but the Turner trademark guitar exists on all tracks. Surprisingly, he says he enjoys playing piano more than guitar on the liner notes. Ike is a great keyboard player, but if I played rhythm guitar like him I would never put it down.

Little bit of trivia in there also. Ike apparently switched from piano to guitar in order to accommodate an old girlfriend that played keyboards a place in the Kings of Rhythm, and bought his first Stratocaster at O.K. Houck's music store in Memphis. Maybe Houck's and the gal should be listed as historical landmarks. They did us all a big favor.

The disk starts off with Tore Up - a drinking anthem more than a few of us can relate to. It is a good updating of I'm Tore Up recorded in '56 but this time Ike does the singing. You Can't Winnum All has a guest appearance by Little Milton on guitar as does Feelin' Low Down.

Catfish Blues gives Turner a chance to strut his stuff on a good old-fashioned delta blues rumble and Gave You What You Wanted lets him give his Strat a hell of a nasty workout. Swanee River Boogie is a nifty piano instrumental piece that has some swing.

One thing I really enjoyed from the disk was Dell Akins work on the stand up bass on Catfish Blues as well as two other tunes. A horn section staffed by many keeps the album grooving all the way home.

Now for the scary part. When I first glanced at the set list, I was surprised to see that Turner took a shot at the classic Rhythm Kings song Rocket 88. Every likes Ike's Rocket 88, but nobody likes it when something that works is messed with. After all this is the song that Bill Haley and the Comets covered a full three years before Rock around the Clock. If you list the music that gave birth to rock and roll, Rocket 88 will be on the page.

When I listened to the song, I was a little surprised. I ended up scratching the original off my Winamp that was sung by Jackie Brenston from '51 and replacing it with the new version. It is every bit as fun as your first ride in Ike's Oldsmobile.

All in all, I'd have to say that I really enjoyed the album and it has been getting good airplay around the house. Nothing ground-breaking here, but a lot of good blues to be enjoyed.