Various – A Walk On The Wild Side: Classic Tracks From L.A.'s Legendary Central

From the 1930's through the 1960's, Central Avenue was the heart of the Harlem of the West, a vibrant cauldron of Black culture - especially music - via the nightclubs, record stores and street life that drew Hollywood stars and music lovers from all over Los Angeles -as highlighted in the major film Devil With a Blue Dress,starring Denzil Washington. The Central Avenue scene, fueled by ground-breaking independent Black-owned record labels, fostered a mix of jazz, blues, rhythm 'n'blues and proto rock 'n' roll that evoked a special mood of good times and love both lost and and found. Such artists as Charles Mingus,Charles Brown, Dexter Gordon, Nat King Cole, and Jimmy Witherspoon emerged as stars from the scene. This compilation brings together twelve tracks - most of them hits - by artists who defined the Central Avenue scene of the Fortiesand Fifties. Included are the rare original versions of the hits I Wonder by Cecil Gant and Pink Champagne by Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers.

1. SIDE A
2. BIG JAY MCNEELEY: Deacon’s Hop
3. ROY MILTON ; HIS SOLID SENDERS: Thrill Me
4. WARDELL GRAY: Sweet and Lovely
5. JIMMY WITHERSPOON: Ain’t Nobody’s Business (If I Do)
6. JOE LIGGINS ; HIS HONEYDRIPPERS: Pink Champagne (original Exclusive version)
7. PEE WEE CRAYTON: Blues After Hours
8. SIDE B
9. DEXTER GORDON: Mischievous Lady
10. CHARLES MINGUS: These Foolish Things
11. HELEN HUMES: All I Ask Is Your Love
12. BUDDY COLETTE: It’s April
13. PERCY MAYFIELD: How Wrong Can A Man Be?
14. CECIL GANT: I Wonder (original Bronze version)

Label: Shanachie

Catalog: 5533

Genre: Jazz