Earl Bostic was the most prolific recording artist in the history of King Records, even eclipsing the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. During his tenure with King, Bostic recorded well over three hundred sides between January 1949 and August 1963. Equally proficient on saxophone, clarinet and flute, his instrument of choice was the alto saxophone. His popularity as both a recording artists and in live appearances made him an extremely influential role model for others such as Tab Smith.

Earl Bostic's legacy as the premier alto sax artist of the 1950s is secure. While Charlie Parker is of course renowned on the instrument as well, no one has ever approached the level of record sales which Bostic achieved during the era or since. This CD is an excellent introduction to his artistry as performed fifty years ago.

Liner Note Author: Victor Pearlin.

The Very Best of Earl Bostic is a 25-track overview of his jump blues and R&B instrumentals recorded for King in the late '40s and '50s. Bostic's biggest R&B hits, including "Temptation" "Flamingo," and "Sleep," are coupled with favorites like "Earl Blows a Fuse," "Rockin' and Reelin'," and one of the few vocal tracks Bostic cut, "Who Snuck the Wine in the Gravy." This Collectables reissue is a decent set for casual Bostic fans, but those who want to go deeper into his catalog should check into the chronological Blues & Rhythm Series on Classics. As a side note, John Coltrane was part of Bostic's band in the early '50s, and makes an appearance on the cuts "Moonglow," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "For You." ~ Al Campbell

Genre:

• Jazz

Labels:

• Collectables Records

Music Categories:

• Blues: Jump Blues

Product Groupings:

• Clearance CDs
• Collectables Records - Audio CDs

Product Series:

• Very Best Of King/Federal/DeLuxe Records