These Great Stars Are on Fire & Fury Artists

by Various Artists

This 3 Disc set with deluxe booklet, and specially designed digi-pak is the most comprehensive anthology of Bobby Robinson's Harlem based Fire & Fury Records. This is a limited edition pressing - 2000 numbered units, containing 75 tracks, including 15 songs previously unavailable on compact disc and digital. This package will not be available for downloads or streaming; once this pressing is sold out, it will be gone forever. The postwar explosion of independent rhythm and blues record companies included an extremely important group of African American-owned firms that played hardball with the big boys long before Berry Gordy established Motown. Heading the list were Vee-Jay Records in Chicago, Don Robey's hard-boiled Duke/Peacock empire in Houston, and Bobby Robinson's Harlem-based Fury and Fire logos. Robinson accrued his early industry experience from behind the counter of Bobby's Record Shop, located down the block from the Apollo Theatre. The store opened for business on August 20, 1946, and it became a gathering place for record buyers and music luminaries alike. Stars would wander down between their Apollo shows, and label honchos would stop by to see what was selling. Along the way, Robinson learned the ingredients that went into a hit. This edition contains rarities and hits by Lee Dorsey, Gladys Knight, Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins, Bobby Marchan, Buster Brown and many more.