
24-page booklet with notes by John Ridley.
The Definitive "5" Royales brings together all known recordings of the "5" Royales and their songwriter Lowman Pau-ling. This set covers the Home Of The Blues, Federal and Todd recordings between 1960 and 1963, along with the very last private tapes they made in the 1990s. Arguably the greatest of all the R&B groups, the "5" Royales were also the very first to marry blues rhythms and instrumental stylings with the vocal fire of gospel. This daring and controver-sial innovation merging secular and sacred musical influences into a coherent whole, lays down the future guidelines of soul music. Compiled with the invaluable assistance of J.Taylor Doggett and Monika Hinrichs, these CDs contain some of the very best early soul and R&B ever recorded and the Royales' music still has the power and the passion to move us all.
24-page booklet with notes by John Ridley.[info sheet from distr.]