Nashville, Detroit and New Orleans – the three points of origin for the material on this 22-track collection of sides originally released during Rich’s short lifespan. The brainchild of John R Richbourg, one of the principal DJs at Nashville’s WLAC radio station during the 50s and 60s, and occasional business partner of producer James Hendrix, Rich’s roster included at various points Bobby Hebb, Lattimore Brown (who between them account for more than half of the tracks here), Jimmy Church, Cornell Blakely and JJ Barnes.
Particular items of interest include the four Bobby Hebb tracks recorded in New Orleans with James Booker on piano and the pre-night tripping Mac Rebbenack on guitar; Cornell Blakely’s I Got The Feeling features a backing track laid down by Motown’s peerless Funk Brothers; JJ Barnes’ Won’t You Let Me Know was the first recording to feature future Motown charttoppers Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (then appearing as the Del-Phis).
The lack of commercial success led to Richbourg winding up the label, though not before he himself had a shot at stardom under the name of John R. Though recorded before Rich went to the wall, the three Jimmy Church tracks here see the light of day for the first time.
