The King Records Legacy

Link to January 25 New York Times article, "Rocking Cincinnati's R&B Cradle".

From amazon's editorial reviews: An 85-track sampling of the greatest R&B ever waxed from one of the legendary labels of that genre. Essential selections from Wynonie Harris, Tiny Bradshaw, Hank Ballard, and Freddie King dovetail seamlessly with magical tracks from the likes of the Swallows, the 5 Royales, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Songs that will change your life include Lula Reed's aching rendition of Ray Charles's "Drown in My Tears," Big Jay McNeely's frantic "Nervous Man, Nervous," and Lil Greenwood & the Four Jack's hilarious "Grandpaw Can Boogie Too." Music scribe Colin Escott and his compilers wisely assume that you can find all the James Brown you require a few bins over. But a half a CD of King Records overlord-tyrant Syd Nathan spouting off at his A and R team is an unforgivable sin in a compilation as important as this one. --Ken Hohman

Related links.
King Records Anniversary Concert and Exhibit at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Listen to a 4-part series at WVUX in Cincinnati.

"The King of Them All" at CityBeat Cincinnati.

"Have You Heard the News?" at allmusic blog. (Better late than never!)