1954

We're back around to the three disk box set of R'n'B Hits, from the year 1954 this time. 85 tracks of remarkable quality and consistency. Last time we were in 1952. There isn't a great change in style and content in these intervening two years, maybe just a few more intimations that rock 'n' roll was just around the corner. The female singers are still glorying in double entendres, there are still giants lurking among the journetmen and some are closer to really hitting their stride. What is interesting in all these box sets is picking out the contrast in styles around the four main recording centres, the west coast cool of Los Angeles, the street smart strut of New York, the hard blues of Chicago and the lilting sub tropical rumba of New Orleans.