Album Notes
Motown is the black-owned Great Lakes R&B label synonymous with the '60s but before their reign was Chicago's Vee-Jay Records, ruling the charts for nearly a decade prior to the rise of the Detroit imprint. The tale of Vee-Jay has been told before in a variety of compilations, but Charly's 2014 box set Chicago Hit Factory: The Vee-Jay Story 1953-1966 is easily the most comprehensive chronicle, lasting ten discs and encompassing all of the chapters in the label's wild history. This includes singles Vee-Jay licensed from a variety of different sources, including blues sides by Elmore James on Fury and, notably, the first Beatles singles to be released in America, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You." Charly takes advantage of the shifting licensing rules of the new millennium to include both of these singles along with the Four Seasons hits that often haven't shown up on other Vee-Jay anthologies but, really, that's just the tip of the iceberg on this exhaustive set. Every sound and style the label issued is here, divided into three discs of big hits and then a disc apiece for doo wop, blues, R&B, soul, regional hits, gospel, and jazz. Sequencing the ten discs like this helps put Vee-Jay's diversity into perspective as well as emphasizing who their true hitmakers were: the laconic bluesman Jimmy Reed, the ebullient Dee Clark, the smooth assured Jerry Butler, genial Gene Chandler, and exuberant Betty Everett. All have almost all of their hits featured and there is plenty of room for doo wop groups like the Spaniels and the Dells, lots of space for soul and John Lee Hooker, and other music that sold better on LP than 45. Charly's presentation perhaps leaves a little to be desired -- these masters maybe could sound better and the whole package feels as if it was constructed on a budget -- but there is a wealth of important music that is tremendously compelling and entertaining in this box. That it's available at a good price is just a nice bonus -- it'd be worthwhile at twice the retail. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Disc 1
01. The Spaniels "Baby, It's You"
02. The Spaniels "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite"
03. Reed, Jimmy "You Don't Have To Go"
04. The El Dorados "At My Front Door"
05. The Spaniels "You Painted Pictures"
06. Priscilla Bowman & The Jay McShann Orchestra "Hands Off"
07. The El Dorados "I'll Be Forever Loving You"
08. Reed, Jimmy "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby"
09. The Magnificents "Up On The Mountain"
10. Dells, The "Oh What A Nite"
11. Reed, Jimmy "You've Got Me Dizzy"
12. Reed, Jimmy "Little Rain"
13. The Spaniels "Everyone's Laughing"
14. Reed, Jimmy "The Sun Is Shining"
15. Reed, Jimmy "Honest I Do"
16. Gene Allison "You Can Make It If You Try"
17. Gene Allison "Have Faith"
18. Jerry Butler & The Impressions "For Your Precious Love"
19. Hooker, John Lee "I Love You Honey"
20. Flemons, Wade "Here I Stand"
21. Various "Nobody But You"
22. Reed, Jimmy "I'm Gonna Get My Baby"
23. Clark, Dee "Just Keep It Up"
24. Gordon, Rosco "Hey Little Girl"
25. Clark, Dee "Just A Little Bit"
26. Clark, Dee "How About That"
27. Reed, Jimmy "Baby What You Want Me To Do"
28. Flemons, Wade "Easy Lovin'"

Disc 2
01. Butler, Jerry "He Will Break Your Heart"
02. Reed, Jimmy "Hush-Hush"
03. Clark, Dee "Your Friends"
04. Reed, Jimmy "Close Together"
05. Butler, Jerry "Find Another Girl"
06. Harris, Eddie "Exodus"
07. Reed, Jimmy "Big Boss Man"
08. Clark, Dee "Raindrops"
09. The Pips "Every Beat Of My Heart"
10. Flemons, Wade "Please Send Me Someone To Love"
11. Butler, Jerry "I'm A Telling You"
12. Reed, Jimmy "Bright Lights Big City"
13. Butler, Jerry "Moon River"
14. Chandler, Gene "Duke Of Earl"
15. The Dukays "Nite Owl"
16. The Pearlettes "Duchess Of Earl"
17. Hooker, John Lee "Boom Boom"
18. Gene Chandler (As The Duke Of Earl) "Walk On With The Duke"
19. Reed, Jimmy "Good Lover"
20. Butler, Jerry "Make It Easy On Yourself"
21. Four Seasons, The "Sherry"
22. Ifield, Frank "I Remember You"
23. Clark, Dee "I'm Going Back To School"
24. Butler, Jerry "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)"
25. Four Seasons, The "Big Girls Don't Cry"
26. Chandler, Gene "You Threw A Lucky Punch"
27. Ifield, Frank "Lovesick Blues"
28. Chandler, Gene "Rainbow"

Disc 3
01. Four Seasons, The "Peanuts"
02. Reed, Jimmy "Shame, Shame, Shame"
03. Birdlegs & Pauline "Spring"
04. Chandler, Gene "Man's Temptation"
05. Everett, Betty "You're No Good"
06. Butler, Jerry "Need To Belong"
07. Everett, Betty "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)"
08. Butler, Jerry "Giving Up On Love"
09. Beatles, The "Love Me Do"
10. Beatles, The "P.S. I Love You"
11. Butler, Jerry "I Stand Accused"
12. Everett, Betty "I Can't Hear You"
13. Simon, Joe "My Adorable One"
14. Little Richard "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
15. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett "Let It Be Me"
16. Everett, Betty "Getting Mighty Crowded"
17. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett "Smile"
18. Jimmy Cross "I Want My Baby Back"
19. The Standells "The Boy Next Door"
20. Butler, Jerry "Good Times"
21. Dells, The "Stay In My Corner"
22. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett "Since I Don't Have You"
23. Fred Hughes "Oo Wee Baby, I Love You"
24. Simon, Joe "Let's Do It Over"
25. Little Richard "I Don't Know What You've Got (But It's Got Me) - Parts 1 & 2"
26. Reed, Jimmy "I'm The Man Down There"
27. Fred Hughes "You Can't Take It Away"
28. Butler, Jerry "For Your Precious Love [1966 Version]"

Disc 4
01. The El Dorados "My Loving Baby"
02. The Rhythm Aces "Get Lost"
03. The Five Echoes "I Really Do"
04. Dells, The "Zing Zing Zing"
05. The Kool Gents "This Is The Night"
06. The Hi-Liters "Bobby Sox Baby"
07. The El Dorados "Bim Bam Boom"
08. The Kool Gents "Crazy Over You"
09. Orioles, The "For All We Know"
10. The Spaniels "You Gave Me Peace Of Mind"
11. The Delegates "Mother's Son"
12. The Spaniels "Great Googly Moo"
13. The Magnificents "Ozeta"
14. Dillard Crume Jr. "It's You I Love"
15. The Prodigals "Judy"
16. The Co-Hearts "My Love"
17. The Capers "Miss You My Dear"
18. Sheriff & The Ravels "Shombalor"
19. The Goldenrods "Wish I Was Back In School"
20. The Senators "It Doesn't Matter"
21. The Senators "'Til Forever More"
22. The Spaniels "I Know"
23. The Spaniels "Bus Fare Home"
24. Flamingos, The "Golden Teardrops"
25. "5" Royales, The "Much In Need"
26. The Moonglows "Real Gone Mama"
27. The Sheppards "Tragic"
28. The Sheppards "Tango Bop"

Disc 5
01. Floyd Jones "Ain't Times Hard"
02. L.C. McKinley "She's Five Feet Three"
03. Arnold, Billy Boy "I Wish You Would"
04. Pejoe, Morris "Hurt My Feelings"
05. The Five Echoes "Fool's Prayer"
06. Arnold, Billy Boy "I Ain't Got You"
07. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson "If You Won't Stay Home"
08. Taylor, Eddie "Big Town Playboy"
09. Reed, Jimmy "Can't Stand To See You Go"
10. Hooker, John Lee "Dimples"
11. Taylor, Eddie "You'll Always Have A Home"
12. Crayton, Pee Wee "The Telephone Is Ringing"
13. Billy 'The Kid' Emerson "Every Woman I Know"
14. Reed, Jimmy "Honey, Where You Going?"
15. James, Elmore "The 12 Year Old Boy"
16. Crayton, Pee Wee "I Found My Peace Of Mind"
17. Larry Birdsong "If You Don't Want Me No More"
18. James, Elmore "It Hurts Me Too"
19. The El Cincos "Oh, Baby, You Have To Go"
20. Memphis Slim "Stroll On Little Girl"
21. Reed, Jimmy "Take Out Some Insurance"
22. Memphis Slim "Rockin' The House (Beer Drinkin' Woman)"
23. Reed, Jimmy "Found Love"
24. Hooker, John Lee "No Shoes"
25. Lenoir, J. B. "Oh Baby"
26. Hooker, John Lee "My First Wife Left Me"
27. Reed, Jimmy "Aw Shucks, Hush Your Mouth"
28. Reed, Jimmy "Baby, What's Wrong"

Disc 6
01. Hazel McCollum & The El Dorados "Annie's Answer"
02. Earl Phillips "Oop De Oop"
03. Howard, Camille "Rock 'n Roll Mama"
04. Clark, Dee "Seven Nights"
05. Clark, Dee "Oh Little Girl"
06. Lee Diamond "Hattie Malatti"
07. Lee Diamond "Mama Loochie"
08. Hank Ballard & The Midnighters "The Twist"
09. Parker, Bobby "You Got What It Takes"
10. Parker, Bobby "Blues Get Off My Shoulder"
11. Leonard Carbo "Pigtails And Blue Jeans"
12. The Impressions Featuring Jerry Butler "Come Back My Love"
13. Priscilla Bowman & The Spaniels "A Rockin' Good Way"
14. Gene Allison "Everything Will Be Alright"
15. Butler, Jerry "Lost"
16. Gordon, Rosco "No More Doggin'"
17. Flemons, Wade "Slow Motion"
18. Kip Anderson "I Wanna Be The Only One"
19. The Rockin' Rs "Mustang"
20. Flemons, Wade "What's Happening"
21. Butler, Jerry "A Lonely Soldier"
22. Donnie Elbert "Baby Let Me Love You Tonight"
23. Clark, Dee "You're Looking Good"
24. Flemons, Wade "I'll Come Runnin'"
25. Donnie Elbert "I Beg Of You"
26. Christine Kittrell "Mr. Big Wheel"
27. Preston Jackson & The Rhythm Aces "Be Mine"
28. Grover Mitchell "That's A Good Idea"

Disc 7
01. Flemons, Wade "At The Party"
02. Marie Gladness "Cops And Robbers"
03. Flemons, Wade "Welcome Stranger"
04. Nancy Love "As Sure As I Live"
05. Clark, Dee "Dance On Little Girl"
06. Nancy Love "Baby, I'm Not Over You Yet"
07. Nancy Love "It's Really Real"
08. Chandler, Gene "Tear For Tear"
09. Gil Hamilton "Move And Groove"
10. Butler, Jerry "Whatever You Want"
11. Clark, Dee "Shook Up Over You"
12. Pyramids, The "Shakin' Fit"
13. Browley Guy "Do Somethin' Baby"
14. Yvonne Carroll "Please Don't Go"
15. Butler, Jerry "I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore"
16. Everett, Betty "It Hurts To Be In Love"
17. Barrett Strong "Make Up Your Mind"
18. Barrett Strong "Gonna Take A Journey"
19. Jerry Butler & Betty Everett "Ain't That Loving You Baby"
20. The Daylighters "Whisper Of The Wind"
21. The Daylighters "Here Alone"
22. Rivingtons, The "I Love You Always"
23. The Dontells "In Your Heart (You Know I'm Right)"
24. Dells, The "It's Not Unusual"
25. Everett, Betty "Gonna Be Ready"
26. Simon, Joe "The Whoo Pee"
27. Butler, Jerry "I Can't Stand To See You Cry"
28. Butler, Jerry "Just For You"

Disc 8
01. Marilyn Britton "Big Mr. Heartbreaker"
02. Tracey Dey "Jerry (I'm Your Sherry)"
03. Orville Couch "Hello Trouble"
04. Four Seasons, The "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
05. Johnny Cymbal "Bachelor Man"
06. Tracey Dey "Jealous Eyes"
07. Barbara Jackson "Second Best"
08. The Society Girls "S.P.C.L.G. (Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Little Girls)"
09. The Angelos "Just Like Taking Candy From A Baby"
10. Noreen Corcoran "Love Kitten"
11. Davis, Mac "Hey Monkey"
12. Flemons, Wade "Watch Over Her"
13. Ray Smith "Rockin' Robin"
14. Noreen Corcoran "Dreamin' Of You"
15. The Sensations "You Made A Fool Of Me"
16. The Rubies "A Spanish Boy"
17. Royal, Billy Joe "Get Behind Me Devil"
18. The Monsters Four "Farmer John"
19. Axton, Hoyt "Double Double Dare"
20. The Honey Bees "One Girl, One Boy"
21. Peggy Sans "Snow Man"
22. The Clinger Sisters "Shoop Shoop De Doop Rama Lama Ding Dong Yeah Yeah Yeah"
23. The Sunbeams "Good Old Days"
24. Four Seasons, The "Apple Of My Eye"
25. Axton, Hoyt "Bring Your Lovin'"
26. Joey Paige "Dream For Sale"
27. Terry Black "Unless You Care"
28. Fabares, Shelley "Lost Summer Love"
29. Melinda Marx "How I Wish You Came"
30. The Standells "Big Boss Man"

Disc 9
01. Staple Singers, The "If I Could Hear My Mother Pray"
02. Staple Singers, The "This May Be My Last Time"
03. Kelly Brothers, The "Prayer For Tomorrow"
04. The Silver Quintette "Sinner's Crossroads"
05. Staple Singers, The "Uncloudy Day"
06. Swan Silvertones, The "Sinner Man"
07. Staple Singers, The "Let Me Ride (Swing Down Chariot)"
08. Harmonizing Four, The "Motherless Child"
09. The Mighty Skylights "If Jesus Came To Your House"
10. The Interns "The Road Home"
11. Swan Silvertones, The "Oh Mary, Don't You Weep"
12. The Original Five Blind Boys Of Mississippi "Leave You In The Hands Of The Lord"
13. Staple Singers, The "So Soon"
14. The Friendly Brothers "Operator"
15. The Highway Qcs "God Has Not Promised"
16. Harmonizing Four, The "Wade In The Water"
17. Caravans, The "What Will Tomorrow Bring?"
18. The Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama "I Can See Everybody's Mother"
19. The Watson Sisters "He Lives"
20. Marion Williams & The Stars Of Faith "Surely God Is Able"
21. The Highway Qcs "Walk With Me"
22. Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes "Camp Meeting"
23. The Original Blind Boys Of Alabama "I'm Journeying On"
24. The Original Five Blind Boys Of Alabama "Precious Lord"
25. The Argo Gospel Singers "Jesus Is The Answer"
26. Swan Silvertones, The "Nobody But You"

Disc 10
01. Shorter, Wayne "Mack The Knife"
02. Morgan, Lee "Just In Time"
03. Kelly, Wynton "Joe's Avenue"
04. Feldman, Victor "On Green Dolphin Street"
05. Strozier, Frank "Runnin'"
06. The Leroy Vinnegar Trio "Doing That Thing (Double Stopping)"
07. Ann Richards & The Bill Marx Trio "I Only Have Eyes For You (Live)"
08. Harris, Eddie "Whispering Bossa Nove"
09. Cannonball Adderley & Paul Chambers "I Got Rhythm"
10. The Bill Marx Trio "Streets Of Laredo"
11. Mjt+3 "Love For Sale"
12. Ira Sullivan & The Chicago Jazz Quintet "Love Letters (Live)"
13. Buddy De Franco & Art Blakey "Cousin Mary"
14. The Eddie Higgins Trio "Zarac, The Evil One"
15. The Louis Hayes Quintet (Featuring Yusef Lateef) "Hazing"
16. The Young Lions "Fat Lady"
17. Bennie Green & Gene Ammons "Juggin'Around"



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