LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

For almost five years from 1958, former record distributor Joe Ruffino’s Ric and Ron labels typified the New Orleans R&B sound of the era. The labels didn’t have too many national hits, but Ric and Ron were crucial to the ongoing development of the careers of New Orleans luminaries Eddie Bo, Professor Longhair and Tommy Ridgley - as well as introducing the music world to notables such as Irma Thomas and Johnny Adams.

Ruffino died in 1962, but his family had the presence of mind to preserve his master tapes. More than 50 years later Ace is proud to bring you the first of two volumes that will chronicle Ric and Ron’s output from start to finish. “You Talk Too Much”, named in honour of Joe Jones’ US Hot 100 Top 10 hit which began life on Ric,  concentrates on the records made between 1958-1960. A second volume will be issued later in 2014 featuring material from 1960-1962  and will include several tracks never issued on CD before.

Many of the selections here are among the all-time classics of New Orleans R&B such as the title track and ‘Go To The Mardi Gras’, ‘I Won’t Cry’, ‘Carnival Time’, ‘Don’t Mess With My Man’. As a former record distributor, Joe Ruffino knew what a record needed to make it sell. He always employed the Crescent City’s finest musicians and recorded his sessions at Cosimo Matassa’s world-renowned studio.

Every track on this compilation is sourced from an original Ric and Ron master tape and none has sounded as good as it does here.

track listing

1.    LET’S GET IT - Edgar Blanchard
2.    DON’T YOU LIE TO ME  - Mercy Baby
3.    YOU DONE ME WRONG - Al Johnson
4.    YOU CALL EVERYBODY DARLING  - The Gondoliers
5.    TOOTLES  - Lenny Capello and the Dots
6.    I WON’T CRY -Johnny Adams
7.    EASY ROCKIN’ - Eddy Lang
8.    COME ON  - Johnny Adams
9.    YOU GOT YOUR MOJO WORKING  - Eddie Bo
10.    SHE’S MINE, ALL MINE  - Eddy Lang
11.    CUTTIN’ OUT  - Professor Longhair
12.    ALL NIGHT LONG  - Robert Parker
13.    DON’T MESS WITH MY MAN  - Irma Thomas
14.    GO TO THE MARDI GRAS  - Professor Longhair
15.    THE BELLS ARE RINGING (DEMO)  - Johnny Adams
16.    CARNIVAL TIME  - Al Johnson
17.    LET’S TRY AND TALK IT OVER  - Tommy Ridgley
18.    I MAY BE WRONG  - Irma Thomas
19.    TELL IT LIKE IT IS  - Eddie Bo
20.    ROCKET TO THE MOON  - Chris Kenner
21.    NOBODY KNOWS  - Martha Carter
22.    I LOVE YOU STILL  - Joe Jones
23.    TIPITINA  (DEMO)  - Professor Longhair
24.    YOU TALK TOO MUCH  - Joe Jones