A 2CD set (released on the now defunct Westside label in 1998) of Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers sides recorded for RCA Victor in 1949-1950. By this time both Eddie Williams and Charles Brown had left the group which lined up as follows – Oscar and Johnny Moore, Johnny Miller, and replacing Charles Brown, Lee Barnes, a Nat Cole sound alike. Barnes lasted a couple of recording sessions and was replaced by Billy Valentine, a Charles Brown sound alike.

And that was the problem with the Blazers, for Brown proved to be irreplaceable and none of the sides on this collection dented the R&B charts. It’s not that they’re bad records – the musicianship is superb and the vocalists are competent enough. It’s just that neither Barnes nor Valentine was anywhere near the class of Charles Brown who had now embarked on a highly successful solo career.

I’ve included scans of the album art and booklet (which contains a superb essay by Billy Vera on the Blazers and associated groups and musicians who played “Cocktail Blues”) in the CD2 folder.

Ripped at 320 kbps. Password = greaseyspoon

Download links (1 for each CD) –


CD1 - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B0N67RDU

CD2 (with booklet) - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YDW14WUC

Disc 1

1. How Blue Can You Get?
2. How Could I Know?
3. Rosamay
4. What Does It Matter?
5. Blues for What I've Never Had
6. I Was Wrong
7. Fire, Fire, Fire
8. This Is One Time, Baby (You Ain't Gonna Two Time Me)
9. A New Shade of Blues
10. When I Meander in the Meadow
11. Bop-A-Bye Baby
12. Citation
13. Forever
14. What Am I Gonna Do This Christmas?
15. Walkin' Blues
16. You Can Go Feed Yourself

Disc 2

1. Rock With It
2. Johnny's Guitar Blues
3. Driftin' Blues
4. Shuffle Shuck
5. Cut off the Fat (Take Out the Bone)
6. So Long
7. Misery Blues
8. Los Angeles Blues
9. The Jumping Jack
10. Rain-Chick
11. Melody
12. Three Handed Woman
13. Someday You'll Need Me
14. Competition Blues
15. Wrackin' My Brain Over You