Album Description
For lovers of soulful organ workouts and gritty R&B guitars, Ace is proud to present the first-ever collection dedicated to central Californias original funk brothers, the Merced Blue Notes (named after their hometown of Merced, California). The Blue Notes never had tangible record success, though records such as Whole Lotta Nothing, Bad Bad Whiskey and Rufus were jukebox and airplay hits, the latter record so popular in Detroit that the band journeyed there in 1963 to record for the Tri-Phi label. However, mention their name to any teenager who grew up in Californias San Joaquin Valley including filmmaker George Lucas and find out how they were the band to hear in that region in the early to mid 1960s, packing ballrooms up and down Highway 99 from Sacramento to Fresno with their rocking, insistent grooves. The Blue Notes had a unique R&B sound that, while drawing superficial comparison to Booker T & The MGs and Freddy King, has a pulsating, indefinable energy. They reached their peak when signed to the Galaxy label in 1965, from which era most of Get Your Kicks On Route 99 is drawn. As well as the downhome proto-funk sound of their Galaxy instrumentals like Bad Bad Whiskey and Mama Rufus, we are also treated to groovy vocal numbers like Too Much and Soul Sister. This compilation includes virtually all of the Merced Blue Notes singles 1961-65, today sought-after items in both the R&B and mod collector circles. It also features many quality unissued instrumental and vocal sides drawn from the Galaxy vaults, all of which display the trademark Blue Notes sound. With copious notes and illustrations from the bands own archives, Get Your Kicks On Route 99 is a definitive history of one of vintage R&Bs best kept secrets.