Best of Drew Blan

"The Best Of Drew-Blan" is a 50 track, double-disc collection that documents the output of Andrew Blanco's Morgan City, Louisiana-based Drew-Blan Records from its inception in 1959 to its shuttering in 1963. Out of all of the local rock 'n' roll men of that era, Blanco was perhaps the most successful. He released a series of strong records that culminated with the hit single "Our Teenage Love," by Jerry Raines (available on the Night Train release Jerry Raines - "Dangerous Redhead" {NTI CD 7089}) and left a musically rich cache of master tapes cut at Cosimo Matassa's famous J & M Recordings studio in New Orleans. When it came to quality control at Drew-Blan, there was never a question concerning Blanco's choices: he made certain that the sound of his records was the classic South Louisiana R&B-fueled rock 'n' roll from its golden age. This is what ties together the variety of artists and diversity of songs that form this incredible collection. The majority of the recordings are from the original masters and many are previously unreleased, including rare rehearsal tapings. Artists featured on "The Best Of Drew-Blan" include Earl King, Jay Nelson, Skinny Dynamo, Peter Buck and the Donderliers and Wayne and the Velvetones. Many of these mighty musicians laid down the big beat for highly successful R&B record labels like Specialty, Imperial, Ace and Modern as well as the smaller labels that followed in their path, such as Drew-Blan. The "Best Of Drew-Blan" features extensive liner notes by Off Beat contributor Michael Hurtt as well as previously unpublished photos and archival material. This release is perfect for racking with Night Train's other "Legendary Labels Of Louisiana " series: "The Best Of Sapphire" (NTI CD 7026), "The Best Of Hermitage" (NTI CD 7044), "The Best Of Scram" (NTI CD 7046), "The Best Of Meladee" (NTI CD 7077) and "The Best Of Spinnett" (NTI CD 7086).