Price: £7.99
Format: CD
Artist: Various Artists
CatNo: SNAD664CD
This 2CD set brings together three original Charly LPs, which have not previously been available on CD. Originally released in 1987 and 1988 respectively, 'Loaded Down With The Blues' and the double album 'Mr Joeas Jambalaya', present no less than 60 tracks from Joe Banashakas legendary New Orleans labels: Minit, Instant, Alon and Seven-B. 
 
New Orleans was a pretty special place in the late 50s and early 60s. Its music scene flourished and a string of quality artists released a stream of classic tracks, some of which registerd high in the US charts. Joe Banashak was an instrumental figure in this process. In 1959, following years working for various other labels he founded his own label, Minit, the first to be based in the Crescent City.
 
"At the audition these people came; Irma Thomas, Joe Tex, Benny Spellman, Ernie K.Doe, The Del Royals, Aaron Neville, Art Neville, Larry Williams, Lee Diamond and Jess Hill.  Allen Toussaint came to play behind Aaron, I think, but he ended up playing behind a few other people..."
 
Minit and its affiliated labels went on to release many of the artists listed above, with material often written and produced by Allen Toussaint. This set collates most of Banashakas big hits along with numerous less well-known but equally worthy recordings.
 
Disc One:
 
Loaded Down With The Blues 
 
1. Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs - Loaded Down
2. Edgar Blanchard - Tight Like That
3. The Pitter Pats - Nervous Condition
4. Eddie Lang - I'm Gonna Make You Eat Those Words
5. Diamond Joe - Moanin' And Screamin' (Parts 1 & 2)
6. Polka Dot Slim - Ain't Broke, Ain't Hungry
7. Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs - Early Morning Blues
8. Nolan Pitts - Way In The Middle Of The Night
9. Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs - Bad Luck And Trouble
10.Edgar Blanchard - Somebody's Doin' Me Wrong
11.Matthew 'Boogie Jake' Jacobs - (If I Only Had A) Chance For Your Love 
12.Polka Dot Slim - A Thing You Gotta Face
13.Nolan Pitts - What Is Life?
14.Eddie Lang - The Fooler Parts 1 & 2
 
Mr Joe's Jambalaya Part One
 
15.Allen & Allen - Beverly Baby
16.Jessie Hill - Ooh Poo Pah Doo Parts 1 & 2
17.Lee Dorsey - Lottie Mo
18.Aaron Neville - Over You
19.Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law
20.Roy Montrell - Mudd
21.The Del Royals - Always Naggin' 
22.Lee Diamond - I Need Money
23.Chris Kenner - I Like It Like That Part 1
 
Disc Two 
Mr. Joe's Jambalaya Part Two
 
1. Art Neville -All These Things (Full-Length Version)
2. The Showmen - It Will Stand
3. Willie Harper - New Kind Of Love
4. Joe 'Mr Google Eyes' August - Everything Happens At Night
5. Raymond Lewis - I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You
6. Benny Spellman - Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette)
7. Chick Carbo - In The Night
8. Eskew Reeder - Green Door
9. Eldridge Holmes - The Sooner You Realize
10.Calvin Lee - Valley Of Tears
11.Irma Thomas - Ruler Of My Heart
12.The Stokes - Whipped Cream
13.Allen Toussaint & The Stokes - Poor Boy, Got To Move
14.Allen Toussaint & The Stokes - Go Back Home
15.Roger & The Gypsies - Pass The Hatchet Part 1
16.The Pitter Pats - It Do Me Good
17.Oliver Morgan - The La La Man Part 1
18.Eddie Lang - The Sad One
19.Barbara George - Something You Got
20.Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham - Lover And A Friend
21.Larry Darnell â?? Son Of A Son Of A Slave (Aka Stomp Down Soul) Part 1 
22.Little Buck - Whisper My Name
23.Skip Easterling - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man