Amos Milburn
By the time Texas-born singer-pianist Amos Milburn joined Berry Gordy's Motown roster in 1962, he was already a thirtysomething recording veteran whose jumping "Chicken-' Shack Boogie" had topped the charts in 1948. Milburn's Motown stint, represented by these 18 tracks, was a catchy collision of his blues-based roots with the more commercial, still-blossoming Motown sound (a la the Contours' "Do You Love Me" and Mary Wells's "Two Lovers"). Yet despite inspired support from the label's ace session players—and Stevie Wonder blowing harmonica—the Motown Milburn was a commercial failure. Had he met with success there, fate might have found him headlining alongside young pups Stevie, Smokey and the Marvelettes, who would have taught the old dog some new tricks. (Motown)
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