Champion Jack Dupree – “New Orleans Barrelhouse Boogie” Audio Cassette

If you trace back the history of rock ‘n’ roll to its very roots, you’ll probably end up in 1949, with Fats Domino’s The Fat Man. Surely, you’re thinking, that has to be the first rock ‘n’ roll track. It pre-dates Rocket 88, and is frequently cited as the recording that started all. But…

John Lee Hooker – “Mr Lucky” Audio Cassette

The guest list was a who’s who of the late ’80s / early ’90s blues revival movement… Albert Collins, Johnnie Johnson, Robert Cray, Booker T, Carlos Santana, Keith Richards, Van Morrison, Johnny Winter, John Hammond, Ry Cooder, Chester Thompson, Deacon Jones… And that’s not even close to the finish. Imagine how important an artist you would have to be to attract that calibre of backing group. John Lee Hooker was that person.

The Jam – Snap Audio Cassette

With a classic red Polydor paper label, Snap, by The Jam, is a reminder of the transition period for pre-recorded audio cassettes in the UK. By the time of this tape’s 1983 release, some manufacturers had dumped trad labels and were screening the relevant details directly onto the plastic casing. Good to see that this release had retained the far more attractive red stick-ons.