This set anthologizes
Otis's late-'50s rise to rock & roll fame, thanks to his shave-and-a-haircut special "Willie and the Hand Jive." Like every other style of R&B
Otis drifted into, he excelled at it -- "Castin' My Spell," "Crazy Country Hop," "Willie Did the Cha Cha," and "Three Girls Named Molly" are catchy rockers.
Otis had a terrific band -- guitarist Jimmy Nolen (later
James Brown's main axeman), pianist
Ernie Freeman, drummer
Earl Palmer, and a tight horn section (along with singers Marie Adams and Mel Williams) gave him all the help he could possibly need. ~ Bill Dahl