Innumerable vocal groups followed on the heels of
the Mills Brothers in the late '30s and '40s, but none of them possessed what
the Ravens did -- the mellifluous, nearly narcoleptic bass of lead
Jimmy Ricks. Near the beginning of their career, between 1947 and 1950,
the Ravens recorded several dozen sides for the National label, 14 of which are included on this Savoy Jazz compilation. The appropriate starting point is "Ol' Man River," one of their biggest hits, with subsequent Hit Parade entries -- "Send for Me if You Need Me," "Rickey's Blues," "I Don't Have to Ride No More" -- taking up the rear. However, 40 minutes and 14 tracks are very slim for a CD collection, and this one leaves out several highlights that the Indigo collection Be I Bumble Bee or Not covers well (including the title track). ~ John Bush