Blues & Rhythm Classics Discography

Blues & Rhythm Classics (also known as "Rhythm and Blues Classics") is a series of French Classics Records label devoted to rhythm and blues of the 1940s and 1950s. It contains 190 releases (5000-5189) that began in 2001.

For many years I was wondering why there is no information in regard to the Classics label which played a major role in introducing a generation to classic jazz, and in this case R&B. "I guess he was a bit of a technophobe," wrote Dave Penny, the author of liner notes for the Blues & Rhythm Classics, about the founder and boss of the Classics, Gilles Petard. This may explain many things as far as obscurity of the label is concerned, but still, the comment Dave left at the end of this post shed light on more issues, especially how the job was done:

[The] process was all very mundane; I first began writing for Gilles when he was putting out LPs on French Pathé and his own Official and Sing labels in the 1980s. Around 2001 I got a letter from him [Gilles Petard] (I guess he was a bit of a technophobe), telling me that he was launching an R&B series of his Chronological Classics set, to run parallel to the jazz series that had already been going for over 10 years by that time.

I probably wasn't his first choice of writer, but I was the first one who agreed take on that huge task for the tiny amount of money he wanted to pay (he was always pretty mean when it came to paying fees, but I was more interested in researching and writing about the artists than about how much I was being paid).

From 2001 until 2008 he sent me the track-listings for, first two compilations a month and, then, increased this to three a month once the series became established. There was never any compiling, as such, because it was simply all the artist's tracks in chronological order, and all I got was his typed sheets through the post every month (i.e. no cassettes or CD-Rs of the tracks listed). He had a great record collection, himself, and a fantastic network of heavy-duty blues and R&B collectors to call upon, so that there were very few recordings he wasn't able to track down during those seven years.

It all came to a sudden end in 2008 when two of his distributors in France collapsed owing his company lots of money. The CDs weren't selling very well any more (too many people were downloading them free from blogs and torrent sites), so he decided to call it a day. He told me he was thinking of carrying the series on as downloads only on iTunes, and I did a couple more notes for him on this understanding, but as far as I'm aware they were never released.

While I was relieved that I didn't have the huge pressure of writing three essays a month anymore, I was sad that we hadn't covered every artist we should have...or completed the recording careers of those we had started. I am proud of what we did achieve, though; after all, who else would have bothered releasing CDs of Jo Jo Adams, Tom Archia, Buster Bennett and Rusty Bryant - to name just the As and Bs!

Thanks to Mr. Dave Penny, now we know a lot more!

Sorted by serial number

5000	Ray Charles 1949-1950
5001	Marion Abernathy 1947-1949
5002	Dave Bartholomew 1947-1950
5003	Ruth Brown 1949-1950
5004	Professor Longhair 1949
5005	Earl Bostic 1945-1948
5006	Tom Archia 1947-1948
5007	T-Bone Walker 1929-1946
5008	Muddy Waters 1941-1948
5009	Big Jay Mcneely 1948-1950
5010	Walter Brown 1945-1947
5011	Tiny Bradshaw 1934-1947
5012	Sticks Mcghee 1947-1951
5013	Sunnyland Slim 1947-1948
5014	Lightnin’ Hopkins 1946-1948
5015	Ivory Joe Hunter 1945-1947
5016	Lloyd Glenn 1947-1950
5017	Eddie Vinson 1945-1947
5018	Amos Milburn 1946-1947
5019	Todd Rhodes 1947-1949
5020	Joe Liggins 1944-1946
5021	Roy Brown 1947-1949
5022	Earl Bostic 1948-1949
5023	Lightnin' Hopkins 1948
5024	Crown Prince Waterford 1946-1950
5025	Fats Domino 1949-1951
5026	Ivory Joe Hunter 1947
5027	Johnny Otis 1945-1947
5028	Andrew Tibbs 1947-1951
5029	Muddy Waters 1948-1950
5030	Clarence Gatemouth Brown 1947-1951
5031	Tiny Bradshaw 1949-1951
5032	Milt Buckner 1946-1951
5033	T-Bone Walker 1947
5034	Freddie Mitchell 1949-1950
5035	Sunnyland Slim 1949-1951
5036	Roy Brown 1950-1951
5037	Buster Bennett 1945-1947
5038	Walter Brown 1947-1951
5039	Earl Bostic 1949-1951
5040	Todd Rhodes 1950-1951
5041	Roy Milton 1945-1946
5042	Eddie Vinson 1947-1949
5043	Jim Wynn 1945-1946
5044	Lowell Fulson 1946-1947
5045	Lightnin’ Hopkins 1948-1949
5046	Billy Wright 1945-1950
5047	Amos Milburn 1947
5048	Tiny Grimes 1944-1949
5049	Ivory Joe Hunter 1947-1950
5050	Ray Charles 1950-1952
5051	Jimmy Witherspoon 1947-1948
5052	Sugar Chile Robinson 1949-1952
5053	B.B. King 1949-1952
5054	Bull Moose Jackson 1945-1947
5055	Dave Bartholomew 1950-1952
5056	Howlin’ Wolf 1951-1952
5057	Joe Morris 1946-1949
5058	Big Jay Mcneely 1951-1952
5059	Little Miss Cornshucks 1947-1951
5060	Fats Domino 1951-1952
5061	Paul & Dud Bascomb 1945-1947
5062	Jimmy Mccracklin 1945-1948
5063	Joe Liggins 1946-1948
5064	Saunders King 1942-1948
5065	Chris Powell 1949-1952
5066	Little Esther 1951-1952
5067	Johnny Otis 1949-1950
5068	Mabel Scott 1946-1950
5069	Lloyd Glenn 1951-1952
5070	Jim Wynn 1947-1959
5071	Lowell Fulson 1947-1948
5072	Lil Green 1940-1941
5073	Hal Singer 1948-1951
5074	T-Bone Walker 1947-1950
5075	Joe Lutcher 1947
5076	Sherman Williams 1947-1951
5077	Amos Milburn 1948-1949
5078	Big Bill Broonzy 1949-1951
5079	Lightnin’ Hopkins 1949-1950
5080	Jimmy Witherspoon 1948-1949
5081	King Perry 1945-1949
5082	Elmore James 1951-1953
5083	Jo Jo Adams 1946-1953
5084	Ruth Brown 1951-1953
5085	Jimmy Rushing 1946-1953
5086	John Brim 1950-1953
5087	Ace Harris 1937-1952
5088	Big Mama Thornton 1950-1953
5089	Big Maybelle 1944-1953
5090	Roy Brown 1951-1953
5091	Little Walter 1947-1953
5092	Terry Timmons 1950-1953
5093	Earl Bostic 1952-1953
5094	Sonny Boy Williamson 1951-1953
5095	Fats Domino 1953
5096	Annisteen Allen 1950-1953
5097	Bill Doggett 1952-1953
5098	Howlin’ Wolf 1952-1953
5099	Lil Green 1942-1946
5100	Lloyd Price 1952-1953
5101	Big Bill Broonzy 1951
5102	Johnny Otis 1950
5103	Tj Fowler 1948-1953
5104	Paula Watson 1948-1953
5105	Bull Moose Jackson 1947-1950
5106	Tiny Grimes 1949-1951
5107	Mabel Scott 1951-1955
5108	Joe Liggins 1948-1950
5109	Muddy Waters 1950-1952
5110	Jimmy Mccracklin 1948-1951
5111	Sarah Mclawler 1950-1953
5112	Bill Samuels 1945-1947
5113	Ivory Joe Hunter 1950-1951
5114	Percy Mayfield 1947-1951
5115	The Clovers 1950-1953
5116	Effie Smith 1945-1953
5117	Amos Milburn 1950-1951
5118	T-Bone Walker 1950-1952
5119	Julia Lee 1927-1946
5120	Billy Ward 1950-1953
5121	Charlie Singleton 1949-1953
5122	Lowell Fulson 1948-1949
5123	Martha Davis 1946-1951
5124	Big Bill Broonzy 1951-1952
5125	Joe Morris 1950-1953
5126	Lavern Baker 1949-1954
5127	Gatemouth Brown 1952-1954
5128	J.B. Lenoir 1951-1954
5129	King Perry 1950-1954
5130	Floyd Jones 1948-53
5131	Lil Green 1947-51
5132	Roy Als/Hank Ballard & Midnighters 1952-54
5133	Lightnin' Hopkins 1950-51
5134	Ray Charles 1953-54
5135	Willis Jackson 1950-54
5136	Lula Reed 1951-54
5137	Leroy Foster 1948-52
5138	Johnny Ace 1951-54
5139	Guitar Slim 1951-54
5140	Otis Blackwell 1952-54
5141	Faye Adams- 1952-54
5142	Clyde Mc Phatter & The Drifters 1953-54
5143	Sugar Boy Crawford 1953-54
5144	Julia Lee 1947
5145	Larry Darnell 1949-51
5146	Tiny Grimes 1951-54
5147	Little Esther 1952-53
5148	B.B. King 1952-53
5149	Saunders King 1948-54
5150	Percy Mayfield-1953-54
5151	Titus Turner 1949-54
5152	T-Bone Walker 1952_54
5153	Lonnie Johnson 1949-52
5154	Willie Mabon 1949-54
5155	Joe Liggins 1950-52
5156	Bull Moose Jackson 1950-53
5157	J.T. Brown 1950-54
5158	Amos Milburn 1952-53
5159	Todd Rhodes 1952-54
5160	The Hawks/The Bees 1953-54
5161	Tommy Ridgiey 1949-54
5162	Johnny Otis 1951
5163	Johnny Sparrow 1949-55
5164	Lowell Fulson 1949-51
5165	Jimmy Witherspoon 1950-51
5166	Smiley Lewis 1947-52
5167	Little Junior Parker 1952-55
5168	Sticks Mc Ghee 1951-59
5169	Dave Barthoiomew 1952-55
5170	Big Jay Mc Neely 1953-55
5171	Sunnyland Slim 1952-55
5172	Johnny "Guitar" Watson -1952-55
5173	Viviane Greene 1947-1955
5174	Earl King 1953-55
5175	Bill Doggett 1954
5176	Ike Turner 1951-1954
5177	Lonnie Johnson 1948-49
5178	Billy Ward & His Dominoes 1953-54
5179	Earl Bostic 1954-55
5180	Jimmy Mc Cracklin 1951-54
5181	Ruth Brown 1954-56
5182	Rusty Bryant 1952-54
5183	Little Walter 1953-55
5184	J. B. Lenoir 1955-56
5185	Stomp Gordon 1952-56
5186	Lavern Baker 1955-57
5187	Lloyd Glenn 1954-57
5188	Sonny Boy Williamson 1956-56
5189	Lonnie Johnson 1947-48

Sorted by Artist's name

Ace Harris 1937-1952	5087
Amos Milburn 1946-1947	5018
Amos Milburn 1947	5047
Amos Milburn 1948-1949	5077
Amos Milburn 1950-1951	5117
Amos Milburn 1952-53	5158
Andrew Tibbs 1947-1951	5028
Annisteen Allen 1950-1953	5096
B.B. King 1949-1952	5053
B.B. King 1952-53	5148
Big Bill Broonzy 1949-1951	5078
Big Bill Broonzy 1951	5101
Big Bill Broonzy 1951-1952	5124
Big Jay Mc Neely 1953-55	5170
Big Jay Mcneely 1948-1950	5009
Big Jay Mcneely 1951-1952	5058
Big Mama Thornton 1950-1953	5088
Big Maybelle 1944-1953	5089
Bill Doggett 1952-1953	5097
Bill Doggett 1954	5175
Bill Samuels 1945-1947	5112
Billy Ward & His Dominoes 1953-54	5178
Billy Ward 1950-1953	5120
Billy Wright 1945-1950	5046
Bull Moose Jackson 1945-1947	5054
Bull Moose Jackson 1947-1950	5105
Bull Moose Jackson 1950-53	5156
Buster Bennett 1945-1947	5037
Charlie Singleton 1949-1953	5121
Chris Powell 1949-1952	5065
Clarence Gatemouth Brown 1947-1951	5030
Clyde Mc Phatter & The Drifters 1953-54	5142
Crown Prince Waterford 1946-1950	5024
Dave Barthoiomew 1952-55	5169
Dave Bartholomew 1947-1950	5002
Dave Bartholomew 1950-1952	5055
Earl Bostic 1945-1948	5005
Earl Bostic 1948-1949	5022
Earl Bostic 1949-1951	5039
Earl Bostic 1952-1953	5093
Earl Bostic 1954-55	5179
Earl King 1953-55	5174
Eddie Vinson 1945-1947	5017
Eddie Vinson 1947-1949	5042
Effie Smith 1945-1953	5116
Elmore James 1951-1953	5082
Fats Domino 1949-1951	5025
Fats Domino 1951-1952	5060
Fats Domino 1953	5095
Faye Adams- 1952-54	5141
Floyd Jones 1948-53	5130
Freddie Mitchell 1949-1950	5034
Gatemouth Brown 1952-1954	5127
Guitar Slim 1951-54	5139
Hal Singer 1948-1951	5073
Howlin’ Wolf 1951-1952	5056
Howlin’ Wolf 1952-1953	5098
Ike Turner 1951-1954	5176
Ivory Joe Hunter 1945-1947	5015
Ivory Joe Hunter 1947	5026
Ivory Joe Hunter 1947-1950	5049
Ivory Joe Hunter 1950-1951	5113
J. B. Lenoir 1955-56	5184
J.B. Lenoir 1951-1954	5128
J.T. Brown 1950-54	5157
Jim Wynn 1945-1946	5043
Jim Wynn 1947-1959	5070
Jimmy Mc Cracklin 1951-54	5180
Jimmy Mccracklin 1945-1948	5062
Jimmy Mccracklin 1948-1951	5110
Jimmy Rushing 1946-1953	5085
Jimmy Witherspoon 1947-1948	5051
Jimmy Witherspoon 1948-1949	5080
Jimmy Witherspoon 1950-51	5165
Jo Jo Adams 1946-1953	5083
Joe Liggins 1944-1946	5020
Joe Liggins 1946-1948	5063
Joe Liggins 1948-1950	5108
Joe Liggins 1950-52	5155
Joe Lutcher 1947	5075
Joe Morris 1946-1949	5057
Joe Morris 1950-1953	5125
John Brim 1950-1953	5086
Johnny "Guitar" Watson -1952-55	5172
Johnny Ace 1951-54	5138
Johnny Otis 1945-1947	5027
Johnny Otis 1949-1950	5067
Johnny Otis 1950	5102
Johnny Otis 1951	5162
Johnny Sparrow 1949-55	5163
Julia Lee 1927-1946	5119
Julia Lee 1947	5144
King Perry 1945-1949	5081
King Perry 1950-1954	5129
Larry Darnell 1949-51	5145
Lavern Baker 1949-1954	5126
Lavern Baker 1955-57	5186
Leroy Foster 1948-52	5137
Lightnin' Hopkins 1948	5023
Lightnin' Hopkins 1950-51	5133
Lightnin’ Hopkins 1946-1948	5014
Lightnin’ Hopkins 1948-1949	5045
Lightnin’ Hopkins 1949-1950	5079
Lil Green 1940-1941	5072
Lil Green 1942-1946	5099
Lil Green 1947-51	5131
Little Esther 1951-1952	5066
Little Esther 1952-53	5147
Little Junior Parker 1952-55	5167
Little Miss Cornshucks 1947-1951	5059
Little Walter 1947-1953	5091
Little Walter 1953-55	5183
Lloyd Glenn 1947-1950	5016
Lloyd Glenn 1951-1952	5069
Lloyd Glenn 1954-57	5187
Lloyd Price 1952-1953	5100
Lonnie Johnson 1947-48	5189
Lonnie Johnson 1948-49	5177
Lonnie Johnson 1949-52	5153
Lowell Fulson 1946-1947	5044
Lowell Fulson 1947-1948	5071
Lowell Fulson 1948-1949	5122
Lowell Fulson 1949-51	5164
Lula Reed 1951-54	5136
Mabel Scott 1946-1950	5068
Mabel Scott 1951-1955	5107
Marion Abernathy 1947-1949	5001
Martha Davis 1946-1951	5123
Milt Buckner 1946-1951	5032
Muddy Waters 1941-1948	5008
Muddy Waters 1948-1950	5029
Muddy Waters 1950-1952	5109
Otis Blackwell 1952-54	5140
Paul & Dud Bascomb 1945-1947	5061
Paula Watson 1948-1953	5104
Percy Mayfield 1947-1951	5114
Percy Mayfield-1953-54	5150
Professor Longhair 1949	5004
Ray Charles 1949-1950	5000
Ray Charles 1950-1952	5050
Ray Charles 1953-54	5134
Roy Als/Hank Ballard & Midnighters 1952-54	5132
Roy Brown 1947-1949	5021
Roy Brown 1950-1951	5036
Roy Brown 1951-1953	5090
Roy Milton 1945-1946	5041
Rusty Bryant 1952-54	5182
Ruth Brown 1949-1950	5003
Ruth Brown 1951-1953	5084
Ruth Brown 1954-56	5181
Sarah Mclawler 1950-1953	5111
Saunders King 1942-1948	5064
Saunders King 1948-54	5149
Sherman Williams 1947-1951	5076
Smiley Lewis 1947-52	5166
Sonny Boy Williamson 1951-1953	5094
Sonny Boy Williamson 1956-56	5188
Sticks Mc Ghee 1951-59	5168
Sticks Mcghee 1947-1951	5012
Stomp Gordon 1952-56	5185
Sugar Boy Crawford 1953-54	5143
Sugar Chile Robinson 1949-1952	5052
Sunnyland Slim 1947-1948	5013
Sunnyland Slim 1949-1951	5035
Sunnyland Slim 1952-55	5171
T-Bone Walker 1929-1946	5007
T-Bone Walker 1947	5033
T-Bone Walker 1947-1950	5074
T-Bone Walker 1950-1952	5118
T-Bone Walker 1952_54	5152
Terry Timmons 1950-1953	5092
The Clovers 1950-1953	5115
The Hawks/The Bees 1953-54	5160
Tiny Bradshaw 1934-1947	5011
Tiny Bradshaw 1949-1951	5031
Tiny Grimes 1944-1949	5048
Tiny Grimes 1949-1951	5106
Tiny Grimes 1951-54	5146
Titus Turner 1949-54	5151
Tj Fowler 1948-1953	5103
Todd Rhodes 1947-1949	5019
Todd Rhodes 1950-1951	5040
Todd Rhodes 1952-54	5159
Tom Archia 1947-1948	5006
Tommy Ridgiey 1949-54	5161
Viviane Greene 1947-1955	5173
Walter Brown 1945-1947	5010
Walter Brown 1947-1951	5038
Willie Mabon 1949-54	5154
Willis Jackson 1950-54	5135