As a singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer and talent scout Johnny Otis went  became a seminal influence on both R&B and Rock & Roll.
This compilation is the first in a two CD mini-series which anthologises virtually everything that he recorded between 1952-57 for Don Robey’s famed Peacock and Duke labels, in Houston, Texas.
In addition to Otis’ own releases it features sides on which his band backed artists like Big Mama Thornton, Joe “Mr Google Eyes” August, Johnny Ace, Joe Fritz, Little Richard and Junior Ryder.
This is the companion volume to “Johnny Otis, The Duke/Peacock Sessions, Part 2, 1954-57” (JASMCD3324).

WILLIE MAE (BIG MAMA) THORNTON
with JOHNNY OTIS BAND
1. THEY CALL ME BIG MAMA
2. WALKING BLUES
3. HOUND DOG
4. I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF
5. NIGHTMARE
6. ROCKABYE BABY
7. I'VE SEARCHED THE WORLD OVER

JOE "MR. GOOGLE EYES" AUGUST
with J. OTIS BAND
8. O WHAT A FOOL
9. PLAY THE GAME

JOHNNY ACE
and THE JOHNNY OTIS ORCH
10. PLEASE FORGIVE ME
11. SAVING MY LOVE FOR YOU
12. YES, BABY

JOHNNY OTIS
13. ROCK ME BABY
14. YOUNG GIRL

WILLIE MAE (BIG MAMA) THORNTON
with JOHNNY OTIS BAND
15. I AIN'T NO FOOL EITHER
16. THE BIG CHANGE
17. I SMELL A RAT
18. WILLIE MAE'S BLUES/TROUBLES

JOE FRITZ
with OTIS BAND
19. HONEY HONEY
20. THE WOMAN I LOVE

LITTLE RICHARD
with JOHNNY OTIS ORCH
21. MAYBE I'M RIGHT
22. DIRECTLY FROM MY HEART TO YOU
23. I LOVE MY BABY
24. LITTLE RICHARD'S BOOGIE

JUNIOR RYDER
with JOHNNY OTIS ORCH
25. SAD STORY

JUNIOR RYDER
with JOHNNY OTIS ORCH
26. BETTER STOP