For those unaware, Big John Greer Rocks is an explosive deep-dive into the roaring postwar world of rhythm and blues - an era when wailing tenor saxophones, pounding backbeats, and raw, unfiltered energy laid the groundwork for what would soon ignite as Rock & Roll.

Few artists captured that spirit more completely than Big John Greer, a powerhouse saxophonist and blues shouter whose commanding voice and swagger made him one of the defining figures of New York’s vibrant R&B scene in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and famously billed as 240 Pounds of Solid Jive before he even graduated high school, Greer honed his chops in the legendary orchestra of Lucky Millinder - one of the most disciplined and forward-thinking big bands of its day.

After a brief stint as vocalist with Millinder’s ensemble, Greer struck out on his own, debuting in 1948 with the slyly humorous Wineola for Bobby Shad’s Sittin’ In With label.

By 1949, Big John Greer & The Rhythm Rockers had become a cornerstone of RCA Victor’s R&B lineup, unleashing a series of blistering singles that packed dancefloors across America. This collection captures that electric run in all its glory, spotlighting classics like Rocking Jenny Jones, Red Juice, Big Rock, Clambake Boogie, and the rollicking autobiographical anthem I’m The Fat Man. Greer’s smooth yet gritty Got You On My Mind, a timeless ballad that nearly topped the R&B charts in 1952, showcases his unexpected melodic touch amid the mayhem.

When RCA launched its Groove subsidiary in 1954, Greer adapted effortlessly to the changing times, cutting fierce sides like the retooled prewar stomper Bottle It Up And Go and the driving Come Back Maybelline, his answer to Chuck Berry’s breakout hit.

These later sessions feature the unmistakable guitar work of Mickey Baker - an in-demand studio ace who would later achieve stardom as half of Mickey & Sylvia with the R&B chart-topper Love Is Strange. Greer’s bands also boasted tenor titans Sam The Man Taylor and Big Al Sears, whose horn battles ignite several of these scorching tracks.

And so, as I hope you can see, this fringe player was basically born on the outskirts of rock, thanks mainly to his timing, as he came along just as rock was exploding and record companies seeking to capitalize on the perceived passing fad enlisted any musician reasonably suited for the role; particularly those without prior track records, in an attempt to jump on the trend and score some hits. Though Greer more than succeeded in that regard over time, as noted above, his style was more rooted in the past and thus he remains more loosely connected to rock than a full-fledged card-carrying member of the fraternity.

Oh, and where did he get his name, I hear you ask? Well, in 1949, and just before Big John Greer & The Rhythm Rockers had become a cornerstone of RCA Victor’s R&B lineup, Greer was offered an opportunity to cut records on his own while remaining with Millinder’s band and did so, hoping to have the same success as Bull Moose Jackson had. The difference was in the year since Bull Moose broke through, rock ‘n’ roll had arrived en force and that was what the label had in mind for Greer’s direction; as we are now more than well aware, of course.

Anyway, they slapped the Big John Greer name on him and titled his first instrumental “Rockin’ With Big John” so as to drive home the point and leave no doubt what field Greer was aiming for (although, in truth, it actually didn’t catch on immediately and took some live shows and recordings to full kick in with the public).

In conclusion, Big John Greer Rocks isn’t just a collection - it’s a full-blown time capsule from the golden age of R&B, a testament to the artists who bridged the worlds of jump blues and early rock. For fans of Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, and early Ray Charles, this set delivers the grit, groove, and grandeur of rhythm and blues at its most electrifying.

1. I’m The Fat Man; 2. Rockin’ With Big John; 3. Come Back Maybelline; 4. Lucky Lucky Me; 5. Record Hop; 6. I’ll Never Let You Go; 7. Strong Red Whiskey; 8. Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee; 9. Bottle It Up And Go; 10. Wineola; 11. The Duck Walk; 12. You Played On My Piano (with Delores Brown); 13. Have Another Drink And Talk To Me; 14. Midnight Ramble; 15. Woman (Is A Five Letter Word); 16. Ride Pretty Baby; 17. Long Tall Gal; 18. Clambake Boogie; 19. Honey Why; 20. Blam; 21. Soon, Soon, Soon; 22. If I Told You Once; 23. Red Juice; 24. Big John’s A Blowin’; 25. I Want Ya’, I Need Ya’; 26. Too Long; 27. Night Crawlin’; 28. Rocking Jenny Jones; 29. Come Back Uncle John; 30. Got You On My Mind

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