Show 52: Alphabet Blues, Pt. 12: Specialty / Stax / Sun

I'm your host. For today's 52nd episode of the Copacetic Communion Blues Show, we will be resuming our Alphabet Blues series, where I aim to spin for you the most important tracks from every significant blues label from A through Z. Last episode, we covered Private Records to Ruf Records, and tonight we'll be exploring three incredible labels. Up first, we'll hear from the Specialty record label, founded in Los Angeles in 1945 by Art Rupe. In 1952, the rhythm and blues scene was losing its mind over Fats Domino's visionary take on the new New Orleans sound. Because of this, Specialty's founder took a talent-hunting trip to New Orleans to find Mr. Domino and a seventeen-year-old singer for his label, and find one he did in Lloyd Price. In Specialty's first recording session in New Orleans, Rupe produced "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" using Dave Bartholomew's band, which included Fats Domino himself on piano and Earl Palmer lighting up the record with his drums. Following Mr. Price, we'll hear the fabulous Little Richard and his earliest tracks from Specialty Records. But now, here's Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."