Recorded in mid 1957 but not released until 1958 "Oh-Oh" is Eddie's most highly regarded rocker, a big favourite with rockabilly collectors and dj's, it's one of a small number of releases he is historically documented for by the so called authorities of blues and soul music. "Oh-Oh" is a corker - the kind of sound Eddie Cochran would of killed for, in it Eddie charts his intentions on a girl he is chasing around the school halls. The guitar break in this is probably the reason why most collectors wont let it leave their sticky paws.
It was later re-released (I believe legitimately) on a look-a-like white label. "Dearest Darling" was covered by Etta James and became a huge hit for her on the ARGO label. "Oh-Oh" was written with New Orleans legend Paul Gayton who will be familiar to many readers of this site as the owner of Pzazz Records, founded in 1968 and "My Dearest Darling" is credited to P. (Paul) Gayton and C. Henry - presumably Clarence (Frogman) Henry?.
Both of these previously unreleased tracks appeared first on the Chess 2CD compilation "Chess New Orleans".
Suprisingly, after the success of "Oh-Oh" in 1957 it would be quite a few years before Eddie released another record for Chess, this time around it was when they picked up a local hit for the small New Orleans RIP label and gave it a national release in 1962. "You're the only one" is a very strong mid-tempo soul track with just enough rhythm and guts to make it interesting, the track really starts to pick up a minute into it when Eddie starts to wail and moan and the female backing comes in, very Ray Charles sounding and a great dancer that would work wonders in a mod dj set. "You're With Me" is a really good gospel soul song, again heavy traces of Ray Charles are here.
Eddie returned to Chess with a national distribution of this great blues double sider that was released initially on the local New Orleans ARROW label. "Fare Thee Well" is a great moody blues side complete with outrageous kazoo playing in place of harmonica, if mod blues is your thing then you will love this side, Let It Roll" is a more showtime bluesy soul recording with horns and Raylettes style backing vocals, Eddie screams his way through the song sounding like an early, lost Ray Charles recording. A great double sider.
"Indeed I Do" is a cool rockin' blues number that was clearly intended for the charts, there is a strong nod to Chuck Berry's sound on this one, a great late night hip shaker. "Every Day and Every Night" is a slow and moody ballad that aint bad, but it won't blow your mind.
During the session for "Oh, Oh" Eddie also cut one other rocker, an incredible track by the name of "Walk That Walk", for reason's unknown Chess decided to shelf the track and it was never released until 1984 when they included it on their "New Orleans R&B" compilation. "Walk That Walk" is firmly in "I'm Wise" territory, Eddie is in rock and roll heaven here, a cool jiving background with Eddie's almost spoken vocal, warning his girl she can be his baby and everything will be fine but there aint gonna be no sneakin' around. Not that his girl has been misbehaving, he is just setting the ground rules! In my opinion along with "I'm Wise" this is in the shortlist for one of Eddie Bo's finest performances, lord knows why Chess never released it, it could have been huge, but then where is "I'm Wise" on the endless rehashed best of the fifties CD compilations? "Walk That Walk" is rumoured to exist on a small quantity of test pressing 45's although no one who talks of this grail has ever actually seen a copy with their own eyes! The LP was pressed twice with two different covers and costs around $20, it contains "Oh, Oh" also and is well worth it as every track is an outright killer.
Martin Lawrie www.soulgeneration.co.uk