The Sun Sessions (Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm album)

The Sun Sessions
Compilation album by Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm
Released	June 26, 2001
Recorded	March 5, 1951–1958
Studio	Memphis Recording Service/Sun Studio
Length	54:34
Label	Varèse Sarabande
Producer	Cary E. Mansfield, Bill Dahl
Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm chronology
Here and Now (2001) The Sun Sessions (2001) His Woman, Her Man: The Ike Turner Diaries (2004)

The Sun Sessions is a collection of early recordings that musician Ike Turner and his band the Kings of Rhythm recorded from 1951–1958 for Sun Records. Many of the recordings were previously unissued until Charly Records released the album Sun: The Roots Of Rock: Volume 3: Delta Rhythm Kings in 1976. The tracks on The Sun Sessions were digitally remastered and released by Varèse Sarabande in 2001.

Recording

In March 1951, Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm recorded at producer

Around this time Turner became a session musician and production assistant for Philips. He was also a freelance talent scout, bringing blues musicians such as Howlin Wolf and Little Milton to record for Phillips.^[1]

In 1952, Marion Louis Lee joined the Kings of Rhythm as a vocalist and pianist; they married later that year. She recorded with Turner's band until 1953 under the aliases Mary Sue and Bonnie Turner.^[4]

In 1953, Turner recommenced his relationship with Phillips by bringing new talent to record for Sun. One of those was vocalist Johnny O'Neal. Prior to "Rocket 88," O'Neal had been in an earlier incarnation of the Kings of Rhythm, but he had left the band to sign a solo contract with King Records.^[1]

Turner discovered vocalist and pianist Billy "The Kid" Emerson during Emerson's stint in the Air Force stationed in Greenville, MS. Emerson occasionally performed with the Kings of Rhythm.^[1] Turner brought him to record at Sun Records in 1954 and played guitar on his recordings.^[5]

Raymond Hill was a childhood friend of Turner's, they were both members of the Tophatters which morphed into the Kings of Rhythm. Hill played tenor saxophone on "Rocket 88." They had a falling out soon after the record was released, but Hill eventually returned to Turner's band. Hill later had a relationship with Turner's vocalist Little Ann (Tina Turner) and fathered her firstborn in 1958.^[1]

Turner last recorded at Sun in 1958 with vocalist Tommy Hodge. By that time Phillips had shifted his priorities to recording rockabilly music.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[6]

Reviewing The Sun Sessions for AllMusic, Bruce Eder wrote:

The best track on the album is arguably "Ugly Woman," one of the funniest songs in Turner's output and one that shows off the bandleader/guitarist/singer Johnny O'Neal working on all cylinders in overdrive. Tommy Hodge is the most consistent singer here, though the disc is also worth hearing for Bonnie Turner's work — whatever their other attributes, Turner evidently did choose the women around him at least partly on the basis of their vocal skills.^[6]

Track listing

References