The Songwriter's album Leroy Kirkland Thrill-La-Dill (KM-CD-176) is the first of two independent albums from Koko Mojo Records that endeavour to dig more deeply into Kirkland's legacy and focus on the up-tempo compositions he cast his magic upon. As his legacy is so fast the following companion label album (KM-CD-179) Spotlight on Leroy Kirkland, Good Gracious) continues the story with more wonderful music. The sleeve notes for the Songwriter's album Leroy Kirkland Thrill-La-Dill (KM-CD-176) will provide where available session information, and identified when he led the orchestra and arranged the session. The album is also programmed year by year to illustrate the changing direction of the music from 1952 through to 1962 with twenty-one songs being from the 1950s, and Kirkland was often in the hot seat as arranger and orchestra leader. By intention, we exclude his development years which were musically grounded in jazz, his instrumental recordings as Claude Cloud, and the songs with pop arrangements. We can proudly say we have dug a little deeper into the annals of music history and through intensive research, we can omit many titles which have been often reissued. The album begins in 1952 when he began writing exciting rhythm & blues rockers for soloists; Larry Darnell I'll Be Sittin', I'll Be Rockin', and Bobby Lewis, Mumbles Blues. Kirkland could vary his style and from 1953 he co-inked two stomping blues rockers for Sonny Terry, Hooray Hooray, and Hoopin' And Jumpin', and one year afterwards directed his craft on Jimmy/Jimmie Newsome and two rockin' blues titles, Do That Thing, and I'm Afraid I Love You.

Tracklist:

Larry Darnell - I'll Be Sittin', I'll Be Rockin'
Bobby Lewis - Mumbles Blues
Sonny Terry - Hooray Hooray
Sonny Terry? - Hoopin' and Jumpin'
Jimmy Newsome - Do That Thing
Jimmie Newsome - I'm Afraid I Love You
The Eagles - Don't You Wanna Be Mine
Dinah Washington - My Man's An Undertaker
Alonzo Scales - She's Gone
Dolores Ware - Thrill-La-Dill
John Greer - Come Back Maybelline
The Prestos - Looking for Love
Zilla Mays - Right Now 55
Jay Hawkins - Talk About Me
Alan Freed - Band Rock 'N Roll Boogie
The Pearls - It's Love, Love, Love
Bobby Brookes - You'd Better Move
Brook Benton - Crinoline Skirt
The Equadors - Stay a Little Longer
The Strollers - We're Strollin'
The Mighty - Jupiters Your Love
The Five Keys - Your Teeth and Your Tongue
Bobby Guy Good - Enough
The Fabulons Give Me Back My Ring
Bobby Hendricks Good Lovin'
Clyde McPhatter Whole Heap of Love
Ruth McFadden - Lovin' Time
Yvonne Baker and the Sensations - Party Across the Hall

UPC: 4260072724761
Label: Koko-mojo
Release Date: 4.7.23
Format: CD

Koko Mojo Writer Series Leroy Kirkland / Various - Koko Mojo Writer Series Leroy Kirkland / Various (CD)