As the title indicates, Watch Records was a source for New Orleans soul and R&B singles during the 1960s. The label was owned by two veteran record men, Henry Hildebrand Jr., who ran All South Distributors, and Joe Assunto, the proprietor of One Stop Records. Considering the label only had about two dozen releases, its roster included many Crescent City legends including Benny Spellman, Professor Longhair, Tommy Ridgley and Johnny Adams, along with lesser known artists like Dell Stewart, Raymond Lewis and Leona Buckles.
The prolific Adams recorded for the label between 1963 and 1969 (ironically a period when also had releases on Gone and Pacemaker) and was the label’s most successful artist. His initial Watch waxing, the operatic “I Believe I’ll Find Happiness,” and the excellent Earl King ballad, “Part Of Me,” are found here and artistically they actually surpass his Watch hit, “Release Me,” which sounds almost vaudevillian in comparison. Other Adams sides include “You Made A New Man Out Of Me,” a great invitation to the dance floor, and “Some Day,” an adequate ballad. The ringer here is the inclusion of “Reconsider Me,” a great track, but one that had nothing to do Watch Records as it was recorded in Nashville after Adams contract was picked up by SSS Records.
By now everyone’s familiar with Longhair’s “Big Chief,” but probably not the wacky “Willie the Prince” or the equally bizarre “Third House From the Corner.” Earl King, composer of both tracks, also acts as co-vocalist, as we hear Longhair and the Watch producers strain to sound commercial. More typical of Longhair were “Baldhead” and “There’s Something On Your Mind,” which contain a solid New Orleans beat.
Another prolific artist who had a brief stay at Watch (actually Johen) was Tommy Ridgley, whose “All My Love Belongs To You” and “I Want Some Money” were stylistically close to Bobby Bland’s brassy sound of the 1960s. Benny Spellman’s four tracks are spellbinding, especially “Slow Down Baby,” where he warns his baby about perils of driving and living too fast. Earl King’s running buddy Dell Stewart’s rare Watch sides are a welcome inclusion. “Love That Girl” and “Mr. Credit Man” have a nice New Orleans bounce to them and “Didn’t I Tell You” (a duet with King) has a bluesy Ray Charles feel. The under-recorded Raymond Lewis answers his local hit, “I’m Gonna Put Some Hurt On You,” with a splendid “Coppin’ A Plea.” Its flip “Love Is The Thing” was also a very good mid-1960s New Orleans soul record. Lesser-known artists like Leona Buckles and the Crescents also have nice tracks included here.
Earl King and Wardell Quezergue deserve special mention for their writing, arranging and production skills found throughout. Lots of great but previously overlooked music is contained on this generous 26 track package. Worth obtaining even if you do have a few Watch 45s in your collection.
