Features his R&B No. 1 "Raunchy" and No. 5 "Jivin' Around",

Ernie Freeman was an R&B pianist, organist, bandleader, composer and arranger, born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1922, and who started playing swing music during the '30s before leading the first all-black US Navy Band in WWII. In the late '40s he started playing R&B with Ernie Fields and Earl Bostic, and in the early '50s formed his own band, making his first records in 1955, and was in the vanguard of the vogue for grooving organ and sax-based instrumentals in the rock 'n' roll era. This 60-track 2-CD collection comprises most of his A and B sides on the Middle-Tone, Cash and Imperial labels from this era, plus selected titles from his Imperial albums 'Jivin' Around', 'Dreaming With Ernie Freeman', 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' and 'Soulful Sounds Of Country'. It features his R&B No. 1 'Raunchy' and No. 5 'Jivin' Around', plus his other pop and R&B hits 'Dumplin's', 'Indian Love Call', 'Rockin' Red Wing', 'Theme From Dark At The Top Of The Stairs' and 'The Twist'. He was at the heart of a particular strand of instrumental pop during a key era of the market's evolution, and this is a substantial and entertaining showcase for his distinctive style of R&B.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

• No No Baby
• Two Things I Love
• Hey Now
• My Love Grows Stronger
• Jivin' Around Pts. 1 &2
• Rockin' Around
• Lost Dreams
• Funny Face
• Rainy Day
• Spring Fever
• Walking The Beat
• A Touch Of The Blues
• Return To Me
• The River Boat
• Swing It (The Runaway)
• Beautiful Weekend
• Dumplin's
• Raunchy
• Puddin'
• The Tuttle
• Leaps And Bounds
• Theme From Igor
• Shape Up
• Indian Love Call
• Summer Serenade
• After Sunset
• Jamboree
• Junior Jive
• School Room Rock

Disc 2:

• Blues After Hours
• Live It Up
• Marshmallows, Popcorn And Soda Pop
• The Honeydripper
• A Summer Love
• Always With You
• Big River
• Night Sounds (Backstage Hop)
• Rockin' Red Wing
• Dark Eyes
• Theme From 'The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs'
• Come On Home
• Swamp Meeting
• That's All
• Conquest
• Swingin' Preacher
• The Twist
• What Am I Living For
• I Didn't Want To Do It
• The Stripper
• Half As Much
• Flyin' High
• Bluesy Me
• Save The Last Dance For Me
• Night Theme
• Volare
• Diane
• I'm Movin' On
• I Don't Hurt Anymore
• I Walk The Line

Additional Details

Label: Acrobat

Genre: R & B

Language: English

Run Time: 141 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/20/26

UPC: 824046358426