Because Lloyd Price left New Orleans early in his career for the greener financial and musical pastures of New York, he’s been overlooked in the pantheon of New Orleans music. To underscore that point, when Price was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, our local newspaper initially had no idea he hailed from Kenner. This outstanding Bear Family retrospective should draw well deserved attention to his impressive career, starting with tracks he recorded at Cosimo’s for Specialty including the landmark hit from 1952, “Lawdy Miss Clawdy.” Price’s Specialty tracks were obviously enhanced by Cosimo’s regular studio group which included Earl Palmer’s crackling drumming and Lee Allen’s booting tenor.

But just as Price’s career was gaining momentum, Uncle Sam came calling and he spent the mid-1950s dressed in khakis. He returned to Specialty, but found he and owner Art Rupe weren’t on the same page anymore. As a result, Price started his own label in 1957, KRC, which means Price’s venture predated Motown and AFO. There were no hits on the Washington, D.C.-based label, but he did cut several nuggets, including the pulsating “Such a Mess” and “Georgianna.” Wearing the hat of record label boss, recording artist and performer proved too much, so Price folded KRC and signed with the mighty ABC label, It was at ABC where he had his greatest successes, including “Just Because,” “Personality” and “Stagger Lee,” songs that need no introduction. Included here are some ABC sleepers, the best perhaps being the self-penned “Have You Ever Had the Blues” and the cover of Hank Ballard’s “The Hoochie Coochie Coo.” Thirty-four rocking tracks and typically brilliant Bear Family packaging guarantees that this Price is right.