The Griffin Brothers, comprising Jimmy and Edward “Buddy” Griffin, were an R&B duo from Virginia, who formed a band in the post-war years to perform around Washington D.C., bringing in singer Margie Day and winning a recording contract with Randy Wood’s newly-established Dot label. They had a number of hits in the early 1950s and became famous for their rocking R&B workouts which presaged the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll in the charts a few years later.
This 52-track collection includes the A and B sides of their singles on Dot alongside recordings with featured vocalists Margie Day and Tommy Brown, plus releases by Buddy Griffin with Claudia Swann for Chess, and solo releases by Margie Day and Tommy Brown. It features the R&B No.1 Weepin’ And Cryin’ and their other Top 10 R&B hits, Hoppin’, Street Walkin’ Daddy, Little Red Rooster, Tra-la-la and Pretty Baby, along with many original compositions, plus versions of blues classics like Willie Dixon’s Little Red Rooster, Tampa Red’s Pretty Baby and the Chuck Willis hit My Story. Day left the band for a solo career in late 1952, and was replaced on some appearances by Claudia Swann (née Swanson).
The Griffin Brothers continued to tour with such artistes as The Orioles, Chuck Willis, and Faye Adams, and recorded for the Dot label until early 1954 when their contract ended and Jimmy left to form his own band. Buddy signed for Chess Records in Chicago, and had a minor R&B hit in 1955, I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya. These tracks on these two discs captures the essence of the R&B scene around this time, and is a fairly comprehensive overview of the Griffin Brothers’ primary career.