Friday, March 28, 2025

Screamin' Joe Neal - Screamin' Joe Neal (White Trash Soul R&B Series No.5)

 

There's not much details surrounding shouter/pianist Screamin' Joe Neal's life. He is thought to have come from the Greenville Mississippi to St. Louis. Joe Neal's first two-sider recorded for Archie Shippings in 1959. Both cuts are first rate pretenders to the Little Richard's throne monsters, to yours truly only Kid Thomas reached the same throat shredding heights - I mean ever! In 1966 accompanied by the Cooper bros, Tim and Glen recorded his second and last (known at least) session and produced by Tony Knitting. Another pair of wild R&B romp, full of echo drenched madness but flopped commercially again. Maybe the world wasn't ready for such crudeness. What became of Screamin' Joe Neal is unknown it is rumored he had moved to Kansas City. He played briefly at the start with Junior Walker and in St. Louis he was tearing up the venues with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm. Any update/correction on his life and recordings is certainly welcome. 

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