by Ron WynnBuddy Johnson was one of the top R&B bandleaders and composers in the '50s, as well as being an above-average vocalist. This was prototype '50s material, an era when swing-derived R&B was being mixed with country and gospel and rock was emerging from the stew. The songs are either raw, stirring uptempo tunes or steamy ballads, and they're done at a powerhouse pace. Johnson, like most great R&B acts, was a singles artist, but the songs featured here are good at worst and often magical despite clearly being from another era.