Singles Collection: 1960-1962

Not Bad's 2014 compilation The Singles Collection 1960-1962 dives deep into Gray's earliest years, collecting music he cut just after Chris Blackwell discovered the singer. Compared to the other double-disc Gray collection on the market, 2004's Shook, Shimmy & Shake, this benefits from a narrow focus because it just concentrates on the early years, including sides he recorded with the Jets, Buster's Group, the Sonny Bradshaw Quartet, Kenneth Richard, and others. This is material that isn't easily available on disc elsewhere so having this, along with early Gray material, makes this compilation noteworthy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine