Joe Turner - Big Joe Is Here

Review by Emilee Rowland

Big Joe Is Here: A Soulful Ride Through Time Man, if you’re looking for an album that just gets to you, Big Joe Is Here by Joe Turner might be it. Released back in 1960, this Jazz/Funk/Soul gem is like a warm hug and a kick in the pants all at once. It’s Rhythm & Blues with a capital “R” and “B,” and let me tell ya, some of these tracks stick to your ribs long after the needle lifts off the record. Take "Midnight Cannonball," for instance. That track rolls in like a freight train but somehow feels smooth as silk. You can almost picture yourself on a dimly lit highway, windows down, wind messing up your hair while Joe’s voice pulls you along. He doesn’t just sing—he tells stories, man. And this one? It’s got grit. There’s something about the way the horns punch through and those bluesy guitar licks weave around his voice—it’s raw, real, and unforgettable. Every time I hear it, I feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself, like maybe I should grab my hat and hit the road too. Then there’s “Wee Baby Blues.” Oh boy. This tune hits different. It’s playful yet dripping with heartache, if that makes sense. Joe’s delivery here is so damn soulful; he sounds like he lived every word. The rhythm bounces along, teasing you into thinking it’s all fun and games until the lyrics sink in. By the second chorus, you realize it’s not just a catchy number—it’s a gut-punch wrapped in velvet. I swear, when the sax solo kicks in, it’s like someone opened a window to another world. The album cover itself deserves a shout-out—Marvin Israel really nailed it. Paired with Lee Friedlander’s photography, it sets the tone perfectly. Even the liner notes from Bob Rolontz add a layer of charm, though honestly, they don’t need much help selling this masterpiece. What gets me most about Big Joe Is Here is how timeless it feels. Sure, it came out over sixty years ago, but slap this baby on today, and it still grooves harder than half the stuff people are making now. Maybe it’s because we’ve forgotten how to make music this honest—or maybe Big Joe was just ahead of his time. Either way, listening to this album feels like sitting across from an old friend who knows exactly what to say without saying much at all. You know what’s funny? As I write this, I keep hearing Joe’s voice in my head, even when the music isn’t playing. Like he’s haunting me or something. But hey, if ghosts sound this good, sign me up.

Artist: Joe Turner
Album: Big Joe Is Here

Rhythm & Blues

1959

Rating: 5.0

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Filename: joe-turner-big-joe-is-here.zip

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FLAC size: 404.4 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
I'll Never Stop Loving You	3:19
Bump Miss Susie	2:24
Married Woman	2:48
Ti-Ri-Lee	2:55
After My Laughter Came Tears	3:15
Baby I Still Want You	2:45
Rock A While	2:00
Poor Lover's Blues	2:40
Don't You Cry	2:28
The Chill Is On	2:43
Midnight Cannonball	2:28
Wee Baby Blues	2:16

Video

BIG JOE TURNER Married Woman 1954

Images

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Catalog Numbers

8033
HA-E 2231

Labels

Atlantic
London Records

Listen online

écouter en ligne
escuchar en línea
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
online anhören
ascolta in linea
kuunnella verkossa
ouvir online
lytte på nettet

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
Mono
Repress

Credits

Role	Credit
Cover	Marvin Israel
Liner Notes	Bob Rolontz
Photography By	Lee Friedlander

Notes

This is the original first pressing of this LP --- black label, with silver print. Heavy laminated cover.
White label with pinwheel logo in center. Heavy laminated cover.
Orange/purple labels with black fan logo on the right. Heavy laminated cover.
This is the original UK mono first pressing of this LP – maroon label, with silver print. Heavy laminated cover.
Advertised as a new release in "April Provides Records Like...", Gramophone magazine, April 1960, p. 47.

About Joe Turner

Big Joe Turner (May 18, 1911, Kansas City, MO, USA - November 24, 1985, Inglewood, CA, USA) was an American blues shouter. Turner often collaborated with pianist . In addition he worked with the pianists and and with various small jazz ensembles. He also appeared with . Turner's most known recordings include: "Roll 'Em Pete

Real Name

Joseph Vernon Turner Jr.

Name Vars

\
Turner
Joe Turner
''Big Joe'' Turner
''Big'' Joe Turner
'Big' Joe Turner
B. J. Turner
B. Turner
BJ Turner
Big \
Big Joe Turner Shake
J Turner
J. Trainer
J. Turner
J. Vernon Turner, Jr.
J.Turner
Joe \
Joe 'Lou Willie' Turner
Joe Hill Turner
Joe Tainer
Joe Turners
Joe Turrner
Joseph Turner
Joseph Vernon \
Joseph Vernon Turner Jr.,
L. Turner
L. W. Turner
L.W. Turner
W. Turner
Big Joe Turner
Big Joe Turner

Aliases

Big Vernon

en.wikipedia.org

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Big Joe Is Here* by Joe Turner, released in 1960, is a musical melting pot. It blends jazz, funk, soul, and blues with a rhythm & blues style. What’s wild is that it was released in both the UK and the US on two different labels—London Records and Atlantic. The cover art was done by Marvin Israel, a guy known for his edgy, creative designs. And get this—the liner notes were written by Bob Rolontz, while legendary photographer Lee Friedlander handled the shots. Tracks like "Midnight Cannonball" and "Wee Baby Blues" show off Turner’s versatility. Fun fact: this album feels like a time capsule of early '60s music vibes.