Titus Turner
Although he recorded regularly during the 1950s and 1960s, R&B singer Titus Turner today remains best known as a composer, authoring such perennials as "Leave My Kitten Alone," "All Around the World," and "Sticks and Stones." Born in Atlanta, GA, in 1933, Turner made his recorded debut for OKeh in 1951, in all recording nine singles for the label including "Got So Much Trouble." None made much commercial impact, however, so he moved to Mercury's Wing imprint, where chart success continued to elude him; in 1955, however, Little Willie John scored a major hit with Turner's "All Around the World," later covered by Little Milton under the title "Grits Ain't Groceries." Turner and John also collaborated on the single "Leave My Kitten Alone," subsequently covered by everyone from the Beatles to Elvis Costello. While recording for the King label in 1959, Turner scored his first hit with "The Return of Stag-O-Lee," an answer song to the Lloyd Price classic "Stagger Lee"; his vocal similarity to Price was again exploited for the follow-up, "We Told You Not to Marry," a response to the recent Price smash "I'm Gonna Get Married." Ray Charles' smash rendition of the gospel-inspired "Sticks and Stones" preceded the 1961 release of Turner's biggest hit "Sound Off," the title track from his lone studio LP; follow-ups like "Party Train" and "Miss Rubberneck Jones" failed to maintain the momentum, however, and he spent the remainder of the decade recording little-heard sides for a series of labels including Enjoy, Columbia, Atco, Murbo, Philips, and Josie. 1969's "His Funeral, My Trial" was Turner's recorded swan song; he died in Atlanta in 1984.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
R&B - Released by Master Tape Records on 21 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Taking Care of Business, 1955 - 1962
Soul - Released by Jasmine Records on 19 Jan 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hungry Man / Big John (Remastered)
Soul - Released by Dig It! on 12 Jan 1957
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Soul - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Walk on the Wild Side
R&B - Released by Jamie Record Co. on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Classics: 1949-1954
Blues - Released by Classics Blues & Rhythm Series on 4 Aug 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Titan of R&B
Blues - Released by Red Lightnin Records on 8 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nightingale
R&B - Released by oldies and hits for future on 26 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock & Roll Hits
Rock - Released by Music Manager on 22 May 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Essential Collection
R&B - Released by Essential Collection on 3 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I'm Looking for an Angel
R&B - Released by for an angel again on 15 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Just at the Turn of the Tide
Miscellaneous - Released by turn of the tide on 27 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sound-Off (Billboard Hot 100 - No 77)
R&B - Released by Music Manager on 3 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
St. Nicholas - For Young Folks
R&B - Released by St. Nicholas Day on 16 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo