First-ever audio history chronicling the Ru-Jac label, now available as a boxed set.

The Baltimore soul/R&B label Ru-Jac Records was founded in 1963 by local promoter Rufus Mitchell and investor partner Jack Bennett (their names forming the Ru-Jac name). The label primarily released regional soul/R&B singles from 1963 until the mid 1970s, when Mitchell stepped away to focus on another business venture. Omnivore has already released single-artist packages by some of the label’s biggest names, including Winfield Parker—Mr. Clean: Winfield Parker At Ru-Jac (Parker also serves as the consulting producer for all of Omnivore’s Ru-Jac releases) and Gene & Eddie—True Enough: Gene & Eddie With Sir Joe At Ru-Jac.

This specially priced 4-CD boxed set pulls together the individual volumes which Omnivore has rolled out over the past year—collecting for the very first time anywhere the audio history of Ru-Jac Records. Each volume is produced by the Grammy® Award-winning producer Cheryl Pawelski and Kevin Coombe, East Coast soul historian. Coombe provides liner notes detailing the rise and eventual closure of the label, and its close ties to the segregated beaches and performance spaces of the region. Rare photos and ephemera will be included in each volume to help illustrate and trace the history of the label. Utilizing original tapes, extremely collectible 45s, and acetates, all four volumes underwent extensive restoration and mastering by Grammy® Award-winning engineer, Michael Graves.

Volume One: Something Got A Hold On Me: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume One: 1963–1964 contains 28 tracks, 10 of them previously unissued. The other 18 tracks chart the history of the first 45s issued by the label and includes songs by Winfield Parker, Flattop Bobby & The Soul Twisters, and Brenda Jones among others.

Volume Two: Get Right: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Two: 1964–1966 contains 22 tracks, 8 of them previously unissued, including newly discovered demos by Arthur Conley. The other 14 tracks are derived from 45s issued by the label as Ru-Jac started to gain momentum in the region, and includes songs by Shirley Of The Soul Sisters & Brother, The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans, and Bobby Sax & His House Keepers among others.

Volume Three: Finally Together: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Three: 1966–1967 contains 25 tracks, 11 of them previously unissued. The other 14 tracks are derived from 45s issued by the label as Ru-Jac hit its stride, and includes songs by Rita Doryse, Kitty Lane, Gene & Eddie, and Sir Joe among others.

Volume Four: Changes: The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume Four: 1967–1980 contains 25 tracks, 3 of them previously unissued. The other 22 tracks are derived from the last 45s issued by the label and demonstrate a change in musical direction both for Ru-Jac and in the country. Included are songs by Fred Martin, Dynamic Corvettes, and Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band among others.

4-CD Boxed Set Track List:

Disc 1:

1. Fatback (Take 1) – Lamont Esquires*
2. Please Don’t Go – Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band
3. I Love You So – Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band
4. A Woman Like You – Little Sonny Daye with The Shyndells Band
5. I’m Through With You – Little Sonny Daye with The Shyndells Band
6. Every Day I Have The Blues (Take 2) – Jeanne Dee*
7. Saving All My Loving – (Mr. T) Tiny Tim
8. It’s Everything To Me – (Mr. T) Tiny Tim
9. I Want To Be Sure – Celestine*
10. You Won – Celestine*
11. Cross Track (Take 2) – Flattop Bobby & The Soul Twisters (Bobby Kinchen)*
12. When I’m Alone – Winfield Parker
13. Can’t You See – Brenda Jones
14. Let’s Go Back To School – Brenda Jones
15. That’s All You Have To Do – Brenda Jones
16. One Of These Mornings (Take 3) – Winfield Parker*
17. Put A Light In The Window – Charles Johnson
18. My Father Watches Over Me – Fruitland Harmonizers
19. Take Care Of Me – Fruitland Harmonizers
20. Something Got A Hold On Me – unknown artist*
21. All Over Again – The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen
22. Crying Won’t Help You – The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen
23. Trash Can – unknown artist*
24. Don’t Bit Mo – Rockin’ Robin*
25. Foolish To Try – James Hill
26. Meadow Of Love – The Jolly Jax
27. The Monkey Cha Cha – The Jolly Jax
28. Joe (Take 5) – The Jolly Jax*

Disc 2:

1. Goose Pimples – Butch Cornell’s Trio
2. Here ‘Tis Now – Butch Cornell’s Trio
3. Goose Pimples (Alternate Version) – Butch Cornell’s Trio*
4. It Must Be Love – Brenda Jones
5. I’m So Afraid – Brenda Jones
6. So Alone (Take 3) – Brenda Jones*
7. It Must Be Love (Backing Track) – Brenda Jones*
8. What More? (Can Anyone Want) – Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
9. You Don’t Really Care – Shirley of The Soul Sisters & Brother
10. Where You Lead Me – Harold Holt
11. I’m A Stranger – Harold Holt
12. Where You Lead Me (Alternate Version 2) – Harold Holt*
13. Get Right – Bobby Sax & His House Keepers
14. Soul At Last – Bobby Sax & His House Keepers
15. Come On Over – The Neltones
16. C’est Le Vie (That’s Life) – The Neltones
17. I Love You Just The Same (Demo) – Winfield Parker*
18. I Love You Just The Same (Version 1, Take 5) – Winfield Parker with The Shyndells Band*
19. Love Can Do Wonders – The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans
20. Chicken Wings – The Mask Man & The Cap-Tans
21. Hiding Out In Blue Shadows – Arthur Conley*

Disc 3:

1. Wait Til Then – Rita Doryse (The Shyndells Band)
2. When I’m Alone – Rita Doryse (The Shyndells Band)
3. Please Let Me Love You – Rita Doryse & The Bob Craig Combo
4. Goodie Goodie – Rita Doryse & The Bob Craig Combo
5. Born To Be Loved – Rita Doryse*
6. It’s Love I Need – Kitty Lane
7. Sweetheart – Kitty Lane
8. The Feeling Is Gone – Kitty Lane*
9. Finally Together – unknown artist*
10. Searching – unknown artist*
11. Go Away Playgirl (Take 5) – Winfield Parker*
12. I Would Cry – Gene & Eddie
13. I Tell You – Gene & Eddie
14. Sweet Little Girl – unknown artist*
15. Sweet Little Girl – Winfield Parker with The Shyndells Band
16. My Love (Demo With Background Vocals) – Winfield Parker*
17. She’s My Girl (Demo) – Winfield Parker*
18. Lightning (Part 1) – The Shyndells*
19. Ooby Gooby – The Shyndells*
20. Never Never Leave Me – unknown artist*
21. Do The Roller – Leon Gibson
22. Working Hard – Leon Gibson
23. Nobody Beats My Love – Sir Joe
24. I Can’t Stay Away – The Caressors
25. Who Can It Be – The Caressors

Disc 4:

1. She’s So Pretty – Winfield Parker
2. Nothing – Winfield Parker*
3. She’s So Pretty (Backing Track) – The Upsetters*
4. Tighten Up – unknown artist*
5. You Don’t Fool Me – Gene & Eddie
6. Let Me Go Easy (Alternate Version) – Gene & Eddie
7. I’m The One (Who Loves You) – Fred Martin Review
8. Sweet Little Girl – Gene & Eddie
9. It’s No Sin – Gene & Eddie
10. Every Day (I’ll Be Needing You) – Sir Joe
11. Take Me Back Again – Fred Martin Review
12. I Know It’s Going To Happen – Fred Martin Review
13. Contagious – Fred Martin Review
14. Love Don’t Leave Me Now – Fred Martin Jr. & The Exciters
15. Changes Part 1 – Saturday
16. Sugar – Fred Martin & Revue
17. When I’m Alone – Fred Martin & Revue
18. Keep Off The Grass – Dynamic Corvettes
19. It’s A Trap – Dynamic Corvettes
20. Days May Come, Days May Go – Francine Long
21. Days May Come, Days May Go – Utopian Concept
22. I Loved You Once – Willie Mason with The Fredie Martin Review
23. Go On Back – Willie Mason with The Fredie Martin Review
24. Think Of Me As Your Soldier – Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band
25. To Be Your Lover – Jimmy Dotson & Rhythm By Inner Light Band

* Previously unissued.