The Specialty Story

Just how electrifying was Little Richard when he emerged in the ’50s? Listen to this five-CD set, The Specialty Story, which gathers 130 songs recorded by the L.A.-based label Specialty (and its predecessor, Juke Box) between 1944 and ’64. Specialty had other R&B greats, including Sam Cooke, Lou Rawls (both heard here with early gospel groups), and Wynona Carr. Unfortunately, they share space with lightweights like Roddy Jackson, who lower the box’s overall rating.