The series of Decca Originals CDs was launched in 1998 and have now been made available again. Each of the CDs showcases, with some licence, a particular style of music. The R&B Scene brings together some of Britain's top groups of this genre although, surprisingly, there is no Rolling Stones and no Them, both of which were Decca artists. However, there is little difficulty in obtaining releases by these artists. What is good about the Decca Originals series is that it brings together lesser-known tracks by well-known artists and tracks by more obscure groups that would otherwise not be readily available.

British R&B was quite different to what influenced it. Bands like the Birds, Yardbirds, Pretty Things and the Rolling Stones gave the music a harder edge.

The Birds are the only group with two contributions on the CD although not the classic Leaving Here. Nevertheless, the two tracks You're On My Mind and You Don't Love Me are two cracking driving R&B tracks that start and close the album.

Dave Berry's Give Me No Lip Child is the b-side of his hit The Cryin' Game and it could not be any more different. It is a particularly aggressive track, not least through the harmonica playing, and it is virtually no surprise that the track became part of the Sex Pistols' early live set.

Lulu & the Luvvers features the young Lulu long before Eurovision Song Contest and mail order catalogue advertising. This is far more raw than what she is know for today and it suits her raunchy voice. The track itself is reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's Can I Get a Witness.

The Graham Bond ORGANisation was an early supergroup featuring former members of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. Furthermore, two of the band went on to form Cream. Long Tall Shorty is a classic track that showcases the bass playing and harmonica of Jack Bruce, Dick Heckstall-Smith's sax, Bond's organ playing and vocals, all on top of a driving beat by Ginger Baker. Alexis Korner himself is featured on the standard Got My Mojo Working.

Davie Jones & the King Bees is a young David Bowie. This group was followed by the more "Mod" sound of Davy Jones & the Lower Third before Jones went solo under the Bowie name.

John Mayall was one of the most important names in the British blues music although, surprisingly, not having a hit record. Crawling Up a Hill is classic Mayall although it does not feature the band's later guitarist Eric Clapton. Many of the top artists of the late 1960s and early 1970s served their apprenticeship with Mayall. These included Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, John McVie and others.

Zoot Money is another important name for this scene. His band included later Police guitarist Andy Summers. Members of the band, including Summers, also went on to the "psychedelic" Dantelion's Chariot and time with Eric Burdon's New Animals.

Rod Stewart had a 1960s career as a solo artist, as part of Steampacket, Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men and the Jeff Beck Group before shooting to fame with the Faces. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl was another classic that was also covered as their first single by the Yardbirds.

Release Date: 1998

CD re-release: 2005 (Decca 8447982)

Essential Tracks:

• Crawling up a Hill
• You're on My Mind
• Long Tall Shorty

Track Listing:

1. The Birds - You're on my Mind
2. The Fairies - Anytime at All
3. Blues by Five - Boom Boom
4. Cops 'n' Robbers - Gotta be a Reason
5. Dave Berry - Don't Give Me No Lip Child
6. Lulu and the Luvvers - I'll Come Running Over
7. Graham Bond ORGANisation - Long Tall Shorty
8. The Frays - Keep Me Covered
9. Davie Jones & The King Bees - Louie Louie Go Home
10. John Mayall - Crawling Up A Hill
11. The Chasers - Hey Little Girl
12. Zoot Money - The Uncle Willie
13. The Hipster Image - Can't Let Her Go
14. David John & the Mood - To Catch That Man
15. The Beazers - Blue Beat
16. The Exotics - Cross My Heart
17. Rod Stewart - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
18. Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated - I Got My Mojo Working
19. The Emeralds - King Lonely The Blue
20. The Big Three - You've Gotta Keep Her Underhand
21. The Plebs - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
22. Steve Aldo - Can I Get a Witness
23. The Redcaps - Talkin' 'Bout You
24. Paul's Disciples - See That My Grave is Kept Clean
25. The Birds - You Don't Love Me