For those unaware, Volume 3 of Black Phantom Rockers contains 26 lesser-known Rock & Roll songs by black artists who are unknown, picked up a unusual stage name or had to hide their personality.

With the launch of this series they are going back where they started when the first records were compiled on the Koko-Mojo label nearly ten years ago.

At this time Rockstar Records was well known for perfect researched releases with extensive liner notes and discographies. But at the spin-off Koko Mojo they concentrated on lesser-known black artists so there was simply no information available.

The mission of Black Phantom Rockers is to put a light on artists who are completely unknown, picked up a unusual stage name or due to legal issues had to hide their personality. You might have heard the story of Esquerita or that the Ecuadors we’re a one-off Studio project of Chuck Berry, but what do we know about Frank Linkenberg?

Koko Mojo Records, the label behind this compilation, is known among aficionados for its deep passion for historic American roots music. Specializing in rock ’n’ roll, rhythm & blues, rockabilly and related styles, the label digs through obscure catalogues and forgotten 45s to present them in lovingly prepared editions.

Their releases are characterized by carefully researched track selections and high-quality audio restorations that retain the grit and energy of the originals. With series like Black Phantom Rockers, Koko Mojo Records has built a solid reputation in the international vintage music community as a reliable source for authentic, hard-to-find sounds that keep the spirit of early rock ’n’ roll alive.

Stand out cuts here for me are the gently rambunctious The Ecuadors hit Let Me Sleep Woman, the vibrant The Crawl (Guitar Junior), the lushly sultry Gene & Billy cut It’s Hot, Bunker Hill’s tutti frutti-frantic The Girl Can’t Dance, the rocking Delmer Wilburn hit My Kissin Cousin, and both the Bob Rayford, Elvis-imbibed I’m Gonna Pay You Back Baby and the closer Good Morning Little School Girl (Don & Bob).

Tracklisting:
1. Clear Waters And His Band - Hill Billy Blues; 2. Big Red Mchouston - I’m Tired; 3. The Ecuadors - Let Me Sleep Woman; 4. Rolls Royce & The Wheelers - Topless; 5. Smilin Joe - Sleepwalkin Woman; 6. Bobby Flare - Big Jimmy, Little Jack And Nellie; 7. Guitar Junior - The Crawl; 8. Percy Welch And His House Rockers - Nursery Rhyme Rock; 9. Gene & Billy - It’s Hot; 10. Fox Hall - Do The Rock And Roll; 11. Sandra Grimms - Hallelujah Rock And Roll; 12. Eddie Kirk - The Hawg; 13. Bunker Hill - The Girl Can’t Dance; 14. Sonny Knight - Teenage Party; 15. Dave Kirk & The Candy Men - Oh! Baby; 16. Bobby Long - Jersey City; 17. Myles And Dupont - Loud Mouth Annie; 18. Delmer Wilburn - My Kissin Cousin; 19. V. And B.B. - They Just Rockin’ And Rollin’; 20. Little Mac - I M Your Fool; 21. Charles Calhoun With The Four Students - My Pigeons Gone; 22. Roy Tann - I Don’t Like It; 23. Model T Slim - Shake Your Boogie; 24. Bob Rayford - I’m Gonna Pay You Back Baby; 25. Babe Blountt And Orchestra - Bobby Sox Rock; 26. Don & Bob - Good Morning Little School Girl

Official Vol. 3 Purchase Link