When Capitol Records released the first footlong on Esquerita in 1959, nobody at their Hollywood and Vine flagship could possibly have known what they were unleashing into the atmosphere. Esquerita was unique, certainly in Capitol’s roster at the time (or any time), and even within Norton’s extra-colorful stable of stars, decades hence. We had the honor, thrill, and joy of issuing a scorchin‘ stack of wax on our hero over the past three decades, beginning with an album’s worth of recordings that predate the Capitol album by twelve months. There’s been people who have shouted YAY! and others who have backed away with a NAY, but there’s never been anyone who’s been kinda-sorta about Eskew Reeder or SQ Reeder or any other quasi-legal a/k/a you’d want to tag on the realest of deals. Children, we are today utterly flabbergasted to hear from BIG BEAT magazine (alias the French Esquerita Fan Club) that their Esquerita bio has been completed. Writers Jay Halsey and Pierre Monnery have sent us a file of the big, big story with one request – spread the gospel. So, here you go. Download their bountiful biography by pressing the orange button below and then collect the dwindling waxworks at Nortonville, if you wish. These are the end times, dear cherished lovelies, and the time is nigh. Every order ships with that lovely sticker at the top of this page. Adhere it to your bumper, if you have one, or to your hatbox, and when you gaze upon it, remember our mutual genius friend Esquerita– the singular, and ultimate– purveyor of what we like to call „loud sound abundance.“

Our first Norton release on Esquerita – Vintage Voola – was the first collection of his pre-Capitol demos. It was the second album for the label that was not meant to be — Norton. The Esq demos came out of the gloam, as have come every other impossibility, each one changing our path. That’s a story for another time– for now, lets get on with the program. The shock discovery in 2012 of the Sinner Man demo recordings presented the final unraveling of the story – one that would come with La La Brooks‘ revelation that the drummer on the Bell Sound demos was none other than her ex-husband Idris Muhammed. We couldn’t have known that the Sinner Man sessions even existed, nor that it would become the longplay omega not only to Esq’s discography, but also to his releases here at Norton. And in between the albums were four singles that also hollered to be heard. Esquerita was the reason behind The Lost Photographs of Eddie Rocco, the first Kicks book, which came out of rambling through old issues of Charlton rhythm and blues mags in an effort to find a pictorial which Esq had raved about, when he said he had been on the cover of LIFE magazine. This odd claim was taken with a grain of salt. Still, seeing Eddie Rocco’s tag on photos in various black magazines produced by Goode Publications, a Fort Worth, Texas mag house that was responsible for Bronze Thrills, Sepia, Hep, and Jive, kept up the unlikelihood that such a spread ever existed. However, not long after Esq’s exit from this dull planet, we came face-to-face with a full-on cover story about Esquerita on the cover of LIFE- size SEPIA magazine. There are so many threads, connections, and coincidences. Thank you, Mr. Wildest of the Wild a/k/a the Magnificent-and-Everso- Omnipresent Esquerita.

ESQUERITA – VINTAGE VOOLA CD (Norton CED- 202) The earliest recordings by the master of lunacy, the Voola man himself! Eskew Reeder taught Little Richard and he’ll learn you, too! Just open wide and say Woo–aaagh! All cuts from 1958 (2 with Blue Caps‘ Paul Peek). This CD adds Dew Drop Inn, Little Richard interview and wild newly found photos! Sorry, wig hat not included! Rockin‘ The Joint / This Thing Called Love / Please Come On Home / Oh Baby / Sarah Lee / I Got A Lot To Learn / What Was Wrong / Sweet Skinny Jenny / The Rock-A-Round

ESQUERITA – VINTAGE VOOLA LP (Norton ED- 202) Earlier LP version, minus Dew Drop Inn and Little Richard interview. Rockin‘ The Joint / This Thing Called Love / Please Come On Home / Oh Baby / Sarah Lee / I Got A Lot To Learn / What Was Wrong / Sweet Skinny Jenny / The Rock-A-Round

„Too brilliant, too insane, too raw, too uncivilized for the likes of Dick Clark.“ — Village Voice

ESQUERITA – SINNER MAN: THE LOST SESSION LP (Norton ED-381) Ten unissued selections from a long lost June 1966 NYC session showcase Esquerita pounding it out on piano and organ, flashing back and forth between the two during each song, accompanied only by drum-god Idris Muhammed! Dig the over the top nine minute wailin‘ spiritual title track (based on Nina Simone ’s version but delivered at super Voola velocity) that ’s worth the price of admission alone! STAGGERING! Sinner Man #1 / Hittin ‚ On Nothing#1 / C.C. Rider / Leave Me Alone#1 / Letter Full Of Tears / Hittin ‚ On Nothing #2 / On Broadway / Nobody Knows You When You ‚re Down And Out / Leave Me Alone #2 / Sinner Man #2

ESQUERITA – DEW DROP INN/ROCKIN‘ THE JOINT (45-014) Original 60’s piano whomp of toon Esquerita inked for Little Richard, backed with VINTAGE VOOLA (Norton 202) killer anthem! Full color sleeve guaranteed to make frail ladies faint!

ESQUERITA – HITTIN‘ ON NOTHING / LETTER FULL OF TEARS (45-170) Explosive soulful pairing of Irma Thomas and Gladys Knight covers! Unissued sides from the Voola vaults!

SCREAMIN‘ JAY HAWKINS – I HEAR VOICES / CLOVERTONES feat. ESQUERITA – DIDN’T IT RAIN (45-127) Alternate take of Screamin‘ Jay’s spellbinding ’62 spooker b/w Voola fueled piano pumpin‘ gospel chant!

ESQUERITA – YOU BETTER BELIEVE ME / WHAT WAS WRONG / LITTLE RICHARD INTERVIEW (45-149) Over the top raw soul madness from the Voola! This 1969 shaker just never lets up! ’58 fracas flip out flipside! As a bonus, Little Richard tells it like it is about his pompadoured pal! Hair raisin‘ sleeve, natch!

ESQUERITA / SCREAMIN‘ JAY HAWKINS SLEEVE #1 Special Edition Hurricane Sandy sleeves featuring drawings by comic artist Avi Spivak (of Kicksville Confidential) — Collect all ten – see website.