Album of the Day

James Ramey may have been nicknamed “Baby Huey” after a cartoon character, but when he opened his mouth to sing, listeners took him seriously. A popular act on the Chicago R&B circuit, Baby Huey and his band the Babysitters caught the attention of Curtis Mayfield, who produced THE BABY HUEY STORY: THE LIVING LEGEND for his Curtom label. Released in 1971, about a year after Ramey’s untimely death, the set’s slightly psychedelic soul and playful rhymes would win fans among hip-hoppers years later, and “Listen to Me,” “Mighty Mighty” and “Hard Times” (the latter two penned by Mayfield) have been sampled frequently. With a pair of originals and memorable covers of “California Dreamin’” and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Going to Come,” THE BABY HUEY STORY ensures the performer’s legend will live for decades to come.