Contains 22 tracks, including 10 previously unreleased.
In the mid-1950s, drummer/bandleader/all-around musical Renaissance man Johnny Otis formed his own label, Dig, and recorded numerous sides during '56 and '57, just before signing a lucrative deal with Capitol. During these sessions, from which these 22 tracks are taken, Otis begins to hone his jump blues/rock &roll/R&B sound into an aesthetic that would reach full fruition on the later hit "Willie and the Hand Jive." Highlights of this era include the raucous "Midnight Creeper Part 1," the rollicking "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!," (both of which feature Otis's formidable horn section) and the woe-is-me tale "My Eyes Are Full of Tears." Almost half of these tunes are previously unreleased, making this disc of particular interest to diehard Otis fans and aficionados of the mid-'50s in general. Although CREEPIN' WITH THE CATS lacks "Willie and the Hand Jive," it perfectly sets the stage for that subsequent smash, which can be found on the equally excellent CAPITOL YEARS compilation.
