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BARGAIN BASEMENT
COMPACT DISCS - Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
The Addrisi Brothers -> Link Wray
| THE ADDRISI BROTHERS | Del-Fi 71254 | Cherrystone | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, 40 min., recommended The complete Del-Fi recordings of this one-hit brother act, originally from the Massachusetts area. When their family first came to the L.A. area, it was to audition the boys for roles in the new Disney television program, The Micky Mouse Club. That audition didn't work out, but soon after, the boys got the rock 'n' roll bug, and they hit minor pay dirt with their first outing, Cherrystone. Subsequent numbers - including Sugar Baby, Un Jarro, Saving My Kisses, Lilies Grow High, Gonna See My Baby, Ven Ami, and I'll Be True - failed to click with the record buying public, but the brothers' pleasing vocal blend, an attempt at a pop-oriented Everly Brothers' sound, is worth hearing nonetheless in this nicely packaged reissue. (DH) |
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| JOE BARRY | Edsel 610 | The Loneliest Boy In The World | ● CD |
| 17 tracks, very good 17 tracks (including several alternate takes) recorded for Huey Meaux in the mid 60s by this fine swamp popper best known for his fine 1961 hit I'm A Fool To Care. The material here is a mix of swamp pop ballads, Louisiana rockers and country songs. Best of the tracks is the rocking title song, the intense ballad Fat's In The Fire, with some very nice guitar, the Elvis flavored You Belong To My Heart and some others. Like other titles in this series which relies extensively on unissued demos, some of the material is fairly mediocre and the alternate takes are unecesarry. But there's definitely some worthwhile material here. (FS) |
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| SONNY BURGESS | Rounder 3144 | Sonny Burgess | ● CD |
| Put this one in the very pleasant surprise column. When
a former Sun Records cat puts out a CD with covers of songs by Bruce
Springsteen and Steve Forbert as well as having a song called Bigger
Than Elvis, I get a little worried that it's going to be another
failed attempt by an old dog trying to learn new tricks. But I
underestimated the talent and spirit of Sonny Burgess. The tracks are
about 2/3 rockin' and 1/3 country and, as with most good rockabilly, the
line between the two gets crossed so many times, it becomes
indistinguishable... and inconsequential. Burgess apparently does most
of the guitar work on the CD and producer Garry Tallent keeps things
nice and clean. That's important because Burgess' voice, which sounds as
good as ever, makes this CD stand above most rockabilly releases by
younger artists. (RS) |
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| RAY CAMPI | Rollin' Rock/HMG 6603 | Rockabilly Rebellion | ● CD |
| Reissue of Rollin' Rock 6902 from 1981. Though Ray made
some great sides in the 50s, he's best known as being probably the most
recorded man on Rockin' Ronnie's Rollin' Rock label. Through the miracle
of tape recording, Ray was often a whole backing band, including lead &
rhythm guitar, standup & electric bass, drums, even dobro & steel
guitar! This fine set has 20 of Ray's best stuff from The Rock, with a
few Campi originals (Rockabilly Rebel), but mostly lots of great
obscure covers, including Hank Locklin's Pinball Millionaire, Don
& Dewey's I Need Love, Groovey Joe Poovey's Don't Blame It On
Me, The Lonesome Drifter's Eager Boy & Jackie Lee Cochran's
title tune. (GM) |
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| JIMMY CAVALLO | Blue Wave 149 | You Better Believe It | ● CD |
| 2006 recordings of rock 'n' roll pioneer accompanied by
Ron Spencer & Jumpstart. |
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| BRUCE CHANNEL | Collectables 5623 | Hey Bbay! A Golden Classics EDition | ● CD |
| Reissue of 1962 Smash LP with two bonus cuts. |
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| THE CHIFFONS | Fuel 61437 | Absolutely The Best | ● CD |
| 14 sides - He's So Fine/ Sweet Talkin' Guy/·My
Boyfriend's Back/ Sailor Boy, etc. |
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| JIMMY CLANTON | Westside 842 | Jimmy's Happy/ Jimmy Blue | ● CD |
| Two of Jimmy's early 60s Ace albums on one CD -
You're Just In Love/ Jimmy's Tune/ I'm Sitting On Top Of The World/ I'm
Beginning To See The Light/ Over The Rainbow/ Somebody, Please help Me/
Don't Look At Me, etc. |
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| BOB CORT SKIFFLE GROUP | Vocalion 4311 | Ain't It A Shame | ● CD |
| 28 tracks from this popular British skiffle group
comprising their seven Decca singles and their LP "Ain't It A Shame." |
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| WADE CURTISS & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS | Norton ED 258 | Bright Lights | ● CD |
| Rare and unissued sides and several commercials from
obscure wild 50s/60s rocker including his "answer song" to Surfin
Bird called Puddy Cat (Mama-Meow-Mow) plus Hurricane/
Voodoo Mama/ Rompin'/ Maxine/ Friendly Advice/ Real Coolin' It/
Shang-A-Hang, etc. 37 tracks in all - many songs written by Curtiss.
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| STAN FREBERG | Acrobat ACMCD 4319 | International Lampoon | ● CD |
| 26 tracks, 76 mins, highly recommended This is where I say something like "long before Weird Al...Blah, Blah, Blech." Anyway, Stan Freberg was a pioneer in broadcasting and satire in general. In this CD you get a choice selection of his lampooning of the hits or the '50s and '60s as well a couple of unique creations that have nothing to do with anything else on the charts. John And Marsha would be his first real taste of fame, a true recording oddity, that was not only a surprise hit, but was amazingly banned in certain countries, even though the track is only comprised of two of the title words! As a nifty bonus we also get the original versions of songs that Stan parodies. Includes The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise/ A Dear John And Marsha Letter/ Rock Around Stephen Foster/ Heartbreak Hotel/ Rock Island Line/ Banana Boat Song and others. Includes 16 page booklet with extensive notes. This is chock full of pure inspired madness! (JM) |
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| JOHN FRED AND THE PLAYBOYS | Fuel 2000 61111 | Absolutely The Best Of | ● CD |
| If all you know of John Fred is the #1 hit Judy In
Disguise (included here), you're cheating yourself out of some
pretty cool R&B-influenced rock. No Beatles imitators, The Playboys
popularized horns in rock before Chicago or Blood, Sweat & Tears, and
manage a convincingly soulful sound on tunes like She Shot A Hole In
My Soul and Boogie Chillun. This 17 song collection features
a selection of sides recorded for Jewel & Paula between 1964 and '69
including Little Dum Dum/ Agnes English/ Down To The Boogaloo/ Sun
City/ Love Come In Time/ Up And Down and others. Booklet includes
notes by Colin Escott. |
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| MICKEY GILLEY | Fuel 2000 61279 | Absolutely The Best, Volume 1 | ● CD |
| 18 tracks, highly recommended Though Mickey Gilley became a country superstar in the 70s and 80s with a series of pop country hits but he had been plying his craft since the mid 50s when he started playing the clubs and recorded for a bewildering variety of small labels. In 1964 he formed his own Astro label and put out a bunch of singles and an LP over the next few years. The masters were acquired by Paula label and thise CD features a fine selection of his sides. Mickey was a fine singer and piano player with a style that owes a lot to that of his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis. This collection is a fine mix of rock 'n' roll and country. He does fine covers of his his cousin's rockers Down The Line/ Breathless and the country weeper I'll Make It All Up To You. He does fine versions of Dale Hawkins' Susie Q and Gene Vincent's Lotta Lovin'. Among the country songs are his locally popular hit Lonely Wine, the bluesy Forgive, a fine version of Carl Perkins' Turn Around and the Bakersfield styled Love In The Want Ads. A most worthwhile collection. (FS) |
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| BILL HALEY | Proper BOX 118 | From Western Swing To Rock | ● CD |
| Four CD retrospective of Haley's career from his
earliest years in 1948 as a western singer to his hits as rock' n' roll
star in 1956. Includes live tracks as well performances by The Jodimars
featuring members of the Comets who had split from Bill in 1955 plus a
one off single by Franny Beecher and Billy Williamson as The Jumping
Jaguars. Includes 48 page booklet with extensive notes by Adam
Komorowski, rare photos and label shots and full discographical info.
RENO BROWNE & HER BUCKAROOS FEAT. BILL HALEY: My Palamino And I/ My Sweet Little Girl From Nevada/ BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS: (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock/ A Rocking Little Tune/ ABC Boogie/ Birth Of The Boogie/ Blue Comet Blues/ Burn That Candle/ Calling All Comets/ Chattanooga Choo Choo/ Choo Choo Ch'Boogie/ Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)/ Don't Knock The Rock/ Goofin' Around/ Happy Baby/ Hey Then There Now/ Hide And Seek/ Hook, Line And Sinker/ Hot Dog Buddy Buddy/ Hot Dog Buddy Buddy (Live)/ I'll Be True/ BILL HALEY & HIS SADDLEMEN: I'm Gonna Dry Every Tear With A Kiss/ BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS: Mambo Rock/ R-O-C-K/ Razzle Dazzle/ Rip It Up/ Rip It Up (Live)/ Rock Around The Clock (Live)/ Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie/ Rockin' Through The Rye/ Rudy's Rock/ See You Later Alligator/ Shake, Rattle And Roll/ Straight Jacket/ Teenager's Mother/ Ten Little Indians/ The Paper Boy (On Main Street, USA)/ The Saint's Rock 'N' Roll/ The Saint's Rock'n'Roll (Live)/ Thirteen Women (And Only One Man In Town)/ Tonight's The Night/ Two Hound Dogs/ BILL HALEY & HIS SADDLEMEN: Why Do I Cry Over You?/ BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS: Yes Indeed/ Yes Indeed/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: A Yodeller's Lullabye/ All I Need Is Some More Lovin'/ Behind The Eight Ball/ Candy And Women/ Candy Kisses/ Cotton Haired Gal/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Down Deep In My Heart/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: Foolish Questions/ Four Leaf Clover Blues/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Green Tree Boogie/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: My Mom Heard Me Cry Over You/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Rocket 88/ Rose Of My Heart/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: Rovin' Eyes/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Tearstains On My Heart/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: Tennessee Border/ The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along/ The Wreck On The Highway/ Too Many Parties Too Many Pals/ BILL HALEY & THE SADDLEMEN: Within This Broken Heart Of Mine/ BILL HALEY & THE FOUR ACES OF WESTERN SWING: Yodel Your Blues Away/ BILL HALEY WITH HALEY'S COMETS: Crazy Man Crazy/ BILL HALEY WITH THE SADDLEMEN: Dance With A Dolly (With A Hole In Her Stocking)/ BILL HALEY WITH HALEY'S COMETS: Farewell, So Long, Goodbye/ Fractured/ BILL HALEY WITH THE SADDLEMEN: Icy Heart/ Jukebox Cannonball/ BILL HALEY WITH HALEY'S COMETS: Live It Up/ Pat-A-Cake/ Real Rock Drive/ BILL HALEY WITH THE SADDLEMEN: Rock The Joint/ Rockin' Chair On the Moon/ BILL HALEY WITH HALEY'S COMETS: Stop Beatin' Around The Mulberry Bush/ BILL HALEY WITH THE SADDLEMEN: Sundown Boogie/ BILL HALEY WITH HALEY'S COMETS: What'cha Gonna Do/ THE JAGUARS: Knock-Kneed Nellie From Knoxville/ Shut The Door Baby/ THE JODIMARS: (Boom Boom) My Bayou Baby/ Clarabella/ Cloud 99/ Dance The Bop/ Eat Your Heart Out Annie/ Later/ Let's All Rock Together/ Lotsa Love/ Midnight/ Rattle My Bones/ Rattle Shakin' Daddy/ Well Now Dig This |
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| BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS | Liberty Bell 3012 | Rockin' The Oldies/ Strictly Instrumental | ● CD |
| Two LPs from 1956 and 1960 on one CD. |
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| BILL HALEY & THE COMETS | Bella Musica 31.4048 | Bill Haley & The Comets | ● CD |
| 10 track collection of mostly remakes of his Decca hits
- probably from late 60s - Rock Around The Clock/ Skinny Minnie/
Ling-Ting-Tong/ Rock The Joint, etc. |
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| BILL HALEY & THE COMETS | Fabulous 255 | See You Later Alligator, '64 | ● CD |
| 10 tracks, including a couple of instrumentals, from
obscure 1964 session cut in Las Vegas with Johnny Kay on lead guitar and
Rudy Pompelli on sax. Apart from remakes of See You Later Alligator
and ABC Boogie this is new material like I've Got News For
You/ Don't Mess Around With Love/ The Wobble/ Altar Of Love, etc.
Apart from Bear Family's second Haley box set this material is not
readily available on CD. |
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| ROY HEAD | Edsel 598 | White Texas Soul Shouter - Crazy Cajun Recordings | ● CD |
| 24 tracks featuring Texas singer Roy Head on a
collection of rock 'n' roll, R&B, blues and soul songs recorded for Huey
Meaux in the early 70s - mostly covers. Includes One More Time/ Get
Out Of My Life Woman/ I'm Not A Fool Anymore/ Double Your Satisfaction/
Bring It To jerome/ Drivin' Wheel/ How Do You Think I Can Live With
Somebody/ Do What You Can Do, etc. The opening cuts is supposed to
be a version of One More Time by Roy but is actually a song by
Lowell Fulson. No doubt a tape error. As far as I know all copies are
like this. |
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| BUDDY HOLLY | Hip-O Select 12875-02 | Not Fade Away - The Complete Studio Recordings Plus | ● CD |
| Six CDs, 203 tracks, essential I make no secret of the fact that Buddy Holly is my favorite 50s rocker - I love Elvis, Carl, Little Richard and the others but Buddy is the one that affects me the most. I can still remember saving money when I was 14 years old to buy That'll Be The Day which I'd been hearing on the radio and when I finally got it I played it time after time and then when I turned it over I found that the flip I'm Looking For Someone To Love was almost as good and it had not one, but two guitar solos. When Peggy Sue appeared a few months later it rapidly became my favorite record of the year and when I got to see Buddy perform the following year at the Gaumont in Hammersmith with the Crickets he was even better than I had hoped for. Then a year later he was dead, and I was crushed. Now finally 50 years after his premature death we finally get a collection of all his extant recordings. Well, almost all - it doesn't include the handful of live recordings that exist, his interviews or his accompaniments to other artists but it does include everything else including undubbed versions of demos and home recordings that were overdubbed by Norman Petty after Buddy's death as well as undubbed versions of songs that appeared originally on singles sweetened by vocal backup by The Picks. Sure, most of this material has appeared on "unauthorized" issues over the years but this does feature several undubbed versions of songs appearing for the first time and having access to the original tapes and discs and state of the art remastering means that the sound quality is vastly superior to previous issues. The first four discs and part of the fifth present all his recordings (undubbed versions where they exist) in chronological order from his first tentative version of Hank Snow's My Two Timin' Woman recorded when he was only 13 years old to the final recordings made in his and Maria Elena's appartment in December 1958 and January 1959 where he performed some new original compositions as well as versions of some of his favorite R&B, rock 'n' roll and pop songs. Throughout we hear an artist who loved and was dedicated to his music who excelled as a singer, as a songwriter and as a guitarist and while it's useless to speculate what direction his music would have taken if he had lived I'm pretty convinced that his impact would have been significant. Those who have not kept up with the unauthorized reissues are in some real treats like the undubbed and more execiting version of Oh Boy, the alternate take of Peggy Sue with it's subtly different guitar break and a 10 minute session at Norman Petty's studio sometime in 1957 where he and Jerry Allison work on the Bo Diddley song Mona which would have been a killer if it had been completed. The balance of disc five and disc six feature the overdubbed versions of songs that were overdubbed after his death - mostly by The Fireballs under the direction of Norman Petty. Curiously the only appearance of the song Wishing is here. The undubbed version could not be found but it would have made more sense to include one of the overdubbed versions in the chronological sequence. Considering the importance of the music here it's a shame that the documentation couldn't be better - Billy Altman's appreciation is brief but fine but Bill Dahl's discussion of the music is pretty redundant. A more in depth look at Buddy's life and music would have been appropriate. The set is packaged in a handsome yearbook type book with 80 pages which includes the notes and a selection of rare and common photos and the CDs slip into slots in pages in the back. In spite of my minor reservations this is an utterly indispensable collection - particularly for the Buddy Holly fan but will appeal to everyone who loves 50s rock 'n' roll. (FS) Note: because of the size of the book this counts as eight CDs for shipping purposes. |
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| THE JODIMARS | Acrobat ACMCD 4053 | Well Now Dig This | ● CD |
| 17 tracks, 38 mins, recommended A collection of 17 sides recorded betwen 1955 and 1957 by this group of six musicians including 3 former members of Bill Haley's Comets' Joey D'Ambrosia, Dick Richards and Marshall Lyttle who quit The Comets when Haley refused to give them a pay raise after the success of Rock Around The Clock. Featuring the lead vocals of Richards they turned out a number of upbeat rock 'n roll songs very much in the Haley vein though with the exception of the minor hit Well Now Dig This, they were not to emulate his success. Although the singing and songs are unexeceptional, the instrumental work is very good indeed, particularly from sax player Ambrosia and guitarist Charles "Chuck" Hoss. This CD includes their six issued Capitol singles plus two previously unissued demos that landed them their Capitol contract and three fine previousaly unissued songs from the Capitol sessions. Sound quality is superb and the 12 page booklet has extensive notes by Stuart Coleman. (FS) |
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| THE LANE BROTHERS | Hydra 27137 | Boppin' In A Sack | ● CD |
| 29 tracks, good A collection of cocktail lounge style rock 'n' roll plus straight pop from Boston based group consisting of Pete, Art & Frank Luconto or as they became professionally known - The Lane Brothers. The group featured smooth harmonies a la The Hilltoppers and recorded a varied selection of material for RCA and Leader between 1957 and 1960. The album title song became something of a cult favorite in the late 70s and is probably their most interesting performance. They also did interesting covers of Wake Up Little Suzie and Lotta LOvin and were usually acompanied by bands led by Joe Reisman or Leroy Kirkland. Four of their RCA cuts are featured in both mono and stereo versions. There are also a couple of solo cuts from 1953 by Pete Lane and some folk/ rock/ country titles from 1969 and 1981 - the former issued as by The Luconto Boys. The most impressive thing about this collection is the 32 page booklet with extensive notes, rare photos and full discographical info - too bad the music doesn't really deserve it. (FS) |
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| JERRY LEE LEWIS | Time Life 19232 | A Half Century Of Hits | ● CD |
| 3 CDS, 66 Tracks, 3 hours 10 minutes, highly recommended Time / Life have stepped up to the plate to try and deliver us the definitive Jerry Lee Lewis career spanning collection and it's real close. A lot of people tend to think that Jerry Lee's musical output was pretty much over with by his late `50s scandal; those who paid attention to country radio as well knew better. Throughout the 1960s, `70s, and up to the early 1980s Jerry Lee Lewis charted more than 65 times on country radio. If you count the early years as well he topped the country charts at least 6 times, with dozens more in the top 20. This three CD set features a grand selection of hits and other great tunes, presented in chronological order from 1957 - 1981. Now the cherry on the top of this is 2--count them: 2--tracks recorded in 1952 that have never appeared anytime, anywhere besides the original acetate that Jerry Lee's friend has held onto and kept in playing condition for well over 50 years! "Don't Stay Away" and "Jerry Lee's Boogie" were Jerry Lee Lewis' first recordings ever, done at the legendary J&M studio in New Orleans. Amazing, but true! These tracks are fantastic and definitely show signs of the crazed genius that we would hear just a few short years later. On top of that there are three additional tracks making their first appearance on an American release. All in all, a fantastic release, the booklet etc. is real nice, although there is a minor printing error in the booklet (it looks as if a sentence, or maybe just a few words are clipped on the bottom of one page), otherwise it is great. Who would have thought that after all these years Jerry Lee Lewis would outlive so many other performers who led so much safer seeming lives? we'll probably have him and Evil Kenevil both living until they are 100.at least I hope so. (JM) JERRY LEE LEWIS: A Damn Good Country Song/ Another Place, Another Time/ Big Leg Woman/ Bonnie B./ Breathless/ Carry Me Back To Old Virginia/ Chantilly Lace/ Crown Victoria Custom '51/ Don't Let Go/ Don't Stay Away (previously Unreleased)/ Down The Line/ Down The Road A Piece/ Drinkin' Wine Spo-dee-o-dee/ End Of The Road/ Folsom Prison Blues/ Good News Travels Fast (previously Unreleased)/ Great Balls Of Fire/ Green, Green Grass Of Home/ Hadacol Boogie (previously Unreleased)/ Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/ High Heel Sneakers/ High School Confidential/ I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye/ I Wish I Was Eighteen Again/ I'm Feelin' Sorry/ I'm On Fire/ Id Do It All Again/ Invitation To Your Party/ It All Depends (who Will Buy The Wine)/ It Was The Whiskey Talkin' (not Me)/ It'll Be Me/ Jerry Lee's Boogie (previously Unreleased)/ Let's Talk About Us/ Lewis Boogie/ Little Queenie/ Me And Bobby Mcgee/ Meat Man/ Memphis Beat/ Middle Age Crazy/ Miss The Mississippi And You/ Night Train To Memphis/ No Headstone On My Grave/ Once More With Feeling/ One Has My Name...the Other Has My Heart (previously Unreleased)/ One Minute Past Eternity/ Over The Rainbow/ Real Wild Child/ Religious Discussion (with Sam Phillips)/ Rita May/ Rockin' Jerry Lee/ Rockin' Little Angel/ Rockin' My Life Away/ She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye/ That Kind Of Fool/ There Must Be More To Love Than This/ Think About It Darlin'/ Thirty-nine And Holding/ To Make Love Sweeter For You/ What'd I Say/ What's Made Milwaukee Famous (has Made A Loser Out Of Me)/ Who Will The Next Fool Be/ Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On/ Workin' Man Blues/ You Win Again/ Your Cheatin' Heart |
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| LITTLE RICHARD | Specialty 7012 | The Georgia Peach | ● CD |
| 25 tracks, essential If there's anyone out there who doesn't yet have a Little Richard greatest hits compilation, this is the one for you - chock full of 25 howlers in chronological order. Chances are that every Penniman fave you can name is here, as well as less chartworthy, but equally great cuts like I Can't Believe You Wanna Leave/ Kansas City/ Hey Hey Hey Hey and more. Compiler Billy Vera's notes are astute and, as usual, on the mark. (FS) |
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| LITTLE RICHARD | Specialty 7063 | Shag On Down By The Union Hall | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, 53 min., essential Specialty 7012 ("The Georgia Peach" $14.98) features 25 of Little Richard's biggest hits from his time with Specialty Records. This volume features a fabulous collection of B-sides, alternate takes and five sides from his brief return to Specialty in 1964. Billy Vera, notes writer & compiler for this volume, says it best when he writes that most of the music here comes from Little Richard's most creative period (1955-1957) when everything (music, lyrics, production & promotion) were a cohesive whole. The soloists include Lee Allen (tenor sax), Justin Adams (guitar), Joe Tillman (tenor Sax) and Grady Gaines (tenor sax). We even have pioneer electric bassist Lloyd Lambert's band backing him up on an early version of Long Tall Sally called The Thing. Among the great B-sides are Maybe I'm Right/ Heeby-Jeebies Love/ I Got It/ Baby Face and others and we get to hear quite different versions of songs like Tutti Frutti/ Ready Teddy/ Rip It Up/ The Girl Can't help It/ Keep A Knockin' and others. The five sides from 1964 are not quite as strong as the earlier sides - RIchard is featured with a smaller group without horns but the performances are still terifically exciting, particularly the sensational Bama Lama Bama Loo. As a bonus this set includes one of the Royal Crown Hair Dressing ads Richard did in the mid 50s. (FS) |
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| AUGIE MEYERS & THE WESTERN HEAD BAND | Edsel 554 | Live At The Longneck | ● CD |
| 11 tracks, 33 mins, recommended When Augie Meyer rocked the organ solo in She's About A Mover in 1965, he had the longest man hair in Texas Rock `n' Roll, with it flowing radically past his shirt collar. Ten years later, Augie still had the longest man hair in Texas Rock `n" Roll, with a hippy pony tail that was down to his butt when he tore apart the Longneck bar in San Antonio doing among others, Hello, Mary Lou/ Hen Pecked Polka, and even the most rockin' version of the Hokey Pokey ever. He was a firebrand in '65 and a legend in '75, releasing records on his own Texas Record Company and ruling the local bars, when he wasn't jammin' with Dylan or re-uniting with Sir Doug and crew. In 1975 he was (and still is) cooking up a hardy musical stew of R'N'R, Blues, Tex-Mex, Country and yes, even Polka! There is a strong contingent of Sir Doug, Augie, Texas Tornadoes etc. fans among the Roots and Rhythm regulars who will certainly dig this. Great notes by John Lomax III and the Edsel crew as well. (JM) |
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| AUGIE MEYERS & THE WESTERN HEAD BAND | Edsel EDCD 555 | Finally In Lights | ● CD |
| 10 tracks, 35 Mins, recommended Tex-Mex superstar Augie Meyers and his rag-tag band of hippies and outlaws tore up the San Antonio Texas scene in the 1970's and occasionally still do today. Edsel records is doing a fine job re-issuing all of Augie's records from the time that he put out on his own "The Texas Re Cord Co" based out of his home town of Bulverde (I'm pretty sure that means bull in green sauce) Texas, just north of San Antonio. This batch of ten eclectic tunes features 7 originals by Meyers, country standards Release Me and Deep In The Heart Of Texas and the swell "Cowboy" Jack Clement song Miller's Cave. Articulate and entertaining liner notes by Clayton (Augie's Son) Meyers (original) and John Lomax III (new), as well as a complete album discography covering The Sir Douglas Quartet through to the Texas Tornadoes (R.I.P. Doug Sahm & Freddy Fender). (JM) |
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| BARBARA PITTMAN | Charly SNAP 223 | Getting Better All The Time (27 Sun tracks) | ● CD |
| 27 tracks 69 mins, recommended Repackaging of Charly
8319 in digipack with picture label on disc. It's stretching it a bit to
fill up a whole CD so there's some fairly pedestrian outings included,
as well as several alternate takes. Nothing else here is as rocking as
her famed I Need A Man but I'm Getting Better All The Time
(four takes - one totally different, with just Jack Clement on accoustic
guitar), Everlasting Love and Sentimental Fool (3 takes)
rock like crazy with that good ol' Sun rhythm. It's funny how she sounds
so amateurish at times and at other times, like on Two Young Fools In
Love and Handsome Man, she sounds mature and forceful. (AE)
BARBARA PITTMAN: Cold, Cold, Heart/ Cold, Cold, Heart (alt.1)/ Eleventh Commandment/ Everlasting Love/ Everlasting Love (alt.1)/ Handsome Man/ I Forgot To Remember To Forget/ I Need A Man/ I'm Getting Better All The Time/ I'm Getting Better All The Time (alt.1)/ I'm Getting Better All The Time (alt.2)/ I'm Getting Better All The Time (alt.3)/ I'm Getting Better All The Time (demo)/ Just One Day/ Love Is A Stranger (sunrays)/ No Matter Who's To Blame/ No Matter Who's To Blame (alt.1)/ No Matter Who's To Blame (alt.2)/ Sentimental Fool (alt.1)/ Sentimental Fool (alt.2)/ Sentimental Fool (alt.3)/ Take My Sympathy (alt.1)/ Take My Sympathy (demo)/ The Lonely Hours (sunrays)/ Two Young Fools In Love/ Two Young Fools In Love (demo)/ Voice Of A Fool |
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| ELVIS PRESLEY | Proper BOX 137 | The Tupelo Mississippi Flash | ● CD |
| 4 CDs, 115 tracks, 274 mins, essential Proper records boldly presents this fantastic four CD set comprised of Sun and Early RCA recordings as well as one full disk of live recordings by the King in his prime. The live disk starts out the box and is definitely the big selling point to the collection, with rare performances starting off with That's All Right (Mama) and Blue Moon Of Kentucky played by Elvis, Scotty and Bill at the Louisiana Hayride on October 16th 1954, which sound crisp, clear and fantastic. Then you get a couple from the Hayride on Jan 15, 1955 that are a lot scratchier and clearly not done on pro equipment--still great to hear though. Up next are six songs from yet another Louisiana Hayride, this time a week later then the last tracks and a bit better-recorded quality. Songs in this set include Tweedlee Dee/ Money Honey, among others. Next up we travel over to Houston Texas for a March 19th 1955 date at the Eagles hall with great takes on There's Good Rockin' Tonight/Baby Let's Play House, yet another Blue Moon of Kentucky/ I Got A Woman, and That's All Right. You can tell the big E is really gaining confidence, bantering with the audience and swaggering through the set. You then get three more Hayride shows from '55 and then ending up with a full fledged star Elvis live at the Robinson Auditorium in Little Rock Arkansas April 16th 1956 and then two famous live songs on The Steve Allen show July 1st 1956; after that, everyone would know him. Disk two features the majority of his Sun records recordings and starts into his first RCA sessions, and disks three and four fill out the rest of his RCA recordings up until September of 1957. Basically you get all of the formative years of Elvis Presley that trace him from an unknown hanging around Sun studios all the way through to superstardom and the peak of his Rock n' Rolls years. This is beyond essential, but I would think that most of you out there are going to have all of the regular tracks; even so, it is great to have them all here in one package and with all of the rare live tracks it makes it pretty hard to resist (I already bought a copy and I'm thinking about buying more for friends!) (JM) |
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| THE ROMANCERS | Del-Fi 71252 | The Slauson Shuffle | ● CD |
| 15 rocking instrumentals recorded for Del-Fi in the
early 60s by pioneering and influential Los Angeles Chicano group
featuring guitarist Andy Tesso and tenor saxist Armando Mora. The title
tune was a local hit and other tracks include All Aboard/ Tough Talk/
Name It/ Sadie Wants To Swim/ Last Night Again/ Dog Paddle/ Goofies
Rabbit, etc. Although their Del-Fi records were all instrumentals
the group also featured vocals that appeared on subsequent releases. |
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| DOUG SAHM | Fuel 2000 61393 | He's About A Groover | ● CD |
| 2 CDs, 26 tracks, 80 mins, highly recommended Ol' Doug Sahm seems to have led a great life, and he left us with a lot of great music. This collection represents the first couple of decades of his long and illustrious career. Starting with his early Rock n' Roll outfits, the first CD is all pre-Sir Douglas Quintet gems. Sahm is represented in the Markays, Knights, and Del-Kings on Harlem records, plus the Pharoes on Warrior records and The Spot Barnett Band on Cobra records. As well as some solo cuts like Whirlaway/ If You Ever Need Me, and La Cucaracha. CD 2 is made up of a basic "Best Of" The Sir Douglas Quintet: Mendocino/ She's About A Mover/ Nuevo Laredo/ Stoned Faces Don't Lie, etc. Doug Sahm and his many ventures made a heck of a lot of great music that's not here, but for somebody who doesn't have much of his output, this is a healthy dose to start with. Simple packaging with unfortunately no discographical information. (JM) |
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| DOUG SAHM | Takoma 6507 | Hell Of A Spell | ● CD |
| 11 tracks, recommended Reissue of Takoma 7075 from 1980, one of Doug's few times out without Augie Meyers, though the 3 piece horn section is still led by Rocky Morales. Interestingly enough, after starting out with one of Doug's finest flat out rockers, Tunnel Vision, the set settles in to become one of Doug's bluesiest, with the 8 piece band doing the best of the horn-driven Texas blues, with great covers of Next Time You See Me/ The Things I Used To Do, even Brook Benton's I'll Take Care of You, along with a fine parcel of Sahm originals including Ain't No Letting You Go/ Hangin' On By A Thread & the title tune. (GM) |
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| WARREN STORM | Ralph 202 | Best Of The Rest | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, recommended Fine 2002 album from legendary swamp pop singer and drummer Storm. Storm is in great voice and is accompanied by a superb band featuring great sax by Willie "T" Trahan, tough guitar by Tony Ardoin and occasional accordion from Charles Ventre. He does a stellar remake of his old hit Prisoner's Song, rocks up a storm (!) on Chuck Berry's Sweet Little Sixteen and Johnny Burnette's Tear It Up and shows his country chops on a swamp pop rendition of the old george Jones hit She Thinks I Still Care. Most of the rest are new songs, mostly from producer Steve Grisaffe and are solidly in the swamp pop tradition with soulful ballads and loping rockers. A most worthwhile release. (FS) |
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| THE TANTRUMS | Cheetah's 014 | Motels | ● CD |
| Roots rock band |
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| THE TEEN KINGS | Fuel 2000 61105 | Lost & Found: The Unreleased 1956 Recordings | ● CD |
| 16 tracks, 34 mins + 39 minute conversation, essential U.S. issue of CD originally issued on the English Roller Coaster label. This is the sort of release that will bring joy to the ears of any roots music lover. 16 tracks of raw, spontaneous rockabilly as broadcast nearly 40 years ago over TV (yes TV!) station KOSA in Odessa, Texas featuring one of the great movers and shakers of rock 'n' roll Roy Orbison. Joining Roy's vocals and dynamic guitar are Billy Pat Ellis (drums), Jack Kennelly (bass) and James Morrow (guitar & mandolin) together comprising The Teen Kings. Sure the sound is low fi but we should give thanks that these recordings exist and thanks to the mastering wizardry of Bob Jones the sound is more than acceptable. The group do versions of songs they had recently recorded for Sun (Ooby Dooby/ Rockhouse, etc), covers of recent R&B and rock 'n roll hits (Blue Suede Shoes/ Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ Rip It Up, etc) and some stunning instrumentals including the bluesy TK Blues & St. Louis Blues, the standard Pretend with electric mandolin from Morrow, and the hot Jam which is basically a guitar and drum workout. Roy's singing is a joy and his guitar playing reminds us what a great rockabilly guitar player he was. The disc ends with a 39 minute conversation between former members of the Teen Kings and is full of interesting facts and charming and amusing anecdotes. (FS) |
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| FRANKIE VAUGHAN | Fabulous 176 | The Way We Were | ● CD |
| Now deleted - 16 tracks by British pop vocalist -
Young At Heart/ Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/ The Sunshine Of Your Smile/
It's All In The Game, etc. |
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| GENE VINCENT | Magnum Force CDMF 111 | Rebel Heart, Vol. 10 | ● CD |
| 23 track or rare and live
performances, interviews and a tribute song to Gene. |
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| GENE VINCENT | Ozit 221 | Sweet Gene Vincent | ● CD |
| Deleted - last copy. 17 track collection of rarities and
outtakes from throughout Gene's career with 20 page illustrated booklet.
Includes You Are The One For Me (studio outtake)/ High Blood Pressure
(studio outttake)/ Be-Bop-A-Lula (live)/ Crazy Beat (studio outttake)/
Whole Lotta Shakin' (live - shortly before his death)/ I'm Gonna Catch
Me A Rat (studio outttake)/ Teardrops (studio outtake), etc. |
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| CLINT WEST | Jin 9055 | Swamp Pop Legend | ● CD |
| 21 tracks, recommended A fine selection of swamp pop recorded in the 60s and 70s by this excellent vocalist who led the legendary Boogie Kings in the early 60s. Ville Platte born West has a lovely and distinctive high voice - a little like that of Freddy Fender. His repertoire ranges from R&B to rock 'n' roll to country to pop and all of it given that distinctive South Louisiana soulful swamp pop treatment. The music seamlessly transitions from the pop standard Twelfth Of Never to James Brown's Try Me. Other songs include a fine version of the swamp pop anthem Mathilda plus Big Blue Diamonds/ Our Love/ here Comes My baby/ A Tear Fell/ Lover Blues/ Teardrops In My Eyes/ Shelly's Winter Love and more. On Bayou Pon Bon his Cajun background comes to the fore with some fine accordion work. A very enjoyable set. (FS) |
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| LINK WRAY & THE WRAYMEN | Epic EK 47904 | Walkin' With Link | ● CD |
| 20 tracks, essential Well you can knock me over with a bass string, Sony has had the smarts to dig into the Epic/Okeh vaults and put out some prime Link twangers. Not only have they reissued the rare Epic LP 3661 but they've added the Okeh single Rumble Mambo and the Epic 45 Ain't That Lovin' You Baby/ Mary Anne . There's also lots of hilarious studio chatter leading into the tunes with producer Chuck Sagle sounding like your typical slick oldtime New York record guy - "the drive is the whole thing with these kids today." In addition there are 5 previously unissued tunes including a savage Dance Contest and a pair of alternate takes, making 20 cuts in all. I'd suggest that you grab this one pronto. You also get a cool little booklet with boss pics and notes by Kicks University dean Billy Miller. Includes Slinky/ Ramble/ Hand Clapper/ Comanche/ Radar/ Walkin' With Link , etc. (AE) |
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