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BARGAIN BASEMENT
COMPACT DISCS - Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
The A-Bones -> Link Wray
| THE A-BONES | Norton CED 254 | Crash The Party | ● CD |
| 19 tracks, 51 mins, highly recommended Billy Miller & Miriam Linna are (along with Lux & Ivy of The Cramps) the premier couple of wild wild rock'n'roll, in print with the legendary Kicks magazines & live & on vinyl 1st with The Zantees & later the A-Bones. Their 1st single (included here) was a cover of rockabilly madman Benny Joy's Button Nose. They'd do this live (also included here) & later try out many of his tunes live & in the studio. The tunes here, recorded 91-94, were all written by Joy &/or his guitarist Big John Taylor. Includes Spin The Bottle, probably Joy's best known number, Money Money (with a cameo by Roy Loney), Hey High School Baby live on VPRO, Holland, Gossip Gossip Gossip put out on a single in '92 & of course the title track! Noisier than a scratchy LP on White Label (who put out their fair share of BJ LPs!) (GM) |
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| 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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| JOHNNY & DORSEY BURNETTE | Hydra 27110 | Rock & Roll Tonight | ● CD |
| Amazing collection of rare and unissued sides from these
talented brothers covering the period from 1956 up to shortly before
Johnny's death in 1964. Nearly all the tracks feature the two of them -
some with Johnny on lead vocals, some with Dorsey on lead. Included are
the Rock & Roll Trio's live performance on the Alan Freed Show in 1956,
their obscure Abbot sides from 1957 (a mix of rock 'n roll, pop &
country), a fine previously unissued demo recorded for Sun in 1957 by
The Rock & Roll Trio, their single issued on Hanover in 1957 as The Kids
From Texas, Dorsey's hot Cee-Jam single from 1957, their 1959
instrumental session for Infinity issued as by The Texans, a previously
unissued demo session recorded in Los Angeles in 1959, a limited edition
acetate issued as a promotion for a friends party, a 1961 instrumental
single for Gothic, a previously unissued live version of Bony Moronie
performed in England by Johnny and later singles issued on Reprise,
Sahara & Magic Lamp. Set comes with 32 page booklet with extensive
notes, photos and other memorabilia and full discographical info. |
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| DION | Ace CDCHD 895 | Inside Job/ Only Jesus | ● CD |
| 19 tracks, 79 mins, fans only This re-issues Dion's religious themed records from 1980 and 1981 respectively. Dion is in fine voice, but the music is definitely late-70's soulful rock and you don't get a chance to forget that you are listening to Christian music. I do love Dion and classic Gospel music, but I had a hard time getting into this collection. Still, big fans of Dion and/ or of Christian music will appreciate. (JM) |
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| LONNIE DONEGAN | Acrobat ACTRCD 9013 | Midnight Special | ● CD |
| Three CD set with 73 tracks providing the most extensive
survey of the early career of BRitain's best and most popular exponent
of "skiffle." This distinctively British genre blended American blues,
folk and jazz with a driving rhythm. This set opens with live recordings
when Lonnie was singing and playing banjo with Ken Colyer's and Chris
Barber's jazz bands, proceeds through to his breakthrough 1955 hit - his
rendition of Leadbelly's Rock Island Line and on through his
string of hits between 1955 and '57 (Lost John/ Bring A Little Walter
Sylvie/ Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O/ Cumberland Gap etc.) along with
singles, EP and LP tracks, rarities, live performances and radio
broadcasts. Includes 52 page booklet with extensive documentation of
Lonnie's career. LONNIE DONEGAN: (In The Evening) When The Sun Goes Down (Radio Broadcast)/ Black Girl (Donegan On Stage Outtake)/ Bring A Little Water, Sylvie/ Bring A Little Water, Sylvie (Radio Broadcast)/ Brother Moses Smote The Water (Donegan On Stage Outtake)/ Bury My Body/ Cumberland Gap/ Cumberland Gap (Radio Broadcast)/ Dead Or Alive/ Diggin' My Potatoes/ Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O/ Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O (Radio Broadcast)/ Ella Speed (Donegan On Stage Outtake)/ Frankie And Johnny/ Gamblin' Man/ Glory/ Glory (False Start) (Donegan On Stage Outtake)/ Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad (Radio Broadcast - Voc: Dickie Bishop)/ Ham'n'eggs/ Hard Time Blues (Live)/ Hard Travellin' (Unissued)/ Harmonica Blues (Unissued - Harmonica: Chris Barber)/ How Long, How Long Blues/ I Shall Not Be Moved/ I'm A Ramblin' Man/ I'm Alabammy Bound/ I'm Alabammy Bound (Radio Broadcast)/ I'm Just A Rolling Stone/ I've Got Rocks In My Bed (Unissued)/ Jack O'diamonds/ John Henry/ John Henry (Radio Session)/ Leavin' Blues (Live)/ Lost John/ Lost John (Radio Broadcast)/ Love Is Strange/ Midnight Special/ Midnight Special (Live - Voc: Ken Colyer)/ Midnight Special (Radio Broadcast)/ Midnight Special (Radio Session - Voc: Ken Colyer)/ Mule Skinner Blues/ My Dixie Darling/ New Buryin' Ground/ Nobody Loves Like An Irishman/ Nobody's Child/ Nobody's Child (Live)/ Nobody's Child (Unissued)/ Ol' Riley/ Old Hannah (Go Down Old Hannah)/ On A Christmas Day/ On A Monday/ On A Monday (Radio Broadcast)/ Over In The New Burying Ground (Live)/ Precious Lord, Lead Me On (Live)/ Precious Memories (Donegan On Stage Outtake - Voc: Dickie Bishop)/ Puttin' On The Style/ Railroad Bill/ Railroad Bill (Radio Broadcast)/ Rock Island Line/ Rock Island Line (Unissued)/ Stackalee (Stack O'lee) (Voc: Dickie Bishop)/ Stewball/ Take My Hand, Precious Lord/ The Ballad Of Jesse James (Voc: Dickie Bishop)/ The Grand Coulee Dam/ The Passing Stranger/ Wabash Cannonball/ Wabash Cannonball (Unissued)/ When I Move To The Sky (Radio Broadcast - Voc: Ottilie Patterson)/ When The Sun Goes Down/ Worried Man Blues (Vocal: Dickie Bishop)/ Wreck Of The Old '97/ You Don't Know My Mind (Live) |
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| HUELYN DUVALL | Collector CLCD 4415 | Three Months To Kill (25 tracks) | ● CD |
| 25 trks, 53 min., fans only Huelyn Duvall was a part of the 50's Dallas/ Ft. Worth scene along with Tooter Boatman and the gifted writer/ pianist Danny Wolfe. He's best known for his Challenge recordings. His best tunes are quite good with a classic, sparse rockabilly feel, best illustrated by Modern Romance , Life Begins At 4 O'Clock , Susie's House , Com'n Or Go'n and a few others. This CD version has a lot of the tracks that were on the 2 White Label LP's (8864 & 8880) plus a trio of previously unissued instrumentals. Except for the handful of tunes mentioned above the rest would be of interest only to hard core collectors. Rockin' Fun/ Humdinger/ Teen Queen/ Blue Eyed Sally/ So Help Me Gal , etc.... HUELYN DUVAL: Blue Eyed Sally/ Blue Lotta Blue/ Com'n Or Go'n/ Double Talkin' Baby/ Friday Night On A Dollar Bill/ Got A Little Girl/ Humdinger/ It's No Wonder/ Juliet/ Just Me And You Baby/ Let's Make A Block/ Life Begins At 4 O'Clock/ Lonely/ Modern Romance/ My Girl/ Pickin' Over You/ Rockin' And Warming Up/ Rockin' Fun/ Shakin'/ So Help Me Gal/ Susie's House/ Teen Queen/ Three Months To Kill/ When The Party's Over |
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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 & HIS COMETS | Collectables 7780 | Bill Haley & His Comets | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, recommended Reissue of Bill's first Warner Brothers album (#1378) from 1960 with original cover art and notes by George Avakian and Haley himself. Haley was still in fine form with the original Comets (Franny Beecher/ lead guitar, Billy Williamson/ steel guitar, Rudy Pompilli/ tenor sax, etc). This album features Haley doing 12 hits from the 50s - two of his own (Crazy Man Crazy and Rock Around The Clock) plus versions of Kansas City/ Shake, rattle & Roll/ Stagger Lee/ I Almost Lost My Mind/ Blue Suede/ Blueberry Hill, etc. (FS) |
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| RONNIE HAWKINS | Collectables 6221 | Mr. Dynamite/ Songs Of Hank Williams | ● CD |
| 24 tracks, recommended Ronnie Hawkins was on a recording frenzy in 1960, releasing these two full albums plus "The Folk Ballads Of Ronnie Hawkins" LP, as well as 5 singles, all for Roulette records, his home base for all of his best recorded out put. These are his second and fourth albums respectively, with "Mr. Dynamite" being the better of the two, with its fine mix of up-tempo rockers and heartfelt ballads. It also features a couple of his best tracks: Hey Boba Lou and Baby Jean. "The Songs Of Hank Williams" is just that: 12 of Hank Sr.'s classics, some are done with an upbeat rockabilly flair, but most are straightforward country. Ronnie Hawkins' legendary backing band, the Hawks, who would eventually evolve into the Band, are barely featured on these recordings; in fact, of the members that would be in the Band, only Levon Helm is on these sessions. Mostly session players took over the job on these records, especially on the Hank Williams tracks where you get the likes of Floyd Cramer on piano and the Anita Kerr singers watering things down. This CD pairing has been available at least once on TNT records, but Collectables has done a nice job on this one. All original artwork from both albums is reproduced with some relatively satisfying liner notes. (JM) RONNIE HAWKINS: Baby Jean/ Clara/ Cold, Cold Heart/ Dreams Do Come True/ Hay Ride/ Hey Boba Lou/ Hey, Good Lookin'/ Honey Don't/ I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)/ I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/ Jambalaya (On The Bayou)/ Lonely Hours/ Lonesome Whistle/ Love Me Like You Can/ Nobody's Lonesome For Me/ Ramblin' Man/ Sick And Tired/ Someone Like You/ Southern Love/ There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight/ Weary Blues From Waitin'/ You Cheated, You Lied/ You Win Again/ Your Cheatin' Heart |
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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 | Rev-Ola 174 | Gotta Roll - The Early Recordings, 1949-1955 | ● CD |
| 26 tracks, 56 mins, highly recommended Tis CD allows us to hear some of Buddy's early recordings made before he commenced recording commercially for Decca in 1956. It includes his earliest home recording from 1949 when he was 13 years old doing Hank Snow's Two Timin' Woman and showing his already impressive guitar skills. It also includes early 50s bluegrass flavored recordings with Bob Montgomery along with studio demos from 1954 and '55 many which were later overdubbed by The Fireballs - the versions here are undubbed - the earliest of these demos are straight country but by 1955 he'd seen and heard Elvis and from then on most of his material was rockabilly including a cover of Elvis's hit Baby Let's Play House as well as a bunch of original songs culminating with four songs Moonlight Baby/ I Guess I Was A Fool/ Don't Come Back Knockin' and Love Me which were sent to Decca and were followed shortly by his being signed by the label. While his singing hadn't fully matured his guitar playing on the rockabilly numbers is superb. This set also includes performances by associates Sonny Curtis, Jack Neal and Ben Hall with Buddy on guitar - interesting but not particularly compelling. Sound quality on some of these tracks is very rough and there is no discographical information though most of the relevant information is in Dave Penn's notes. The booklet features a number of photos including pictures of some of the acetates. This release is not for the casual listner but if you're a Holly fan it's indispensable unless you already have it on one of the many bootlegs out there. (FS) BUDDY & BOB: Down The Line (#1)/ Down The Line (#2)/ Footprints In The Snow/ Gotta Get You Near Me Blues/ Let's Pretend (Aka "I'll Just Pretend")/ Memories/ Take These Shackles From My Heart/ You And I Are Through/ You And I Are Through (#1)/ SONNY CURTIS: Because You Love Me/ Dallas Boogie/ I'll Miss My Heart/ One In A Million/ Queen Of The Ballroom/ This Bottle/ BEN HALL: All From Loving You/ Rose Of Monterey/ BUDDY HOLLY: Don't Come Back Knockin'/ I Guess I Was A Fool/ I Wanna Play House With You (Aka "Baby, Let's Play House")/ Love Me/ Moonlight Baby (Aka "Baby Won't You Come Out Tonight")/ My Two-Timin' Woman (Edited Version)/ My Two-Timin' Woman (Unedited Version)/ JACK NEAL: I Hear The Lord Callin' For Me/ I Saw The Moon Cry Last Night |
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| BOB JAXON | Hydra 27135 | On A Rockin' Beach Party | ● CD |
| 22 tracks, 51 mins, fans only This is a collection devoted to a pop singer that never was that popular. Bob Jaxon tried his best to create teenage Rock 'N' Roll in the mid-late'50s -- even though he wasn't a teenager and only got into Rock 'N' Roll after it was a phenomenon -- with mixed results. Starting his R 'N' R career around 1955, Jaxon was a precursor to the teen sensations like Paul Anka, Fabian, etc, that would capture the charts about 5 years later. Still, if you have a soft spot for his kind of pop Rock'N'Roll, Jaxon was on the mark on many tracks like Beach Party/ I'm Hanging Around/C ome On Down/ (Gotta Have Money in the) Bank Frank, etc. Comes with extensive notes and recording information. (JM) |
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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 between 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 unexceptional, 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 previously 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 | New West 6122 | Live From Austin, Texas | ● CD |
| "The Killer" on his only appearance on Austin City
Limits in October, 1983. Accompanied by a crack band including Kenny
Lovelace/ guitar & fiddle, Bob Moore/ bass and Buddy Harmon/ drums he
runs through a selection of his rock 'n' roll and country hits along
with some less familiar items. Jerry Lee is in great form, singing with
power and conviction and pounding the ivories with exuberance and still
able to do some of trademark playing piano with his foot! He's in great
spirits and that really comes through in his comments to the audience
and his sidemen. Also available on DVD with additional tracks. ($17.98) |
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| LITTLE EVA | Westside 512 | The Complete Dimension Recordings | ● CD |
| 29 tracks recorded for Don Kirshner's Dimension label
between 1962 and '65. Includes her hits The Loco-Motion/ Let's Turkey
Trot and Keep Your Hands Off My Baby plus many others,
usually from the pens of the talented and prolific Gerry Goffin & Carole
King. LITTLE EVA: Another Night With The Boys/ Breaking Up Is Hard To Do/ Christmas Song (merry Christmas To You)/ Down Home/ Get Him/ He Is The Boy/ I Have A Love/ I Wish You A Merry Christmas/ Just A Little Girl/ Keep Your Hands Off My Baby/ Let's Start The Party Again/ Let's Turkey Trot/ Loco Motion/ Makin' With The Magilla/ Old Smokey Locomotion/ Please Hurt Me/ Run To Her/ Some Kinda Wonderful/ Swinging On A Star/ Takin' Back What I Said/ Trouble With Boys/ Up On The Roof/ Wake Up John/ What I Gotta Do (to Make You Jealous)/ Where Do I Go/ Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow |
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| THE LIVELY ONES | Del-Fi 71231 | Surf Drums | ● CD |
| 12 tracks, 32 mins, highly recommended This release is a no-frills affair, with just a straight re-print of the original LP artwork downsized for CD. That doesn't interfere with the bodacious surf sounds within, where many a sandy gem may be found. Wild Weekend/ Stoked/ Hillbilly Surfer, and Mr. Moto, to name a few of the choice cuts, plus a great splashy version of Link Wray's Rumble. If you dig your Surf Rockers with a fair amount of wailin' sax, then you will definitely dig this platter. The cover proudly proclaims them as "America's #1 surfing band," which is totally feasible for at least one summer, these guys were pretty great. (JM) |
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| DELBERT MCCLINTON | New West 6099 | Live From Austin, Texas | ● CD |
| 15 tracks, 60 min., highly recommended Another in the series of Austin City Limits releases from New West, this show from December 18, 1982, finds McClinton at the top of his form, blending blues, soul, and honky tonk with his graveled, world-wearied voice. Having scored his first national hit with 1981's Giving It Up For Your Love, McClinton wouldn't find popularity like this until his "rediscovery," which recently yielded a Grammy a mere 25 years after he deserved one. In this made-for-teevee show, the DM approach is applied to such fan favorites as Randall Bramblett's Plain Old Makin' Love, Otis Redding's I've Got Dreams To Remember, Shaky Ground, The Jealous Kind, Going Back To Louisiana, Mess Of Blues, A Fool In Love, and Al Green's Take Me To The RiverLess familiar McClinton moments include the Jesse Stone-penned winner Lipstick, Powder and Paint, Bobby Blue Bland's classic Turn On Your Love Light, the lyically clever Let Love Come Between Us, and others. The addition of a horn section pumps up an already impressive energy level. Great stuff. Also available on DVD (New West 8027 - $17.98) (JC) |
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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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| CHRIS MONTEZ | Original 901 | "Let's Dance" His Greatest Hits (31 tracks) | ● CD |
| 31 track collection including four duets with Kathy
Young - Let's Dance/ Some Kinda Fun/ Tell Me It's Not Over/ Rock 'n'
Blues/ Let's Do The Limbo/ Chiquitita Mia/ Love Me, etc. |
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| MERRILL E. MOORE | Acrobat ACMCD 4051 | The House Of Blue Lights | ● CD |
| 33 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended Last few copies. Released on two Ember LPs in the 70s this CD includes everything on those two albums plus several additional tracks. A fine cross section of recordings by the legendary San Diego-based country boogie singer-pianist who recorded for Capitol from 1952-1958. All the Moore standards, Corrine Corrina/ Bell Bottom Boogie/ Fly Right Boogie/ House Of Blue Lights, his version of Julia Lee's Gotta Gimme What You Got and Rock-Rockola still stand on their own. But so do his vocal versions of pop and swing numbers like King Porter Stomp and Yes Indeed. There are two fine boogie instrumental renditions of the old pop standard Nola. Backing included some of Capitol's (and southern California's) best musicians, among them Speedy West, Roy Lanham, Jimmy Bryant and a very young Howard Roberts. Sound quality is excellent and the 16 page booklet features the original liner notes from the two Ember LPs along with new notes by Roger Dopson. (FS) MERRILL MOORE: (It’s A) One Way Door/ Barrel House Bessie/ Bartender’s Blues/ Bell Bottom Boogie/ Big Bug Boogie/ Boogie My Blues Away/ Buttermilk Baby/ Cooing To The Wrong Pigeon/ Corrine Corrina/ Cow Cow Boogie/ Doggie House Boogie/ Down The Road Apiece/ Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue/ Fly Right Boogie/ Gotta Gimme What’cha Got/ Hard Top Race/ I Think I Love You Too/ King Porter Stomp/ Nola Boogie (EP version)/ Nola Boogie (single version)/ Nursery Rhyme Blues/ Red Light/ Rock Island Line/ Rock-Rockola/ Saddle Boogie/ She’s Gone/ Snatchin’ And Grabbin’/ Sweet Jennie Lee/ Ten Ten AM/ The House Of Blue Lights/ Tuck Me To Sleep In My Old ’Tucky Home/ Yes Indeed/ Yes Indeed (alternate take) |
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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 acoustic 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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| JERRY RAINES | Night Train 7089 | Dangerous Redhead | ● CD |
| 28 tracks from fine obscure Louisiana rocker recorded
between 1959 and 1981 - mostly late 50s/ early 60s. Jerry is a fine
singer and his music has a strong R&B and swamp pop flavor. Includes
sessions with his own band the Vikings as well as tracks with a studio
band including Roy Montrell, Mac Rebennac, Lee Allen & Big Boy Myles.
Includes a couple of unissued studio sides along with a bunch of
forgettable demos with only piano or acoustic guitar accompaniment. |
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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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| 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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| TOMMIE TOLLESON | Collector 4498 | A Boogie King From The Gulf Coast (28 tracks) | ● CD |
| 28 tracks, 70 mins, fans only Complementing Collector 4407 this is second collection of sides from Texas singer and piano player Tolleson. This one is drawn from home made tapes cut between 1956 and 1959. Some tracks feature Tommy solo as a one man band playing piano, percussion and harmonica while others feature him with his band The Western Playboys. Tommy is a decent enough piano player but the piano he is playing has a horrible rinky tink sound that sounds like it comes from a cheap bar. Tommy plays some rock 'n' roll but also does a fair amount of country and some very schlocky pop sounding like a poor man's Big Tiny Little. Of little interest to anyone but real diehards. (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 | 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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| GENE VINCENT & THE BLUE CAPS | Dragon Street 70198 | The Lost Dallas Sessions | ● CD |
| Amazing collection of mostly unissued demos and live
performances from 1957/58 including a demo of Say Mama with
Ronnie Dawson on guitar plus live and studio demos My Love Lonesome
Boy/ Lotta Lovin'/ In My Dreams and others. It also includes four
live songs from the Big "D" Jamboree and four original artist demos of
songs recorded by Gene Whose Pushing Your Swing by Darrel Glenn,
Somebody Help Me by Bob Kelley and others. Excellent sound and a
detailed 16 page booklet with full discographical data and rare photos.
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| THE VIPERS SKIFFLE GROUP | EMI Gold 84078 | The Very Best Of ... | ● CD |
| 21 tracks from one of Britain's most popular skiffle
groups - Cumberland Gap/ Pick A bale Of Cotton/ 10,000 Years Ago/ I
saw The Light/ Pay Me My MOney Down/ John B. Sails/ Maggie May, etc. |
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| LINK WRAY & THE WRAYMEN | Epic EK 47904 | Walkin' With Link | ● CD |
| 20 tracks, essential 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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