NEWSLETTER #136
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
The Centurions ->
Various Artists
| NOTE: Unless otherwise noted all
DVDs offered are in NTSC format which means that they will not play on a
European DVD players unless you have a multiple format player. |
| THE COLLINS KIDS |
Bear Family DVD 20010 |
At Town Hall Party, Vol. 2 |
● CD $26.98 |
The second volume devoted to live performances by this
teen duo on Town Hall Party features almost every one of their appearnces
during 1959 including songs like Shake A Hand/ The Blues Medley/ Sweet
Chile/ Kissin' Time/ By The Light Of The Silvery Moon/ Bei Mir Bist Du
Schoen/ So High, So Low/ There'll Be Some Changes Made/ Stagger Lee,
etc. Also includes a bonus guitar duet from 1954 of Larry and Joe Maphis
doing Mutt & Jeff Boogie.
LARRY COLLINS & JOE MAPHIS: Mutt And Jeff Boogie/ THE COLLINS KIDS: Bei
Mir Bist Du Schoen (1)/ Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (2)/ By The Light Of The
Silv'ry Moon (1)/ By The Light Of The Silv'ry Moon (2)/ Chantilly Lace/
Hot Rod/ Kissin' Time/ Plain Jane/ Que Sera, Sera-hound Dog/ Ramrod
(instrumental)/ Shake A Hand (1)/ Shake A Hand (2)/ Shake, Rattle And Roll
(1)/ Shake, Rattle And Roll (2)/ So High, So Low/ Stagger Lee (1)/ Stagger
Lee (2)/ Stagger Lee (3)/ Sweet Chile/ The Blues Medley (1)/ The Blues
Medley (2)/ The Lonesome Road/ There'll Be Some Changes Made/ Won't You
Come Home Bill Bailey
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family 20029 |
Town Hall Party - June 6, 1959 |
● CD $26.98 |
The Town Hall Party of June 6, 1959 features six songs
from rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins plus Johnny Bond, Quincy Snodgrass,
Jimmy Pruett, Skeets McDonald, Martha Carson and more.
LEE AUSTIN & THE LAST OF THE REBELS: The Battle Of New Orleans/ What's A
Fool To Do/ White Lightnin'/ JOHNNY BOND: Glad Rags/ Mississippi Roll On/
MARTHA CARSON: That Ain't Right/ SKEETS MCDONALD: You're Free To Go/ BILLY
MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Tell Him No/ BILLY MIZE AND CLIFF CROFFORD: Billy
Bayou/ CARL PERKINS: Blue Suede Shoes/ Boppin' The Blues/ Matchbox/
Pointed Toe Shoes/ She Knows How To Rock Me/ Y.O.U./ JIMMY PRUETT: Piano
Instrumental/ QUINCY SNODGRASS: Guitar Instrumental, 1/ Guitar
Instrumental, 2/ JEANNIE STERLING: Frankie My Darlin/ Lipstick On Your
Collar/ MERLE TRAVIS: Guitar Instrumental/ Guitar Instrumental/ Fly Around
My Pretty Little Miss/ CHARLIE WILLIAMS: Your Cheatin' Heart/ Nine Pound
Hammer
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family 20031 |
Town Hall Party - August 8, 1959 |
● CD $26.98 |
This volume's a real treat for Johnny Cash fans featuring
13 songs from the Man In Black with The Tennessee Two plus performances
from Joe & Rose Lee Maphis, Tex Ritter, Jeannie Sterling, Martha Carson
and others/
JOHNNY BOND: We’re Diggin’ For Gold/ MARTHA CARSON: Who Built The Ark/
JOHNNY CASH & THE TENNESSEE TWO: Big River/ Don’t Take Your Guns To Town/
Five Feet High And Rising/ Folsom Prison Blues/ Frankie's Man Johnny/
Guess Things Happen That Way/ Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Impersonation)/ I
Got Stripes/ I Got Stripes/ I Walk The Line/ I Was There When It Happened/
Pickin’ Time/ The Ways Of A Woman In Love/ JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Dim
Light, Thick Smoke And Loud Music/ ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Please Mister Mailman/
JOE MAPHIS, JOHNNY BOND & GORDON TERRY: Hot Time In New Orleans Tonight/
SKEETS MCDONALD: Mona Lisa/ BILLY MIZE & CLIFF CROFFORD: Waterloo/ JIMMY
PRUETT: Piano Instrumental/ TEX RITTER: Jealous Heart/ These Hands/
JEANNIE STERLING: The Wonder Of You/ GORDON TERRY: It Ain’t Right/ CHARLIE
WILLIAMS: The Long Black Veil
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bear Family 20032 |
Town Hall Party - November 15, 1958 |
● CD $26.98 |
Another treasure trove of vintage footage for Johnny Cash
fans with 10 songs by Cash plus performances by Skeets McDonald, The
Collins Kids, Johnny Bond, Bob Luman, Johnny O' Neill and others.
JOHNNY BOND: Lay It On The Line/ JOHNNY CASH & THE TENNESSEE TWO: All Over
Again/ Don’t Take Your Guns To Town/ Frankie And Johnnie/ Get Rhythm/ Give
My Love To Rose/ I Walk The Line/ I Was There When It Happened/ It Was
Jesus/ Suppertime/ The Ways Of A Woman In Love/ You’re The Nearest Thing
To Heaven/ THE COLLINS KIDS: Blues Medley/ Chantilly Lace/ Great Balls Of
Fire/ I Got Stung/ BOB LUMAN: Rockin’ Robin/ JOE & ROSE LEE MAPHIS: Don’t
Make Love In A Buggy/ JOE MAPHIS & MERLE TRAVIS: (Guitar Instrumental)/
JOE MAPHIS & QUINCY SNODGRASS: I Feel That Old Age Creepin' On/ JOE
MAPHIS, JOHNNY BOND, SKEETS MCDONALD: Ridin’ Down That Old Texas Trail/
SKEETS MCDONALD: What Am I Doin’ Here/ NORMA & LINDA: Everybody's Got A
Laughing Face/ JOHNNY O'NEILL: Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho/ Tom
Dooley/ JEANNIE STERLING: Cross Over The Bridge/ Won’t You Come Home Bill
Bailey/ MERLE TRAVIS: Blue Bell
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Cleopatra 1419 |
Rock, Rock, Rock! |
● CD $13.98 |
DVD of 1956 movie featuring Alan Freed and a host of great
rock 'n' roll and R&B stars lip-synching to their records including Chuck
Berry, The Johnny Burnette Trio, LaVern Baker, Frankie Lymon & The
Teenagers, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and more.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stomper Time DVD 1 |
Rockin' On Ranch Party |
● CD $28.98 |
Black & White, approx 85 mins, highly recommended Amazin
collection of 42 performances drawn from Western Ranch Party broadcasts
recorded in Los Angeles in 1956 and '57. These were filmed at the same
time as The Town Hall Party shows (some of which have been reissued) and
features the same artists (and some of the same songs) but I believe that
most of these are earlier than most of the performances reissued by Bear
Family. A great collection of rockabilly and country which includes among
its highlights three superb performances by Carl Perkins and his group,
five by Johnny Cash and His Tennessee Two, a great You Got To Be My
Baby by George Jones, Wanda Jacoson doing Cool Love, a couple
by Skeets McDonald including a great version of Trouble In Mind,
some amazing guitar duets by Joe Maphis & Larry Collins who are joined by
Merle Travis on Wildwood Flower. Also includes Bobby Helms, The
Collins Kids, Jim Reeves, Johnny Bond, Mac Wiseman, Jeannie Mack, Merle
Travis, Les "Carrot Top" Anderson, Fiddlin' Kate, Tex "Jenks" Carman,
Ptasy Cline, Marilyn Tuttle, Jimmy C. Newman and a couple of songs by the
whole Ranch Party cast. Audio and video quality are not that great but the
opportunity to see and hear some of these great artists performing live in
their prime more than compensates. (FS)
|
| THE CENTURIONS |
Collector's Choice 465 |
Bullwinkle Part 2 |
● CD $11.98 |
12 tracks, 27 min, recommended
The Centurions' "Surfers
Pajama Party" Lp ranks as one of the best to come from Del-Fi's stable of
surf bands. Because the cover art was borrowed from the Bruce Johnston Lp
of the same name (and the bands' name consistently misspelled by Del-Fi),
perhaps the album didn't make as big a splash as it might have, but the
success of the film "Pulp Fiction" which used the groups great
Bullwinkle Part 11 in the soundtrack gave it new life and the album
was reissued on CD by Del-Fi in 1995. Deleted a few years ago it is now
available again. Here is the original 1964 LP with new title and cover
art, and, in addition to Bullwinkle Part II it includes the fine
Surfin' At Mazatland/ Intoxica/ Body Surfin'/ Latin'ia/ Comanche/ Church
Key, etc. With new notes by Bryan Thomas. (GDR/FS)
|
| THE FRANTICS |
Collector's Choice 463 |
The Complete Frantics On Dolton |
● CD $16.98 |
26 instrumentals (13 previously unreleased) from 1959/60
by group from Seattle led by guitarist Ron Peterson and featuring the sax
of Bob Hosko. Includes their minor hits Straight Flush/ Fog Cutter
and Werewolf.
|
| RUDY GRAYZELL |
TRG 505106 |
Ducktail |
● CD $17.98 |
28 tracks, 72 min, very good
Back in stock in limited
quantities. If you wanted to know about Rudy Grayzell's recording career,
you won't do any better than this. It's not clear that this is everything
he ever recorded but there are: six songs recorded for Abbott Records in
1953, six more tunes done for Capitol in 1955, ten cuts made for Starday
in 1956, four tracks recorded for Sun Records in 1957 and two final songs
put out on the Award label in 1959. There's a lot of wild rockin' goin'
on, especially on the Starday cuts, but Grayzell's vocal range and
songwriting are limited even by 50's rockabilly standards. Among the stand
out tunes here are Grayzell's original recording of Ducktail,
Let's Get Wild and There's Gonna Be A Ball. (RS)
|
|
HARDROCK GUNTER & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS |
Rollercoaster RCCD 3013 |
Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Gonna Dance All Night |
● CD $17.98 |
31 tracks, 75 mins, highly recommended
Back in stock. It's
hard to sit don while listening to this CD. Gunter got a kick-start to his
career when, after putting out Birmingham Bounce on Bama Records in
'50, Decca tried to lease it &, when turned down, had their star Red Foley
cover it, taking it to #1 on the national charts. This CD collects a cross
section of Gunter's recordings from the 50s from such labels Bama, Bullet,
Decca, MGM & King. Styles range from country 2-step (My Bucket's Been
Fixed) to hillbilly bop & boogie (Boppin' To Grandfather's Clock),
rockin' country (title track), rock'n'roll (Bloodshot Eyes), even
jazz (Hardrock Rock's The Moon). Comes in a beautiful tri-fold
cardboard cover with a 16 page booklet full of exhaustive liner notes,
pics, & complete career sessionography. (GM)
HARDROCK GUNTER: Beggars can't be choosers/ Birmingham bounce/ Birmingham
bounce/ Bloodshot eyes/ Bonaparte's retreat/ Boppin' to Grandfather's
clock/ Chattanooga shoeshine boy/ Dad gave my hog away/ Fallen angel/
Fiddle bop/ Go low boogie/ Gonna dance all nighfi How can I believe you
love me/ Gonna dance all night/ Guitar on the mountain/ Hardrock rocks the
moon/ I'll go chasin' women/ It can't be right/ Jukebox help me find my
baby/ Lonesome blues/ Maybe baby you'll be true/ Mountain dew/ My bucket's
been fixed/ Rifle belt and bayonet/ Right key but the wrong keyhole/
Rock-a-bop baby/ Spring has sprung/ Take away your rosy lips/ Tico tico/
We three/ Whoo! I mean whee
|
| BILL HALEY & HIS
COMETS |
Liberty Bell 3010 |
Bill Haley & His Comets/ Haley's Juke Box |
● CD $17.98 |
Two LPs from 1960/61 on one CD. Haley was still in top
form with the original Comets (Franny Beecher/ lead guitar, Billy
Williamson/ steel guitar, Rudy Pompilli/ tenor sax, etc). The firsl 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. On "Juke Box" Bill returns to his country
roots with a collection of 12 country hits of the 40s and 50s. Bill's no
George Jones but does pleasing versions of songs like Bouquet Of Roses/
Wild Side Of Life/ Candy KIsses/ No Letter Today/ Cold Cold Heart/ Detour
and others.
|
| BRUCE JOHNSTON
SURFING BAND |
Collector's Choice 466 |
Surfer's Pajama Party |
● CD $11.98 |
10 tracks, highly recommended
You would be excused if you
took one look at this one and thought it was one of those cheesy surf ripoff albums. But it most certainly is not. Bruce Johnston started out
with Kip Tyler & the Flips and ended up as a longtime member of the Beach
Boys. In between he released a couple of great surf LP's (plus some
singles) on Del-Fi. This one was recorded live in 1963 at a UCLA frat
house and it is sensational - a wild teen surf band in action. You
wouldn't really call their sound "surf" because of the lack of reverb
guitar but the guitar playing is hot nonetheless. Includes their
renditions of Ramrod/ Surfer Stomp/ Something On Your Mind/ Kansas
City/ Gee But I'm Lonesome and more. (AE)
|
| BRENDA LEE |
Ace CDCHD 1028 |
This Is Brenda/ Emotions |
● CD $18.98 |
Ace's second album reissuing Brenda's albums features here
third and fourth LPs from 1960 and 1961. It includes her hits Emotions/
I Want To Be Wanted and Just A Little plus When My Dreamboat
Comes Home/ Pretend/ Hallelujah I Love Him So/ We Three (My Echo, My
Shadow And Me)/ Just Another Lie/ When I Fall In Love/ Will You Love Me
Tomorrow/ Cry and more - 24 in all. Booklet includes original cover
art plus additional memorabilia and new notes by Rob Finnis.
|
| THE LIVELY ONES |
Collector's Choice 472 |
Surf Rider/ Surf Drums |
● CD $15.98 |
24 tracks recommended
Reissue of two Lively Ones LP's on
one CD, originally released by Del-Fi in 1963. The Lively Ones, originally
known as The Surfmen, were one of the top surf bands in Southern
California. Jim Masoner (lead gtr.), Ed Chiaverini (gtr.), Ron Griffith
(b), Joel Willenbring (sax) and Tim Fitzpatrick (d) were from Orange
County and by all accounts really got the surfers a-stompin' at places
like the legendary Retail Clerk's Hall in Buena Park. Great sound mastered
from the original master tapes on these 24 tunes. Surf Beat/ Misirlou/
Let's Go Trippin'/ Happy Gremmie/ Tuff Surf/ Bustin' Surfboard , etc.,
and no drippy vocals either! (AE)
|
| TRACY NELSON |
DBK Works 507 |
Tracy Nelson |
● CD $17.98 |
10 tracks, highly recommended First U.S. CD reissue of
Tracy's classic 1974 Atlantic album featuring a blend of rock, country and
soul including her hit duet with Willie Nelson on After The Fire Is
Gone with Linda Ronstadt providing harmony vocals. It also includes
Bob Dylan's It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry, Bill
Withers Lean On Me, Irma Thomas's I Wish Someone Would Care
and others. Produced by Bob Johnston she is accompanied by top Nashville
musicians plus a horn section arranged by Allen Toussaint. (FS)
|
| DWIGHT
"WHITEY" PULLEN |
Hydra 27127 |
Sunglasses After Dark |
● CD $21.98 |
26 tracks, recommended
The complete recordings of
rockabilly and country singer from Alabama who died at a young age in
1961. The 25 tracks here by him were recorded between 1956 and 1960 for
several labels, most notably the Los Angeles based Sage label and are a
mix of rockabilly and straight country. The country performances are
pleasant but undistinguished but the rockers are hot, often with fine
guitar including the well known title song plus other goodies like
Everybody's Rockin'/ Moonshine Liquor/ Tuscaloosa Lucy/ Drinkin' Wine Spo
De O Dee and others. The 26th bonus track is a recording by
Sunglasses composer Jim Noble with Rod Weston and a couple of members
of The Champs. 16 page booklet has notes, photos, label shots and other
memorabilia. (FS).
|
| JERRY RAINES |
Night Train 7089 |
Dangerous Redhead |
● CD $15.98 |
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.
|
| THE SENTINALS |
Collector's Choice 471 |
Big Surf!/ Surfer Girl |
● CD $15.98 |
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Buffalo Bop 55169 |
Struttin' |
● CD $18.98 |
30 track collection of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly from
the 50s and early 60s. Many of the tracks are new to CD and although there
are a number of fairly bland titles there are some excellent tracks like
Curtis Hobeck's great rock 'n' roll version of Tom Dooley, Tommy
Garo covering Whole Lotta Shakin' and Dean Hagopian' covering Gene
Vincent's Lotta Lovin', Harmon Boazman's country flavored No
Love In You and others. Also includes tracks by Walt & the Satans, Bob
Homan, The Chancellors, Ronnie Keith, Sugar Bob Kirkland, The Bradley
Boys, Gary Van, Johnny Taylor and others. As usual, Buffalo Bop sound is
excellent and 12 page booklet has artist photos and label shots.
DONNIE BELL: Sugar Baby/ HARMON BOAZEMAN: No Love In You/ THE BRADLEY
BOYS: Lovin Class/ JOEY CASTLE: Rock And Roll Daddy-o/ THE CHANCELLORS:
Gotta Little Baby/ THE CHIEFTONES: Big Fat Woman/ FRANKIE DEE: Let's Go
Steady/ Let's Whirl/ RITCHIE DERAN: Bewitched/ THE FAIRVIEWS: Twinkee Lee/
TONY GARO: Whole Lot Of Shakin/ DEAN HAGOPIAN: Anywhere You Go/ Lotta
Lotta Lovin/ CURTIS HOBECK: Tom Dooley Rock & Roll/ BOB HOMAN: Sweet
Thing/ RONNIE KEITH: Struttin/ SUGAR BOB KIRKLAND: Im Looking For A Girl/
GARY LEATH: Mother Said/ THE MOODS: Little Alice/ KENNY OWENS: Come Back
Baby/ Wrong Line/ RALPH PRESCOTT: Little Boy Bop/ RICK & ROD: Don't Stop
(kissing Me Tonight)/ RAY SMITH: That's All Right/ JOHNNY TAYLOR: Mixed Up
Rhythm & Blues/ THE TREASURES: Lean Jean/ GARY VAN: Rockin Too Much/ WALT
& THE SATANS: Don't Bargain With Love/ Maybe One Day/ DOUG WEISS: Do You
Love Another
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Buffalo Bop 55170 |
Flip, Flip |
● CD $18.98 |
Fine collection of rare rockabilly and rock 'n' roll from
the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately about half the tracks have been out on CD
before - most of them on Collector though That's Love by Wendell &
The Dreamers appears to have been reissued on a previous Buffalo Bop
collection (55069)! Among the better tracks not reissued before are Gary
Driver's version of Dance Me To Death, Ain't Gonna Tell by
Joe Moon, Goin' To Miami by Tony & The Del-Fi's and some others.
Also includes Larry Dowd, Dave Johnson, The Vons, Irvin Russ, Marcel
St-Jean, Paul Zuma, Chuck Jones, Tommie Tolleson, etc.
KENNY AMBROSE: Won't You (love Me Baby)/ DANNY BOYD: Just A Little Bit
Sweeter/ GUS COLLETTI: She's My Honey/ JERRY DORN: Rockin Chair Rock/
LARRY DOWD AND THE ROCK-A-TONES: Blue Swingin Mama/ GARY DRIVER: Dance Me
To Death/ THE ESCORTS: Cajun Queen/ THE FLYING TORNADOS: Chattanooga
Drummer Man/ FRANKIE AND THE TEENTONES: Told You Little Baby/ JIM GALE:
Rockin Party/ RON HAYDOCK AND THE BOPPERS: Bop Hop/ JIMMIE HOMBS: Joe
Cool/ DAVE JOHNSON: International Runway/ GLENN JOHNSON: Little Heart
Attacks/ Run Here Honey/ CHUCK JONES: Old Coke Bar/ JIMMY LUKE AND THE
C-RIFF'S: Sally/ JOE MOON: I Ain't Gonna Tell/ TROY ONTEARE: Marry The
Money/ THE PLANETS FEAT. JIMMY WALLER: Sharin Lockers/ IRVIN RUSS: The
Crazy Alligator/ ROBERT SMITH: Traveling Sam/ MARCEL ST-JEAN: The Big
Black Jacket/ BILL STARR AND THE STUDENTS: One Heart/ TOMMIE TOLLESON: The
Gulf Coast Twist/ TONY AND THE DEL-FI'S: Goin To Miami/ THE VONS: Flip
Flip/ GENE WALP & CASUALS: Honeybun/ WENDELL AND THE DREAMERS: Thats Love/
PAUL ZUMA: Our Love Will Last
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Buffalo Bop 55171 |
Rock-A-Billy Barnyard |
● CD $18.98 |
Fine 30 track collection of rockabilly and rockin' country
from the 50s and early 60s - about a third of these cuts have previously
been on CD. Includes Deke Wade (a fine version of Dorsey Burnette's
Tall Oak Tree), Truitt Forse, Gentleman Jim, Dayton Smith, Hunter
Watts, Euel Hall (two cuts including the great country flavored Blue
Feeling), Barney Burcham, Al Urban (two great cuts though previously
available on CD), Hunter Watts (two fine sides not previously on CD),
Nolan Richardson, The Harmony Twins, Bobby Fields (the great, previously
unreissued Girl From Tennessee), Eldon Hughes, Ray Corbin, Smokey
Stover and others.
CHUCK ATHA: O O H-e E E (what You Do To Me)/ EMERY BLADES: Look What You
Done To Me/ The Rock And Roll Carpenter/ BARNEY BURCHAM WITH THE MOON
BEAMS: I Feel/ RAY CORBIN: The Whole Night Long/ WAYNE CROSS: Stranger In
Black/ BOBBY FIELDS: Girl From Tennessee/ TRUITT FORSE: Chicken Bop/
Doggone Dame/ GENTLEMAN JIM: If You Don't Like My Apples/ EUEL HALL AND
THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Blue Feeling/ Stand In Line/ THE HARMONY TWINS:
Barnyard Rock N Roll/ ELDON HUGHES: Don't Let Your Love Grow Old/ TED
NEWTON: Tennessee Rhythm/ Walkin Down The Road/ HANK RECTOR: I'm Gona Let
You Go/ NOLAN RICHARDSON: Loving Machine/ TOMMY SMITH: Born Unlucky/
DAYTON SMITH AND THE ROVING WARRIORS: What Will The Answer Be/ FRANK STARR
AND HIS ROCK-AWAY BOYS: The Dirty Bird Song/ SMOKEY STOVER: On The
Warpath/ DAVID SUTHERLAND AND THE SOUTHERNS: You Better Leave My Baby
Alone/ AL URBAN: Gonna Be Better Times/ Won't Tell You Her Name/ DEKE
WADE: Tall Oak Tree/ JOHNNY WATSON: Come To The Party/ HUNTER WATTS: Big
Daddy Rock/ Wild Man Rock/ REBEL WRIGHT AND THE CIMMARONS: I'm A Long Gone
Daddy
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 4486 |
We Two Rock |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 63 mins, highly recommended After 85 CDs our
good friends at Collector continue to turn up some fine and rare rockers from the 50s
and early 60s - many of them new to CD. While there are no out and out
classics here, there are lots of very fine sides here and no dogs. Among
the artists are Leon Grissom & The Roulettes (the hot opening cut
Goodbye Sweet Love), Don Williams & The Exotics, J.C. Raynor & The
Cavemen, J.R. May & The Green Valley Trio (a rock 'n' roll gospel song
I've Been Prayin'), The Champs (the previously unissued Drag Strip),
Leroy Marin & the Rebels, Little Mojo (a fine reworking of Got My Mojo
Working he calls Mojo ThemeI've
Been A Fool),
Gary & The Detonaters, Whitey White, The Missels (a fine instrumental
Swanee River Rock with hot sax and guitar), Chuck Thompson & The
Rock-A-Billies, Terry Miller & The Rockin' Robbins (a great version of
The Twist with super guitar), Billy With The Fabulous Echoes and
others. Excellent sound. Keep on rockin' Cees! (FS)
GEORGE AVAK: Lindy lou/ BILLY WITH THE FABULOUS ECHOES: Road runner/
DUPREE CANN: Mean ole daddy/ BOB CASS & HIS CORVETTES: Corvette baby/ THE
CHAMPS: Drag strip/ MARY CORBIN QUINTET: Musical chairs/ GARY & THE
DETONATORS: I wanna dance/ ETHAN GIANT: Where's my baby/ LEON GRISSOM &
THE ROULETTES: Goodbye sweet love/ KEN HOWELL & THE SAINTS: What's her
name/ JOHNNY HUSKEY & THE KING BEE'S: Red dress/ JOHNNY & THE UNCALLED
FOUR: Shortnin bread/ LITTLE MOJO: Mojo theme/ LEROY MARIN & THE REBELS:
Keen teen baby/ J.R. MAY & THE GREEN VALLEY TRIO: I've been praying/ THE
MELOTONES: Vibrations/ GARY MIDDLETON & THE EXCELLOS: Pretty please/ TERRY
MILLER & THE ROCKIN ROBBINS: Teen twist/ THE MISSELS: Swanee river rock/
J.C. RAYNOR & THE CAVEMEN: Just one you for me/ THE REKNOWNS: Rockin and
rehearsing/ RICHIE & THE REKNOWNS: That's what you're doin to me/ RUSSELL
SPEARS & THE DARTS: Beggin time/ THE T-J'S: Party party/ CHUCK THOMPSON &
THE ROCK-A-BILLIES: I'm tired of fooling around/ JAMES TURNER & THE
KENTUCKIANS: I've been made a fool/ WHITEY WHITE: Hillbilly surfer/
Maggie/ BUZZ WILLIAMS: Blue suede shoes/ DON WILLIAMS & THE EXOTICS: We
two rock
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 4487 |
Slow Boogie Rockin', Vol. 4 |
● CD $16.98 |
30 tracks, 73 mins, good
The fourth collection of slow to
mid-tempo bluesy rockabilly, rock 'n' roll and country is not as strong as
some of the previous volumes but has some good moments. Among the
highlights are two pounding sides by Stormy & The Stallions including a
nice cover of Hank Williams' Mind You Own Business, Dark Side Of
Town by Johnny Carlton is a nice bluesy country flavored song,
Groovy Joe's by Johnny Shelton is pretty good and The Jordan Brothers
do a good cover of Lee Dorsey's Ya Ya with a hot guitar break but a
lot of the tracks are pretty pedestrian including several instrumentals
with sub par instrumental work and a couple of bland teen ballads which
don't fit the category of "slow boogie rockin." Most of the tracks are new
to CD. (FS)
ANDY & THE SURFS: Walkin Down Lonely Street/ DON BROOKE & THE KENTUCKY
DRIFTERS: Love Love Love You/ JORDAN BROTHERS: Ya Ya/ JOHNNY CARLTON WITH
THE ESCORTS: Dark Side Of Town/ THE CATALINAS: Echo One/ CINDY & LINDY:
Lovin And Beln Loved Not/ BOB CREWE: Sweetie Pie/ BILLY DAZIER & THE
SHAMROCKS: A Thing Called Love/ THE DELTONES: Strollin With The Blues/ THE
DUAL TONES: I'll Belong To You/ THE EDMARKS: Gone/ LARK FOLEY: Johnnie
Skid Row/ THE GLADIATORS: Lonely/ LEON GRISSOM & THE BARONS: Southern
Bell/ F.LEE HAYSLIP: What's A Matter Baby/ KEN HOWELL & THE SAINTS: Call
My Name/ ROBERT KELL & THE DRIFTING RANGERS: Take A Chance With Me/ You're
Telling Everybody/ FRED MILTON: Midnight Ricle/ THE PANICS: Country Girl/
THE PHANTOMS: The Grinder/ JIMMY REAGAN & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Can't You
See It Ni My Eyes/ Lonely Lonely Heart/ THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Slow & Poky/
JOHNNY SHELTON & HIS ROCKABILLIES: Grovy Joe's/ STORMY & THE STALLIONS:
Hot Rockin Baby/ Mind Your Own Business/ REX TORIAN: Big Black Bear/
Standing Room Only/ UNKNOWN DEMO: Wamp-wamp-a-diddly
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
FSCD 004 |
Four Star Records |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 68 mins, highly recommended
Great collection of
rockabilly, rockin' country and rock 'n' roll recorded for the important
Los Angeles based Four Star label in the 50s and early 60s. The Four Star
label was responsible for the first recordings of such country legends as
Patsy Cline, T-Texas Tyler, Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin and others but this
set concentrates on some of the more obscure performers though it does
include the hot Shake 'Em Up Rock by Tyler and Pierce's Groovie
Boogie Woogie Boy. More than half the tracks here are making their
first appearance on CD and it includes sides by Gene Brown, Jimmy Wolford,
The Miller Brothers, Wayland Chandler, Slim Willet, Claude Pitts, Paul
Westemoreland & His Band (the great Caffeine And Nicotine), Chief
Little Chief (tough Elvis influenced ballads), Frank Simon, Charlie Ryan
(a couple of variations on his hit Hot Rod Lincoln), Sammy Masters,
Webb Pierce and others. Sound quality is excellent and booklet has arist
photos and label shots but no notes. (FS)
CARL BELEW: Cool Gator Shoes/ GENE BROWN: Big Door/ WAYLAND CHANDLER:
Little Lover/ Play Boy/ CHIEF LITTLE CHIEF: Come On Darlin'/ It's For
Certain (that I'm Hurtin')/ BOBBY LILE: Too Many Secrets/ SAMMY MASTERS: 2
Rocka 4/ Flat Feet/ Jodie/ Pink Cadillac/ Some Like It Hot/ Whop-t-bop/
THE MILLER BROTHERS: I Wanta Be Free/ Loco Choo Choo/ Tulsa Baby/ WEBB
PIERCE: Georgia Rag/ Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy/ CLYDE PITTS: The Lonely
Side Of Town/ CHARLIE RYAN: Hot Rod Hades/ Side Car Cycle/ FRANK SIMON:
Sugar Plum Boogie/ JACK TUCKER: Crazy Do (instr.)/ T. TEXAS TYLER: Shake
Em Up Rock/ PAUL WESTMORELAND: Caffeine And Nicotine/ Howl And Prowl/ Song
Sample From 45hot Rod Rag/ SLIM WILLET: Come Sundown/ JIMMY WOLFORD: My
Name Is Jimmy/ Teeney Weeney Man
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Norton 296 |
The Raging Teens, Volume 4 |
● CD $14.98 |
18 tracks (three previously unissued) of wild New England
rock 'n' roll from the late 50s and early 60s featuring Bob Vidone & The
Rhythm Rockers, Bob Manning & The Wildcats, Myles Connor & The Wild Ones,
The Angels, The Royal Knights, Tom Dorsam and others.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sundazed 11146 |
Dancehall Stringbusters - Crunchy Guitar
Instros From |
● CD $16.98 |
A collection of 20 hot guitar instrumentals from the
period 1959 through 1965 including familiar names like Link Wray & The
Raymen, Roy Buchanan (as a member of The Secrets), The Fireballs and Al
Casey along with obscure fret melters like Teddy & The Rough Riders, Kathy
Lynn & The Playboys, Jay Bee & The Cats, Alan Pierce And The Tonekings and
more. All newly remastered and featuring a booklet with notes by Bill
Dahl.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Teen 61100 |
All Them Chicks At The Hop |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 68 min., recommended
Back in stock. This CD
offers obscure post-Brenda Lee rock 'n' roll from such labels as Little
Star, Pioneer, and Auburn. And, at the risk of both oversimplification and
sexism, the lady singers don't seem quite as adept at jump tunes as do
their male counterparts. But, as always, tastes do indeed vary. This may
be your cup of tea; besides, there is at least one much-sought-after
number here. Specific tracks include At the Hop by the Sherrys,
Mommy and Daddy Were Twistin' by Susan Summers, Come on Over by
Penny Candy (really!), I'll Wait Forever by Bobbi Martin, Buddy
by Jackie Dee, Voodoo Doll by Amelia, Yo Yo by Kari Lynn,
For Your Sake by Robin Clark, Language of Love by Sue Thompson,
So Let's Dance by Dodie Stevens, and both Short Mort and
Oh, Neil by a rather young Carole King, her answer to Neil Sedaka's
Oh Carol. Sound quality is solid; there are no liner notes, and all
numbers are uptempo. (DH)
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