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NEWSLETTER #144
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
 Bill Haley -> Tony Joe White
 

  

 

NEW DVDS
   
VARIOUS ARTISTS Legacy Entertainment 5010 Rock & Roll And The 50s - A Visual Scrapbook ● DVD $9.98
145 mins, highly recommended
Another fun romp through the past from the folks at Legacy. These are simple packages that give you a whole lot of bang for your buck. What they lack in video quality, they make up for in inventiveness and rare footage; this is pretty much a time capsule of 1950's pop culture. Not only do you get lots of choice Rock & Roll and Pop from the 1950's, you get a wide variety of clips from life in the era: sports legends like Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson etc., movie and T.V. bits and plenty slice of life clips. Among the artists featured performing there are A couple of great Fats Domino performances, a couple of fiery cuts from Jerry Lee Lewis, and performances from The Platters, Patti Page, Gene Vincent, Charlie Gracie, and many more. There is also lots of great footage of cars, girls and all that good stuff. Some of my favorite clips have to be the James Dean anti-speeding commercial, a Captain Midnight Ovaltine segment, and a couple of swell ads with the Marx Brothers. The material on this seems to be taken from a series of some sort that came out in the 1980s, but I have no info on it. (JC

 
LINK WRAY Goldenlane 1646 The King Of Rumble ● DVD $14.98
20 tracks, 100 mins, recommended
The great and sadly now late wild man Link Wray is well deserving of a comprehensive documentary with great footage and interviews; this isn't that, but it's pretty good. This is a mix of live and interview footage all taken during a recent performance in England. The live set is fiery, loud and noisy, just like it should be. His playing is great and his voice, which was never his main appeal, sounds good as well. Interview segments are interspersed throughout the live performance, for which, unfortunately, the sounds levels are uneven, leaving much to be desired in that department. His interviewer is a lively young English Rock n' Roller who doesn't do a whole lot of interviewing, mostly just gets Link talking and he takes off from there telling his story and his version of the story of Rock n' Roll. Bonus material is 30 minutes of live material from the same date(s) in England, focused heavily on covers of classics. Sparse packaging, with little info. All in all not the best we could hope for, but worth checking out. (JM)

 

NEW COMPACT DISCS
   
BILL HALEY Proper BOX 118 From Western Swing To Rock ● CD $24.98
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

 
BILL HALEY & FRIENDS Hydra 27128 Vol. 3 - The Story Of Rock Around The Clock ● CD $34.98
Two CDs, 63 tracks, highly recommended
From the label that loves Bill Haley comes a two CD set that will separate the men from the boys - or perhaps the sane from the insane! This set features no less than 63 recordings of Haley's most famous song Rock Around The Clock. The first disc features 31 versions by Bill himself or the Comets ranging from the original recording by him from 1954 to a 2000 remix of a 1966 recording by him made in Mexico (where he recorded quite extensively in the 60s). It includes studio recordings as well as live performances from various T.V. appearances and elsewhere. The second disc features 32 different versions of the songs by artists from around the world including a version by Swedish jazz violinist Svend Asmussen, British band Bubblerock Is Here To Stay who are a bit like The Bonzo Dog Band, Adriano Celentano, Eddie Cochran & Gary Lambert (a great duet guitar instrumental version), The Deep River Boys, Nilsson & John Lennon, Ted Herold, Finnish group Goran Odner & Matti I Viljasen Septetti, the great Yiddish parodist Mickey Katz, Buddy Knox (one of my favorite versions), The Sex Pistols, Puerto Rican band Los Hispanos, Renato Carosone, Sandy Nelson, Carl Perkins, The Platters, Belgian techno band Telex, Mae West (who was 81 when she recorded her version and sounds like she could still rock Bill's clock) and others including pre-Haley versions by Sonny Dae and co-composer Jimmy DeKnight. Comes with 48 page booklet with a history of the song, a discography of all the versions by Haley & The Comets and notes on all the versions on the second disc, lots of photos, label shots and other memorabilia plus a listing (probably incomplete) of 364 different recordings of the song. Rock Around The Clock fans (you know who you are!) will love this and even if you're not this is an ambitious and facsinating project. (FS)
 
DALE HAWKINS Rev-Ola 188 L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas ● CD $15.98
10 tracks, 31 min., highly recommended
Best known for his song Suzie Q (covered notably by Creedence Clearwater Revival) when he was recording for Chess, Hawkins second LP, reissued here, stands as a swamp rock mini-masterpiece, even though it all but evaporated when Bell released it in 1969. Named for the three recording locations, this album, which wears a disctinctly southern garb, features an amazing line up of "session" musicians, including James Burton, Ry Cooder, Wayne Jackson (Memphis Horns), Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and Taj Mahal, among others. Hawkins' cover of the Jimmy Reed classic Baby What You Want Me To Do, is nothing like the original but every bit as compelling. The swamp rock is swampiest on Hawkins originals, such as Back Street and the seemingly tossed-off title cut that opens the album. For fans of soulful southern rock who appreciate an edge to their music and origianlity in their musicians. (JC)

 
BUDDY HOLLY El Toro 1012 Hollybilly - Buddy Holly 1956: The Complete Recordings ● CD $24.98
Two CDs, 41 racks, essential
Absolutely indispensable collection featuring all the recordings made by the great Buddy Holly during 1956. This includes his first commercial sessions for Decca that only yielded a couple of released singles that went nowhere, demos recorded at Norman Petty's state of the art studios in Clovis, New Mexico, demos cut at radio station KDAV in Lubbock and a wonderful raucous home session with Buddy accompanied only by Jerry Allison as they run through rock 'n' roll and R&B hits of the day like Honky Tonk/ Good Rockin' Tonight/Blue Monday/ Blue Suede Shoes and others. Many of the demos and home recordings were later issued with overdubbed backings by The Fireballs but these are the raw originals which demonstrate the excitement, charisma and amazing talent that Holly had. There are rumored to be other recordings from this period in the hands of various Holly family but legal hassles (i.e. not enough money) has prevented them making an appearance. In the meantime let's be grateful for this brief insight into the early years of one of the greatest rock 'n' roll artists of all time who would have had an even greater impact on the future of the music had he not been killed in that tragic accident in 1959. (FS)
BUDDY HOLLY: Ain't Got No Home (Lubbock home recording)/ Baby, Won't You Come Out Tonight? (Clovis Demo)/ Because I Love You (Clovis demo)/ Blue Days, Black Nights/ Blue Monday (Lubbock home recording)/ Blue Suede Shoes (Lubbock home recording)/ Bo Diddley (Lubbock home recording)/ Bo Diddley (Undubbed Clovis Demo)/ Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Lubbock home recording)/ Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Undubbed Clovis Demo)/ Changing All Those Changes (Clovis demo)/ Don't Come Back Knockin'/ Girl On My Mind/ Gone #1 (Undubbed Lubbock Demo)/ Gone #2 (Undubbed Lubbock Demo)/ Gone (Fragment)/ Good Rockin' Tonight (Lubbock home recording)/ Have You Ever Been Lonely? #1 (Undubbed Lubbock Demo)/ Have You Ever Been Lonely? #2 (Undubbed Lubbock Demo)/ Have You Ever Been Lonely? (Fragment)/ Have You Ever Been Lonely? (Fragment)/ Holly Hop (Lubbock home recording)/ Honky Tonk (Lubbock home recording)/ I Guess I Was Just A Fool (Clovis demo)/ I'm Changin' All Those Changes (Fragment)/ I'm Changin' All Those Changes (Nashville Version)/ I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down (Clovis demo)/ It's Not My Fault (Clovis demo)/ Love Me (With Studio Chat)/ Midnight Shift/ Modern Don Juan/ Rip It Up (Lubbock home recording)/ Rock Around With Ollie Vee (Fragment, July 1956)/ Rock Around With Ollie Vee (July 1956 Version)/ Rock Around With Ollie Vee (November 1956 Version)/ Rock-A-Bye Rock (Clovis demo)/ Shake, Rattle & Roll (Lubbock home recording)/ That'll Be The Day (July 1956 version)/ Ting-A-Ling/ You Are My One Desire/ You Are My One Desire (False Start)

 
JERRY LEE LEWIS Charly SNAJ 737 Sun Essentials ● CD $27.98
Four CDs, 128 tracks, approx 5 hours, essential
If you can't afford the comprehensive Bear Family box set (BCD 15420 - Classic Jerry Lee Lewis - 8 CD box with large booklet - $149.98) then this is the best single collection of the Killer's classic Sun recordings. Even if you have the Bear Family box you might want this since the price is so low and the programming is very different. Unlike the chronological format of the Bear Family box this one is arranged thematically with the first half of each of each disc featuring rockers and the second half being country. Although there is no rigid scheme to the format the first disc features some of his most succesful rockers, the second one has lesser known and B-side titles and the last two discs features a heap or covers of R&B numbers. In the seven years Jerry Lee was with Sun from 1956 to 1963 he recorded extensively with many recordings not being issued at the time and not turning up until resaerchers started excavating the Sun vaults in the 70s and finding hours of unissued Jerry Lee material - most of it of very high quality. All the hits are here, great originally unissued rockers like Milk Shake Mademoiselle, covers of loads of country and R&B standards and unexpected items like his version of Hoagy Carmichael's Hong Kong Blues and even The Marine's Hymn (From The Halls Of Montezuma. There are also a couple of tracks from the Million Dollar Quartet sessions with Jerry Lee duetting with Elvis. Many of the tracks feature Jerry Lee joined by the superb guitarist Roland Janes and drummer J.M. Van Eaton. Sound quality is superb and booklet has a biographical essay by Adam Komorowski and a track by track discussion by Clive Anderson. (FS)
JERRY LEE LEWIS: (Walk That) Lonesome Valley (with Elvis Presley)/ All Night Long/ As Long as I Live/ Baby Baby Bye Bye/ Ballad of Billy Joe/ Be-Bop-A-Lula/ Big Blon' Baby/ Big Legged Woman/ Bonnie B./ Born to Lose/ Break Up/ Breathless/ C.C. Rider/ Carry Me Back to Old Virginia/ Carrying On (Sexy Ways)/ Charming Billy (Billy Boy)/ Cold, Cold Heart/ Come What May/ Cool, Cool Ways (Sexy Ways)/ Crawdad Song/ Crazy Arms/ Crazy Arms/ Crazy Heart/ Deep Elem Blues/ Don't Be Cruel/ Don't Drop It/ Down the Line/ Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee/ End of the Road/ Fools Like Me/ Frankie and Johnny/ Friday Nights/ Good Golly Miss Molly (Alternate Take)/ Good Rockin' Tonight/ Goodnight Irene (Undubbed Master)/ Great Balls of Fire/ Great Speckled Bird/ Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/ Hang up My Rock & Roll Shoes/ Hello Josephine/ Hello, Hello Baby/ High School Confidential/ Hillbilly Music/ Home/ Honey Hush/ Hong Kong Blues/ Hound Dog/ How's My Ex Treating You/ I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)/ I Can't Seem to Say Goodbye/ I Can't Trust Me (In Your Arms Anymore)/ I Forgot to Remember to Forget/ I Know What It Means/ I Love You Because/ I'll Make It All Up to You (Alternate Take)/ I'll Sail My Ship Alone/ I'm Feeling Sorry/ I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry/ I'm Throwing Rice/ I'm the Guilty One/ I've Been Twistin'/ It All Depends (On Who Will Buy the Wine)/ It Hurt Me So/ It Won't Happen With Me/ It'll Be Me/ It'll Be Me (LP Version)/ Jambalaya (On the Bayou)/ John Henry/ Johnny B. Goode/ Just Who Is to Blame/ Just a Little Talk With Jesus (with Elvis Presley)/ Keep Your Hands Off It (Birthday Cake)/ Let the Good Times Roll/ Let's Talk About Us/ Lewis Boogie/ Little Queenie/ Livin' Lovin' Wreck/ Long Gone Lonesome Blues/ Love's Made Me a Fool of Me/ Lovesick Blues/ Lovin' Up a Storm/ Marines' Hymn/ Matchbox (Alternate Take)/ Mean Woman Blues/ Memory of You/ Mexicali Rose (Slow Version)/ Milkshake Mademoiselle/ Money (That's What I Want)/ My Pretty Quadroon/ Night Train to Memphis/ Old Pal of Yesterday/ Ooby Dooby/ Pink Pedal Pushers/ Pumpin' Piano Rock/ Put Me Down/ Ramblin' Rose/ Real Wild Child (Wild One)/ Rock & Roll Ruby/ Rockin' With Red/ Rockin' the Boat of Love/ Seasons of My Heart/ Set My Mind at Ease/ Settin' the Woods on Fire (Undubbed Version)/ Shame on You/ Sick and Tired/ Sixty Minute Man/ Slipping Around/ So Long, I'm Gone/ Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)/ Sweet Little Sixteen/ Teenage Letter/ That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)/ That's My Desire/ Tomorrow Night/ Turn Around/ Ubangi Stomp/ Waiting for a Train/ What'd I Say/ When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/ Wild Side of Life/ Will the Circle Be Unbroken/ You Are My Sunshine/ You Win Again/ You're the Only Star (In My Blue Heaven)/ Your Cheatin' Heart/ Your Lovin' Ways

 
LONNIE MACK Ace CDCHM 1134 The Wham Of That Memphis Man ● CD $13.98
11 tracks, 32 mins, recommended
The recommendation on this is purely on the merits of the classic 32 minutes of, the rest of the re-issue/ packaging etc., leaves a lot to be desired. This is a slim cardboard case edition that supposedly mirrors the original LP re-issue. The small print on the back is torturous to the near-sited, like me, and without the edition of any bonus material or notes, this will only appeal to those who don't have the original music (which is essential for Rock n' Rollers) and want a relatively cheap version. This exact parroting of the original LP would be great, if this was an LP re-issue, otherwise, I'll take Ace 713, which has all of these tracks plus 13 more and notes. (JM)

 
AUGIE MEYERS & THE ROCKA BACAS El Sendero 1001 My Freeholies Ain't Free Anymore ● CD $15.98
11 tracks, 34 mins, recommended
All of the fine budget re-issues of Augie's 1970s records seem to be leading up to this, a brand spankin' new album full of new songs from one of the kings of Tex-Mex and his current band of Bandoleros, the Rocka Baca's, with the multi-talented Max Baca (Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven etc., etc.,) leading the charge. They break out all the great instruments, fantastic pickin' and bad puns and heartfelt lyrics that fans will appreciate. El Sendero records is based out of San Antonio Texas and seems to be Indie label mogul Augie Meyer's newest record label. (JM)

 
THE PARIS SISTERS Varese 66757 The Complete Phil Spector Sessions ● CD $13.98
11 tracks, 27 mins, highly recommended
Phil Spector laid the foundation for his legendary "Wall Of Sound" with these dreamy sisters from San Francisco. The Paris Sisters had been hashing it out in the music business for a couple of years, but never approached a hit until they joined forces with Spector. I Love How You Love Me was their massive hit (it's included here in mono and stereo,) but these laconic lovelies laid down a number of fantastic tracks during these sessions. Mostly the tunes feature the same ethereal style akin to their hit, with one upbeat rocker thrown in, just in case. This covers the whole output of their work with the maestro of melody, so this is easily the best Paris Sisters compilation to pick up. (JM)
 
DOUG SAHM & THE SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET Hip-O Select 2496-02 The Complete Mercury Masters ● CD $118.98
Limited edition (5000 copies) five CD set housed in 7 1/2" x 6 1/4" book format with 105 tracks featuring every recording Sir Doug and his group cut for Smash and Mercury between 1968 and 1973 including all six of his albums, mono singles, Spanish language recordings and a number of Sahm productions on which his band appeared. The set compiled by Grammy winning producer Bill Levenson and was remastered from original master tapes. It includes booklet with liner notes by Scott Schinder with rare photos of Doug and the band.
 
TOMMY SANDS HYdra 27132 Early Hillbilly & Rockabilly Days ● CD $21.98
Though best known as a mid/ late 50s pop teen idol, Tommy Sands started his career as a hillbilly singer - and a pretty decent one. This collection features his first single for Freedom in 1950 when he was 13 years old, 14 tracks recorded for RCA between 1954 and 1957 including a couple of duets with Sunshine and a dozen of his more rockin' Capitol sides from the late 50s from his teen idol phase.
 
JACK SCOTT Bear Family BCD 16841 Jack Rocks ● CD $21.98
26 tracks, 58 mins, recommended
The best available reissue of this superb 50s rocker is the two CD set on Castle (Castle 669 - Baby She's Gone - $22.98) but if you just want the rockers then this is the way to go and this has a number of cuts not on the Castle release. With his powerful and soulful baritone and some fine bands and the outstanding vocal backup of The Chantones he turned in some great performances in the 50s like Leroy/ Go Wild Little Sadie/ The Way I Walk/ Baby's She's Gone/ What Am I Living For, the gospel flavored Save My Soul and more. His early 60s sides are not quite as strong but there are still fine sides like Lonesome Mary/ Found A Woman and, particularly, Wiggle On Out. Track 25 The Road Keeps Winding is a rather mediocre pop country number and is totally out of place here and could easily have been replaced by some of his other real rockers. Usual stellar sound from Bear Family plus, handsome digipac packaging and 36 page booklet with notes, great photos and full discographical info. (FS)

 
GENE SIMMONS Bear Family BCD 16758 Drinkin' Wine - The Sun Years, Plus ● CD $19.98
33 tracks, highly recommended
In his two years with Sun from 1955 to early 1958, Jumpin' Gene cut 17 songs, mostly hot rockabilly with only 2 couplings being released - Drinkin' Wine/ I Done Told You & Crazy Woman/ I Don't Love You Baby. This great collection features all 17 songs plus eight choice alternate takes rounded out with seven tracks recorded for Hi in 1959 and 1960 and leased Chess and Dot and ends with a 10 minute interview of Gene by Hank davis. On all the tracks he is accompanied by his brother Carl on guitar who is a fine musician if not quite in the class of some of the other guitarists who worked at Sun. (FS)

 
THE STRING-A-LONGS Ace CDCHD 1144 The Tex-Mex Teen Magic Of The String-A-Longs ● CD $16.98
Though best known as an early 60s instrumental group, The String-A-Longs started their musical career in 1959 as The Leen Teens performing teen-rock with vocals influenced by Buddy Holly. This 26 track collection collects both their vocal and instrumental work as well as some later recordings by Keith McCormack. Includes five previously unissued tracks.
 
TOMMIE TOLLESON Collector 4498 A Boogie King From The Gulf Coast ● CD $16.98
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)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Abkco 9237 Cameo Parkway - Greatest Hits ● CD $12.98
25 tracks, 62 mins, highly recommended
Now here's the perfect dance party CD. All tracks were originally released on the classic Cameo Parkway record label. Dee Dee Sharp gives you not only Mashed Potato Time but also it's delicious sequel Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) and her fabulous Ride! Chubby Checker provides three twists, a Limbo, a Pony Time, and even Jingle Bell Rock with one of the best "Bobbys"--Bobby Rydell--who makes an additional appearance with Swingin' School. And these aren't even my favorites on here! Personally, I really dig Dinner With Drac by Zacherle, Don't Hang Up and South Street by The Orlons, Can't Sit Down by The Dovells and, of course, ? and The Mysterians epic 96 Tears. Booklet packed full with credits, recording and chart information etc. You've got the party right here, now all you need to do is invite some friends and buy some bean dip. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1133 It Came From The Suburbs - Rare Teen Rock From The Kenn ● CD $16.98
27 tracks, 65 mins, highly recommended
Second volume to explore the strange and wonderful world of Downey records, a quirky So Cal label from the sixties. Subtitled "Rare Teen Rock From The Kennedy Era." The first all instrumental volume, "Intoxica!" (Ace 1114 - $16.98), is one of my favorites from the recent Ace output, this is a fantastic follow up. Tracks are pulled from the original masters that had been stored inside of Wenzel's Music Town record store for decades. From the sound of it, the kids were having a fantastic time in those L.A. suburbs. This compilation is brimming with wild novelty tunes, Thump De Dum Dum by Ernie Baptiste, Oh It Hurts by the Karols, Betty Boop (a direct rip on Alley Oop) and Astro Romeo by Johnny MacRae and Jessie Hill's fabulously weird Chop Chop (My Fair Lady) - you can guess what gets chopped- not to mention two songs about Voo Doo! On top of the novel tracks there is some real top shelf R&B. Three tracks by The Invictas, two by The Pastel Six, another fine Jessie Hill cut, two tracks by The Debonairs and much, much more. Great Stuff! (JM)
RAE ANN & THE TONGAS: Cupid's Clown/ ERNIE BAPTISTE: She Came, She Saw, She Conquered/ Thump De De Dum Dum/ MICKEY BOWMAN & THE TWINKLETONES: Purty Baby/ CARL BURNETT & THE HUSTLERS: Sweet Memories/ PAUL CLIFTON: Jay Walkin'/ THE DEBONAIRES: Dorothy/ Laura/ DARRELL GLENN: Hoo Doo The Voo Doo/ JESSIE HILL: Chip Chop (My Fair Lady)/ Understanding/ JIMMIE HOMBS WITH TOM & THE TWINKLETONES: Joe Cool/ JIMMIE HOMBS WITH THE INVICTAS: Voo Doo Dolly/ THE INVICTAS: Gone So Long/ Nellie/ Country Star/ THE KAROLS: Oh It Hurts/ JOHNNY MACRAE: Betty Boop/ Bwana/ Lovin' Up A Storm/ My Mary's Gone/ JOE MANISCALCO: Yea Yea Yea/ THE PASTEL SIX: Horny aka Hot Dogger/ Richard's Bounce/ UNKNOWN MALE VOCAL: The Dragon/ RICHARD WARD & THE HUSTLERS: The Well Of Loneliness

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1136 Rockin' In Wisconsin ● CD $16.98
30 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
Following up the outstanding "Garagemental" compilation (Ace 1113), this is the third volume to spotlight Wisconsin's premier Rock 'n' Roll label, Jim Kirchstein's Cuca Records. Amazing but true, there is easily enough great Rock "n' Roll music made in Wisconsin in the 1960's to fill up three full compilations. These bands really put the "sin" in Wisconsin, not to mention great hooks and fantastic tunes. Officially There are 28 Rock 'n' Roll / Rockabilly songs on here and 2 Doo Wop, and--Guess what?--there was some fine Doo Wop in the great cheese state as well, at least two great tracks by Kenny King & The Be Bops and Ronnie Premier. Some of the rockers are the superb Orbit Rock by The Orbits, Bad News by the Rhythm Rockers and two fantastic tracks by The 5 Chords, Red Wine and Daisy May, which feature some wailin' sax. You knew that they would eventually have to include the original Cuca version of The Fenderman's Mule Skinner Blues, and you get that as well as answer record What's All This by Bob Mattice & The Phaetons and Rocky Road Blues by the Muleskinners. Clearly Wisconsin was not a desirable state for a mule to live in. The list of fine cuts goes on and on. (JM)
KENNY BEE & THE PLAINSMEN: No, No/ THE DARNELLS: Little Sheila aka She She Little Sheila/ JIMMY DAWSON (DIXIE DRIFTER): Little Hero/ LARRY DOWD (WITH FIRST GARRISON): Mama Say Blue/ THE FENDERMEN: Janice/ Muleskinnner Blues (Original Cuca version)/ THE FIVE CHORDS: Daisy Mae/ Red Wine/ GRAND PRIX: Say Mama/ BOBBY HODGE: Gonna Take My Guitar/ RAY KANNON & THE CORRALS: Little Baby/ KENNY KING & THE BE BOPS: You're Alright/ ROBIN LEE & THE LAVENDERS: Aw Shucks/ BOB MATTICE & THE PHAETONS: What's All This?/ THE MONTEREYS: Rockin' Fool/ THE MULESKINNERS: Rocky Road Blues/ THE ORBITS: Orbit Rock (Instr)/ DANNY PEIL & THE TIGERS: Jingle Jump/ LARRY LEE PHILLIPSON: Bitter Feelings/ LARRY LEE PHILLIPSSON: I'm Wondering Now/ RONNIE PREMIER: Let It Be/ Love Trap/ Meet Me By My Locker/ Please Make Love To Me/ THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Bad News/ THE SUPREME FOUR: Patricia/ THE TEEN KINGS: I Might Have Known/ UNKNOWN ARTIST: I'm So Blue/ KAREN WELLS & THE BLACK KNIGHTS: Never Gonna' Let Him Go

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Ace CDCHD 1141 Girls Girls Girls: A Collection Of Dream Dates, 1955-65 ● CD $16.98
Collection of 28 songs dedicated to girl covering rock 'n' roll, R&B, doo-wop, country, folk and pop including Barbara Ann by The Beach Boys, Lily Maebelle by The Valentines, Cindy, Oh Cindy by Vince Martin With The Tarriers, Isabella by Roy Tann & His Combo and more.
ARTHUR ALEXANDER: Anna (go To Him)/ FRANKIE AVALON: Dede Dinah/ THE BEACH BOYS: Barbara Ann/ CHUCK BERRY: Nadine/ GLEN CAMPBELL: Brenda/ RAY CHARLES: My Bonnie/ EDDIE COCHRAN: Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie/ JERRY COLE: Midnight Mary/ BOBBY DARIN: Plain Jane/ THE DIAMONDS: Kathy-o/ FATS DOMINO: Margie/ FABIAN: Lilly Lou/ DALLAS FRAZIER: Elvira/ EDDIE HOLLAND: Jamie/ JAN & DEAN: Linda/ VINCE MARTIN WITH THE TARRIERS: Cindy, Oh Cindy/ JOHNNY MATHIS: Gina/ ROY ORBISON: Claudette/ THE PASSIONS: Gloria/ GENE PITNEY: Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart/ NEIL SEDAKA: Oh! Carol/ DEL SHANNON: Marie's The Name Of His Latest Flame/ ROY TANN & HIS COMBO: Isabella/ THE THREE FRIENDS: Blanche/ JOE TURNER: Corrine, Corrina/ THE TWIN-TONES - JIM AND JOHN: Jo-ann/ THE VALENTINES: Lily Maebelle/ LARRY WILLIAMS: Baby's Crazy (marie, Marie)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Acrobat ACRCD 222 America's Greatest Hits, Vol. 6 - 1955 ● CD $10.98
25 tracks, 67 mins, recommended
With little exception, this is the sound of White America of 1955. Lots and lots of McGuire Sisters, Mitch Miller, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, etc. Black America is only represented by Nat King Cole, or in the many hit songs of white artists doing black music, like Dance With Me Henry, and Tweedle Dee by Georgia Gibbs, Ain't That A Shame from Pat Boone, I Hear You knocking by Gale Storm, Earth Angel by The Crewcuts and many others. The Rock `n Roll floodgates are just about to break open; indeed, Bill Haley makes his first appearance with Rock Around the Clock here, but it wouldn't get huge until the "Blackboard Jungle" movie comes out. In the meantime, the establishment are profiteering from the new music that they are sure is just a fad. Also appearing here to bring a lot of fun to the party are The Ballad Of Davy Crocket by Bill Hayes and Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White from Perez Prado. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS AVI 5009 Rare Surf, Vol 1 : The South Bay Bands ● CD $15.98
25 tracks, 57 min, highly recommended
We've turned up a few copies of this long out of print album. Surf/instro fans should rejoice at the amount of previously unissued material AVI is bringing out in its two volumes of Rare Surf. And that's to say nothing of the quality of the material, which is for the most part excellent! Volume one traces the South Bay scene back before it really began with six tracks by The Journeymen, active as early as '59, but unrecorded 'til two years later with the singles Work Out/Bag's Groove and Surfer's Blues/Surfer's Rule. The latter is a real knock-out with some manic screaming in an attempt to keep pace with the emerging surf culture. Art Fisher then leaves the band and hooks up with Paul Johnson (a seminal player in the whole deal having already written Mr. Moto in The Belairs) to form PJ & Artie. Five cuts are presented from this important assoiation: Vamanos/Work Out Fine/Squad Car/Mariah/Fink. Johnson's next group was PJ & The Galaxies, a popular, influential, and sadly underdocumented ('til now!) group modeled much after his days with The Belairs. It is here Johnson's penchant for polished arrangements comes to the fore on Tally Ho/Andele/Wild Goose/Big Shot/Lanky Bones and nine more. In addition to the music, Dominic Priore's wealth of liner notes make this disc (and its accompanying volume) invaluable to surf fans. (GDR)
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Bear Family BCD 16443 Sentimental Journey, Vol. 3 - Last Train To San Fernand ● CD $19.98
26 tracks, 64 mins, highly recommended
Not a new release but not reviewed before. Everybody loves a train, the Germans even more than the average train nut. This fantastic set captures two dozen plus locomotive laments and celebrations. Features a great blend of Country, Skiffle (Two Tracks!), rock n' roll, rockabilly, and R&B. A couple of obvious selections are here from The Johnny Burnette Trio and The Monkees, but by and large it is full of great obscure songs, or versions of songs you might know like Rock Island Line, but it's done by Lonnie Donegan, Mule Train done by The Velairs or Sleepy LaBeef doing Mystery Train. Tiny Bradshaw chimes in with his rendition of The Train Kept A-Rollin (he wrote it, other people had a hit with it, and it's also included on his new Rev-Ola release CRBAND 3). Some other real winners include Long Black Train by Conway Twitty, Bop Train by Bill Justis, Night Train To Memphis by Jerry Lee Lewis and Twistin' Train by Titus Turner. There also a little Doris Day, Teresa Brewer and the like for the Pop angle, which fit in well. The packaging and booklet is a beauty with pictures for every artist and some interesting looking text (in German). (JM)
FREDDIE BELL: Take The First Train Out Of Town/ TINY BRADSHAW: The Train Kept A-Rollin/ TERESA BREWER: If I Were A Train/ JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO: The Train Kept A-Rollin/ THE CHAMPS: Train To Nowhere/ DORIS DAY: Choo Choo Train/ LONNIE DONEGAN: Rock Island Line/ RUSTY DRAPER: The Train With The Rhumba Beat/ JOHNNY DUNCAN: Last Train To San Fernando/ JON EMERY: I Let The Freight Train Carry Me On/ THE FOUR LOVERS: Night Train/ BUCK GRIFFIN: Watchin' The 7:10 Roll By/ BILL HALEY: Choo Choo Ch' Boogie/ BILL JUSTIS: Bop Train/ SLEEPY LABEEF: Mystery Train/ ERWIN LEHN: Sentimental Journey/ JERRY LEE LEWIS: Night Train To Memphis/ LAURIE LONDON: The Gospel Train/ ROLLEE MCGILL: There Goes That Train/ THE MONKEES: Last Train To Clarksville/ TITUS TURNER: Twistin' Train/ CONWAY TWITTY: Long Black Train/ THE VALENTINES: The Woo Woo Train/ BILLY VAUGHN: Sentimental Journey/ THE VELAIRES: Mule Train/ THE VIPERS SKIFFLE GROUP: Streamline Train

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 4504 Rock & Roll Covers - Hot Steamy Lovers, Vol. 1 ● CD $16.98
First of two CDs presenting covers of rock 'n' roll songs from the 50s and 60s. The songs are a mix of hits and obscurities and the artists are mostly American though a few talented artists from Australia make an appearance too. Some are from budget labels that specialized in covering the hits of the day with similar arrangements. to the hit version. It includes two different covers of George Jones's White Lightning, Arkansas twist is covered by The Jokers, Be-Bop-A-Lula by Australian Col Joye, Paul Champlain's rocking arrangement of Shortnin' Bread is covered by The vectors and much more. 33 tracks in all including a 1928 blues recording of James "Boodle It" Wiggins doing Keep A Knocking which provides the template for several other similar songs including Little Richard's 1957 hit. Includes 16 page booklet with notes, label shots and artist photos.
MERV BENTON: Twenty Flight Rock/ THE BLAZERS: You Are My Sunshine/ GEORGE BRACKEN & BRUCE CLARKE ORCH.: Sea Cruise/ PERRY BUSTER & THE STOMPERS: Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ CHARLIE & DON & THE ROMPERS: Slippin’And Slidin’/ KEITH DANIELS & THE BLUE RIDGE RAMBLERS: White Lightnin’/ ROB E.G.: Swanee River/ THE HENCHMEN: Rockin’ Robin/ THE HOT TAMALES: Boney Maronie/ No Help Wanted/ COOTCH JACKSON WITH HERBIE LAYNE’S ORCH.: Breathless/ THE JOKERS: Arkansas Twist/ COL JOYE & THE JOY BOYS: Be-Bop-A-Lula/ I Need Your Love Tonight/ JACK KELLER & BAND: Bumble Boogie/ DAVE MCQUITTY & THE VISCOUNTS: Bony Moronie/ DICK RICH & HIS TOWN & COUNTRY BOYS: White Lightning/ EARL ROBBINS & DAVE REMINGTON’S ORCH.: Jailhouse Rock/ JIMMY ROBERTSON & THE MELODY MEN: So Long,I’m Gone/ THE SCHNEIDER SISTERS: Ooby Dooby/ L. SIGMAN & THE SHARPS: Sweet Georgia Brown/ VICKY SIMMS WITH THE JOY BOYS: I Wanna Bop/ ROSIE STEVENS & THE SUADES: Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby/ Wrong Yo Yo/ THE THUNDERBIRDS: Teen Scene/ PETE TIPPITT & THE K-I BOYS: Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ UNKNOWN SINGER & BAND: Hot Rod Lincoln/ THE VECTORS: Shortnin’ Bread/ BOB VIDONE & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Frankie & Johnny/ THE VISCOUNTS: Cruisin’/ JOE WHITE WITH JIM STRANGE: Mule Skinner Blues/ JAMES ™BOODLE-IT™ WIGGINS: Keep A Knocking/ BOB WININGHAM & THE ROMPERS: Mind Your Own Business

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 4505 Rock & Roll Covers - Hot Steamy Lovers, Vol. 2 ● CD $16.98
33 more covers including Larry & The Gents with a sax and guitar driven cover of Chuck Berry's Little Queenie, Delbert Barker covering Carl Perkins' Blue Suede Shoes, Skeets Price with tallahasee Lassie, Don Pittman with a rocking instrumental version of Hank Williams' Jamabalaya with fine piano and guitar, NIck Moore & The Sceptres do Charlie Rich's Lonely Weekends and lots more. Good stuff with fine documentation.
DELBERT BARKER: Blue Suede Shoes/ THE BLUE BOPS: Mona Lisa/ JOHNNY “SCAT™ BROWN: Splish, Splash/ BIX BRYANT & THE RAIDERS: Let’s Have A Party/ JOHNNY CURTIS & THE TOPPERS: Rock-A-Beatin’Boogie/ EDDIE FINCH: At The Hop/ THE GRASSHOPPERS: Oh Boy/ THE GREAT UNKNOWN: Razzle Dazzle( inst.)/ JIMMY HELMS: Jailhouse Rock/ GOOTCH JACKSON: Johnny B.Goode/ HAMBONE JACKSON: Great Balls Of Fire/ LARRY & THE GENTS: Little Queenie/ ARTIE MALVIN & THE RHYTHM ROCKERS: Rock Your Baby To Sleep/ ARTIE MALVIN & THE BRIGADIERS: Short Fat Fanny/ ARTIE MALVIN WITH PAUL WHITEMAN ORCH.: I’m Stickin’With You/ ARTIE MALVIN WITH THE BRIGADIERS: Shake Rattle & Roll/ KEN MARVIN: Uh Uh Honey/ REX MASTERS: Too Much/ NICKY MOORE: Linda L(o)u/ Lonely Weekends/ SCOTT OTIS: Hard Headed Woman/ DAWN OWENS & THE RHYTHM KINGS: Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes/ DON PITTMAN: Jambalaya (Inst.)/ SKEETS PRICE & THE COASTIERS ORCH.: Tallahassee Lassie/ THE PROMENADE ORCH.: Tequila(Inst.)/ DIG RICHARDS & THE R’JAYS: South Of The Border/ JACKIE ROBBINS: Chantilly Lace/ EARL ROBBINS & DAVE REMINGSTON’S ORCH.: Treat Me Nice/ BOB SANDY & THE RHYTHM RANGERS: Folsom Prison Blues/ SUGAR BEAT & PROMENADE ORCH.: Sweet Little Sixteen/ UNKNOWN BAND: Walk–Don’t Run(Inst.)/ THE VALIANTS: Good Golly Miss Molly/ FARIN WEST: Knee Deep In The Blues

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 4506 Hot Licks, Rockin' Girls ● CD $16.98
30 tracks, 65 mins, recommended
On this you get 30 tracks of hot rockin' gals giving you their best in (usually) 2 minutes or less. Discography information is slim at best, but I would say that these tracks range from about 1958 - 1963. Lots of obscure female boppers - mostly of the suburban, Caucasian variety- like The Three Graces, Mildred Best, The Belle-Aires, Dolly Cooper, The Turtle Sisters, Connie Little, Patty & The Friendly Four, etcetera, etcetera. Good sound, fun music, lots of original label pics in the booklet, all in all a good time, if not much amazing music. (JM)
JEAN AUD: A Wine Glass A Dollar/ THE BELLE-AIRES: I Wanna Be Loved/ Sugar Candy/ MILDRED BEST: They Said It Couldn't Be Done/ SUSAN CABOT & THE BLOCKBUSTERS: Oo Shoo Bla Dee/ THE CASSIDY SISTERS & THE TITANTICS: Rockin'At The Hop/ CAROLYN CHIPMAN & THE BEACHCOMBERS: Keep ‘Em For A Hobby/ DOLLY COOPER: Tell Me/ JUDY CUALES & THE BELMONTS: Last Night(Inst.)/ CARMEN DAVIS & ERNIE FREEMAN’S COMBO: No, No Baby/ THE DIALTONES: Good Morning Mr. Blues/ THE GIRLS & CLAUD & RAINBOW WRANGLERS: E.String Boogie (Instr.)/ The Crawdad Song/ JUDY HARRIET: ‘Nuff Said/ JO HAYNES: So Long/ ARDEN JERVEY: This Wicked/ THE KAROL’S & THE RENDELL'S: Hot Licks (Inst.)/ PAMELA LAW: Just Like You Like It/ NANCY LEE & JIM WYNN ORCH: Don't Let Me Keep You/ CONNIE LITTLE: Boy For Me/ KAY MARTIN: Come By Sunday/ EDNA MCGRIFF & THE TOMCATS: Mambo Baby/ PATTY & THE FRIENDLY FOUR: No Foolin”Around/ CHEYENNE RAGIL WITH DENNY & THE DUKES: Huckle Buck/ SHERREE SCOTT: Fasinating Baby/ FONDA ST. PAUL: Wishing Well/ JEWELDINE TAYLOR: Look Who's Talking/ THE THREE GRACES: 7 L/ THE TUTTLE SISTERS: I Was Took/ DONNA LOU WHITE: Cadillac

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 4507 Zing Zing Rock & Roll ● CD $16.98
30 tracks, 66 mins, highly recommended
After some fairly bland releases Collector is back with another winner with this great collection of rockabilly and rock 'n' roll - almost all of it appearing on CD for the first time. Includes sides by Barry Etris (an alternate take of his fine I've Met My One And Only), Billy Adkinson & The Fab Echoes (the crazed I Got Your Lovin'), Jim Murphy & The Satellites (an excellent version of That's Alright Mama), The Clefs (the fine instrumental Dream Train Special), Warren Robbe, Mike Cushman & The Interludes, Jimmy Moore & The Play Toys (the great Playtoy), Don & Tony & The Nighthawks (the tough instrumental Lightning), Kenny Picard, Buddy Larrison, The Royal Knights, Tommy Sena & The Valmonts, Jimmy Moore & The Play Toys (the excellent Dive That Jive-O with groovy guitar and effective handclaps), Freddie V & The Playmates (the bluesy country flavored I Can Tell) and more. (FS)
BILLY ADKINSON & THE FAB.ECHOES & THE MAC-ETTS: I Got Your Lovin'/ OLEN BINGHAM: Bayou Queen/ THE CLEFS: The Dream Train Special(Instr.)/ MIKE CUSHMAN & THE INTERLUDES: Me And My Guitar/ Why/ THE DEANS: Humpty Dumpty/ THE DELCORDS: Driving Guitars/ DON & TONY & THE NIGHTHAWKS: Lightning(Instr.)/ BARRY ETRIS: I've Met My One And Only/ I've Met The One And Only/ LARRY FRENCH & THE GEISHA GIRLS: Chopstick Twist/ JIMMY GARTIN & THE HIGHLANDERS: Gonna Ride That Satelite/ BUDDY LARRISON: You Drive Me Out Of My Mind/ "BIG" TINY LITTLE: School Day/ LITTLE HANK & THE RHYTHM KINGS: Christine/ JIMMY MOORE & THE PLAY TOYS: Dive That Jive-O/ Easter Rockin' Bunny/ Playtoy/ JIM MURPHY & THE SATELLITES: That's Alright Mama/ MURRAY & THE MURRAY HILL MOB BAND: Oh, Sweet Marie!/ KENNY PICARD: You're Not Mine/ THE PITCH PIKES: Zing Zing/ RICK & ROD: Don't Stop/ WARREN ROBBE: My Chicken Pen/ Single Man/ THE ROYAL KNIGHTS: Knight-Mare (Instr.)/ THE SAHARAS: They Play It Wild/ TOMMY SENA & THE VALMONTS: Oh! Come On Ma!/ TOMMY THRASHER: My Baby Knows/ FREDDIE V & THE PLAYMATES: I Can Tell

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Collector 4508 Rock & Roll With Piano, Vol. 12 ● CD $16.98
31 more rockers from the 50s and early 60s with an emphasis on piano including 15 instrumentals. Includes Frankie & Johnny, Joe Raminez & The Jumping Jacks, The Little INdians, Bob Taylor, Tony Charles Quartet, The Checkers, Billy Wade & The Country Boys and more.
THE BADAMATS: Not Anymore/ DON BADER & THE SCHLEPPERS: Honky Tonk/ BART BARTON: Ain’t I’m A Mess/ BIG JIM & THE NIGHTRIDERS: Night Rider Blues/ The Twitch/ LOS BOPPERS: Rasquense/ SID BRADLEY: Great Googly Moogly/ TONY CHARLES QUARTET: Hey! There Baby/ Playgirl/ THE CHECKERS: Skooby Doo/ THE DOUBLETTES: Falling Hard For You/ CLIFF DRIVERS: Drive On/ THE EYE ZOOMS: On The Line/ FRANKIE & JOHNNY: Picadilly Rose/ AUBREY A. GASS & THE HEL-CATS: Corn Fed Gal/ TOM KING & THE STARFIRES: I Love You Cause I Love You/ THE LITTLE INDIANS: No/ MARVIN PAUL: None Of Your Business/ THE PICKARD BROS.: You’ve Got A Little Bit/ TOMMY PLEASANT & THE VIKINGS: You Never Can Tell/ JO RAMINEZ & THE JUMPING JACKS: The Push/ JOE RAMINEZ & THE JUMPING JACKS: Hey/ JOHNNY RAMISTELLA & ORCH.: Two By Two/ HERMAN SCHMERDLEY: Folsom Prison Blues/ BOB TAYLOR: Peach Fuzz/ UNKNOWN PIANO PLAYER: Three Blind Boogie/ Ubbie Boogie/ BILLY WADE & THE COUNTRY BOYS: Conscious, Let Me Go/ CURTIS WAYNE: Be Nobody’s Fool/ EDDIE WILLIAMS: Cigarette & Coffee Blues/ LONNIE YOUNGBLOOD’S COMBO: Riverside Rock

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS El Toro 1011 Tennessee Rock 'n' Billy 1955 ● CD $18.98
33 tracks, 77 min., recommended
The territory covered here is mostly familiar, despite (or because of?) the narrow theme chosen for this album. Sun cuts (usual suspects and a few surprises, including Rock 'n' Roll Baby and You're My Baby, demos from Johnny Cash, later recorded for real by Warren Smith and others. Johnny Burnette's Von recordings are here (both of them) with enough surface noise to make them sound authentic. And while aural imperfections derived from vinyl source material (hear Oh Stop! by The Tunesmiths) comes with the rockabilly addiction, why the Sons Of The Pioneers' The Tennessee Rock And Roll (which it isn't) suffers from an embarrassing amount of surface noise is tough to figure, since it came out on a major label. Surely Bear Family has already digitized it, no? Other labels represented include the Hollywood-based Ekko, Columbia, Mercury, Atomic, Meteor, Hickory, and others. A pleasing and generous collection where every song is at least pretty good and many are wonderful. (JC)
SMOKEY JOE BAUGH: Hula Bop/ Listen To Me/ EDDIE BOND: Double Duty Lovin'/ Talking Off The Wall/ BARNEY BURCHAM: Can't Steal My Way Around/ JOHNNY BURNETTE: Go Mule Go/ You're Undecided/ THE CARLISLES: Nine Have Tried (And Nine Have Died)/ JOHNNY CASH: Rock 'n' Roll Ruby/ You're My Baby/ ERNIE CHAFFIN: Get Me On Your Mind/ I Can't Lose The Blues/ JACK EARLS: Hey Jim/ They Can't Keep Me From You/ CURLEY GRIFFIN: You Gotta Play Fair/ RED HADLEY: Brother, That's All!/ Ring Out Those Bells/ JESS HOOPER: All Messed Up/ Sleepy Time Blues/ RUSTY & DOUG KERSHAW (WITH WILEY BARKDULL): So Lovely Baby/ MAC & JAKE: Yakety Yak/ LLOYD MCCULLOUGH: Oh Darling/ Watch That Girl/ CARL PERKINS: Gone, Gone, Gone/ You Can't Make Love To Somebody/ ELVIS PRESLEY: I Forgot To Remember To Forget/ I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone/ MAC SALES: A Gal Named Joe/ THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS: The Tennessee Rock and Roll/ HAYDEN THOMPSON: Act Like You Love Me/ I Feel The Blues Comin' On/ THE TUNESMITHS: Baby, I'm Ready/ Oh Stop!

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Hit Parade 12303 Hard To Find Jukebox Classics, 1956 ● CD $11.98
24 tracks, 62 mins, recommended
Odd but enjoyable compilation that rounds up lots of great tracks that don't make it onto too many compilations because they tend to fall through the cracks of categorization. All of the tracks here were in the top 40 in 1956 and about half of them hit the top ten, with The Green Door by Jim Lowe, Moonglow and Theme From Picnic by Morris Stoloff and The Rock & Roll Waltz by Kay Starr all hitting the elusive #1 spot. Despite the misleading title by Miss Starr, the majority of tracks on here are in the pop vocal vein, with the closest thing to Rock & Roll being The Cheers doing the frantic Black Denim Trousers. My favorite track unearthed here has to be Jim Lowe's version of The Green Door, with its cool feel and mysterious lyrics. Yes, this song was the inspiration for the notorious film Behind The Green Door, (the Cramps did a great version of it, too). Other odds and ends worth mentioning are My Boy - Flat Top by Dorothy Collins, and Moonlight Gambler by Frankie Laine. The bulk of the collection is rounded out with the likes of Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Don Rondo and their ilk. Also good mention for Chuck Miller's boogie infused The House Of Blue Light. (JM)

 
VARIOUS ARTISTS Jamie/ Guyden 4017 The "Twang Gang" ● CD $15.98
A snapshot of the Phoenix, Arizona scene in the late 50s featuring 18 tracks produced by Lee Hazlewood who was responsible for discovering Duane Eddy. These tracks were all issued on jamie or it's Guyden subsidiary and a number feature Duane on guitar. INcludes sides by Donnie Owens, Lee Hazlewood & Duane Eddy, Sanford Clark, Don Cole, The Two Dons and Mark Robinson.
 
VARIOUS ARTISTS New Line 39059 A Date With John Waters ● CD $14.98
14 tracks,