NEWSLETTER #144
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
Dale Hawkins ->
Tony Joe White
| 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)
|
| 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)
|
| 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 $21.98 |
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 $18.98 |
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 $18.98 |
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 $18.98 |
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 - $18.98), 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 $18.98 |
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 $18.98 |
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 |
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 Fernando |
● CD $21.98 |
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 $16.98 |
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, 42 mins, highly recommended
There are many ways
to love and on this new CD collection John Waters has rounded up songs for
and about 14 of them for his newest collection for Valentines Day. You get
cornball, white-bread masterworks like Tonight You Belong To Me by
Patience and Prudence and Eileen Barton With The New Yorkers doing If I
Knew You Were Coming, I'd've baked a Cake. Along with Epic Soul from
Ike & Tina with their version of All I Can Do Is Cry, and righteous
R&B: Ain't Got No Home by Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Bewildered
by Shirley & Lee and Ray Charles with his classic The Right Time
(come on now, it's hard to put that song on without some baby-makin'
startin' up.) Of course, since it's John Waters, you also get some
oddball, freakout gems like Edith Massey's masterful rendition of Big
Girls Don't Cry and Sometimes I Wish I Had A Gun by Mink Stole.
Rounded out by a couple of New Wave/ Punk nuggets and John Prine and Iris
DeMent's brilliant In Spite Of Ourselves, and--guess what?--you
have an outstanding comp for any occasion. O.K. Waters, this is great;
what have you got in mind for Halloween? (JM)
MILDRED BAILEY: I'd Love to Take Orders from You/ RAY
CHARLES: Night Time is the Right Time/ JOSIE COTTON: Johnny Are You
Queer?/ EARL GRANT: Imitation of Life/ CLARENCE "FROGMAN" HENRY: Ain't Got
No Home/ DEAN MARTIN: Hit the Road to Dreamland/ EDITH MASSEY: Big Girls
Don't Cry/ ELTON MOTELLO: Jet Boy Jet Girl/ THE NEW YORKERS: If I Knew You
Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake/ PATIENCE AND PRUDENCE: Tonight You Belong
to Me/ JOHN PRINE: In Spite of Ourselves/ SHIRLEY & LEE: Bewildered/ MINK
STOLE: Sometimes I Wish I Had a Gun/ IKE TURNER: All I Can Do Is Cry
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Pet 005 |
Soft Sounds For Gentle People 4 |
● CD $14.98 |
23 tracks, 60 mins, highly recommended
The spirit of all
of these great Soft Sounds comps is summed up in the first song on this
CD: The Cosmic Brotherhood sing, "I See The Beautiful people digging the
sunshine world." These compilations bravely tackle the relatively un-mined
gems of Sunshine Rock/ Psychedelic pop: groups that were mostly never part
of any real scene, or more often than not, groups that barely existed
outside of the recording studio. This fourth volume is quickly becoming my
favorite. Incredible cuts by infamous outfits like The Precious Few, The
Phoenix Trolley, The Laughing Wind, The Lemonade Charade, Lux, Jennifer's
Friends, The Fragile Lime and many more all culled from obscure vinyl
releases and perfectly mastered with a rich, wonderful stereo sound
throughout. One of my favorite finds of this volume would have to be game
show impresario, writer of the classic Palisades Park and general
Bon Vivant Chuck Barris, who lays down some serious sunshine with his
Chuck Barris Syndicate's Donnie. This comes with the usual
extensive, informative and entertaining liner notes that are Pet Records
trademark. So do as the Split Level do, fire up the Moog and "Look at the
Rose with World Colored Glasses." (JM)
THE 1ST CENTURY: Dancing Girl/ 1ST NATIONAL BAND: When
Once It Was Good/ THE CHUCK BARRIS SYNDICATE: Donnie/ CENTRAL PARK: Flower
Hill/ COSMIC BROTHERHOOD: Sunshine World/ MARK ERICKSON: Hey, In The
Water/ THE FACTORY: No Place I'd Rather Be/ THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH:
Sunshine On A Cold Morning/ THE FOURTH DIMINSION: Land Of Make Believe/
THE FRAGILE LIME: Day In The Sun/ INCREDIBLE FOG: When The Sun's Gone
Down/ JENNIFER'S FRIENDS: Visions/ THE LAUGHING WIND: Don't Take Very
Much/ THE LEMONADE CHARADE: Yellow Brick Road/ THE LUV BIRDS: Little
Faces/ LUX: When I'm Gone/ THE PHOENIX TROLLEY: Too Many Trees/ THE
PRECIOUS FEW: The Carnival/ PUBLIC COMPANY: Hearts and Flowers/ THE ROONEY
BROTHERS: Geordie/ THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE: Boston Bay/ THE SPLIT LEVEL:
Looking At The Rose/ THE THOUSAND FACES: A Thousand Faces
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
RPM 274 |
Girls Go Zonk |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks, 54 mins, highly recommended
Girl group
aficionados, look out! RPM records, the same fine label that put out the
definitive Shangri-las compilation a couple of years back (RPM 506), also
strikes gold with this bounty of bodacious beauties and boundary breakers.
From the first track, Do The Zonk by Donna Loren, to the last,
Egyptian Shumba (Alternate Version) by The Tammys, this CD is pure
entertainment. Great rare tracks by The Girls, The Honeys, The Murmaids,
Pandoras and many more. Highlights for me included the title track,
Dynamite by Diane Renay and the rock 'n' roll version of Theme From
Mission Impossible by The Kane Triplets - WOW! Swell fold out booklet
has in depth info on each of the artists on the comp. (JM)
DEBBIE BURTON: Next Day/ JAMIE CARTER: Boy with the Way/
MARGIE DAY: Tell Me in the Sunlight/ ROBERTA DAY: Someday/ THE DYNELLS:
Just a Face in the Crowd/ THE GIRLS: Chico's Girl/ THE HONEYS: One You
Can't Have/ THE KANE TRIPLETS: Mission Impossible (Theme)/ DONNA LOREN:
So, Do the Zonk/ SHARON MARIE: Run-Around Lover/ DARLENE MCCREA: Don't
Worry Baby/ THE MURMAIDS: Paper Sun/ THE PANDORAS: Games/ DIANE RENAY:
Dynamite/ THE SATISFACTIONS: Daddy You Just Gotta Let Him In/ PATTI
SEYMOUR: Silencers/ VERDELLE SMITH: Tar and Cement/ THE STARLETS: You
Don't Love Me/ JOSEPHINE SUNDAY: You Won't Even Know Her Name/ THE TAMMYS:
Egyptian Shumba (Alternate)/ THE TWILETTES: Where's My Baby/ THE
VICTORIANS: You're Invited to a Party
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smith & Co. 1122 |
Great British Skiffle - Just About A Good
As It Gets! |
● CD $14.98 |
Two CD set with 55 tracks devoted to that short lived
musical phenomena in British popular music - skiffle. Groups of young
musicians, often using homemade instruments performed a mix of American
blues, country and jazz. Although the bulk of the recordings here are from
the heyday of skiffle in the mid 50s this set also includes some earlier
sides from the late 40s and early 50s that were precursors of the style
including Cy Laurie's 1951 recording of I'm So Glad featuring
washboard player Beryl Bryden who later went on to play washboard on THE
seminal skiffle release Rock Island Line by Lonnie Donegan which is
also featured here along with other sides by Donegan as well as Bryden's
own group Beryl Bryden's skiffle. The rest of the set includes artists
like The Vipers Skiffle Group, The Ken Colyer Skiffle Group, Chris
Barber's Skiffle Group, Alan Lomax & The Ramblers, The City Ramblers
Skiffle Group, The Clyde Valley Stompers and others. Compiled and
annotated by Dave Travis.
LAZY ADE'S BIG FOUR: Won't You Come Over To My House
Baby/ LAZY ADE'S LATE HOUR BOYS: Backroom Joys/ Hook, Line And Sinker/ THE
ARTHUR BAIRD SKIFFLE GROUP: Union Train/ CHRIS BARBER'S SKIFFLE GROUP
FEAT. DICKIE BISH: Can't You Line 'Em/ CHRIS BARBER'S SKIFFLE GROUP FEAT.
JOHNNY DUNC: Doin' My Time/ CHRIS BARBER'S SKIFFLE GROUP: Gypsy Davy/
Where Could I Go/ BERYL BRYDEN'S BACKROOM SKIFFLE: Casey Jones/ Kansas
City Blues/ THE CITY RAMBLERS SKIFFLE GROUP: 2.19 Blues/ 900 Miles/ I
Shall Not Be Moved/ I Want A Girl/ Mama Don't Allow/ Midnight Special/
Picket Line/ When The Saints Go Marching In/ THE CLYDE VALLEY STOMPERS
FEAT. MARY MCGOWAN: Old Time Religion/ Open Up Them Pearly Gates/ THE KEN
COLYER SKIFFLE GROUP: Casey Jones/ Down By The Riverside/ Downbound Train/
Go Down Old Hannah/ K.C. Moan/ Midnight Special/ Muleskinner Blues/ Stack
O Lee Blues/ Streamline Train/ Take This Hammer/ THE LONNIE DONEGAN
SKIFFLE GROUP: Bring A Little Water Sylvie/ Dead Or Alive/ I'm Alabamy
Bound/ John Henry/ Railroad Bill/ Rock Island Line/ Worried Man Blues/ CY
LAURIE FOUR FEAT. BERYL BRYDEN: I'm So Glad/ ALAN LOMAX & THE RAMBLERS:
Hard Case/ Oh Lula/ Railroad Man/ HUMPHREY LYTTLETON FEAT. JOHNNY PARKER:
Bad Penny Blues/ THE ORIGINAL LONDON BLUE BLOWERS: Fag Paper Stomp/ JOHNNY
PARKER'S BARRELHOUSE FOUR: Hold That Thing/ Mr Freddy Blues/ JOHNNY
PARKER'S WASHBOARD BAND: Canine Stomp/ No. 69/ The Fox's Tail/ Up There/
THE VIPERS SKIFFLE GROUP: 10,000 Years Ago/ Ain't You Glad/ Don't You Rock
Me Daddy-O/ Pick A Bale Of Cotton/ BOB WALLIS' WASHBOARD BEATERS: Crawdad
Hole/ It's Tight Like That
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smith & Co. 1124 |
Great British Rock 'n' Roll - Just About A
Good As It Gets! |
● CD $14.98 |
This two CD set with 62 tracks is subtitled "The Original
Rock 'n' Roll Recordings, 1948-1956". British rock 'n' roll in 1948!?
Well, Ray Ellington (of "Goon Show" fame) was born of an African-American
father and Russian mother and in 1948 covered Louis Jordan's Five Guys
Named Moe and in 1951 Trinidadian born, classically trained pianist
Winifred Atwell, was doing a fairly hot Cross Hands Boogie. Most of
the rest is from 1955 and 1956 when rock 'n' roll was invading England and
many of the tracks feature British pop artists (Frankie Vaughan, Alma
Cogan, Lita Roza, etc) covering (often rather badly) American rock 'n'
roll hits along with a few real young British rock 'n' roll artists like
Tommy Steele, Tony Crombie & The Rockets, Don Lang and others. Also
includes The Deep River Boys, The Southlanders, Bert Weedon, The Kirchin
Band and more. Compiled an annotated by Dave Travis.
WINIFRED ATWELL: Boogie In The Groove/ Cross Hands
Boogie/ Hamp's Boogie Woogie/ Jimmy Dorsey Boogie/ Vine Street Boogie/
Yancey Special/ EVE BOSWELL: Where In The World Is Billy/ JOHNNY BRANDON:
I Didn't Know/ Rock A Bye Baby/ Shim Sham Shuffle/ THE CANADIANS: Blue
Suede Shoes/ Juke Box Baby/ Rockin' Through The Rye/ ALMA COGAN: Bell
Bottom Blues/ Dreamboat/ Paper Kisses/ Why Do Fools Fall In Love/ TONY
CROMBIE & HIS ROCKETS: Let's You And I Rock/ Sham Rock/ Shortin' Bread
Rock/ Teach You To Rock/ DIANA DECKER: Rock A Boogie Baby/ THE DEEP RIVER
BOYS: Rock A Beatin' Boogie/ Rock Around The Clock/ Shake, Rattle & Roll/
Smack Dab In The Middle/ That's Right/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/ Whole
Wide World/ ERIC DELANEY BAND & THE BERYL STOTT GROUP: Rock 'N' Roll King
Cole/ RAY ELLINGTON QUARTET: Five Guys Named Moe/ RAY ELLINGTON: Giddy Up
A Ding Dong/ Stranded In The Jungle/ Strip The Camshaft/ THE FIVE SMITH
BROTHERS & THE DENNIS WILSON: ABC Boogie/ THUNDERCLAP JONES: Sound Barrier
Boogie/ KEN JONES & HIS ROCK 'N' ROLLERS: Giddy Up A ding Dong-Saints Rock
'n' Roll/ Razzle Dazzle-Shortnin' Bread Rock/ ERIC JUPP & THE CORONETS: I
Want You To Be My Baby/ THE KIRCHIN BAND: (Oh Baby) Beedleumbo/ Big City
Blues/ Tweedlee Dee/ DON LANG WITH THE LANGHORN BIG SIX: I Want You To Be
My Baby/ Rock 'N' Roll Blues/ Rock Around The Island/ DON LANG WITH THE
MAIRANTS-LANGHORN BIG SIX: Seventeen/ LEE LAWRENCE: Don't Nobody Move/
Rock 'N' Roll Opera/ LITA ROZA: Oakie Boogie/ THE SOUTHLANDERS: Ain't That
A Shame/ THE STARGAZERS: She Loves To Rock/ TOMMY STEELE & THE STEELMEN:
Doomsday Rock/ Elevator Rock/ Rebel Rock/ Rock Around The Town/ Rock With
The Caveman/ Singing The Blues/ FRANKIE VAUGHAN: My Boy Flat Top/ HEDLEY
WARD TRIO: Rock Around The Clock/ BERT WEEDON: China Boogie/ Honky Tonk/
D.R. Rock
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Stoned THC 001 |
Marijuana Unknowns |
● CD $15.98 |
12 track, 37 mins, highly (get it?) recommended
Well,
they're likely to stay unknown with the complete lack of info this
compilation provides. You do get a lot of spaced out fun, though. Twelve
songs about Dope, recorded by people on Dope, for people to listen to
whilst they smoke Dope! Aunt Matilda seems to have a very special recipe
for brownies according to The Two Dollar Question. There also seems to be
a lot of songs written about the same girl named Mary, she sure seemed to
get around back in the `60s. Fans of the Soft Sounds and Psych comps in
general should dig this one. (JM)
THE BIRDWATCHERS: Mary Mary/ THE CASTLES: Rocky Ridges/
MIKE CLIFFORD: Mary Jane/ COPPERPENNY: Stop The World/ LISTENING: Stoned
Is/ OWEN B.: Zig Zag Man/ PROPHECY: Take A Look At Mary/ THE RENAISSANCE:
Mary Jane/ SWEET SMOKE: Mary Jane Is To Love/ THEM: Walking In The Queen’s
Garden/ THE TWO DOLLAR QUESTION: Aunt Matilda/ THE WORLD: Pot Party
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Westside 226 |
Bob Crewe Presents The Dynovoice Story |
● CD $22.98 |
We have a handful of copies of this out of print two CD
set featuring 56 tracks recorded for Bob Crewe's Dynovoice label between
1965 and 1968. A mix of rock, pop, girl group sounds, soul and more from
The Toys, The Beach Girls, The Invitations, Jessica james & The Outlaws,
Jeanne Thomas, Norma Tanega, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, The Skym
Bob Crewe Generation, Duff Thurmond and others. Remastered from original
master tapes. Includes booklet with extensive notes.
PETER ANTELL: Warm Smoke/ THE BEACH GIRLS: Ski-ing In
The Snow/ CHARLOTTE & EMILY: Please Stay With Me/ THE CHICAGO LOOP: When
She Needs Good Lovin' My Baby Comes To Me/ THE BOB CREWE GENERATION: Music
To Watch Girls By/ BILLIE DEARBORN: Down/ THE GLITTERHOUSE: Barbarella/
THE HI-FASHIONS: Billy Knows/ LAINIE HILL: Time Marches On/ THE
INVITATIONS: Ski-ing In The Snow/ What's Wrong With Me Baby/ Written On
The Wall/ JESSICA JAMES & THE OUTLAWS: Come Closer/ Give Her Up (Baby)/
We'll Be Makin' Out/ THE LITTLE BITS FEATURING KARYL MANN: The Sun Ain't
Gonna Shine Anymore/ GEORGE MCCANNON III: Love, Love My Friend/ THE
MOTIVATIONS: The Slow Fizz/ EDDIE RAMBEAU: Concrete And Clay/ The Train/
Thinkin' About You Baby/ DIANE RENAY: The Company You Keep/ Words/ DIANNE
RENAY: Happy Birthday Broken Heart/ MITCH RYDER: Blessing In Disguise/
What Now My Love (Et Maintenant)/ Devil With A Blue Dress On-Good Golly
Miss Molly/ I Hope/ Jenny Take A Ride/ Little Latin Lupe Lu/ One Grain Of
Sand/ Sock It To Me Baby/ GEORGE 'N' SONNY SANDS: Down By The Ocean/ THE
SKY: I'm Not A Fool/ NORMA TANEGA: Bread/ Run, On The Run/ Walkin' My Cat
Named Dog/ JEANNE THOMAS: Life Of The Party/ Too Good To Be Bad/ MAGGIE
THRETT: Soupy/ DUFF THURMOND: If You Loved Me Baby/ THE TOYS: A Lovers
Concerto/ Attack/ Baby Toys/ Baby's Gone/ Can't Get Enough Of You Baby/
May My Heart Be Cast Into Stone/ On Backstreet/ See How They Run/ Silver
Spoon/ This Night/ KENNY WELLS: Isn't It Just A Shame/ JIMMY WILLIAMS:
Mushroom City
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Bonded 778 |
Elvis' Record Collection |
● CD $17.98 |
29 tracks, 78 mins, highly recommended
A hypothetical
account of Elvis's collection, not based on fact, but rather based on these
being the original tracks that Elvis later recorded and made more famous. It
should also be said that the music here is by and large the Blues and R&B
recordings that he covered, with the only exceptions to that rule being Carl
Perkins and (unfortunately) Ray Peterson. While mirroring six tracks on the Xtra records compilation this version is way cooler. All the usual suspects
are here - Big Mama Thorton, Arthur Crudup, The Drifters, Lloyd Price,
Junior Parker, Jimmy Reed etc. There is also a brilliant assemblage of more
uncommonly released tracks: Witchcraft by The Spiders, I Feel So
Bad by Chuck Willis, Love Me by Willie and Ruth, for example.
Plus Ink Spots, Bells Of Joy, Ketty Lester and many more. Comes with fairly
meager packaging, but sound quality is high. It's nice just to have all of
these great tracks in one place. Extra tidbit: Graceland has actually
compiled a list of Elvis's actual 1000+ record collection from the time of
his death, if you do a little searching around online you can probably find
it. (JM)
THE BELLS OF JOY: Leak In This Old Building/ ARTHUR "BIG
BOY" CRUDUP: My Baby Left Me/ ARTHUR CRUDUP: That's All Right/ THE DRIFTERS:
Money Honey/ Such a Night/ THE EAGLES: Trying To Get To You/ THE FOUR
FELLOWS: Soldier Boy/ LOWELL FULSON: Reconsider Baby/ ARTHUR GUNTHER: Baby
Let's Play House/ ROY HAMILTON: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry/ BERNARD
HARDISON: Too Much/ WYNONIE HARRIS: Good Rockin' Tonight/ THE INK SPOTS:
That's When Your Heartache Begins/ LITTLE WILLIE JOHN: Fever/ MARIE KNIGHT:
Tell My Why/ KETTY LESTER: Love Letters/ SMILEY LEWIS: One Night/ THE
ORIOLES: Crying In the Chapel/ LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER: Mystery Train/ CARL
PERKINS: Blue Suede Shoes/ RAY PETERSON: The Wonder of You/ LLOYD PRICE:
Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ JIMMY REED: Big Boss Man/ THE ROBINS: A Fool Such As I/
THE SPIDERS: Witchcraft/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog/ JOE TURNER: Shake,
Rattle and Roll/ WILLIE AND RUTH: Love Me/ CHUCK WILLIS: I Feel So Bad
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Xtra 26466 |
Songs That Inspired The King |
● CD $8.98 |
24 tracks, 69 mins, recommended
Basically, this is the
flipside of "Elvis' Record Collection" on Bonded records. Whereas that one
concentrates heavily on the Rhythm & Blues numbers that inspired Elvis
Presley, this compilation showcases much more of the Country music
influence with tracks by Lefty Frizzell, Pee Wee King, Hank Williams,
Ernest Tubb, Sons Of The Pioneers, and many, many more. There is some fine
R&B here, but it's only about 1/8 of a line up with no real rarities:
Lloyd Price, Big Mama, Ivory Joe Hunter etc. "Songs That Inspired The
King" does win out in the overall packaging/ notes and the price is a lot
more appealing. (JM)
EDDY ARNOLD: It's Been So Long Darling/ ROY BROWN: Good
Rockin' Tonight/ BING CROSBY: Blue Hawaii/ ARTHUR "BIG BOY" CRUDUP: My
Baby left Me/ That's All Right Mama/ RED FOLEY: Old Shep/ LEFTY FRIZZELL:
Give Me More More More Of Your Kisses/ THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET: Joshua Fit
De Battle Of Jericho/ DICK HAYMES: Love Letters/ DON HOWARD: Oh Happy Day/
IVORY JOE HUNTER: I Need You So/ PEE WEE KING: Tennesse Waltz/ FRANKIE
LAINE: High Noon/ BILL MONROE: Blue Moon Of Kentucky/ PATTI PAGE: I Don't
Care If The Sun Don't Shine/ LLOYD PRICE: Lawdy Miss Clawdy/ HANK SNOW:
I'm Movin' On/ THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS: Tumbling Tumbleweeds/ SISTER
ROSETTA THARPE: This Train/ BIG MAMA THORNTON: Hound Dog/ ERNEST TUBB:
Tomorrow Never Comes/ WILEY WALKER & GENE SULLIVAN: When My Blue Moon
Turns To Gold Again/ HANK WILLIAMS: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/ Men With
Broken Hearts
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Yeaah! 506 |
Teen Town U.S.A., Vol. 6 |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 68 mins, recommended
Fine collection of teen
oriented material from the 50s and early 60s. Although there's some pretty
bland stuff here most of it is pretty good white rock 'n' roll and doo-wop
and all of it is more soulful than Frankie Avalon. Includes sides by Buddy
& The Hearts (a fine cover of Chuck Berry's Let It Rock), The
Fairlanes, Johnny Rivers (an excellent up-tempo rendition of the standard
Answer Me), Pat Molitterieri, Ginny Arnel, Cecile And Ann (very
fine doo-wop), The Scott BRothers, Moose And The Pelicans (a fine cover of
the Crystals' He's A Rebel), Bob & Jerry (their We're The Guys
is an answer song to Barry Mann's Who Put The Bomp), Larry Parker,
The Voyagers, Andy Starr (the fine rocker Me And The Fool), Dick
Campbell (good Buddy Holly flavored rocker She's My Girl with fine
guitar), Earl Sink (another Buddy Holly inpsired track), The Trashmen,
Marc Cavell and others. I wasn't expecting to like this album but I did.
(FS)
THE ARDELLS: Every Little Day of the Week/ GINNY ARNEL:
Tribute To You/ DEL ASHLEY: There's a Heaven/ DIANE BAILEY: Leave Jimmy
Alone/ TONY BELLUS: Give Me a Heart/ BOB & JERRY: We're the Guys/ BUDDY &
THE HEARTS: Let It Rock/ DICK CAMPBELL: She's My Girl/ MARC CAVELL: Hide
and Seek/ CECIL & ANN: You Wrote This Letter/ THE CRITERIONS: You Just
You/ THE FAIRLANES: Little Girl, Little Girl/ JAY FANNING: This Green
Earth/ SONNY FLAHARTY: My Baby's Casual/ Mystery of Love/ BILLY JAMES &
THE STENOTONES: Phyllis/ THE KING TONES: Don't Come Around/ JERRY LANDIS:
Just a Boy/ PAT MOLITTIERI: The USA/ MOOSE & THE PELICANS: He's a Rebel/
THE PALISADES: I Can't Quit/ LARRY PARKER: Till the End/ RICK & THE
LEGENDS: The Diary of a Teenage Bride/ JOHNNY RIVERS: Please Answer Me/
THE SCOTT BROTHERS: Do You Want My Love/ EARL SINK: Look For Me/ ANDY
STARR: Me and the Fool/ THE TORQUAYS: While I'm Away/ THE TRASHMEN: Keep
Your Hands Off My Baby/ THE VOYAGERS: I Never Loved Anyone
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Yeaah! 507 |
Teen Town U.S.A., Vol. 7 |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 68 mins, recommended
Another varied selection
including bland ballads, girl group sounds, doowop and few hot rockers.
Includes sides by Jim, Jeff & Jan, Russ Conway, Barry Darvell, Ken Davis,
The Ecuadors (the great rocking Say You'll Be Mine), Roger
Washington (the very soulful Unless You let Me), Don And Eddie (Roy
Orbison impersonater!), Johnny Preston, Marc Cavell & The Class Mates, The
Pixies, Joey Du'Ambra, Bob And Justine, The Legends (the fine Buddy
Hollyish I Wish I Knew), The Petite Teens (their My Singing Idol
is a tribute to Ricky Nelson), Vince Everett, The Astronauts (the
excellent rocker Come Along Baby) and others. (FS)
THE ASTRONAUTS: Come Along Baby/ BEA & DEE: Wishing
Time/ BILLY BLAND: Can't Stop Her From Dancing/ BOB & JUSTINE: Drive-In
Movie/ ANDREA CARROLL: The Doolang/ MARC CAVELL & THE CLASS MATES: I
Didn't Lie/ RUSS CONWAY: Let This Be the Night/ MARC COVELL & THE CLASS
MATES: I See It/ JOHNNY CRUISE: Classroom Gossip/ BARRY DARVELL: Run
Little Billy/ KEN DAVIS: Oh So Blue/ BOBBY DENTON: I'll Always Be Yours/
DON & EDDIE: You Fool You/ JOEY DU'AMBRA: Baby Sue/ THE ECUADORS: Say
You'll Be Mine/ VINCE EVERETT: Stay Right Here/ KEN FOWLER: Payday/ ROY
FRANKLIN: Summer Sweetheart/ JIM, JEFF & JAN: Star Bright/ CURTIS LEE:
With All My Heart/ THE LEGENDS: I Wish I Knew/ THE PETITE TEENS: My
Singing Idol/ THE PIXIES: Cry Like a Baby/ JOHNNY PRESTON: This Little
Bitty Tear/ TERRY & THE KITTENS: Wedding Bells/ THE TRASHMEN: Lost Angel/
THE VALIANTS: Lover, Lover/ RANDY WARREN: Dream Girl/ ROGER WASHINGTON:
Unless You Let Me/ PHIL WILSON: Wishin' On a Rainbow
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Yeaah! 515 |
Teen Town USA, Volume 15 |
● CD $17.98 |
30 tracks, 69 mins, recommended
The Latest edition of the
Flops of the Pops! These collections round up the rarest of the rare
Teeny-bopper records from the 1950s and early '60s. Lots of sincere boys
with voices that are bravely wrestling with the shackles of puberty and
broken-hearted gals pining in perfect pitch. I Don't Care What The
People Say by Little Fay and The Emotions is a real toe-tapper,
Under Stars Of Love by The Shadows (American, not imported) has some
real charm and Mine All Mine by Bobbie Smith & The Dream Girls
rates at least a 9 with me. You also get rarities by the Half Tones,
Johnny Denton, The Limeys, Debonaires, Johnny Powers and a previously
unreleased track from Jerry Woodard among many others. Special nods to
Bobby Wharton and His Little Green Men doing You Don't Believe Me
and Just a Little Bit Sweeter from Jerry Meaders; man, if it got
any sweeter, I'd go into a diabetic coma! (JM)
JOHN ASHLEY: Seriously In Love/ BILLY BROWN: Last
Weekend/ VINCE CASTRO: Too Proud To Cry/ JERRY CHANNING: When You Loved
Me/ THE DEBONAIRES: I Need You Darling/ JACKIE DEE: Stolypso Dance/ JOHNNY
DENTON: Topsy Turvy/ DICKEY DOYLE: Dreamland Last Night/ SHANE FENTON:
I'll Know/ JOHNNY FORTUNE: I'm A Fool For You/ THE GOTHICS: My Dream/ THE
HALF-TONES: Turnaround/ MIKE HARRIS: Eternity/ THE JADES: Leave Her For
Me/ TERRY LEGION: Til Forever Is True/ THE LIMEYS: Silly Little Girl/
LITTLE FAY & THE EMOTIONS: I Don't Care What People Say/ BARBARA LYNN:
Dina & Patrina (stereo)/ JERRY MEADERS: Just A Little Bit Sweeter/ BOBBY
NELSON: Your Letter/ GEORGE PEEL: These Things I Remember/ JOHNNY POWERS:
You're To Blame/ THE SHADOWS: Under the Stars of Love/ BOBBIE SMITH &
DREAM GIRLS: Mine All Mine/ BILL VELINE: Leave Me Alone/ VINNY & KENNY:
Who (Is the Girl)/ DALE WARD: You Little Flirt/ BOBBY WHARTON AND LITTLE
GREEN MEN: You Don't Believe Me/ TROY WILLIAMS: Street of Love/ JERRY
WOODARD: Linda (unrel)
|
| GENE VINCENT |
Bear Family BCD 16846 |
The Ballads Of Gene Vincent |
● CD $24.98 |
28 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended
Gene Vincent wasn't
just a great rock 'n' roll singer - he was a great singer, period - as
this collection eloquently shows. His soulful high voice was beautifully
suited for ballads and this collection presents a wide selection of
material ranging from vintage standards like Wedding Bells (Are
Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) to great contemporary compositions
like Gene's own Important Words and James Bracken's bluesy Peace
Of Mind. The first 17 sides are from his Capitol years featuring gene
accompanied by his great band The Bluecaps with occasional added
instrumentation or choruses and often featuring lovely guitar work from
Cliff Gallup or Tommy Meeks. The remaining tracks are drawn from the rest
of his too short career and while usually not compelling as the Capitol
sides features some gems like the gorgeous Weeping Willow and a
tremndous version of the country standard Lonely Street. Though
these are ballads they are not pop music - they are infused with a soulful
rock sensibility. A wonderful and imaginative collection from Bear family
with superb sound and beautiful packaging in a digipack with informative
notes and full discographical info. (FS)
|
| TONY JOE WHITE |
Rhino Handmade 7731 |
Swamp Music - The Complete Monument
Recordings |
● CD $85.98 |
Limited edition, four CD box set featuring all the
recordings made by this distinctive performer for Monument in the late 60s
and early 70s. Although Tony Joe had a handful of U.S. hits, his songs
have been covered by many artists and he has cult status in Europe. Born
in Louisiana, Tony Joe's music is a heady gumbo of blues, soul, rock,
country and pop featuring soulful vocals and tough electric guitar
featuring some of the most imaginative use of the wah-wah pedal. In
addition to reissuing all his Monument LPs this set includes 43 previously
unissued sides drawn from ten 1969 Paris sessions and seven live
performances from the 1969 Isle Of Wight Festival. The set is packaged in
a flip top box with 36 page booklet with numerous quotes from Tony Joe
himself.
|
Back To New Release Index
Back
To Home Page
|
