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NEWSLETTER #146
Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Rockabilly
Johnny Burnette & The Rock 'n' Roll Trio ->
Gene Vincent + DVDS
| JERRY LEE LEWIS |
New West 8042 |
Live From Austin, Texas |
● DVD $15.98 |
Color, 55 min, highly recommended
"The Killer" on his only
appearance on Austin City Limits in October, 1983. Accompanied by a crack
band including Kenny Lovelace/ guitar & fiddle, Bob Moore/ bass and Buddy
Harmon/ drums he runs through a selection of his rock 'n' roll and country
hits along with some less familiar items. Jerry Lee is in great form,
singing with power and conviction and pounding the ivories with exuberance
and still able to do some of trademark playing piano with his foot! He's in
great spirits and that really comes through in his comments to the audience
and his sidemen. The DVD includes a number of songs not featured on the
original TV presentation and has been newly remixed and remastered in stereo
and 5.1 surround sound. Includes Keep My Motor Running/ Sweet Little 16/
Think About It Darlin'/ Boogie Woogie Country Man/ Chantilly Lace/ In The
Garden/ What'd I Say/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and more. (FS)
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| DOUG SAHM |
New West 8047 |
Live From Austin |
● DVD $15.98 |
12 tracks, 57 mins, highly recommended
Recorded for Austin
City Limits on November 14, 1975 during the first full season of this now
legendary show. Includes all of the favorites: (Is Anybody Goin' To) San
Antone/ Nuevo Laredo/ Mendocino and She's About A Mover, peppered
with lesser known originals and great covers, like One Night/ Cotton Eyed
Joe and Wasted Days and Wasted Nights just to name a few. The
king of the Texas hippies, Augie Meyers is there as usual, soundin' just
fine, as does the whole band, with Sir Doug up in front full of piss and
vinegar. This is easily one of my favorites of all of the episodes of the
show that I have seen and is one that I can see getting many repeat
viewings. (JM)
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|
JOHNNY BURNETTE & THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TRIO |
El Toro 10010 |
Shattered Dreams - The Rise & Fall Of
The Johnny Burnette Rock
'n' Roll Trio |
● CD $23.98 |
29 Tracks + DVD, 67 mins, highly recommended
When it comes
to definitive Rockabilly music, next to Elvis Presley's and Carl Perkins'
Sun sides, the Rock `n' Roll Trio was the real deal. Although Johnny and
Dorsey Burnette and Paul Burlison didn't achieve any hits during their
brief tenure, the records they cut for Coral in 1956 and early 1957 stand
as among the most influential (on a generation of British musicians) and
enduring of the time. Timeless (and oft covered) tracks like Tear it
Up/ The Train Kept-A-Rollin'/ Rock Billy Boogie, and Lonesome Train
(On a Lonesome Track) are present and accounted for and sound
magnificent, while on ballads like I Love You So, Johnny sings his
butt off and hinted at his later solo career in the early 60's. Dorsey was
no slouch either, as he proves on a searing Midnight Train. El Toro
has done a splendid job of putting this CD together, to the extent of
providing excellent liner notes, and including many alternate takes and
live performances. But the icing on the cake is a September 1956 episode
of "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour", presented in its entirety on a bonus DVD,
that contains the Rock `n' Roll Trio's final performance on that show
after a successful run as champions. It's a fascinating look at
entertainment pre-American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and America's Got
Talent, and worth the price of admission alone. Make no mistake, this CD
is a mandatory addition to everyone's music library. (GMC)
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| LONNIE DONEGAN |
Smith & Co. 1123 |
Just About As Good As It Gets |
● CD $14.98 |
Two CDs, 50 tracks, highly recommended
Lonnie Donegan
stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries in the skiffle movement
with a great voice with a real feel for the American folk and blues songs
he sang and was accompanied by some excellent British musicians. When the
skiffle movement died Lonnie was flexible enough to continue his career
doing music hall songs, ballads, night club material and more. This
collection is devoted exclusively to "skiffle" material recorded between
1953 and 1956 ranging from his earliest recordings as a member of Ken Colyer's Jazz Band through to his 1954 hit recording of Rock Island
Line - the song that launched the skiffle craze through to a string of
hits in 1956. The material here is almost exclusively American - much of
it traditional blues and folk - often drawn from the repertoire of his
heroes Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. Songs include Midnight Special/
Railroad Bill/ Stewball/ Dead Or Alive/ I'm Alabammy Bound/ The Wreck Of
the Old '97 (a particularly fine performance)/ Rock Island Line
(the originbal 1954 recording and the 1956 remake)/ On A Monday/
Cumberland Gap/ When The Sun Goes Down/ Wabash Cannonball/ Bring A Little
Water Sylvie/ Dead Or Alive/ Harmonica Blues, etc. Excellent sound and
brief notes by Dave Travis round out this indispensible collection. (FS)
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| DALE HAWKINS |
Bear Family BCD 16826 |
Dale Rocks! |
● CD $23.98 |
34 tracks, 79 mins, highly
recommended
Dale Hawkins had
one great big, massively influential song-Suzy Q,-but he also had
dozens of other really good/great tracks, a couple of white hot guitarists
in James Burton and Roy Buchanan, and a huge talent for entertaining. This
compiles all of the best of his earlier material, Suzy Q/ See You Soon
Baboon/ Sweetie Pie/ Mrs. Mergritory's Daughter/ Ain't That Lovin' You
Baby, and my favorite: Tornado. Dale was and is a great rock `n
` roller and this collection is chock full of great stuff that any good
R&R collection would be incomplete without, pick this up for all the
classics, but also check his new stuff out; he's one of the few still
making great original music and tearing it up live. This comes in a
beautiful gatefold digi-pack with a fantastic thick booklet that tells
Dale's story with lots of cool pics as well. (JM)
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| BUDDY HOLLY |
Decca 04543-02 |
Gold |
● CD $20.98 |
50 tracks, 107 mins, essential
Repackaging of "The Buddy
Holly Collection" originally issued in 1993. Though his recording career
only lasted a couple of years and he died almost 50 years ago the legacy
Buddy Holly left behind him continues to endure and grow and have impact
on new generations of musicians. While the definitive Holly collection is
still ensnared in legal hassles this set is the best retrospective of the
recordings of this legendary rock 'n roll pioneer. Holly accomplished a
great deal in his short but productive life. There are little more than
four years between the first and last recordings on this package but in
that time he had recorded in a variety of styles - country, rockabilly,
R&B and pop balladry - all of it done well and all bearing his individual
imprint. He was an outstanding singer, songwriter and consummate guitarist
and in the company of such talented sidemen as Sonny Curtis, Jerry
Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, Tommy Allsup priduced music that is truly
timeless. This set starts with 1954/55 radio station demos with his then
partner Bob Montgomery (with Fireballs overdubs) and continues on to his
first commercial and unsuccessful recordings for Decca, his early 1956
demos for Norman Petty (in their undubbed form) then on to 1957 and his
hits and album tracks for Brunswick (as The Crickets) and Coral (as Buddy
Holly) - That'll Be The Day/ Words Of Love/ Not Fade Away/ Tell Me How/
Listen To Me/ Oh Boy/ Peggy Sue/ Look At me/ Little Baby and all the
others including his last studio recordings cut with an orchestra. It ends
with four of the songs he recorded on a portable recorder in his
appartment in New York which were subsequently overdubbed by the
Fireballs. The collection was compiled by Billy Altman and MCA reissue
honcho Andy McKaie and features excellent sound, 28 page booklet with fine
notes by Altman, some nice photos and discographical info. One of these
days Holly will get his due with a box set of everything including
unissued songs, alternate takes, and non overdubbed performances but until
that day this set will give me (and hopefully you) a lot of joy. (FS)
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| RODDY JACKSON |
Ace CDCHD 1161 |
Central Valley Fireball |
● CD $18.98 |
16 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection of R&B
flavored rock 'n' roll by this gravel voiced wildman from merced,
California. Jackson had three singles issued on Specialty of which the
most well known is the crazy There's A Moose On The Loose. This CD
includes all three singles plus 8 previously unissued tracks from the
Specialty vaults and two home demos from Roddy himself including the
original demo for She Said Yeah which was recorded by Larry
Williams and later covered by numerous rock bands. Jackson has an
impressive set of pipes which he uses to good effect on a selection of
rockers and soulful ballads. Most of the songs are riginals but there are
also impressive covers of Cherry Pie/ Whole Lotta Shakin' On and
Lend Me Your Comb. Apparently Jackson recently returned to recording -
it would be interesting to hear how he sounds almost 50 years after these
fine sides. (FS)
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| WANDA JACKSON |
EMI Gold 397120-2 |
The Ultimate Collection |
● CD $14.98 |
One of the great female rockabilly and country artists of
the 50s and 60s this budget priced two CD with 50 tracks recorded for
Capitol includes on CD of country sides (I Gotta Know/ In The Middle Of
A Heartache/ Slippin'/ Tears Will Be The Chaser For The Wine/ Fancy Satin
Pillows, etc) and one CD of raucous rock 'n' roll (Let's Have A
Party/ Money Honey/ Hard Headed Woman/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On<
etc). Not as attractively packaged as collections from Ace and Bear Family
this is the perefct way to get some of Wanda's best recordings at an
unbeatable price.
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| JERRY LEE LEWIS |
Bear Family BCD 16865 |
Southern Swagger |
● CD $23.98 |
32 tracks, 73 mins, Highly Recommended
Hell yes, Jerry Lee
epitomizes southern swagger and then some. Possibly the wildest rock n'
roller of all time, this collection captures him in all his glory and
proves that Great Balls of Fire was not just a great lyric, but an
anatomical fact. Here you have an artist that has the chutzpah to take
Hank Williams' classic lyrics "I can't help it, if I'm still in love with
you" and sing them as "You can't help it, if you're still in love with
me." You get a couple of bugged-out versions of his hits Whole Lotta
Shakin' and Great Balls of Fire, but this is more about Jerry
Lee's raucous versions of tracks like Big Legged Woman/ Drinkin' Wine
Spo Dee O Dee/ Ubangi Stomp/ Lovin' Up A Storm/ Sixty Minute Man/ Break My
Mind, and the infamous Meat Man. His lustiest and gutsiest are
all put together on one CD, with raunchy in-between song banter as well.
Recordings from the late 1950's Sun sessions up to the early 1970's on
Mercury. Includes extensive recording notes. This is my favorite
collection of one artist's material that has come out lately, I think that
it's really great! (JM)
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| JERRY LEE LEWIS |
New West 6122 |
Live From Austin, Texas |
● CD $16.98 |
Same music as on DVD (see above).
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| JERRY LEE LEWIS |
Rhino (UK) 74052-2 |
The Platinum Collection |
● CD $9.98 |
20 tracks, highly recommended
Great collection with 12
tracks drawn from his three 1979/1980 Elektra albums and 8 from his 1995
album "Young Blood". The earlier recordings features a great selection of
old and new country songs with Jerry Lee accompanied by a hot band which
included James Burton and drummer Hal Blaine. These sessions resulted in
hits like Rockin' My Life Away, a terrific rendition of Charlie
Rich's Who Will The Next Fool Be and the stone country classic
Thirty Nine And Holding. The killer is in great form and pounds the
ivories will all the vigor of a man half his age. The 1995 set features
mostly covers and the performances are fine though not as strong as the
earlier sessions and the overuse of echo on some cuts is a detriment.
Includes I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive/ Gotta Travel On/ House
Of Blue Lights/ Poison Love, etc. (FS)
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| THEE MIDNITERS |
Norton 315 |
In Thee Midnite Hour!!! |
● CD $14.98 |
19 tracks, 55 mins, highly recommended
Not to be confused
with Hank Ballard's midnight men, this band is Chicano powered Rock n'
Roll rebels from east L.A. (Whittier Blvd. To be specific) and if I'm not
mistaken, they were the first band to put "Thee" in front of their name,
inspiring Rock n' Roll bands for decades to come. For a few years in the
mid 1960s these guys were certainly one of the rulers of the L.A. scene,
packing them in and driving them wild live, including an eighteen night
stint at the Whiskey A Go Go in May of 1965. Topping the charts on L.A.
area stations KRLA and KFWB with many a single, and cracking the
nationwide Hot 100 with a version of Land Of 1000 Dances, and
bubbling under with the cruisin' classic Whittier Blvd., (both
included here.) The fine folks at Norton mention that this has NO BALLADS
(!), which is a bit of an understatement when you check out proto-punk
tracks like I Found A Peanut and house rockers like Jump Jive
and Harmonize/ Empty Heart and Barrett Strong's Money. Great
band, great compilation, put it at the top of your list. (JM)
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| RICKY NELSON |
Bear Family BCD 16856 |
Ricky Rocks |
● CD $23.98 |
33 tracks, 74 mins, very highly recommended
Ricky was not
the most exciting rock 'n' roll vocalist but he loved the music and sang
it with conviction and this collection presents the best of those. What
makes his recordings so exciting is the superb band he had accompanying -
the early sessions featuring the great country guitarist Joe Maphis
providing some truly inspired rocking instrumental breaks - his playing on
If You Can't Rock Me is rock 'n' roll guitar at it's finest. Maphis
was followed by his protege James Burton whose playing shows his mentor's
influence but with a bit more sting to it. Songs are mostly ones written
for Ricky along with several fine covers like Boppin' The Blues/ I'm
Walkin'/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and others. Newly remastered
from first generation tapes and packaged in a digipack with 44 page
booklet with informative notes by Colin Escott, rare photos and full
discographical details. Includes Shirley Lee/ Be-Bop Baby/ Waitin' In
School/ My Bucket's Got A Hole In It/ Am I Blue/ Down The Line/ My Babe/
There Goes My Baby, etc. Ace records put out a very similar package
about 12 years ago and I haven't compared the two but this certainly has
superior packaging and, I suspect, better sound thanks to improvements in
remastering technology. If you don't have the Ace release then this is
indispensible. (FS)
RICKY NELSON: Ain't Nothin' But Love/ Am I Blue/ Baby
I'm Sorry/ Be-Bop Baby (Single version)/ Believe What You Say (Single
version)/ Boppin' The Blues/ Don't Leave Me/ Down The Line/ Hello Mary
Lou/ Hey Pretty Baby/ I Got A Feeling/ I'm In Love Again/ I'm Walkin'/
I've Been Thinkin' (version 2)/ If You Can't Rock Me (version 2)/ It's
Late/ Just A Little Too Much (version 2)/ Mighty Good/ Milk Cow Blues/ My
Babe/ My Bucket's Got A Hole In It/ One Of These Mornings/ Shirley Lee/
Stood Up/ Stop Sneakin' Around/ There Goes My Baby/ There's Good Rockin'
Tonight/ Travelin' Man/ Waitin' In School/ Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/
You Tear Me Up/ You'll Never Know What You're Missing/ Your True Love
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| MARTY ROBBINS |
Rev-Ola CRBAND 012 |
Rockin' Robbins |
● CD $15.98 |
Marty Robbins was popular and innovative country singer
and guitarist who dominated the Billboard charts for 30 years between 1953
and 1983, scoring hits with Singing the Blues and Knee Deep in
the Blues, both of which were covered by Guy Mitchell. He was among
the first country stars to embrace rock n' roll and this set includes all
his fine rock 'n' roll interpretations along with some country classics
and 8 rare tracks from live TV performances.
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| DOUG SAHM |
New West 6133 |
Live From Austin |
● CD $16.98 |
See under DVD.
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| BILLY SWAN |
RPM Retro 814 |
Rock On With The Rhythm |
● CD $17.98 |
Billy Swan was a Nashville mainstay in the 70's as a
songwriter and performer; this collection compiles his work recorded
between the years 1974-1998. Included is his huge 1974 hit I Can Help
and his versions of various rock n roll classics, done his signature style
which is a mix of Sun rockabilly, Nashville country, and Muscle Shoals R&B
- Your True Love/ Mystery Train/ Smoky Places/ Number One/ Pardon Me,
etc. - 24 tracks in all.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1065 |
Have A Party! 24 Great Instrumental Bands
Play The Fire |
● CD $18.98 |
A collection of 24 instrumental tracks featuring covers of
tunes originally recorded by The Fireballs and mostly written by Fireballs
leader George Tomsco. In addition to vintage recordings from the 60s it
also includes titles newly recorded for this collection and features
groups from both sides of the Atlantic. Includes Bill Kirchen, The
Ventures, Wes Dakus & His Rebels, The Nortons, The Tornadoes, The Shadows,
The Electras (a 1961 cover of Torquay featuring future presidential
candidate John Kerry on bass), John Blair & Marty Tippens, The Torquays,
Paul Johnson, The Challengers, The Detonators and more.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1145 |
Teenage Crush, Volume 5 |
● CD $18.98 |
28 tracks, 65mins, recommended
When people make the
argument that Rock n' Roll died in 1959, this is the type of music that
they point to in order to make their case. Squeaky clean twenty-somethings
crooning about malt-shop romance and summer gaiety. Nonetheless, I went
into this with unbiased ears knowing that there will be something in here
that I'll like and a lot that is worthwhile even if I don't personally dig
it. Austin Taylor's Push Push, Why Do I Love You So by
Johnny Tillotson, Dale Hawkins, A House, a Car and a Wedding Ring
and Love or Money by The Blackwells were all stand out tunes for
me. Along with that you get pop favorites from Vic Dana, Paul Dino, Nickey
Dimatteo, Dion, Danny Valentino and a bunch more, even including a couple
that weren't slick haired Italian hunks. Great informative notes on par
with the best of the Ace booklets. Make sure that you check out the
fascinating story of Dean Reed, truly a shocker. If you liked volumes 1 -
4 of this series, then you will absolutely enjoy this one. (JM)
FRANKIE AVALON: Just Ask Your Heart/ THE BLACKWELLS:
Love Or Money/ FRANKIE CALEN: Joanie/ VIC DANA: I Will/ DEAN & MARC: Tell
Him No/ JOHNNY DEE: Sittin In The Balcony/ NICKY DEMATTEO: Suddenly/ DION
DI MUCCI: Donna The Prima Donna/ DICK & DEE DEE: Young And In Love/ PAUL
DINO: Ginnie Bell/ RONNY DOUGLAS: Run Run Run/ THE FOUR DATES: I'm Happy/
JERRY FULLER: Tennessee Waltz/ MEL GADSON: Comin' Down With Love/ FRANK
GARI: Lullaby Of Love/ BOBBY HAMILTON: Crazy Eyes For You/ KARL HAMMEL JR:
Summer Souvenirs/ DALE HAWKINS: A House A Car & A Wedding Ring/ DEANE
HAWLEY: Look For A Star/ THE KALIN TWINS: Forget Me Not/ STEVE LAWRENCE:
Footsteps/ DICKEY LEE: Don't Wanna Think About Paula/ PAUL & PAULA: Young
Lovers/ DEAN REED: The Search/ KIRBY ST ROMAIN: Summer's Comin/ AUSTIN
TAYLOR: Push Push/ JOHNNY TILLOTSON: Why Do I Love You So/ DANNY
VALENTINO: Biology
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1149 |
Phil's Spectre III - A Third Wall Of
Soundalikes |
● CD $18.98 |
A third collection of tracks from the 60s by various
artists showing the influence of the ground breaking arrangements of Phil
Spector. Includes many tracks making their first legal appearance on CD
plus two previously unissued tracks and two previously unissued alternate
mixes. 26 tracks in all.
1910 FRUITGUM COMPANY: When We Get Married/ THE ASHES:
Is There Anything That I Can Do/ BONNIE: Close Your Eyes/ THE CASTANETS: I
Love Him/ JOHNNY CASWELL: My Girl/ MERRY CLAYTON: Usher Boy/ DAN FOLGER:
The Way Of The Crowd/ JERRY GAINEY: Who Am I/ JERRY GANEY: Just A Fool/
THE GIRLFRIENDS: My One And Only Jimmy Boy/ LESLEY GORE: Look Of Love/
MAUREEN GRAY: Goodbye Baby/ JUDY HENSKE: Let the Good Times Roll/ BARBARA
JACKSON: Big Man/ THE KIT KATS: That's The Way/ MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS: In
My Lonely Room/ ALDER RAY: 'Cause I Love Him/ THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS: My
Tears Will Go Away/ DEBBIE ROLLINS: He Really Loves Me/ GEORGE 'N' SONNY
SANDS: Down By The Ocean/ THE SAPPHIRES: Gee I'm Sorry Baby/ THE
SATISFACTIONS: Yes Sir That's My Baby/ BOBBY SHEEN: Sweet, Sweet Love/
SONNY & CHER: It's The Little Things/ DANIEL A. STONE: Young Boy Blues/
ALICE WONDER LAND: He's Mine
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1155 |
The Birth Of Surf |
● CD $18.98 |
26 track collection of guitar oriented instrumental
tracing the evolution of surf music from it's rock 'n' roll roots in the
music of Duane Eddy, Johnny & The Hurricanes, The Ventures and others
through Dick Dale's breakthrough 1962 recording of Mierlou to the
big hits of 1963 by The Chantays, Surfaris and The Pyramids. Usual
top of the line Ace sound and in depth 20 page booklet with notes from
Pipeline magazine contributors Alan taylor & Dave Burke.
AKI ALEONG & THE NOBLES: Earthquake/ THE ASTRONAUTS:
Baja/ THE AVANTIS: Gypsy Surfer/ THE BELAIRS: Mr Moto/ THE BLAZERS: Beaver
Patrol/ THE CHANDELLES: El Gato/ THE CHANTAYS: Pipeline/ THE CHEVELLS: Let
There Be Surf/ THE CROSSFIRES: Fiberglass Jungle/ DICK DALE & THE
DEL-TONES: Miserlou/ EDDIE & THE SHOWMEN: Squad Car/ DUANE EDDY AND THE
REBELS: Ramrod/ THE FIREBALLS: Bulldog/ THE GAMBLERS: Moon Dawg/ BOB
HAFNER: Surf Creature/ THE ILLUSIONS: Jezabel/ JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES:
Crossfire/ THE LIVELY ONES: Surf Rider/ THE ORIGINAL SURFARIS: Latin Soul/
THE PYRAMIDS: Penetration/ THE SENTINALS: Latinia/ THE SURFARIS: Wipe Out/
THE SURFMEN: El Toro/ THE TORNADOES: Bustin' Surfboards/ THE VENTURES:
Lullaby Of The Leaves/ LINK WRAY & HIS RAY MEN: Jack The Ripper
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Ace CDCHD 1200 |
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll,
Volume 11 |
● CD $18.98 |
30 tracks, essential
Another in this fabulous series
featuring rock 'n' roll songs that hit the Hot 100 charts in Billboard
between the mid 50s and early 60s - the Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll
indeed! Like previous volumes the music drawn from both the upper reaches
of the charts, the bottom of the charts and the middle and wherever
possible are sourced from original master tapes for the best possible
sound. After 10 volumes and 300 tracks under it's belt Ace continues to
bring us classic performances and this volume includes three of my all
time favorites - Love Is Strange by Mickey & Sylvia, the all time
classic swamp pop ballad Mathilda by Cookie & The CUpcakes and
Charlie Gracie's fabulous Fabulous. Other gems include Ruby Baby
by Dion, Nervous Norvus's insane Transfusion, Let The Good Time
Roll by Shirley & Lee and Goodbye Baby by Jack Scott along with
some fine obscurities from the lower reaches of the charts like Conway
Twitty's first chart hit I Need You Lovin', The Apple Of My Eye by The Four
Lovers (later to become The Four
Seasons), the rockin' doo-wop Come On Over by The Strollers and
more. Come with 28 page booklet loaded with artist photos, label shots and
ads along with track by track notes by Rob Finnis. (FS)
LAVERN BAKER & THE GLIDERS: Jim Dandy/ HANK BALLARD &
THE MIDNIGHTERS: Finger Poppin' Time/ JIMMY BOWEN WITH THE RHYTHM ORCHIDS:
I'm Stickin' With You/ RUTH BROWN: This Little Girl's Gon Rockin'/ COLLAY
& THE SATELLITES: Last Chance/ BOBBY COMSTOCK & THE COUNTS: Tennessee
Waltz/ COOKIE & HIS CUPCAKES: Mathilda/ JIMMY DEE & THE OFFBEATS:
Henrietta/ DION: Ruby Baby/ THE DRIFTERS: Drip Drop/ THE FOUR LOVERS:
You're The Apple Of My Eye/ CHARLIE GRACIE: Fabulous/ JIVIN' GENE & THE
JOKERS: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do/ BOBBY LEWIS: One Track Mind/ RONNIE
LOVE: Chills And Fever/ CARL MANN: Pretend/ NATHANIEL MAYER & THE FABULOUS
TWILIGHTS: Village Of Love/ CLYDE MCPHATTER: Without Love There Is
Nothing/ MICKEY & SYLVIA: Love Is Strange/ NERVOUS NORVUS: Transfusion/
THE NEW YORKERS: Miss Fine/ BOBBY PEDRICK JR: White Buck And Saddle Shoes/
THE QUARTER NOTES: Record Hop Blues/ THE ROBINS: Smokey Joes Cafe/ JACK
SCOTT: Goodby Baby/ SHIRLEY & LEE: Let The Good Times Roll/ THE STROLLERS:
Come On Over/ SAMMY TURNER: Lavender Blue/ CONWAY TWITTY: In Need Your
Lovin'/ THE VIBRATIONS (MARATHONS): Peanut Butter
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 4513 |
Rock & Roll Covers - Hot Steamy Lovers,
Vol. 5 |
● CD $16.98 |
Another fine collection of 33 obscure covers of
rockabilly, rock 'n' roll and a few country songs. One of the nice things
about this series is that only a few of the artists try to exactly copy
the popular versions - most of them bring their own unique flavor to their
performances. This set includes Fred Netherton & the Wildwood Playboys
covering Carl Perkins' Matchbox, The Moonriders doing Bobby Day's
Rockin' Robin, a fine cover of Buddy Holly's Rave On by an
unknown artist, Hank Hankins does The Delmore Brothers' Blues Stay Away
From Me and there are also versions of Wipe-Out/ Wreck Of The Old
'97/ Treat Me Nice/ Susie Q/ Clap Your Hands/ Roll Over Beethoven/ Rebel
Rouser and more. Excellent sound and 16 page booklet has informative
notes, photos and label shots.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 4514 |
Wild Guitar Rockers - Early Rock
Instrumentals |
● CD $16.98 |
As the title says this CD is wild rockin' guitar
instrumentals with the occasional honkin' sax thrown in for good measure.
30 tracks from the 50s and 60s - nearly all of them making their first
appearance on CD. Includes sides by The Jaguars, Corvairs, Paladins, Mad
Plaids, Cornells, Hollywoods, Starlites, Lancers, Orchids, Roulettes and
others you've never heard of. Has four page booklet with photos, label
shots and a worning from the Collector General "Collector Records is not
responsible if this stuff is too wild for you." You have been warned!
RICH CLAYTON & THE RUMBLES: Flip Side/ THE COACHMEN:
Confusion #/ THE CORNELLS: Beachbound/ Lone Star Stomp/ THE CORVAIRS:
Something Wild/ THE CRUSADERS: Moving Out/ THE EMOTIONS: Mashed Potatoes/
THE EWEN BROTHERS: Three Nashville/ THE FOUR SATINS: Drop Off/ RED
GARRISON & HIS ZODIACS: Big R/ THE HANDCLAPPERS: The Other Side/ Three
Gassed Rats/ THE HOLLYWOODS: Scramble/ THE IRIDESCENTS: Cool It Reba/ THE
JAGUARS: The Dog Catcher/ THE LANCERS: Dr. Casey Twist/ Loch Lomand Twist/
Torture/ LITTLE WILLIE & BAND: Hot Tamale/ THE MAD PLAIDS: Blood Rare/ THE
NIGHT TRAINS: Scramble/ THE NOCTURNALS: The Twister’s Stomp/ THE ORCHIDS:
2:45/ THE PALADINS: Party Time/ THE ROULETTES: Just Foolin’Around/ THE
STARLITES: Harmony Rock/ Starlite Rock/ SUNNY & THE FOUR: Shades Beetle
Boogie/ THE TEEN KINGS: Hep Cat/ THE TRIUMPHS: Draggin Waggin
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 4516 |
Wild Rockin' With Vocal Backing |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, recommended
Oh those creative Collector album
titles! This set features 25 tracks with a lead vocalist and backup vocal
group. Although this can sometimes mean the material is bland that's not
usually the case here - most tracks are fine rockers and there's a healthy
dose of hot guitar solos scattered throughout. Among the lead vocalists
featured here are Gene Princeton, Keith Parker (a nice rockin' version of
the country classic Release Me), Roger Hopkins, Billy Lee, Hank
Kanui, The Teen Beats, Ted Forbes, Sonny Sheather, Gene Anderson, Ray Gee
and others. (FS)
THE BEAVERS & SUNDOWNERS WITH SONNY SHEATHER:
Mississippi Ride/ THE BLUE ANGELS WITH LITTLE BOO: Yea Yea Miss Ann/ THE
BLUENOTES: Rock De La Risa/ THE CALENDERS WITH FREDDIE MEADE: Mepri Stomp/
THE CHEVELLES/THE CENTURIES WITH ROGER HOPKI: Ronda Run Runner/ THE COUNTS
WITH RAY GEE: Hootenanny Baby/ THE DEL-ROYALS WITH UNKNOWN SINGER: I’d
Wait Forever/ THE JOY BOYS WITH COL JOYE: Today’s Teardrops/ THE KEYNOTES
WITH GENE ANDERSON: I’ve Got It Made/ THE KISSES WITH M.KING & HIS CROWD
WITH TED: Knee Sox/ The Flirt/ DICK LURIE SEXTET & FOUR FRIENDS WITH HANK
KA: Butterfingers-Butterfingers/ THE RUGBEATERS WITH BILLY LEE: Won’t You
Take Me Back/ THE SONICS WITH UNKNOWN SINGER: Peanut Butter/ THE
TEEN-BEETS WITH UNKNOWN SINGER: Oh Baby/ THE THUNDERBIRDS WITH JOHNNY: The
Fugitive/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH GENE PRINCETON: Big Fat Saturday Night/
UNKNOWN BACKING AND SINGER: Carnival Rock & Roll/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH
LITTLE JOHNNY SALA: Casual Little Girl/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH GENE
PRINCETON: He’s Got The Whole World/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH KEITH PARKERA:
Release Me/ UNKNOWN BACKING AND SINGER: Rock A Bye/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH
CARMOL TAYLOR: Tell Me What To Do/ UNKNOWN BACKING WITH BRUCE ELLER: The
Little Sports Car/ THE VAN-DELLS WITH MYRON: Crazy Little Mama
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 7757 |
Early Rock & Roll from New Zealand, Vol. 9
& 10 |
● CD $16.98 |
This has been out but we haven't listed it before. Another
two CD set for the price of one from Collector documenting early rock 'n'
roll from New Zealand. This double set features 47 tracks recorded for the
Viking label in the late 50s and the 60s. A lot of covers of American hits
along with some home grown original compositions - The Q-Tees, Cole Wilson
& Tumbleweeds, The Reataz with The Satellites, Bill Morton & the Al Paget
Sextet, Dave Henry & The Sundowners, Peter Posa, Little Joy Yates, etc.
Includes 20 page booklet with detailed notes, photos, etc.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Collector 7758 |
Early Rock & Roll from New Zealand, Vol.
11 & 12 |
● CD $16.98 |
More New Zealand rock 'n' roll, rockabilly and upbeat
country from the 50s and early 60s. This volume focusses on artists who
recorded for some of the small labels along with previously unissued
private recordings. Includes Mel Rogers & The Night Hawkes Show Band, Lew
Pryme Wit The Rockateers, Neville Barry & The Commodores, The Twilighters,
Lou Clauson, Cliff Williams, Carol Davies & The Band-It's and other. With
16 page booklet.
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Flame 103 |
Desperate Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3 |
● CD $16.98 |
25 tracks, 59 mins, highly recommended
Fine collection
full of reform school Romeos, trailer park Casanovas and-apparently-a
couple of escaped mental patients, cranking out wild and wooly Rock n'
Roll. "Desperate Rock N Roll" volume three falls stylistically somewhere
between the "Back From The Grave" and "Stompin" CD series, with most of
the tracks being total winners. News flash: amazingly, this features a Sun
records acetate recording making it's first appearance anywhere, Johnny
Gentry's totally swingin' -Nineteen Years. Other swell rarities
include Baby Huey & The Babysitters blastin' through Junior Wells' classic
Messin' With The Kid, stellar Rockabilly from obscure cats like Don
Feger, The New Mason Dixons and Ray Bourell (cutting it up on JD
Loudermilk's Bad News.) We don't just get southern swagger here
though, we're goin' worldwide, with tracks like England's own Howie Casey
& The Seniors, Los Crazy Kings from real down south and the fabulous
Tielman Brothers, the legendary Indonesian brothers who ruled the Dutch
R&R scene in the late `50s into the `60s. Fantastic stuff throughout, no
hesitation as to whether you should shell out your sawbucks for this one,
it's bona-fide! Includes a fourteen-page full color booklet, with label
reproductions and info on all of the cuts. (JM) Note: This is different CD
to "Desperate Rock 'n' Roll Vol. 3" issued in 1993 though there is some
track duplication.
STEVE ALAIMO: She's My Baby/ THE ALIMINATORS: Let Down/
RICKY ALLEN: Cut You A Loose/ WILLIE B: Bad Mouthin'/ BABY HUEY & THE
BABYSITTERS: Messin' With The Kid/ DON BISHOP: The Crowd From 23rd Avenue/
RAY BOURELL: Bad News/ HOWIE CASEY: Twist At The Top/ LOS CRAZY KINGS:
Crazy Kings Twist/ FLOYD DAKIL COMBO: Dance Franny Dance/ SLY DELL: Let Me
Tell You 'Bout It/ BRACEY EVERETT: The Lovers Curse/ CLYDE FEGER: I've Got
A Baby/ DON FEGER: Date On The Corner/ Don't Be Mad/ THE FOUR TIELMAN
BROTHERS: Record Hop/ BILL FRIEL: Fort Lauderdale U.S.A./ JOHNNY GENTRY:
Nineteen Years/ JACK HAMMER: Black Widow Spider Woman/ KEE KLICKERS: Ricky
Boy/ BILLY MIRANDA: Run Rose/ THE NEW MASON DIXONS: Back Up/ THE PREMIERS:
Shawnee/ THE RHYTHMICS: Comin' Through/ NAT ROBERTSON: Country Boy
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Flesh Den 6908 |
Rock 'n' Roll Orgy, Volume 8 |
● CD $16.98 |
26 tracks, 58 mins, highly recommended
The "Rock `N' Roll
Orgy" compilations have come a long way from their scrappy beginnings and
this installment is easily one of my favorites. Volume eight comes with a
full color 12-page booklet, with label reproductions and write-ups of most
of the tracks. Packed with a bunch of hot boppin' hillbillies with twangy
guitars, stompin' drums and some occasional rollicking piano. Odd side
note: one of the things that you notice when you listen to a CD several
times in a row, of the 26 tracks, 14 start with the word "well"; odd, but
not terribly surprising for Rockabilly. One that doesn't start like that,
but is possibly the best cut on here is the raucous Tore Up by
Tommy (don't call him Sleepy yet) La Beef. Lots and lots of fine tracks
almost as powerful as Mr. La Beef's fill up this collection, rarities by
the likes of Ray Campbell, Arlie Miller & The Bullets, Jimmie Piper, Wally
Willette, Jimmy Grubs, The Sabres and many more. Culled from original
45'sor acetates on mighty little Indie labels Keen, Royce, Flag, Kat,
Presto, Sly, D and W, Ken-H, Rhythm, Delta, Wayside, Lucky, Reb-bel and
Rosco, just to name a few. (JM)
JACKIE BENSON: Gotta Get You,You,You off My Mind/ RON
BERRY: I'll Give You All My Love/ RAY CAMPBELL: A Ball Tonight/ BILL
DAVENPORT: Rock'N'Roll with Mom & Dad/ GENE DAVIS: I've Had It I'm
Through/ JIMMY GRUBBS: Let's Rock Tonight/ REX HALE: Darn Dem Bones/ Down
At Big Mamas House/ ROBERT A. IRVINE: Fastest Short In Town/ TOMMY LA
BEEF: Tore Up/ HAROLD MCKINNON: Little Jump Joint/ You Don't Love Me Baby/
ARLIE MILLER: Lou Ann/ TURNER MOORE: I'll Be Leaving You/ BUDDY PHILLIPS:
Coffee Baby/ JIMMIE PIPER: Bonfire/ BOBBY ROBERTS: Big Sandy/ She's My
Woman/ THE SABRES: My Hot Mama/ Puppet/ AL SWEATT: I Hate Myself/ Let's
Paint The Town Red/ UNKNOWN ARTIST: Blonde Head Woman/ BOB VIDONE: Untrue/
WALLY WILLETTE: Eenie Meanie/ Pink Elephants
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Hustlerz 1002 |
Songs That Inspired The King, Vol. 2 |
● CD $23.98 |
31 tracks, 77 mins, highly recommended
Many of these Elvis
influences type of compilations have come down the line lately with
varying qualities. Although this record label comes across as quite
pretentious and have one of the stupider names of late, they do put out a
great comp. The angle played herein features Presley tracks matched up
right next to the original or at least earlier version of the same tune.
I.e., the Big E doing Baby, Lets Play House immediately followed by
Arthur Gunter's version, Tomorrow Night by Elvis, then by Lonnie
Johnson, etc. Amazingly, even though you get double versions of 15 tracks,
it doesn't get repetitive because both tracks in every case are so good.
Elvis is in his prime throughout and matched up with him you get The
Shelton Brothers, Roy Hamilton, Willy and Ruth, Little Richard, Lloyd
Price, Carl Perkins, The Eagles (the good band called the Eagles from the
`50s) and more, all great in their own ways. So if you can get past the
cheesiness of the presentation, this is an excellent comp. Volume 1 is
currently unavailable. (JM)
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| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Panic 103 |
White Trash Rockers, Vol. 2 - I Am An Ape |
● CD $15.98 |
New collection of wild and crazy rock 'n roll
from the 50s and early 60s including many tracks making their first
appearance on CD - Peter Pete & Te Lovers, Louisiana Lannis, Ruby Medina,
The Fading Tribesmen, The Heart Attacks, Jay Hammond, Sugar Ree, The Pit
Men and more.
|
| VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Sha-Boom 101 |
The Girl Group Sound, Vol. 1 |
● CD $16.98 |
22 tracks, 52 mins, good
This compilation of early 60's
Girl Group music isn't bad, but it's very undistinguished except for
tracks by semi-known minor artists the Honeys (with Brian Wilson's future
ex-wife Marilyn), the Angels, the Drew-Vels (with Patti Drew), and the
Pixies Three. Most of the rest is pale imitations of better groups (mostly
the Shirelles) and solo singers (Leslie Gore); the lame answer (Linda
Laurie & the Del-Satins' Stay at Home Sue) and novelty (The Cure
by Smitty Williams) songs don't help matters any. The sound is ok, and the
song are not without historical value, but approach with caution. (GMC)
THE ANGELS: Wow Wow Wee/ GINNY ARNELL: Look Who's Talkin'/
ANDREA CARROLL: It Hurts To Be Sixteen/ DIAN CHRISTIAN & CRYSALETS: Why
Don't That Boy Leave Me Alone/ DIANE COLEMAN: He's the Only Boy For Me/
THE DONAYS: Bad Boy/ THE DREW-VELS: It's My Time/ JULIE GRANT: Watch What
You Do With My Baby/ THE HONEYS: From Jimmy With Tears/ MARCY JO: Take a
Word/ LINDA LAURIE & DEL-SATINS: Stay At Home Sue/ LINDA LAWRENCE &
CLUSTERS: At This Stage of the Game/ LAURIE LOMAN: Johnny Angel/ LORI
MARTIN: The House of the Boy I Love/ THE PARAMOUNTS: Just To Be With You/
THE PIXIES THREE: 442 Glenwood Avenue/ THE POPPIES: Lullabye of Love/
SANDY SELSIE: Gonna Get Some Records/ THE SHEPHERD SISTERS: Don't Mention
My Name/ THE SHERRYS: Pop, Pop, Pop Pie/ DEMETRISS TAPP: Let Go My Heart/
SMITTY WILLIAMS: The Cure
|
| GENE VINCENT |
Virginia 357 |
That Be-Bop-A-Lula-Cat |
● CD $27.98 |
Limited edition (500 copies) compilation of ultra rare
sides from this great rocker - mostly live performances. A number of these
tracks have been out before but there are a series of live performances in
Lyon, France in September, 1967 (including a rehearsal) that are making
their first appearance though sound is pretty grim. There are also two
tracks recorded at the Corral Club in Topanga Canyon in 1971 which
includes his version of Sunday Morning Coming Down - a song not
available elsewhere - again sound is pretty bad. There are other trackl
from BBC radio shows, the San Francisco State College Folk Festival and
elsewhere. Set includes 16 page booklet with notes and previously
unpublished photos from Gene's European tours.
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