Presse Archiv - Various Artists Tell It To Me - The Johnson City Sessions - Revisted (CD) - JP's Music BlogRevisit The Johnson City Sessions With New "Tell It To Me" Compilation

Back in 2013, the Bear Family Records label released the award-winning box set "The Johnson City Sessions: Can You Sing Or Play Old-Time Music?" It featured songs from the Columbia Records archives that were recorded in Johnson City, Tennessee between 1928 and 1929. On August 2nd, the Bear Family Records released a new 26-song condensed version of that set, which highlights mainly the essential tracks, in honor of the 90th anniversary of the Johnson City Sessions.

The set features some of the earliest recordings for Columbia Records as artists like Clarence Greene ("Johnson City Blues") and Jack Johnson ("I'm Just A Black Sheep") showcase the basics of the blues. You also get that one-of-a-kind classic country twang with artists like Grant Brothers ("Tell It To Me Baby") and Charlie Bowman ("Roll On Buddy"). The classic folk strumming of George Roark ("I Ain't A Bit Drunk") and Roy Harvey with Leonard Copeland ("Just Pickin'") will quicken your pulse with their swift guitar playing. It's nice to take a step back from today's modern music to appreciate the tunes and melodies that helped shaped these forms of music that we have come to love. To find out more about this new release "Tell It To Me: Revisiting The Johnson City Sessions 1928-1929," from Bear Family Records, please visit bear-family.com.

Presse - The Everly Brothers - Studio Outtakes - Blue Suede News
In 1985 Rhino Records issued a collection of studio outtakes from various Everly Brothers sessions for Cadence Records, All They Had To Do Was Dream. It was followed by the giant Classic Everly Brothers box set on Bear Family, which featured even more outtakes and offered an intimate portrait of the brothers at work in the studio with label owner Archie Bleyer and Nashville's storied "A-Team" of hotshot musicians, including Chet Atkins, whose distinctive guitar was featured on many of their hits. The 34 tracks offer alternative versions of hits like "All I Have To Do Is Dream," "Bird Dog," "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Take A Message To Mary," along with B-sides and album tracks.

The main focus of the brothers was those amazing voices that seemed to ebb and rise as one on Rockers and ballads. They worked with a small group of musicians, usually sans the strings and horns that became more of a focus when they moved on to Warner Bros. Nonetheless, there are differences in the hit tracks and the sides that didn't make it. They all sound pretty good, even to ears that have heard all their hits hundreds of times. As is usually the case with these projects, there was a compelling reason to issue the version that became the single, but that doesn't mean the alternatives don't sound good. You also get the usual BF in-depth liner notes and rare studio photos. Bear-family.com -Mark Marymon

Presse - Various Artists Sun Shines On Hank Williams - Sun Artists Sing The Songs Of...Tam Tam, Erfurt SHINES ON HANK WILLIAMS - SAMPLER (Bear Family Records)
Eine große Plattenfirma war in den USA Sun Records, die einige der besten Country- und Rock'n'Roll-Künstler vereinigte. Diese wie-derum interpretierten nun die Songs des früh verstorbenen Hank Williams (1953). Der ge-niale Country-Star wurde von zahlreichen Künstlern wie Johnny Cash und Jerry Lee Lewis interpretiert. Wir hören 16 Künstler, die 26 Songs auf ganz neue, interessante Weise singen. Es gibt guten alten Country, aufwie-gelnden Rock'n'Roll, versteckten Soul, alternative Aufnahmen und Rohfassungen, welche die musikalische Sonne scheinen lassen.

Press Archive - Billy Lee Riley - Billy Lee Riley Rocks - now dig this
The tracks underline his great versatility and range. He had many different voices and even man-ages to sound like Joe Turner on a powerful rendition of 'Flip Flop And Fly'. The covers of other familiar titles, 'Barefootin" (previously unreleased), 'Teenage Letter', 'Mean Woman Blues' and 'Searchin", are equally solid. The jazzy 'Arkansas Traveller', more basic 'Long Gone', strolling 'Catfish' and bluesy 'Shimmy, Shimmy Walk' are purely instrumental and merit their place in the set. 'Rockin' On The Moon' and 'The Little Green Men' are close cousins to 'Flyin' Saucer Rock & Roll' and the bluesy version of 'Red Hot' with harmonica is nice enough in its own right. 'The Way It Was Back Then', from 1994, is a rock n roll history lesson underpinned by a Bo Diddley beat. 'I've Been Searching' and 'Is That All To The Ball (Mr. Hall)' are both decent, brassy rockers. 'Open The Door Rich-ard', 'Everybody's Twisting', the silly 'Nightmare Mash' and odd 'Speed Lovers' are not in the same class as the others. It's always a pleasure to review a Bear Family CD as they invariably go the extra mile.

The digipak comes with a superb 40-page illustrated booklet with authoritative liner notes by Bill Dahl and discography by Colin Escott, Bill Millar and Nico Feuer-bach. I would urge anyone out there lacking a Billy Lee Riley CD to snap this one up pronto. Harry Dodds

Presse - Various Artists Sun Shines On Hank Williams - Sun Artists Sing The Songs Of...American Music Magazine September 2019, Schweden
Skivan inleds med en demo på •Hey Good Lookid» med Ernie Barton som är ett av åtta tidigare outgivna spår. Dessa blandas med outgivna alternativa tag-ningar, odubbade spår och rena demos och vi hittar till och med ett nya namn i Anette McGce som gör •Your Cheatid Heart• och Jeannie Greene från Cor-inth, Mississippi, som spelade in fyra spår hon betalade för, ett av dessa är .Your Cheatin. Heart». Även Gliff Gleaves ger sig på samma låt år 1958. På det här albumet kan man verkligen skilja agnarna från vetet då det är en enorm klass-skillnad på de inspelningar som Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Sonny Burgess eller Warren Smith presenterar gentemot många av de mindre namnkunniga artisterna.

Presse - Tommy Steele Doomsday Rock - The Brits Are Rocking, Vol.1 - American Music Magazine September 2019, Schweden
Tommy Steele var Englands förste rockkung och han slog igenom 1956 med låten «Rock With The Caveman» som placerade sig på en 11:e plats i England samma år. Här i Sverige började intresset för Tommy året efter och det växte sig snabbt. Han gjorde han sin första turné i Sverige i september år 1957 och redan i april var han tillbaks, denna gång med John Barry Seven i kompet. Så var det kampen mellan Tommy och Elvis i Bild Journalen 1958 och i en om-röstning som tidningen arrangerade blev han vald till rock-kung. Ar 1956 fick han sin enda listetta i England med en cover på Marty Robbins «Singing The Blues» och bland hans övriga topplåtar därstädes kan nämnas «Shirley Lee» (9:a 1957), «Water, Water» (5:a 1957), «Nairobi (3:a 1958), «Come On, Let's Go» (9:a 1958), «Little White Bull» (6:a 1959) och «What A Mouth• (5:a 1959).

Han gav ut tre album på 1950-talet «The Steele Show» (5:a 1957), «The Tommy Steele Story» (1:a 1957) och «The Duke Wore Jeans» (1:a 1958). Här i Sverige kom ett antal singel- och Ep-skivor och jag vill minnas art «Nairobi», «Build Up», «Elevator Rock» och «The Only Man On The Island» spelades på ung-domsdanserna. I början av 1960-talet lade han rockgitarren på hyllan och ägnade resten av karriären på musikalscenen. Han gjorde liksom Elvis ett antal filmer och hans första kom redan 1955 med «Kill Me Tomorrow», därefter följde bland annat «The Tommy Steele Story» (1957), «The Duke Wore Jeans» (1957) och «Tommy The Toreador» (1959). På den här utgåvan får vi flera av hans bästa låtar. Läs mer om Tommy i AMM 125. Jan Andersson

Press Archives - Narvel Felts - Narvel Felts Rocks - American Music Magazine September 2019, Schweden
Huvuddelen av de här spåren har varit tillgangliga tidigare på andra utgåvor som exempelvis Stomper Time år 2015. Här finns dock en del spår jag inte hört tidiga-re och bland dem finns guldkornet •Tony» som gavs ut på Pink samt inspelningar som är utgivna på Roland Janes skivbolag Ara och Renay. De fyra spåren som gjordes för Rollin' Rock år 1998 finns också med liksom ett hans stora paradnum-mer «Pink And Black Days». Här finns två tidigare outgivna spår i «Get On The Right Track Baby» och «The Pawnshop Broker» inspelade för Roland Janes i hans Sonic Studio i Memphis åren 1963 och 1964, den senare är helt suverän och man undrar varför den aldrig gavs ut.

Jag såg honom i Hcmsby för flera år sedan och då framförde han flera av rockspåren och jag blev oerhört överraskad över hur bra låtarna var och Narvel själv var helt suverän, en av de bästa rockshower jag har sen. Vår redaktör som sett honom flera gånger har aldrig sett en dålig spelning med honom. Det medföljande häftet är snyggt med text av Bill Dahl. Har du Stomper Times utgåva är den här en bra komplement trots att dc dubblerar på flera spår. Jan Andersson

Presse - Del Shannon The Drugstore's Rockin' - Two Silhouettes (CD) - American Music Magazine September 2019, Schweden
DEL SHANNON • «TWO SILHOUETTES» Bear Family Records BCD17596. Speltid: 76:20. Häte: 38-sid. Spår:33. Runaway (Stereo)/His Latest Flame/That's The Way Love Is/My Wild One/Wide Wide World/Torture(version 1)/Hats Off To Larry/The Wamboo/Don'r Gild The Lily, Lily/From Me To You/Two Silhouettes/Froggy/Sue's Gotta Be Mine/Hey Little Girl/ Misery/Hey Baby/Now She's Gone/Nothin'/Lies/So Long Baby/The Swiss Maid/ Dream Baby/Ginny In The Mirror/The Search (Stereo)Mary Jane/Keep Searchin' /1 Don't Care Anymore/You Never Talked About Me/Runaround Suell Won't Be There/ Cry Myself To Sleep/Move It On Over. Under tidigt 1960-tal var Del Shannon en av mina stora favoriter och jag köpte var-je skiva jag kunde fl tag på. På den har utgåvan återfinns flera av de låtar jag kunde spela om och om igen; det gick bara inte att tröttna på dem. När jag spelade den här skivan infann sig den gamla känslan och jag fick rysningar när låtar som «Runaway», »His Latcst Flame», «Hey Little Girl», «So Long Baby», «The Swiss Maid», «Keep Searchin.•, «Little Town Flirt», «That's The Way Love Is», «My Wild One» samt en helt underbar cover av Roy Orbisons «Dream Baby» dånade ut i högtalarna. Del Shannon håller än tycker jag. Hans största framgångar på våra breddgrader blev «So Long Baby» (6:a 1962), «Hey, Little Giri» (4:a 1962), «Little Town Flirt» (5:a 1963), «Two Kinds Of Tcardmps» (6:a 1963), «Two Silhouettes» (15:e 1963), «Sue's Gotta Be Nline» (9:a 1963), «Handy Nian» (9:a 1964), «Keep Scarthid» (1:a 1965), «Strangcr In Town» (13:e 1965) och «Runaway '67» (15:e 1967). I mitten av 1960-talet flyttade han till Los Angeles och skivbolaget Libcrty som gav honom hans näst sista listplacering på Billboard med «The Big Hurt» (94:a 1966). Därefter började han pm-ducera bland andra Brian Hyland och the Shirel-les samt komponera. Hans sista «hit» blev «Sca Of Love» år 1981, producerad av Tom Petty. Del Shannon tog sitt liv den 8 februari 1990 i Santa Clarita, men han musik lever kvar och han har alltid en plats hos mig. Bo Berglind

Press Archives - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - American Music Magazine September 2019, Schweden
Nate Gibson gav för några år sedan ut boken om skivbolaget Starday. Nu han har letat upp fjorton av Stardays originalartister - Betty Amos mcd Judy & Jean, Bill Clifton, Rudy Grayzell, Wade Jackson, Sleepy LaBccf, Little Roy Lewis, Jesse McReynolds, Darncll Miller, Frankic Miller, Arnold Parker, Margit Sing-leton and June Stearns. Nate gör duetter med alla i 24 spår, resultatet är absolut inte fvskam, visserligen börjar åldern ra ut sin rätt på ett par av legenderna men i stort är jag faktiskt rätt imponerad av resultatet. Oppningspåret «Rain, Rain» samt «Family Man» mcd Frankic Miller sitter som en smäck och dit hör också uptempospåren med Arnold Parker i «Find A New Woman», Darnell Miller i «Royal Flush• och «Mark Of Cain», Sleepy I.aBeef i «All The Time» och «Fm Through». Rudy Grayzell står i egen klass mcd rockrökarna «Let's Get Wild• och «Ducktail». Bland ballader är June Stearns helt suverän i «Wc Got Things In Common». Det bifogade häftet är på 56 sidor och rejält med information artisterna och inspelningarna. Nate Gibson gör att kanonjobb. Ro Rerglind

Press Archive - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - all about jazz
Various Artists: The Bakersfield Sound Think of country music and the city that immediately springs to mind is Nashville, but for a while Bakersfield became a capitol of country music in its own right, and its importance as the originator of the Bakersfield sound is examined in a massive box set from Bear Family Records, The Bakersfield Sound: Country Music Capital of the West 1940-1974, containing 10 CDs and a 224-page book written by Scott B. Bomar with a foreword by Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters.

As Bomar points out, the most well-known definition of the Bakersfield sound is a brand of country music with a hard-edged honky tonk sensibility propelled by Fender Telecaster guitars, a driving beat and pedal steel. Wynn Stewart has been mentioned as one of the founding fathers of the Bakersfield sound and Merle Haggard and Buck Owens have been placed in the center of the narrative. However, there are so many other stories and sounds to be found in Bakersfield in the period between 1940 and 1974 that the box covers. Among the many interesting artists are one of the unsung heroes of Bakersfield, Billy Mize, who was portrayed in William J. Saunders' documentary Billy Mize & the Bakersfield Sound (2014).

Press Archive - Various Artists Blues Kings Of Baton Rouge (2-CD) - all about jazz
Various Artists: Blues Kings of Baton Rouge Any musical genre gets its own regional twist, and this is especially the case with the blues. Just think of Chicago blues, Memphis blues and Detroit blues. However, a regional variant that has not been examined sufficiently is the blues of Baton Rouge. This fault is corrected by Blues Kings of Baton Rouge, a 2CD-set curated by blues expert Martin Hawkins, released on Bear Family.

The set follows two other major Baton Rouge projects by Hawkins, the definitive box set of recordings by Slim Harpo: Buzzin' the Blues: The Complete Slim Harpo (Bear Family, 2015,) and his book on Harpo and the blues environment in Baton Rouge: Slim Harpo: Blues King Bee of Baton Rouge (Louisiana State University Press, 2017).

Blues Kings of Baton Rouge provides an enjoyable introduction to the blues music of Baton Rouge, focusing on the period between 1954 and 1974. As Hawkins explains in the album's 52-page booklet, the reason for this is quite simple; before 1954, little recorded evidence of the blues scene in Baton Rouge existed, and after 1974, the blues started to disappear, making room for other genres like soul and R&B.

In the years covered by the set, a vibrant, local scene is captured with Slim Harpo as the leading light. Among the 53 tracks, nine are by Harpo, including his big hit "I'm a King Bee." The sound is gritty and down to earth, relying on few instruments like piano, harmonica, guitar and drums. J.D. Miller, who recorded much of the music heard on the set, knew how to recognize an authentic sound and a good blues song and he paved the way for artists like Harpo and Lightnin' Slim. Along the way, he also made up monikers for many of his artists, including the irresistible Lazy Lester and Lonesome Sundown.

Press Archive - Billy Lee Riley - Billy Lee Riley Rocks - theaquarian.com
These fond remembrances are due to Rocks (Bear Family Records), a red hot retrospective of Riley’s primal, earthy, roots-rockabilly (35 tracks!) that makes a strong argument for his inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. With great liner notes by Bill Dahl, beautifully-packaged booklet, and remastered sound, Rocks rocks. Highlights include “Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash,” “Arkansas Traveler,” “Flip Flop & Fly,” “Barefootin’,” “Everybody’s Twisting,” “Baby Please Don’t Go,” “Catfish,” “Mean Woman Blues,” “Nightmare Mash,” “The Little Green Men,” and a few versions of “Flying Rock ‘n’ Roll,” plus “Red Hot.”

“My gal is red hot,” he once snarled, “your gal ain’t doodly-squat.”

Press Archive - The Elvis Presley Connection Vol.1 (CD) - Old Time Review
The CD contains three live recordings, which can sometimes let down a compilation. The two television performances, from Carl Perkins and Dorothy Collins respectively, vary in quality. Perkins’ more stripped-down approach comes across well, whereas Collins’ big band sound can be a bit ‘too much’ for the technology of the era. The radio recording, taken from The Louisiana Hayride, is a charming Country interpretation performed by Lucy Lynn. Bear Family Records have worked with material from this show previously, and it’s clear. The exclusion of the live performances would have evened the CD out to a nice and neat 30 tracks, but it would have lost the colour.

Something Extra…
Housing the CD is an attractive looking digipak along with an extensive 33-page booklet; featuring song and artist information. Alongside the writing are a few relevant images and illustrations. This approach to packaging is a standard with Bear Family releases and is always welcome.

Conclusion:
Bear Family Records have compiled an impressive selection of tracks to cover the subject nicely. There were a lot of options available for both sides of the compilation, and they have picked a good selection to start For the label to name something as volume 1 gives the impression of more Presley connections to come, and I look forward to seeing what treasures they unearth.

Press Archive - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - country route news
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — When Buck Owens and Merle Haggard emerged from the dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music of Bakersfield, California's thriving honky-tonk scene of the ’50s and ’60s, they changed country music forever. “We represent the end results of all the years of country music in this town,” Haggard once remarked about the California city that served as home base for the two Country Music Hall of Fame inductees.
But how were the twin pillars of the “Bakersfield Sound” shaped by the Central California's city’s larger musical community? Who paved the way for their successes and who were their influences? The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 answers these questions and more.
Out from Bear Family on August 9, 2019, this sprawling 10-CD box set is the first multi-disc anthology to cover Bakersfield's country music heritage. Diving deep into the “Bakersfield Sound,” the compilation’s 307 tracks include plenty of fan favorites as well as a vast quantity of deep cuts, alternate takes, radio recordings, demos, live material, and previously unreleased studio recordings.
The massive collection begins with ’40s field recordings of migrants who arrived in Central California to find a better life, and proceeds to trace the development of this historic country music scene all the way through 1974. A turning point year for the Bakersfield Sound, 1974 stands as the last full year Merle Haggard made his home in the city; the year of Buck Owens’ final Top 10 hit as a solo artist; and the year local guitar hero Don Rich was killed in a motorcycle accident.
Offering a glimpse into the early days of the Bakersfield Sound are rare recordings from early pioneers Tex Butler, Tex Marshall, and Ebb Pilling, along with a Bakersfield radio studio performance by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys from the mid-’40s. During this era, Bakersfield served as a regular major tour stop for this fabled Western Swing ensemble.

Press Archive - Lou Cifer & The Hellions - Rockville Revelation - UK Rock N Roll
LOU CIFER & THE HELLIONS 'ROCKVILLE REVELATION' (Bear Family)

This German outfit formed out d the embers of various rock n roll bands back in 1995 and are absolutely tremendous. They are also musically schizophrenic they jump from being super tough teddy boy rock and roll, imagine Crazy Cavan notched up a gear, yes that good. They kick of with that style with the opening track 'Dance With The Devil' but do hick rockabilly like `Carl Is On The Radio' f superbly too. Lyrically, all in English, they are great fun, 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up' a r song that will resonate with plenty of listeners. Bear Family are usually associated with quality reissue compilations, but they've made a great signing here. This is going to blow a lot of doors off barns.

Press Archive - Narvel Felts - Narvel Felts Rocks - Now Dig This
NARVEL FELTS Rocks Bear Family BCD 17594
I had previously thought that the Stomper Time compilation. 'Those Rockabilly Days' (see NDT 392). had to have been the last word when it came to Narvels rockin' recordings. but this volume in Bear Family's 'Rocks' series must surely be the mother (and father!) of all com-pilations! All of the Sun and Mercury favourites are here. along with some of those remarkable '56 tracks recorded with Jerry Mercer's band that we first heard on the 'Radio Rockabillies' LP.

Presse - Del Shannon The Drugstore's Rockin' - Two Silhouettes (CD) - Auarian Weekly
Ballad Of A Dead Man
Before Del Shannon blew his brains out with a shotgun in 1990 at the age of 55, he was a singular real-rock voice in an age of boy-bands. His good friend Tom Petty wanted him to join the Traveling Wilburys upon the death of Roy Orbison. He should have. Consumed by depression, alcoholism, and the bitter realization that roots-rock was but a fading dream in the nineties pop world, the Michigan native—born Charles Weedon Westover in 1934—ended it all, but not before leaving behind a legacy of American, no-frills rock 'n' roll perfectly captured on Two Silhouettes (Bear Family Records), as part of the label's "The Drugstore's Rockin- series.

The 33 tracks in just under 80 minutes has its share of novelty clinkers, as Shannon seemed desperate to recapture his 1961 "Runaway' classic. Still, there are nuggets of pure gold here, like a pre-Elvis version of "(Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame, "Hats Off To Larry," -Little Town Flirt, Hey Little Girl, and "Keep Searching (We'll Follow The Sun)."

It ends with a real rave-up: "Move It On Over" features some hard and heavy lead guitar from Dennis Coffey of Motown's Funk Brothers. Covers of Dion's "Runaround Sue," Bruce Channell's "Hey Baby' and Lennon/McCartney's From Me To You" actually equal the originals. There's some weirdness, too. -Torture" is a guitar instrumental in the vein of Link Wray or Duane Eddy but with the sounds of men screaming for their lives.

Press Archive - Billy Lee Riley - Billy Lee Riley Rocks - Old Time Review
Having only just discovered Billy Lee Riley, I am left wondering how he could have slipped through the cracks of music history. The music is mostly standard Rockabilly fair with unique twists that are now commonplace in Rock music. His vocal style is distinctive, as is the musicianship surrounding it. ‘Bear Family Records’ have done an amazing job at showcasing this underrated artist; with a fine mixture of hits and deep cuts. If you are looking for an overview of memorable tracks from the career of Billy Lee Riley, this is the album to pick up. For those wanting to delve even deeper, they may want to check out other Riley albums available from ‘Bear Family Records’.

Presse - Various Artists Sun Shines On Hank Williams - Sun Artists Sing The Songs Of... Now did this
VARIOUS ARTISTS Sun Shines On Hank Williams Bear Family BCD 17504 This is such a good idea I'm surprised it hasn't been done before. It brings together a bunch of Hank Williams songs (either written by or associated with him) recorded for Sun Records by a total of 16 artists - a mixture of masters, demos, alternative takes and undubbed record-ings. To tempt Sun worshippers even more it includes eight previously unreleased cuts, which is where well begin. 'Hey Good Lookin" by Ernie Barton is a 53-second voice / guitar demo on which he does his best to ape Johnny Cash. It's intriguing but hardly essential.

Presse - Del Shannon The Drugstore's Rockin' - Two Silhouettes (CD) - Now Dig This
I certainly learned a few things from the excellent booklet. one of them being that 'Cry Myself To Sleep', with Grady Martin and company, was one of several Nashville record-ings. This isn't rock n roll as most of us know and love it and I guess that it even falls into the nostalgia category. but I bought a couple of these releases and heard them a lot on radio, TV and at friends' houses and so I found listen-ing to them again quite an enjoyable exper-ience. Mind you, I soon found that my falsetto isn't quite what it used to be, resulting in a few coughing fits, and I couldn't find my old metal Kazoo to join in on 'So Long Baby'. which was a shame. Among the things that were new to my ears was 'That's The Way Love Is'. a superior piece of 1960s pop music that I really enjoyed.

There are also two instrumentals. one of them -'Torture' - being just that for me. but amid the mayhem of 'Nothin- I detected a decent rock n roll instrumental with prominent sax and guitar. As I have said, not classic rock n roll, perhaps, but still very enjoyable to those of a certain age and a classy release which makes my old 99p Tring label CD obsolete. Hats off to Larry and all concerned.
Eric Dunsdon

Press Archive - Destination Moon - 50 Years-First Man On The Moon - Now Dig This
VARIOUS ARTISTS Destination Moon 50 Years - First Man On The Moon Bear Family BCD 17527

It's a shame this compilation wasn't available when Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and myself took our little trip to the Moon 50 years ago. It would've kept us entertained as we zoo-med through infinity and beyond. I had no idea there were so many songs from the '50s and '60s with the words 'Rocket' and 'Moon' in the title! Mind you, not everything here will send you into Outer Space because there's a fair bit jazz, pop, novelty and MOR stuff that will only appeal to squares, ya dig?

Press Archive - Carl Perkins - Discovering Carl Perkins - Eastview, Tennesse 1952-1953 (LP, 10inch) - The Daily Corinthian

Press Archive - Carl Perkins - Discovering Carl Perkins - Eastview, Tennesse 1952-1953 (LP, 10inch) - jacksontn.com
We’ve just made a startling discovery that will rewrite rockabilly history. Carl Perkins recorded at least two years earlier in a small studio in rural Tennessee. Those records make it clear that he was far from the clueless hillbilly who had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the rockabilly revolution. In fact, one of the four songs he recorded was Good Rocking Tonight, perhaps two years earlier than Elvis Presley cut it at Sun!

In October 2019 Bear Family Records will release Discovering Carl Perkins. It contains for the first time anywhere, these historic recordings – complete and remastered for the best possible sound – along with several rare outtakes from Carl’s earliest Sun period. They will appear on a ten-inch LP that includes previously unseen vintage photographs and detailed liner notes about the music, and how the local culture gave rise to these historic, one-of-a-kind recordings. It’s quite a landmark event for those interested in early rock & roll history, Sun Records, Carl Perkins and the birth of rockabilly.

Press Archive - Destination Moon - 50 Years-First Man On The Moon - Old Time Review UK The 28-page booklet, included in the set, provides a bit of background information on each artist and song, along with relevant illustrations and photographs. The included material is an interesting read, especially when a track is so rare that not much is known about the artist. The booklet is an extra that is not always needed, but it is certainly welcome.

Conclusion:

Bear Family Records have compiled an interesting compilation to mark the anniversary of a historic event. Rather than fill a CD full with a bunch of well-worn tracks, they have assembled an intriguing list of known tracks and rarities that evoke an era. The sound quality is good for recorded material of this age, with only a few noticeable issues on some tracks; more to do with the original production techniques than the reproduction. If you’re planning a vintage themed space party to celebrate the milestone, give this a try.

Press Archive - Del Shannon The Drugstore's Rockin' - Two Silhouettes (CD) - Old Time Review UK
Bear Family Records have presented this set in an attractive looking digipak and includes a 40-page booklet containing extensive liner notes by Bill Dahl, along with a discography and rare photographs from the era.

Conlusion:
Bear Family Records have done themselves proud on another set that represents an era of change in music, between the first wave of Rock n Roll and the British invasion. Del Shannon’s distinct and unmistakable sound still sounds fresh, in places, and has possibly never sounded better. Including hard to get rare material alongside more established hits make this a must for enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Press Archive - Narvel Felts - Narvel Felts Rocks - Old Time Review UK
While not musically groundbreaking, this collection is a nice diversion from the usual names that appear in conversations about the genre. Anyone who enjoys good authentic Rockabilly music will get a good kick out of the selection but may be bemused by other influences that occasionally seep through. Bear Family Records have created a full package that represents a prolific but underrated era in the career of Narvel Felts. There may be one or two issues, but none detract from the excellent sound quality and raw Rockabilly. If you’re unfamiliar with Narvel, this is a great place to start.

Presse - Various Artists Sun Shines On Hank Williams - Sun Artists Sing The Songs Of... Old Time Review
The liner notes are an interesting delve into the included artists, many of which may be unfamiliar to a wider audience. Sun historian Hank Davis, who has an unreleased track on the album, has done an excellent job on compiling the information together. There are some fascinating stories contained within the booklet, including the mystery of the whereabouts of singer Annette McGee. It also includes several rare images from the time.

Conclusion:
Bear Family Records have compiled an intriguing selection of tracks, celebrating a legendary figure in the world of Country music, through the work of an iconic recording studio. The sound quality on this album is outstanding, especially on the unreleased material, and a testament to their work. I highly recommend this set.

Presse Archiv - Another Banana Split, please! (No.2) - Old Time Review UK
Another Banana Split, Please
30th July 2019 Jamie Dyer 0 Comments
The weather has been scorching over the last week or so, and many BBQs and summer parties will be held. If you are looking for a vintage vibe to your shindig, Bear Family Records‘ latest release may be the answer. A follow up to 2018’s ‘A Banana Split For My Baby’, it continues the theme of summer through another collection of recordings spanning 1938 to 1962.

The album features forays into Rock n Roll, Jazz, Novelty, Doo-Wop and Pop; predominantly focused on the 1950s and early 1960s. Obligatory classics from Jerry Keller, The McGuire Sisters, Eddie Cochran, Brian Hyland, Andy Williams and The Four Voices are all here, alongside rarer gems from Sammy Salvo, The Lifeguards (a spin-off from Bill Haley’s Comets), Bikinis and The Kittens. It is also nice to hear the nostalgic vocal version of ‘(Theme from) a Summer Place’, sung by Joanie Sommers. The only song, in my opinion, that appears a little out of place is 1938’s Tutti Frutti by Slim & Slam; sounding odd next to a large amount of material from a later period. There is no denying, however, this recording has the summer factor that the label is striving for. It’s a mixed bag of tunes, with plenty of variety.

The historical nature of the included material means there are occasional questionable moments; Gerry Granahan’s ‘Too Big For Her Bikini’ being one. The sound quality, despite the vintage of tracks, is mostly excellent with a few minor issues.

Something Extra:
The 28-page booklet, included in the set, provides a bit of background information on each artist and song, along with relevant illustrations and photographs. A regular feature for Bear Family Records, but always a welcome one.

Conclusion:
Bear Family Records have compiled a colourful and intriguing selection of summer-themed tunes from yesteryear. The eclectic nature, seen in many of the label’s compilations, is a real selling point. Perfect for a vintage themed summer BBQ, your guests will be singing along in no time!

Presse - Tommy Steele Doomsday Rock - The Brits Are Rocking, Vol.1 - Vive Le Rock issue #65
TOMMY STEELE DOOMSDAY ROCK (Bear Family) Early rockin' tracks. 7/10 This looks to be the first in a series subtitled 'The Brits Are Rockin' Vol I'. Tommy Steele is a fitting artist to kick off the series, he was a true UK original with the first track here 'Rock Around The Town' dating from 1956 from which the title track also dates. Steele's style was a mixture of Elvis Presley but musically more akin to Bill Haley's Comets still hugely popular at the time. His early recording backing band were seasoned jazz musicians which also lent to the latter. Prolific doesn't doesn't cut it when it comes to describing the speed at which Decca recorded and churned out his records. Quite telling that the first 'Tommy Steele Story' EP was out in 1957. Of the 34 tracks included most were recorded in that rockin' 56/57 period, when Tommy Steele was the top of the pile of UK rock 'n' roll, here's why. Simon Nott

Presse Archiv - Various - That'll Flat Git It! Vol.32 - Vive Le Rock issue #65
VARIOUS ARTISTS THAT'LL FLAT GIT IT — VOL 32 (Bear Family) The burgeoning series keeps delivering. 8/10 The train keeps rolling on for Bear Family's long-running series and it shows no sign of slowing down let alone hitting the buffers. This is the series' fourth plundering of the Dec-ca, Coral and Brunswick rich seem of music. Of the 33 tracks the artists range from virtual unknowns like Dodie Randle who had their moment in the studio and vanished, her 'Man Hunt' is breathless and flushed like it should be, to three rumbustious Buddy Holly recordings from 1956 including 'Ting-A-Ling' a rockabilly stomper. This volume illustrates the musical experimentation that was taking place within the rock 'n' roll sphere, tracks here were recorded from New York to Nashville and LA, there was so much talent hitting pay dirt occasionally was a certainty, the downside some musical gold was missed in the melee too. Simon Nott

Presse - The Everly Brothers - Studio Outtakes - Twoj Blues, Polen
THE EVERLW BROTHERS
Studio Outtakes Bear Family Productions Charakterystyczne współbrzmienie głosów braci Dona i Phila Everly przeszło do historii rock'n'rolla. Pierwsze przeboje nagra-li w 1957 r. dla niezależnej wytwórni Cadence. Ich muzyka nie miała żadnego związku z bluesem, raczej była przykładem, jak rock podany w kulturalny sposób, staje się produktem maso-wej konsumpcji. Nowa kompilacja archiwalnych nagrań zawiera aż 34 utwory. Na pewno zainteresuje poszukiwaczy rzeczy nieznanych, staroci i nostalgicznych przeżyć. Największym ma-gnesem wydawnictwa jest to, że są to niepublikowane wersje wielu piosenek The Everly Brothers, jak Poor Jenny występują-ca w trzech wersjach. Poznajemy talent wykonawczy zespołu w czystej formie — śpiew najczęściej jedynie z akompaniamen-tem gitar akustycznych. Bear Family specjalizuje się w udostęp-nianiu rarytasów wszelakiej muzyki i ma przebogaty katalog. Ryszard Gloger

BEAR FAMILY PRESSE Magazin: Twoj Blues, Polen Ausgabe Sommer 2019
BCD 17590 LOU CIFER "Rockville Revelation"

LOU CIFER AND THE HELLIONS Rockville Revelation Bear Family Productions Jest to jeden z najpopularniejszych zespołów niemieckiej sceny tzw. „Teddy Boy". Oto otrzymujemy szósty album praw-dziwie rock'n' rollowego zespołu z Zagłębia Ruhry, dużego ob-szaru przemysłowego w zachodnich Niemczech. Zespół po-wstał w 1995 roku.
Nowa płyta, to kolejne wydawnictwo niezwykle prężnie i perfekcyjnie działającej firmy Bear Family, silnie propagującej klasyczny rock and roli z przełomu lat 50. i 60. Lou Cifer hołduje właśnie temu gatunkowi. Na krążku znajdujemy osiemnaście nowych piosenek, wszystkie to oryginalne kompozycje zespo-łu, zagrane z werwą i niezwykle stylowo. Słuchając płyty mamy wrażenie, jakby była nagrana około 1959 roku...! Zbyszek Jędrzejczyk

BEAR FAMILY PRESSE
Magazin: BLUES TWOJ , Polen Ausgabe Sommer 2019

LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER Rocks Bear Family Productions

Kolejna część dużej serii „Rocks" wydawanej przez prężną niemiecką firmę Bear Family Re-cords. Tym razem płyta ukazuje sylwetkę szybko zdobywającego popularność w latach 50. blues-mana. Tradycyjnie dla Rodziny Misiów, otrzymu-jemy fantastyczne wydawnictwo prezentujące aż 31 nagrań artysty oraz niesamowicie dokład-ną i do bólu perfekcyjnie przygotowaną, 40-to stronnicową książeczkę! Maty Junior Parker byt gwiazdą świata Chitlin' Circuit ale w dużej mierze pozostawał nieznanym na białej scenie blues-rockowej. Ta kompilacja zawiera nie tylko świetne wczesne numery rock and rollowe, ale co ważniejsze, także bluesowe nagrane dla firmy Sun Records z Memphis. Rów-nież jego późniejsze nagrania dla wytwórni Duke Records w Houston świadczą także o tym, jak wielkim muzykiem bluesowym i rockerem byt Little Junior Parker. Oto otrzymujemy pierwsze w historii wspomnienie jego najwspanialszych nagrań, ciekawe szczegóły dyskograficzne oraz obszerne noty historyczne autorstwa popularne-go eksperta muzycznego Billa Dahla. Znajdziemy tu 31 utworów nagranych dla obu wytwórni płytowych między latami 1953 a 1963 i wydaje się, że będą one równie interesujące dla fanów bluesa jak i rock'n'rolla. Na płycie znajdują się znane klasyki, które od lat są inspiracją dla muzyków obu kierunków. Najbardziej znanym jest chyba Mystety Train , któ-ry byt właściwie skromnym przebojem dla mło-dego, urodzonego w 1932 r. Parkera. Dopiero wersja stworzona przez Sama Phillipsa dla zna-nego już Elvisa Presley'a uczyniła tę kompozy-cję Hermana Parkera, jak naprawdę nazywał się Junior, nieśmiertelną. Parker zmarł na guza mózgu w szpitalu Blue Island w stanie Illinois w wieku 39 lat. Pozosta-wił po sobie obfite dziedzictwo bluesowe, nie-zwykle cenione do dziś przez rzesze muzyków i melomanów. Zbyszek Jędrzejczyk

BEAR FAMILY PRESSE
Magazin: BLUES TWOJ , Polen Ausgabe Sommer 2019
BCD 17525 RITCHIE VALENS "Rocks"

RITCHIE VALENS Rocks Bear Family Productions
Ii To nowa część dużej serii „Rocks" wydawa-nej przez prężną niemiecką firmę Bear Family Re-cords. Tym razem płyta ukazuje sylwetkę szybko zdobywającego popularność w latach 50. Rit-chiego Valensa. Tradycyjnie dla Rodziny Misiów, otrzymujemy fantastyczne wydawnictwo prezen-tujące aż 36 nagrań artysty oraz niesamowicie dokładną i do bólu perfekcyjnie przygotowaną, tym razem 40-stronnicową książeczkę! Richard Steven Valenzuela urodził się 13 maja 1941 r. W Los Angeles. Już we wczesnej młodości Ritchie opanował gitarę, trąbkę i per-kusję. W październiku 1957 roku dołączył w LA do lokalnego zespołu The Silhouettes. Miał za-ledwie szesnaście lat. W maju 1958 roku Bob Keane, właściciel hollywoodzkiej wytwórni pły-towej Del-Fi Records, zaprosił młodego muzyka na przesłuchanie do swego domu i na tej pod-° stawie został on zatrudniony na umowę.

BEAR FAMILY PRESSE
Magazin: BLUES TWOJ , Polen Ausgabe Sommer 2019
BCD 17585 V.A. "The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party"

VARIOUS ARTIST The Great Tragedy —Winter Dance Party 1959 Bear Family Productions

3 lutego 1959 r. w pamięci melomanów za-pamiętany będzie na zawsze jako „dzień śmierci muzyki". Małym samolot wiozący pomiędzy kon-certami trasy „Winter Dance Party" jej głównych artystów, Buddy'ego Holly, Ritchiego Valensa i The Big Boppera roztrzaskał się na polach sta-nu lowa. Niezmordowana rodzina Bear populary-zującą wczesny rock'n'roll właśnie wydała w 60. rocznicę tragedii w hołdzie trzem gwiazdom tej muzyki płytę przypominającą większość ich naj-lepszych nagrań. Obok nich słyszymy też innych artystów występujących w tej swoistej rock'n'rol-lowej rewii. Byli to Dion, Frankie Sardo, Waylon Jennings i Debbie Stevens. Są tu również umieszczone pieśni przyjciaciół Trzech Wielkich, którzy w hołdzie dla nich po wy-padku napisali swego rodzaju hymny. Słyszymy Eddiego Cochrana, Ray'a Campiego, Benny'ego Barnesa i Hershela Almonda, a także fragmenty audycji radiowych z epoki, przekazujące drama-tyczne wiadomości. Wygląda na to, że Buddy, Ritchie i Bopper nigdy się nie zestarzeją. Zbyszek Jędrzejczyk

Press Archives - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - Country Music People
24 tracks (plus a bonus track) Producer: Nate Gibson Bear Family 63:00
The Starday record company may be best known for giving George Jones his first break, but it did much more than that. Boss Don Pierce, in charge from the late 50s, had a maverick's taste for recording "unfashionable" honky tonk, bluegrass, old timey and Gospel at a time when Nashville was increasingly focused on smoother sounds. And by giving a second bite of the cherry to older stars, Starday was doing what enlightened operators like of Heart of Texas for country artists and Fat Possum for blues and soul artists have done more recently. To Starday we give thanks for the biggest hit of the Cowboy Copas's career Alabam, and a slightly more minor one for Moon Mullican (Ragged But Right). But Starday might have been forgotten had it not been for the bright young light, part musician, part scholar, part preservationist, that is Nate Gibson. He recorded his first record with Kenny Roberts, another former Starday favourite widely recognised as the finest yodeller in the business, back in 2001. Then, working with Pierce just before he died, he wrote The Starday Story: The House That Country Music Built, which is recommended reading.

Press - Fats Domino I’ve Been Around - The Complete Imperial and ABC Recordings - Now Dig This
That package has now been completely overhauled and expanded into a 12xCD collection also con-sisting of a DVD (Joe Lauro's acclaimed 'The Big Beat - Fats Domino And The Birth Of Rock n Roll'), together with a 240-page full colour book containing an updated Imperial discog-raphy. "We've found a lot of new material", says a Bear Family press release, "[including] some things that were thought to be lost and other things that nobody knew existed. We have alternative takes that have never before been issued.

Press Archive - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - themusicuniverse.com
When Buck Owens and Merle Haggard emerged from the dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music of Bakersfield, California’s thriving honky-tonk scene of the 50’s and 60’s, they changed country music forever. “We represent the end results of all the years of country music in this town,” Haggard once remarked about the California city that served as home base for the two Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. But how were the twin pillars of the “Bakersfield Sound” shaped by the Central California’s city’s larger musical community? Who paved the way for their successes and who were their influences? The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1974 answers these questions and more. Due from Bear Family on August 9th, this sprawling 10 CD box set is the first multi-disc anthology to cover Bakersfield’s country music heritage. Diving deep into the “Bakersfield Sound,” the compilation’s 307 tracks include plenty of fan favorites as well as a vast quantity of deep cuts, alternate takes, radio recordings, demos, live material, and previously unreleased studio recordings. The massive collection begins with 40’s field recordings of migrants who arrived in Central California to find a better life, and proceeds to trace the development of this historic country music scene all the way through 1974.

Press Archive - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - Billboard
Bear Family Records' upcoming The Bakersfield Sound 1940-1970 box set, due out Aug. 9, was a labor of love for producer Scott Bomar. He found even more to love when he was presented with was thought to be a lost early recording of Merle Haggard singing "I'm Gonna Break Every Heart I Can," featured on the box and premiering exclusively below.

Haggard recorded the version included on the set for the independent Tally Records label, where Haggard was signed before Capitol. "I'd heard he'd recorded it for Tally, but nobody ever heard it and it was assumed it was lost," Bomar -- who also annotated Omnivore Records' recent Buck Owens reissues -- tells Billboard. "When I started beating the bushes and putting things together, someone handed me a tape box that was just labeled 'Merle' -- I think it was under somebody's bed somewhere -- and said, 'I don't know if anything on here would be of any interest, but check it out to see.' It turned out to be the original version of that song, which is quite a bit different than the Capitol version he recorded a few years later. It was a real find, quite a nice historical glimpse into that moment in the studio."

Presse - The Everly Brothers - Studio Outtakes - musikreviews
Großer Raritäten-Alarm rund um eine Bruderlegende – ausgelöst durch Bear Family Productions.
Diesmal also sind die EVERLY BROTHERS mit einer kunterbunten Zusammenstellung von größtenteils bisher unveröffentlichten Studio-Aufnahmen dran, die es als zweiter Outtake bis hin zur 15 Alternativ-Variante nicht auf die offiziellen Alben schafften.

Die beiden in einer musikalischen Familie aufgewachsenen Brüder Don und Phil setzten die musikalische Tradition ihrer Eltern Margaret und Ike, welche als Hillbilly-Musiker eine eigene Radio-Show präsentierten, fort und gelangten mit ihrem Superhit „Bye Bye Love“, nachdem er 1957 auf Anhieb Platz 2 der US-Charts eroberte und zugleich das „Studio Outtakes“-Album eröffnet, Weltruhm. Nun folgte ein Nummer-1-Hit dem nächsten und Millionen-Dollar-Verträge ließen die Brüder auf einer riesigen Erfolgswelle schwimmen.

Press - Little Junior Parker Rocks - Big Beat Finnland
LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER: Rocks (Bear Family Records BCD 17535) 31 raitaa Herman "Little Junior" Parker (1932-1971) ihaili junnuna Sonny Boy Wil-liamsonin harpun soittoa ja roikkui idolinsa perässä niinkin paljon, että heitä luultiin isäksi ja pojak-si. Alkuvaiheessa Parker yritti kovasti kuulostaa blues shouter Roy Brow-nilta, kunnes omaksui pehmeämmän ja moder-nimman laulutyylin. Bear Familyn ansiok-kaiden "Rocks"-kokoel-mien tarkoitus on esitellä nimensä mukaisesti kul-loisenkin artistin rokah-tavampaa puolta, mutta Parkerin vuoden 1952 ensilevytys Modernille "You're My Angel" / "Bad Women Bad Whiskey" on jätetty pois, vaikka biisit olisivat tähän pirtaan so-pineet mainiosti. Hällä väliä, sillä kokoelman kol-me ensimmäistä Sunille tehtyä levytystä ovat juu-ri ne, joista hänet erityi-sesti muistetaan: "Feelin' Good" (jota James Cot-ton on väittänyt omaksi tekeleekseen), "Mystery Train" (joku Elvis Presley levytti tämän) ja "Love My Baby" (Toinen Sun-hemmo Hayden Thomp-son asialla).

Presse - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - Le Cri Du Coyote # 161
NATE GiBSON & THE STARS OF STARDAY How to make something new with musical memory? Produced by Nate Gibson, the author of The Star-day Story (Univer-sity Press of Mis-sissippi), this 25-track album was recorded with the support of Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and Chris Scruggs.

Nate Gibson. who is also a musician. has selected songs once released on Starday (country, rock-kabilly, bluegrass. honky tonk, gospel. western swing). He re-recorded them half a century after the originals with the artists he convinced to revive these titles, some of which are part of the heritage of any classical country music fan. Thus the presence of Betty Amos, Judy & Jean. Bill Clif-ton, Rudy Grayzeil. Wade Jackson. Sleepy LaBeef, Little Roy Lewis. Jesse McR eynolds, Darnell Miller, Frankie Miller, Arnold Parker, Margie Singleton. June Stearns, etc. gives a good taste of living history without distorting the compositions, with a real dynamism and a flawless sound.

A very beautiful 56-page booklet provides detailed testimonies on this magnificent project. Emotion guaranteed, with Bear Family quality. (JB) (BCD 17588►

Presse - Little Junior Parker Rocks - Le Cri Du Coyote # 161
LiTTLE JUNIOR PARKER: Junior Parker Rocks "Rocks"? Oh, my God! Oh, my God! The blu-esman with his velvet voice, the black crooner whispering ballads could thus "rock" during a long CD of 31 tracks? Of course, it was Junior Parker who composed and created Mystery Train (inspired, according to his own words, by the way. of Cannonball Blues of the Carter Family of which he was a fan), one of the most obvious rock standards' n' roll of course, friend of Elvis Presley, his Barefoot Rock is a very credible loan in the manner of Elvis and of course, Parker has also recorded - amid slow blues and ballads - a good quantity of fast tracks... which.. gathered here with intelligence, effectively give a CD well.... rocking!

Press Archives - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - Jukebox, France
NATE GIGSON & THE STARS OF STARDAY 24 Songs With Bear Family BCD 17588 Il n'y a pas de mal à se faire du bien ! C'est la devise qu'applique le chanteur, guitariste et musicologue Nate Gibson avec cette réalisation qui met en valeur les artistes du label country Starday. Fan éperdu, il consacre de nombreuses années de sa vie à recueillir des témoigna-ges afin de réaliser l'ouvrage défini-tif sur la question, The Starday Story : The House That Country Music Built (University Press Of Mississippi). Un peu l'équivalent texan de Sun, Starday sort les pre-miers disques de George Jones, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Dottie West, Sleepy Labeef, Rudy Grayzell et revitalise les carrières de Red Sovine, Cow Boy Copas, Johnny Bond. S'étant rendu compte que plusieurs de ces artistes tournent encore et afin de se faire plaisir jus-qu'au bout, Nate Gibson à l'idée de les faire réenregistrer.

Presse- Little Junior Parker Rocks - Goldmine
He died at 39 in 1971 from a brain tumor but Arkansas vocalist/blues-harp man Little Junior Parker left a two-decade legacy of great music for Memphis label Sun and Houston label Duke. Despite severe financial problems, he demanded his horn section go on the road with him. Influenced by Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller), he never liked the heavy amplification that Little Walter used, preferring to blow straight into his vocal microphone. He wrote and recorded “Mystery Train” before Elvis got his hands on it. He even had the balls to record three Beatles songs towards the end of his life. So why didn’t he cash in on the late ‘60s blues-rock boom like most of his peers? Maybe he was a little too slick, a little too commercially soulful, “a proud product of the chitlin’ circuit,” as Bill Dahl’s insightful liner notes says. Rocks (Germany’s Bear Family Productions) is all you’ll ever need when it comes to Al Green’s cousin (Rev. Green even dedicates “Take Me To The River” to him in his spoken-word intro to that mega-hit). Yeah, he rocked, alright: 31 songs in just under 80 minutes, this primer blew me away. His voice, his harp, his band, his total oeuvre, man, Little Junior Parker had it all.

Presse- Little Junior Parker Rocks - Jukebox
LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER Rocks Bear Family 17535 Né le 27 mars 1932 à West Memphis, Arkansas, Herman Parker travaille dans les champs de coton, joue de l'harmonica et chan-te dans un quatuor gospel. Junior Wells, un de ses amis, aussi devenu maître harmoniciste, reconnaît son influence. Herman Parker trouve un modèle en Rice Miller alias Sonny Boy Williamson II qui l'aide à ses débuts. Le croyant son fils, les fans le surnomment Junior. Vocalement, il s'inspire de Roy Brown. En avril 1952, accompagné par Ike Turner, il grave son premier disque chez Modem. Grâce à Bill Johnson, il est engagé par Sun pour qui il enregistre « Feelin' Good », le 18 juin 1953, au 706 Union, Memphis, accompagné par Bill Johnson (piano), Floyd Murphy (guitare), Kenneth Banks (basse), John Bowers (batterie). Irrésistible boogie, « Feelin' Good » par Little Junior's Blue Fames (Sun 187) démarre cette anthologie (31 pla-ges, cartonné 3 volets, livret 40 p. par Bill Dahl). Jerry Lee Lewis reprendra la chanson sous le titre « I've Been Twistin' » (Sun 374, 1962). La même équipe augmentée de James Wheeler (saxo) revient au studio Sun et concrétise un simple fulgurant, « Mystery Train >V« Love

Press Archives - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - Now Dig This
Marty Stuart and his sidemen, Kenny Vaughan and Chris Scruggs. Rock n roll / rockabilly tracks are thin on the ground. Wildest of the handful is Rudy Gray-zell's aptly-titled 'Let's Get Wild' but this track. and his 'Duck Tail', clearly show that Rudy's voice is shot to pieces. Sleepy LaBeef's All The Time' and 'I'm Through' are acceptable and Frankie Miller's 'Rain Rain' makes for an ener-getic opener. Apart from bonus track The Spook', Nate's eerie instrumental, the remainder are pure country tracks played in the 'old-time'. trad-itional style. They are a consistent bunch and include rousing numbers, slow ballads and a little western swing. The backings are first rate with steel guitar. fiddle, banjo, mandolin and dobro all figuring. They will delight lovers of the genre. This extravaganza is hugely enhanced by the accompanying 56-page booklet with profiles of the performers involved and over 40 photos. many in colour. Clearly a labour of love, Nate has come up with something a bit special. Harry Dodds

Press Archive - Little Junior Parker Rocks - Now dig this
Herman 'Little Junior' Parker is revered in rock n roll circles for providing the template for Elvis' explosive recording of 'Mystery Train' (Sun 192). which Parker recorded in October 1953. In fact. Elvis took 'Mystery Train' and sang it to the tune of Parker's flip side. 'Love My Baby'. Both are here, of course, and I love Elvis' good taste in cobbling the two together. Junior's 'Mystery Train' is tinged with sadness. but 'Love My Baby' is more upbeat in every way. His voice is light. smooth and extremely melodious. featuring a very attractive natural vibrato and great styling. Rockabillies will probably be more familiar with Hayden Thompson's souped-up version. Junior recorded only a handful of titles for Sun. of which three are here, before he was snatched by Duke Records of Houston.

Presse - The Everly Brothers - Studio Outtakes - Now Dig This
Anyone who missed out on this package of Cadence-era outtakes when it was first released back in 2006 (see NDT 275) now has the chance to pick it up in its new guise as a regular jewel-cased CD (the initial set being in the form of a repro tape box). There's no studio chat, but the 34 alternative performances offer a great work in progress look at the creation of classic after classic. There are lots of differences in instrumentation / arrangements etc. - some more subtle than others - and a few minor lyric changes. too.