Presse Archiv - Various - The Bill Haley Connection (CD) - Routledge
Bill's chart-topping career ended abruptly in 1960, although re-issues of "Rock Around the Clock" resurfaced among the Billboard ranks in 1968 and again in 1974. Elvis launched a successful television comeback in 1968, became a legendary concert performer and Las Vegas attraction, and continued to chart hits until his death. As recently as December 2018 his 1957 version of "Blue Christmas" attained the #40 position on the Billboard charts. Elvis lives on today through his music. Haley, not so much. Despite significant differences in hit production, regional upbringing, vocal styles, fan reception, military involvement, and feature film success, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley shared several similarities. First, they both adored country music. They particularly appreciated the recordings of Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Red Foley, and Hank Williams. Second, Elvis and Bill freely adopted
Bill's chart-topping career ended abruptly in 1960, although re-issues of "Rock Around the Clock" resurfaced among the Billboard ranks in 1968 and again in 1974. Elvis launched a successful television comeback in 1968, became a legendary concert performer and Las Vegas attraction, and continued to chart hits until his death. As recently as December 2018 his 1957 version of "Blue Christmas" attained the #40 position on the Billboard charts. Elvis lives on today through his music. Haley, not so much. Despite significant differences in hit production, regional upbringing, vocal styles, fan reception, military involvement, and feature film success, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley shared several similarities. First, they both adored country music. They particularly appreciated the recordings of Bob Wills, Bill Monroe, Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, Red Foley, and Hank Williams. Second, Elvis and Bill freely adopted
Press Review - Das Bilderlexikon der deutschen Schellack-Schallplatten - names & numbers
This massive picture book of German shel-lac records is hardly susceptible to a conven-tional review. Quite apart from the impossibil-ity of reading every page on a reasonable time scale, who other than the authors themselves is qualified to judge the contents? Band 1 starts with a brief history of the German record in-dustry up to the mid-fifties, followed by a tech-nical section defining terms and including an il-lustrated section on `Lisenzmarken' (copyright stamps). This section also includes some pic-tures of `Sprechpuppe' (talking dolls). The text proper begins on page 31 with 59 pages de-voted to anonymous discs, fifteen of which are indeed devoted to discs for Sprechpuppen. The format of the main text is label photo-graphs accompanied by a tabulation of Series-Owner-Manufacturer-Distribution-Repertoire-Dates of Issue, and a description of the label. Longer notes are also provided for many labels to elucidate histories too complicated for tab-ulation. Coverage extends to phantom labels (advertised or trade-marks registered but no issues made; there are a lot of the latter) and I have noted a few labels known only from liter-ature and therefore not illustrated.
This massive picture book of German shel-lac records is hardly susceptible to a conven-tional review. Quite apart from the impossibil-ity of reading every page on a reasonable time scale, who other than the authors themselves is qualified to judge the contents? Band 1 starts with a brief history of the German record in-dustry up to the mid-fifties, followed by a tech-nical section defining terms and including an il-lustrated section on `Lisenzmarken' (copyright stamps). This section also includes some pic-tures of `Sprechpuppe' (talking dolls). The text proper begins on page 31 with 59 pages de-voted to anonymous discs, fifteen of which are indeed devoted to discs for Sprechpuppen. The format of the main text is label photo-graphs accompanied by a tabulation of Series-Owner-Manufacturer-Distribution-Repertoire-Dates of Issue, and a description of the label. Longer notes are also provided for many labels to elucidate histories too complicated for tab-ulation. Coverage extends to phantom labels (advertised or trade-marks registered but no issues made; there are a lot of the latter) and I have noted a few labels known only from liter-ature and therefore not illustrated.
Presse Archiv - KRAUT! - Die innovativen Jahre des Krautrock 1968-1979 - Eclipsed
Krautrock VARIOUS ARTISTS „Kraut: Die innovativen Jahre des Krautrock 1968-1979" (2CD) (Bear Family)
Der erste, höchst empfehlenswerte Teil der Kraut-Retrospektive dokumentierte den Norden von Krautland. Nun geht es in die
Mitte. Hier wird der Genre-Begriff nicht so eng gefasst, denn mit den Lilac Angels hat man eine eher untypische Band im Pro-gramm, und Sweet Smoke kamen aus den USA (obwohl sie fast jeder für eine deutsche Truppe hält). Doch das stört sicherlich nie-manden, denn es ist auch ein Zeichen, sich von der britischen Definition zu lösen, bei der ständig CAN, Tangerine Dream oder Amon Düül II im Fokus stehen. Ansonsten ist so-wohl die Auswahl der Interpreten als auch der Songs bestens gelungen. Neben den be-kannteren Acts wie Hoelderlin, Bröselma-schine, Passport, Wallenstein, Streetmark oder Xhol Caravan finden sich viele weniger bekannte Bands. Electric Sandwich („China" — fantastisch), Sperrmüll („No Freak Out" —noch fantastischer), Witthüser & Westrupp (schräg-verschmitzt) und dann die an Franz K. erinnernden Necronomicon (ihr Album „Tips zum Selbstmord" hatte ein Klapp-Klapp-Klapp-Klapp-Cover) zeigen die Band-breite und die verschiedenen Entwicklungs-stränge, bei denen immer der individuelle Ausdruck im Vordergrund stand. Höchste Empfehlungsstufe, da auch das 100-seitige Booklet mit ausführlichsten und kompeten-ten Liner Notes von Burghard Rausch rein gar nichts zu wünschen übrig lässt. •* *Alan Tepper
Krautrock VARIOUS ARTISTS „Kraut: Die innovativen Jahre des Krautrock 1968-1979" (2CD) (Bear Family)
Der erste, höchst empfehlenswerte Teil der Kraut-Retrospektive dokumentierte den Norden von Krautland. Nun geht es in die
Mitte. Hier wird der Genre-Begriff nicht so eng gefasst, denn mit den Lilac Angels hat man eine eher untypische Band im Pro-gramm, und Sweet Smoke kamen aus den USA (obwohl sie fast jeder für eine deutsche Truppe hält). Doch das stört sicherlich nie-manden, denn es ist auch ein Zeichen, sich von der britischen Definition zu lösen, bei der ständig CAN, Tangerine Dream oder Amon Düül II im Fokus stehen. Ansonsten ist so-wohl die Auswahl der Interpreten als auch der Songs bestens gelungen. Neben den be-kannteren Acts wie Hoelderlin, Bröselma-schine, Passport, Wallenstein, Streetmark oder Xhol Caravan finden sich viele weniger bekannte Bands. Electric Sandwich („China" — fantastisch), Sperrmüll („No Freak Out" —noch fantastischer), Witthüser & Westrupp (schräg-verschmitzt) und dann die an Franz K. erinnernden Necronomicon (ihr Album „Tips zum Selbstmord" hatte ein Klapp-Klapp-Klapp-Klapp-Cover) zeigen die Band-breite und die verschiedenen Entwicklungs-stränge, bei denen immer der individuelle Ausdruck im Vordergrund stand. Höchste Empfehlungsstufe, da auch das 100-seitige Booklet mit ausführlichsten und kompeten-ten Liner Notes von Burghard Rausch rein gar nichts zu wünschen übrig lässt. •* *Alan Tepper
Presse Archiv - Scotty Mckay Scotty McKay Rocks (CD) - UK Rock and Roll
Bear Family ( At first glance Scotty McKay a would be one of the more obscure artists to join the burgeoning 'Rocks' series. is You've probably heard him at several times though, he was th briefly a member of Gene fa Vincent's Blue Caps, briefly, SI but long enough to record ea with him, including 'Baby ar Blue' and appear on the Ed sc Sullivan show in 1957. Bear 4,\ Family have dug deep in the vaults for this compilation spanning 1956 to the 1966 hi including some acetates. It's cfi fascinating to follow Scotty's ri career from the early youthful ti rockers through to the 1960's.
Bear Family ( At first glance Scotty McKay a would be one of the more obscure artists to join the burgeoning 'Rocks' series. is You've probably heard him at several times though, he was th briefly a member of Gene fa Vincent's Blue Caps, briefly, SI but long enough to record ea with him, including 'Baby ar Blue' and appear on the Ed sc Sullivan show in 1957. Bear 4,\ Family have dug deep in the vaults for this compilation spanning 1956 to the 1966 hi including some acetates. It's cfi fascinating to follow Scotty's ri career from the early youthful ti rockers through to the 1960's.
Presse Archiv - Scotty McKay Scotty McKay Rocks (CD) - Music Street Journal
Review by Gary Hill
This new compilation CD captures some solid rock and roll music. This is very much old school music. There is a decent range here, though. It's all pretty solid, and there are some highlights. The disc comes with a large booklet, making for quite a nice package.
This review is available in book format in Music Street Journal: 2020 Volume 3 at
lulu.com/spotlight/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Rollin' Dynamite
This is a high energy old-school rock and roller. I dig the retro rock and roll guitar solo.
Tommy & The Tom Toms: Baby Let's Play House
Feeling very much like Elvis Presley, this rocker is fun stuff.
Review by Gary Hill
This new compilation CD captures some solid rock and roll music. This is very much old school music. There is a decent range here, though. It's all pretty solid, and there are some highlights. The disc comes with a large booklet, making for quite a nice package.
This review is available in book format in Music Street Journal: 2020 Volume 3 at
lulu.com/spotlight/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Rollin' Dynamite
This is a high energy old-school rock and roller. I dig the retro rock and roll guitar solo.
Tommy & The Tom Toms: Baby Let's Play House
Feeling very much like Elvis Presley, this rocker is fun stuff.
Press Archive - That'll Flat Git It! Vol. 33 - Vive Le Rock
VARIOUS ARTISTS THAT'LL FLAT GET IT VOL 33 (Bear Family) From the vaults of Renown Records. 8/10
It's astonishing that over 60 years after they were recorded and the fact the rockabilly and rock n roll from the 1950's has been voraciously collected in Europe pretty much since then that so much quality music is still being discovered and recovered for release on compilations like this. This time it's the Renown label of Durham North Carolina that gets the spotlight.
VARIOUS ARTISTS THAT'LL FLAT GET IT VOL 33 (Bear Family) From the vaults of Renown Records. 8/10
It's astonishing that over 60 years after they were recorded and the fact the rockabilly and rock n roll from the 1950's has been voraciously collected in Europe pretty much since then that so much quality music is still being discovered and recovered for release on compilations like this. This time it's the Renown label of Durham North Carolina that gets the spotlight.
Press Archive - Carl Perkins - Discovering Carl Perkins - Eclipsed
Im Rahmen der beliebten 10" -Serie von Bear Family wird nun das Frühwerk der Legende Carl Perkins unter die Lupe ge-nommen, also Aufnahmen noch vor der Sun-Ära. Die Recordings stammen aus den Jahren 1952-1953 und zeigen ei-nen ausdruckstarken Sänger, der sich noch im klassischen Country aalt („Devil's Dream"), aber schon scharfe Soli aus der Hüfte schießt („Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O-Dee"), dem aber auch Country-Bal-laden bestens liegen („What You Doing When You're Crying"). Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen wurde der Sound toll „aufge-motzt", sodass musikhistorisch Interessier-te und Fans ihre Freude haben werden. Die Ausgabe erscheint mit einer Bonus-CD und 16-seitigem Edel-Booklet (etwas klei-ner als die 10").
Im Rahmen der beliebten 10" -Serie von Bear Family wird nun das Frühwerk der Legende Carl Perkins unter die Lupe ge-nommen, also Aufnahmen noch vor der Sun-Ära. Die Recordings stammen aus den Jahren 1952-1953 und zeigen ei-nen ausdruckstarken Sänger, der sich noch im klassischen Country aalt („Devil's Dream"), aber schon scharfe Soli aus der Hüfte schießt („Drinking Wine Spo-Dee O-Dee"), dem aber auch Country-Bal-laden bestens liegen („What You Doing When You're Crying"). Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen wurde der Sound toll „aufge-motzt", sodass musikhistorisch Interessier-te und Fans ihre Freude haben werden. Die Ausgabe erscheint mit einer Bonus-CD und 16-seitigem Edel-Booklet (etwas klei-ner als die 10").
Press Review - Das Bilderlexikon der deutschen Schellack-Schallplatten - CLPGS
BOOK REVIEWS
DAS BILDERLEXIKON DER DEUTSCHEN SCHELLACK-SCHALLPLATTEN
Dr. Rainer Lotz first published his seminal work Grammophon-platten au der Ragtime Ara in 1979, since when he has produced a large body of work culminating in the magisterial, 44 CD, 2 volume Black Europe in 2013. It seemed impossible for him to produce anything that was even more impressive — but he has. This stupendous work is in 5 volumes with over 2200 pages, more than 10,000 colour pictures of record labels and countless black & white repro-ductions of trade-mark regis-trations and more. This book is not a discography; it has no catalogue reconstructions but it is, as described in the title, a picture encyclopaedia of German record labels. This does not mean that it con-tains information about record labels only sold in Germany; it embraces all records pressed in Germany ir-respective of the country of origin of the master.
BOOK REVIEWS
DAS BILDERLEXIKON DER DEUTSCHEN SCHELLACK-SCHALLPLATTEN
Dr. Rainer Lotz first published his seminal work Grammophon-platten au der Ragtime Ara in 1979, since when he has produced a large body of work culminating in the magisterial, 44 CD, 2 volume Black Europe in 2013. It seemed impossible for him to produce anything that was even more impressive — but he has. This stupendous work is in 5 volumes with over 2200 pages, more than 10,000 colour pictures of record labels and countless black & white repro-ductions of trade-mark regis-trations and more. This book is not a discography; it has no catalogue reconstructions but it is, as described in the title, a picture encyclopaedia of German record labels. This does not mean that it con-tains information about record labels only sold in Germany; it embraces all records pressed in Germany ir-respective of the country of origin of the master.
Conclusion
In this set, Bear Family Records has created the ultimate package for this album. The combination of Ernie Wilkins’ arrangements, Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun’s production and Turner’s roaring vocals alongside his backing band helped to shape the success of the original album. Colin Escott and the team at Bear Family have continued their legacy. Boasting pristine sound quality, attractive packaging and an abundance of bonus material, this is worth picking up if you’re looking to discover or rediscover a huge contribution to Big Joe Turner’s catalogue.
In this set, Bear Family Records has created the ultimate package for this album. The combination of Ernie Wilkins’ arrangements, Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun’s production and Turner’s roaring vocals alongside his backing band helped to shape the success of the original album. Colin Escott and the team at Bear Family have continued their legacy. Boasting pristine sound quality, attractive packaging and an abundance of bonus material, this is worth picking up if you’re looking to discover or rediscover a huge contribution to Big Joe Turner’s catalogue.
Press Archives - The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party 1959 - Goldmine
VARIOUS ARTISTS THE GREAT TRAGEDY 2: WINTER DANCE PARTY 1959... AND THE SHOW MUST GO ON Bear Family Records (CD) *** After Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and pilot Roger Peterson died that fateful morning of February 3, 1959, "The Winter Dance Party" soldiered on for another 10 straight days with Dion & The Belmonts, Frankie Sardo Sc The Crickets, Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian, Robert Veline & His Shadows and Bill Par-sons. Holly had fired The Crickets in '58. His new band consisted of bassist Waylon Jennings, guitarist Tommy Allsup and drummer Carl Bunch. Veline found fame later as Bobby Vee. This second volume of music from the aforementioned continues with the aftermath of the event with 34 tracks in just under 80 minutes.
VARIOUS ARTISTS THE GREAT TRAGEDY 2: WINTER DANCE PARTY 1959... AND THE SHOW MUST GO ON Bear Family Records (CD) *** After Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and pilot Roger Peterson died that fateful morning of February 3, 1959, "The Winter Dance Party" soldiered on for another 10 straight days with Dion & The Belmonts, Frankie Sardo Sc The Crickets, Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian, Robert Veline & His Shadows and Bill Par-sons. Holly had fired The Crickets in '58. His new band consisted of bassist Waylon Jennings, guitarist Tommy Allsup and drummer Carl Bunch. Veline found fame later as Bobby Vee. This second volume of music from the aforementioned continues with the aftermath of the event with 34 tracks in just under 80 minutes.
Presse Archiv - Link Wray Rocks - Blues & Rhythm
BEAR FAMILY PRESSE
BCD 17600 LINK WRAY "Rocks" BAF 11021 LITTLE RICHARD "The BEst of."
LINK WRAY: Rocks Bear Family BCD 17600 (77:19) Link Wray is reputed to be the loudest of rock guitarists but from personal experience I rate him below Dick Dale though the smaller size of Dale's venue may have been a volumetric factor. Nevertheless, Link certainly is very loud, the reason for which may be explained in Bill Dahl's notes when he states that Fred Lincoln Ray Jr's "childhood bout with the measles had robbed him of a good portion of his hearing". These recordings, dated between 1958 and 1966, were mainly released on the Cadence. Cameo, Epic, Mala, Rumble and Swan labels, and include some rare tracks. Predominantly instrumentals of course, Link himself does sing gruffly on 'Ain't That Loving You Baby' and 'Mary Ann', while his brother Vernon Wray (knrwn as Ray Vernon) vocalises on 'I'm Counting On You' and 'Danger One Way Love'. The CD opens with the great 'Raw Hide' and closes with the classic, slow-paced 'Rumble', the two British hits which make outstanding 'bookends' with dynamic and sometimes tremolo guitar that lives long in the memory. Other outstanding tracks include the easily recognised 'Batman Theme' with deep, ominous notes and a guitar-spoken 'Batmanr: the full sound of 'I'm Branded' with shimmering guitar break; the energetic 'Deuces Wild' with drums upfront; the relaxed tempo and mellow tone of 'Radar; a slow track entitled 'Dinosaur' which includes sax inserts; and a radio/television show derivative 'The Shadow Knows'. With all 34 tracks timed between 1:43 and 2:50 there is little time to be bored. The sound quality is great and the 36-page booklet contains some welcome vintage photos. I'm sure that this digipack will be popular with rocking instrumental fans. Paul Harris
Magazin: Blues & Rhythm , UK Ausgabe Feb. 2020
BEAR FAMILY PRESSE
BCD 17600 LINK WRAY "Rocks" BAF 11021 LITTLE RICHARD "The BEst of."
LINK WRAY: Rocks Bear Family BCD 17600 (77:19) Link Wray is reputed to be the loudest of rock guitarists but from personal experience I rate him below Dick Dale though the smaller size of Dale's venue may have been a volumetric factor. Nevertheless, Link certainly is very loud, the reason for which may be explained in Bill Dahl's notes when he states that Fred Lincoln Ray Jr's "childhood bout with the measles had robbed him of a good portion of his hearing". These recordings, dated between 1958 and 1966, were mainly released on the Cadence. Cameo, Epic, Mala, Rumble and Swan labels, and include some rare tracks. Predominantly instrumentals of course, Link himself does sing gruffly on 'Ain't That Loving You Baby' and 'Mary Ann', while his brother Vernon Wray (knrwn as Ray Vernon) vocalises on 'I'm Counting On You' and 'Danger One Way Love'. The CD opens with the great 'Raw Hide' and closes with the classic, slow-paced 'Rumble', the two British hits which make outstanding 'bookends' with dynamic and sometimes tremolo guitar that lives long in the memory. Other outstanding tracks include the easily recognised 'Batman Theme' with deep, ominous notes and a guitar-spoken 'Batmanr: the full sound of 'I'm Branded' with shimmering guitar break; the energetic 'Deuces Wild' with drums upfront; the relaxed tempo and mellow tone of 'Radar; a slow track entitled 'Dinosaur' which includes sax inserts; and a radio/television show derivative 'The Shadow Knows'. With all 34 tracks timed between 1:43 and 2:50 there is little time to be bored. The sound quality is great and the 36-page booklet contains some welcome vintage photos. I'm sure that this digipack will be popular with rocking instrumental fans. Paul Harris
Magazin: Blues & Rhythm , UK Ausgabe Feb. 2020
Presse Archiv - Various Artists Blues Kings Of Baton Rouge (2-CD) - Rhythm & Blues
Blues and r&b sides by artists from Baton Rouge, Louisiana are usually associated with the Excello label: Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester. Tabby Thomas, Lonesome Sundown plus other fine blues artists (but not as well known) such as Arthur 'Guitar' Kelley, Silas Hogan, Whispering Smith and Jimmy Anderson. Well, they are all here but Martin Hawkins (who produced the set. wrote the notes and track by track analysis) has cast his net wider to include the likes of of Robert Pete Williams, Smoky Babe, Butch Cage, Willie B. Thomas and Clarence Edwards. Covering the years 1954 to 1971, the tracks are taken from sides released on 78s, 45s and albums. As Hawkins states: "We really don't know what the blues sound of Baton Rouge was before 1954", so we kick of with Otis Hicks, (aka Lightnin' Slim) who cut 'Bad Luck' and 'Bugger Bugger Boy', in 1954 for Feature which is swiftly followed by Cleveland White's (Schoolboy Cleve) 'Strange Letter Blues' also cut for Feature but a year later.
Blues and r&b sides by artists from Baton Rouge, Louisiana are usually associated with the Excello label: Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim, Lazy Lester. Tabby Thomas, Lonesome Sundown plus other fine blues artists (but not as well known) such as Arthur 'Guitar' Kelley, Silas Hogan, Whispering Smith and Jimmy Anderson. Well, they are all here but Martin Hawkins (who produced the set. wrote the notes and track by track analysis) has cast his net wider to include the likes of of Robert Pete Williams, Smoky Babe, Butch Cage, Willie B. Thomas and Clarence Edwards. Covering the years 1954 to 1971, the tracks are taken from sides released on 78s, 45s and albums. As Hawkins states: "We really don't know what the blues sound of Baton Rouge was before 1954", so we kick of with Otis Hicks, (aka Lightnin' Slim) who cut 'Bad Luck' and 'Bugger Bugger Boy', in 1954 for Feature which is swiftly followed by Cleveland White's (Schoolboy Cleve) 'Strange Letter Blues' also cut for Feature but a year later.
Presse Archiv - The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party 1959 - No. 2 - Now Dig This, UK
Bear Family and El Toro have done a lot of good work in the past twelve months com-memorating the infamous Winter Dance Party tour, with releases looking at the music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, together with various tribute songs. Bear Family went a step further with The The Great Tragedy - The Winter Dance Party 1959' (reviewed in NDT 432) which looked beyond the Three Stars to the others on the original bill, such as Dion and Frankie Sardo. As a follow-up, they now concentrate on the bill after the fateful crash on February 3rd, hence the CD's tagline, 'And The Show Must Go On'. The tour organisers cer-tainly took that adage to heart by amazingly bringing in replacements for the very next night in Moorhead, Minnesota.
These incomers ranged from a couple of up and coming pop stars to two local acts. The CD starts with a short history of the Winter Dance Party before we plunge into Lee Davis' 'Three Young Men'. Written by Pomus & Shuman, it's a poor song with a flat vocal that's as joyful as the occasion. Probably better, and definitely more successful, was Tommy Dee's tribute, 'Three Stars'. Written within hours of the crash, the song was pitched to Eddie Cochran who found it too raw, resulting in Dee recording his own version before the week was out. From the original bill we get a couple each from Sardo and Dion & The Belmonts. Sardo's 'finest' moment for me was 'I Wanna Rock', but here we get both sides of ABC-Paramount 45-10003, the Elvis-like 'No Love Like Me' and the slightly annoying 'Oh Linda'. Dion & The Belmonts are simply sublime on the top side of Laurie 3021, with The Belmonts giving one of their finest performances.
The flip, 'Just You', was a bit too poppy and according to Dion was one of the reasons he left the group and label. The sleeve-notes quote him thus: "I think this is what really split Dion & The Belmonts up, this idea of this smooth sound. I just couldn't embrace it. It was like singing my dad's music, and I just wasn't into it." Flown in to save the day and fill the genuine
Bear Family and El Toro have done a lot of good work in the past twelve months com-memorating the infamous Winter Dance Party tour, with releases looking at the music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, together with various tribute songs. Bear Family went a step further with The The Great Tragedy - The Winter Dance Party 1959' (reviewed in NDT 432) which looked beyond the Three Stars to the others on the original bill, such as Dion and Frankie Sardo. As a follow-up, they now concentrate on the bill after the fateful crash on February 3rd, hence the CD's tagline, 'And The Show Must Go On'. The tour organisers cer-tainly took that adage to heart by amazingly bringing in replacements for the very next night in Moorhead, Minnesota.
These incomers ranged from a couple of up and coming pop stars to two local acts. The CD starts with a short history of the Winter Dance Party before we plunge into Lee Davis' 'Three Young Men'. Written by Pomus & Shuman, it's a poor song with a flat vocal that's as joyful as the occasion. Probably better, and definitely more successful, was Tommy Dee's tribute, 'Three Stars'. Written within hours of the crash, the song was pitched to Eddie Cochran who found it too raw, resulting in Dee recording his own version before the week was out. From the original bill we get a couple each from Sardo and Dion & The Belmonts. Sardo's 'finest' moment for me was 'I Wanna Rock', but here we get both sides of ABC-Paramount 45-10003, the Elvis-like 'No Love Like Me' and the slightly annoying 'Oh Linda'. Dion & The Belmonts are simply sublime on the top side of Laurie 3021, with The Belmonts giving one of their finest performances.
The flip, 'Just You', was a bit too poppy and according to Dion was one of the reasons he left the group and label. The sleeve-notes quote him thus: "I think this is what really split Dion & The Belmonts up, this idea of this smooth sound. I just couldn't embrace it. It was like singing my dad's music, and I just wasn't into it." Flown in to save the day and fill the genuine
Presse Archiv - The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party 1959 - No. 2 - countryjukebox
VA: THE GREAT TRAGEDY - WINTER DANCE PARTY 1959 #2
am 3. Februar jährte sich zum 61. Mal der Todestag des amerikanischen Sängers, Songschreibers und Gitarristen BUDDY HOLLY, der sich mit Songs wie „Peggy Sue“, „Oh Boy“, „Rave On“ und „That’ll Be The Day“ für alle Zeiten in den Rock ’n’ Roll-Annalen verewigt hat
an diesem Tag bestieg Holly zusammen mit den Rock ’n‘ Rollern Ritchie Valens (17) und Big Bopper (28) nach einem Konzert in Clear Lake, Iowa eine von ihm gecharterte Beechcraft Bonanza, die ihn nach Fargo, North Dakota bringen sollte - vermutlich aufgrund eines Instrumentenablesefehlers des 21-jährigen Piloten Roger Petersen kommt es zum Absturz der kleinen einmotorigen Propellermaschine, den keiner der Insassen überlebt die als Winter Dance Party auf drei Wochen angelegte Tournee durch den Mittleren Westen ging mit den jungen Teenager-Idolen Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian, Bobby Vee und Bill Parsons weiter - mit über 30 Aufnahmen erinnert The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party 1959 #2 nicht nur an Buddy Holly sondern auch an die Überlebenden und die Ersatzstars - ein starkes wie empfehlenswertes Stück Musikgeschichte, das jetzt erstmals auf CD erhältlich ist
VA: THE GREAT TRAGEDY - WINTER DANCE PARTY 1959 #2
am 3. Februar jährte sich zum 61. Mal der Todestag des amerikanischen Sängers, Songschreibers und Gitarristen BUDDY HOLLY, der sich mit Songs wie „Peggy Sue“, „Oh Boy“, „Rave On“ und „That’ll Be The Day“ für alle Zeiten in den Rock ’n’ Roll-Annalen verewigt hat
an diesem Tag bestieg Holly zusammen mit den Rock ’n‘ Rollern Ritchie Valens (17) und Big Bopper (28) nach einem Konzert in Clear Lake, Iowa eine von ihm gecharterte Beechcraft Bonanza, die ihn nach Fargo, North Dakota bringen sollte - vermutlich aufgrund eines Instrumentenablesefehlers des 21-jährigen Piloten Roger Petersen kommt es zum Absturz der kleinen einmotorigen Propellermaschine, den keiner der Insassen überlebt die als Winter Dance Party auf drei Wochen angelegte Tournee durch den Mittleren Westen ging mit den jungen Teenager-Idolen Frankie Avalon, Jimmy Clanton, Fabian, Bobby Vee und Bill Parsons weiter - mit über 30 Aufnahmen erinnert The Great Tragedy - Winter Dance Party 1959 #2 nicht nur an Buddy Holly sondern auch an die Überlebenden und die Ersatzstars - ein starkes wie empfehlenswertes Stück Musikgeschichte, das jetzt erstmals auf CD erhältlich ist
Presse Archive - Destination Lust - Songs of Love, Sex And Violence (CD) - musenblätter
Die Älteren unter Ihnen werden sich erinnern: Es gab mal eine Zeit, als die Frau noch Vollweib sein durfte und das Schönheitsideal nicht der 'Hungerhaken' war. Der Sex wurde nach und nach aus der Schmuddelecke befreit und auf der Kinoleinwand und musikalisch per Vinyl-Platte ans noch zart errötende Publikum gebracht. Das war Ende der 50er, Anfang der 60er Jahre, als im Zuge der moralischen Abrüstung die ersten Busen-Titelseiten an Zeitungskiosken auftauchten und Sexbomben wie Jayne Mansfield und Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren und Gina Lollobrigida, Anita Ekberg und Ann-Margret, Elke Sommer und Brigitte Bardot den Männern den Atem nahmen. Vielleicht sprach man noch nicht offen über die schönste Freizeitbeschäftigung der Welt, doch besungen wurde sie implizit.
Die Älteren unter Ihnen werden sich erinnern: Es gab mal eine Zeit, als die Frau noch Vollweib sein durfte und das Schönheitsideal nicht der 'Hungerhaken' war. Der Sex wurde nach und nach aus der Schmuddelecke befreit und auf der Kinoleinwand und musikalisch per Vinyl-Platte ans noch zart errötende Publikum gebracht. Das war Ende der 50er, Anfang der 60er Jahre, als im Zuge der moralischen Abrüstung die ersten Busen-Titelseiten an Zeitungskiosken auftauchten und Sexbomben wie Jayne Mansfield und Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren und Gina Lollobrigida, Anita Ekberg und Ann-Margret, Elke Sommer und Brigitte Bardot den Männern den Atem nahmen. Vielleicht sprach man noch nicht offen über die schönste Freizeitbeschäftigung der Welt, doch besungen wurde sie implizit.
Press Archive - The Best Of Little Richard !! (LP, 10inch, Ltd.) - Blues & Rhythm
LITTLE RICHARD: The Best Of... Bear Family BAF11021 Lucille! Good Golly Miss Molly/ Send Me Some Lovin'! Miss Ann/ She Knows How To Rock/ Kansas City/ Jenny, Jenny/ True, Fine Mama/ Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey/ Doh! My Soul/ I'll Never Let You Go/ Baby Face Do I need to even mention the music? Probably not if you're even considering buying this. This remastered ten-inch vinyl album is released in Bear Family's aptly-named 'Vinyl Club Exclusive' series, available only from the company directly and limited to 500 copies. The original contained Specialty recordings and was issued in Japan in 1962 on London/King MPL 1031, becoming a much sought-after item. It would be interesting to know if any contemporary Japanese reviews exist. You want it? Get your skates on then... Norman Darwen
LITTLE RICHARD: The Best Of... Bear Family BAF11021 Lucille! Good Golly Miss Molly/ Send Me Some Lovin'! Miss Ann/ She Knows How To Rock/ Kansas City/ Jenny, Jenny/ True, Fine Mama/ Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey/ Doh! My Soul/ I'll Never Let You Go/ Baby Face Do I need to even mention the music? Probably not if you're even considering buying this. This remastered ten-inch vinyl album is released in Bear Family's aptly-named 'Vinyl Club Exclusive' series, available only from the company directly and limited to 500 copies. The original contained Specialty recordings and was issued in Japan in 1962 on London/King MPL 1031, becoming a much sought-after item. It would be interesting to know if any contemporary Japanese reviews exist. You want it? Get your skates on then... Norman Darwen
Presse Archiv - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - Relix
Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are undoubtedly the twin towers of the singular sound invented in Bakersfield, Calif. But as this massive new box set from the Bear Family label so intricately details, there is a Gold Rush of incredible music to be discovered beyond the gates of the Second City of country music.
The Bakersfield Sound is a veritable college course on the evolution of the region, born out of the barrooms and barn dances of the Dust Bowl era with the concept of conspiring a small combo iteration of the Western-swing big-bands who used to roll through town to perform for the laborers. It was a sound that would quickly be dubbed "Honky Tonk," and served as an edgier, more electrified alternative to the Nashville twang of the East Coast. This 10-CD set goes back to the mid-1940s via rare recordings of acts who cut their teeth performing for migrant communities in Central California like Tex Butler and Ebb Pilling, not to mention a live radio performance from Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, who made Bakersfield a regular stop on their traveling roadshow.
Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are undoubtedly the twin towers of the singular sound invented in Bakersfield, Calif. But as this massive new box set from the Bear Family label so intricately details, there is a Gold Rush of incredible music to be discovered beyond the gates of the Second City of country music.
The Bakersfield Sound is a veritable college course on the evolution of the region, born out of the barrooms and barn dances of the Dust Bowl era with the concept of conspiring a small combo iteration of the Western-swing big-bands who used to roll through town to perform for the laborers. It was a sound that would quickly be dubbed "Honky Tonk," and served as an edgier, more electrified alternative to the Nashville twang of the East Coast. This 10-CD set goes back to the mid-1940s via rare recordings of acts who cut their teeth performing for migrant communities in Central California like Tex Butler and Ebb Pilling, not to mention a live radio performance from Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, who made Bakersfield a regular stop on their traveling roadshow.
Press Archive - That'll Flat Git It! Vol. 33 - Bluestownmusic
These are the stories record collectors dream of! Many more previously uncomped artists are on board here for the first time, such as Lonnie Dee, Joe Franklin & The Hi-Liters, Daryl Petty, Bobby Strigo with The Blue Notes and many more. Sixty years after the original recording dates, Bear Family makes it possible for these artists to receive the attention they have always been entitled to.
As most of the original master tapes are lost forever, the majority of masters have been taken from the original rare and hard to find Renown single (45s) releases and have been carefully restored and re-mastered to meet the quality standards of Bear Family.
This is a truly worthy and long awaited project which will find favor among fans of rockabilly music, 1950s music aficionados, and folks into North Carolina culture and history, and just plain music fans in general.
This is one Bear Family release that you don’t want to miss!
These are the stories record collectors dream of! Many more previously uncomped artists are on board here for the first time, such as Lonnie Dee, Joe Franklin & The Hi-Liters, Daryl Petty, Bobby Strigo with The Blue Notes and many more. Sixty years after the original recording dates, Bear Family makes it possible for these artists to receive the attention they have always been entitled to.
As most of the original master tapes are lost forever, the majority of masters have been taken from the original rare and hard to find Renown single (45s) releases and have been carefully restored and re-mastered to meet the quality standards of Bear Family.
This is a truly worthy and long awaited project which will find favor among fans of rockabilly music, 1950s music aficionados, and folks into North Carolina culture and history, and just plain music fans in general.
This is one Bear Family release that you don’t want to miss!
Presse - Nate Gibson Nate Gibson & The Stars Of Starday - Country Music People
This was just fun from start to finish, with former stars of one of Nashville's so-called middle tier labels (Jesse McReynolds, Frankie Miller, Sleepy LaBeef, Bill Clifton etc ) getting another chance to shine thanks to Nate Gibson's painstaking efforts.
This was just fun from start to finish, with former stars of one of Nashville's so-called middle tier labels (Jesse McReynolds, Frankie Miller, Sleepy LaBeef, Bill Clifton etc ) getting another chance to shine thanks to Nate Gibson's painstaking efforts.
Presse Archiv - Various Artists - The Bakersfield Sound 1940 - 1974 - The New York Times
‘The Bakersfield Sound’
(Bear Family; 10 CDs plus hard-bound book, $179.68)
The city of Bakersfield, Calif. emerged in the 1950s to rival Nashville as the place defining country music. The Bakersfield sound clung tenaciously to country’s most twangy, sinewy elements — bluegrass, Western swing, honky-tonk, rockabilly — to accompany lean, down-to-earth, working-class storytelling. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard were the city’s superstars, but this copious 10-CD set, which includes an extensively researched hardcover book, digs far deeper. It starts with Library of Congress recordings of migrant Southwestern farmworkers in California — real “Okies” — and celebrates Bakersfield’s studio mainstays. It rediscovers rowdy rarities like Phil Brown’s “You’re a Luxury” and Rose Stassie’s “Out of My Mind.” Instead of well-worn hits, it selects lesser-known cuts from Owens and Haggard, including their barely distributed debut singles. While Nashville eventually won country radio, at least Bakersfield never got slick. JON PARELES
‘The Bakersfield Sound’
(Bear Family; 10 CDs plus hard-bound book, $179.68)
The city of Bakersfield, Calif. emerged in the 1950s to rival Nashville as the place defining country music. The Bakersfield sound clung tenaciously to country’s most twangy, sinewy elements — bluegrass, Western swing, honky-tonk, rockabilly — to accompany lean, down-to-earth, working-class storytelling. Buck Owens and Merle Haggard were the city’s superstars, but this copious 10-CD set, which includes an extensively researched hardcover book, digs far deeper. It starts with Library of Congress recordings of migrant Southwestern farmworkers in California — real “Okies” — and celebrates Bakersfield’s studio mainstays. It rediscovers rowdy rarities like Phil Brown’s “You’re a Luxury” and Rose Stassie’s “Out of My Mind.” Instead of well-worn hits, it selects lesser-known cuts from Owens and Haggard, including their barely distributed debut singles. While Nashville eventually won country radio, at least Bakersfield never got slick. JON PARELES
Presse Archiv - Yulesville! - 33 Rockin' Rollin' Christmas Blasters For The Cool Season - UK Rock & Roll Magazine
VARIOUS ARTISTS `YULESVILLE' (Bear Family)
Here 33 Festive tunes you probably won't have many of. It's that time of year again, Bear Family have been rummaging where others haven't when it comes to compiling festive compilations.
Unless you have an extensive collection of rarities it's unlikely many of these have featured in your previous playlists, in some cases that's a tragedy, Three Aces And A Joker's uber rare 'Sleigh Bell Rock' disproves any theory that Christmas songs have to be cheesy, this cracker rocks but only 600 people got a copy back in 1960.
Rarity is the feature of the album, it's impossible to list the merits of all the tracks in a short review, yes there are some jingle belled contrived numbers, well it's Christmas after all.
There's some ear-popping good stuff too the earliest from 1950, jazz but so near rock n roll, add some quirky, do-wop and rockabilly bopping and you have a tremendous compilation The booklet is packed with artist information too as you'd expect coming from this label, ideal if you're an anorak like me
Simon Nott
VARIOUS ARTISTS `YULESVILLE' (Bear Family)
Here 33 Festive tunes you probably won't have many of. It's that time of year again, Bear Family have been rummaging where others haven't when it comes to compiling festive compilations.
Unless you have an extensive collection of rarities it's unlikely many of these have featured in your previous playlists, in some cases that's a tragedy, Three Aces And A Joker's uber rare 'Sleigh Bell Rock' disproves any theory that Christmas songs have to be cheesy, this cracker rocks but only 600 people got a copy back in 1960.
Rarity is the feature of the album, it's impossible to list the merits of all the tracks in a short review, yes there are some jingle belled contrived numbers, well it's Christmas after all.
There's some ear-popping good stuff too the earliest from 1950, jazz but so near rock n roll, add some quirky, do-wop and rockabilly bopping and you have a tremendous compilation The booklet is packed with artist information too as you'd expect coming from this label, ideal if you're an anorak like me
Simon Nott
Presse Archiv - Link Wray Rocks - UK Rock & Roll Magazine
LINK WRAY `ROCKS' (Bear Family)
Aficionados of music of the 50's and 60's will almost certainly have some of guitarist Link Wray's tunes in their collection, that's going to include 'Rumble' which hit the top 20 in the USA and UK in 1958. Apparently, the disc was shunned by some radio stations because it was considered to be inciting violence amongst teen gangs, some achievement for an instrumental. It's here but you have to wait until the 34th and final track for the hit. What you glean listening getting that far is the rich musical legacy this hugely influential guitarist left. There's none of the earliest Western Swing because this collection includes just tracks from 1958 to 1966 over several labels. They feature some lesser known gems including 'Big City After Dark' backing his brother Ray plus two tracks where Link provides the vocals. This is a fascinating collection easily illustrates why artists diverse as Neil Young and the Cramps were huge fans.
Simon Nott
LINK WRAY `ROCKS' (Bear Family)
Aficionados of music of the 50's and 60's will almost certainly have some of guitarist Link Wray's tunes in their collection, that's going to include 'Rumble' which hit the top 20 in the USA and UK in 1958. Apparently, the disc was shunned by some radio stations because it was considered to be inciting violence amongst teen gangs, some achievement for an instrumental. It's here but you have to wait until the 34th and final track for the hit. What you glean listening getting that far is the rich musical legacy this hugely influential guitarist left. There's none of the earliest Western Swing because this collection includes just tracks from 1958 to 1966 over several labels. They feature some lesser known gems including 'Big City After Dark' backing his brother Ray plus two tracks where Link provides the vocals. This is a fascinating collection easily illustrates why artists diverse as Neil Young and the Cramps were huge fans.
Simon Nott
Presse Archiv - Billy Fury Wondrous Place - The Brits Are Rocking - UK Rock & Roll Magazine
BILLY FURY `WONDEROUS PLACE' (Bear Family)
Billy Fury is on one hand considered up there with the best of the best of the breed of British rockers. His 1960 album 'The Sound Of Fury' thought of by some with a respect usually reserved for recordings that came out of Sun. True, that 10" is the nearest thing to authentic rockabilly that a UK artist recorded back in the day. On the other hand the conversation then tends to be that Billy Fury turned his back on rock n roll to concentrate on ballads, hits and money. The facts, like them or not is that the sort of music Billy was laying down in 1960 was almost half a decade out of date back in the States, their own brand of fabricated teen idols were flooding the charts while the originators of rock n roll were either in the army, out of vogue, hitting the bottle or both. Worst still, dead, Eddie and Buddy had already started looking beyond rock n roll before their untimely deaths. As far as record company bosses were concerned there was nowhere else commercially to go with Billy but ballads, mostly penned by someone else, they were proved right too, his ballads were much bigger hits than his early rockers. This goes some way to show that despite being know for ballads at the height of his career, when Billy was off the leash he was still rocking, here's the proof.
Simon Nott
BILLY FURY `WONDEROUS PLACE' (Bear Family)
Billy Fury is on one hand considered up there with the best of the best of the breed of British rockers. His 1960 album 'The Sound Of Fury' thought of by some with a respect usually reserved for recordings that came out of Sun. True, that 10" is the nearest thing to authentic rockabilly that a UK artist recorded back in the day. On the other hand the conversation then tends to be that Billy Fury turned his back on rock n roll to concentrate on ballads, hits and money. The facts, like them or not is that the sort of music Billy was laying down in 1960 was almost half a decade out of date back in the States, their own brand of fabricated teen idols were flooding the charts while the originators of rock n roll were either in the army, out of vogue, hitting the bottle or both. Worst still, dead, Eddie and Buddy had already started looking beyond rock n roll before their untimely deaths. As far as record company bosses were concerned there was nowhere else commercially to go with Billy but ballads, mostly penned by someone else, they were proved right too, his ballads were much bigger hits than his early rockers. This goes some way to show that despite being know for ballads at the height of his career, when Billy was off the leash he was still rocking, here's the proof.
Simon Nott
Presse Archiv - Autumn Leaves – 29 Gems for the Indian Summer - UK Rock & Roll Magazine
VARIOUS ARTISTS `AUTUMN LEAVES' (Bear Family)
Bear Family are taking a chance on their loyal listeners broadness of musical mind with this quirky series of seasonal compilatiOns. True there's a lot of something for everyone on here but when you consider the tracks date from 1930 —1962 there is broad musical spectrum encompassed. Whoever complied it did a magnificent job because listen to the album as a whole then it really does work. That's quite a feat when you consider Eddie Cochran's 'Cotton Picker' and Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs `Shuckin' The Corn' are compilation mates with Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe wondering `What Happened To The Mill?' and Don Duke's cover of 'Wild Wind'. It's an ambient musical adventure which will introduce you to music you are never likely to hear otherwise and well worth the dip in unless you really are blinkered musically, in which case it won't be for you.
Simon Nott
VARIOUS ARTISTS `AUTUMN LEAVES' (Bear Family)
Bear Family are taking a chance on their loyal listeners broadness of musical mind with this quirky series of seasonal compilatiOns. True there's a lot of something for everyone on here but when you consider the tracks date from 1930 —1962 there is broad musical spectrum encompassed. Whoever complied it did a magnificent job because listen to the album as a whole then it really does work. That's quite a feat when you consider Eddie Cochran's 'Cotton Picker' and Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs `Shuckin' The Corn' are compilation mates with Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe wondering `What Happened To The Mill?' and Don Duke's cover of 'Wild Wind'. It's an ambient musical adventure which will introduce you to music you are never likely to hear otherwise and well worth the dip in unless you really are blinkered musically, in which case it won't be for you.
Simon Nott
Press Archive - Carl Perkins - Discovering Carl Perkins - Eastview, Tennesse 1952-1953 (LP, 10inch) - CARL PERKINS Discovering Eastview, Tenn-essee 1952-53 Bear Family **** Rare Recordings von Carl Perkins, der als einer der Gründungsväter des Rock 'n' Roll gilt. Noch 2 Jahre vor seinen Aufnahmen bei Sun Records spielte er zwischen 1952-53 in einem kleinen Studio in Tenn-essee vorliegende 9 Stucke ein, die nun von Bear Family im remaster-ten und bestmöglichen Sound als 10" Vinyl mit beiliegender Bonus-CD veröffentlicht werden. Ein Mei-lenstein der frühen Rock 'n' Roll-Geschichtet RAINER GUERICH
33 Rockin' Rollin' Christmas Blasters For The Cool Season Bear Family **** Mal eine etwas andere Weihnachts-scheibe kommt hier in Form der 33. gängigen "Yulesville!"-Kompilation, die rare Rock'n'Roll, Rhythm'n'Blu-es-Songs und Instrumentals rund um die Win-ter- und Weih-nachtszeit zwi-schen 1950 bis 1963 bereit hält. Auf dem Spielplan stehen zahlreiche Christmas Rockabilly Kracher, blue-sige Titel (u.a. Lightnin' Hopkins, Dee Dee Ford) und bekannte Namen der Rock'n'Roll-Szene wie The Drifters, Claude McPhatter, The Penguins und The Four Seasons. UTE BAHN
33 Rockin' Rollin' Christmas Blasters For The Cool Season Bear Family **** Mal eine etwas andere Weihnachts-scheibe kommt hier in Form der 33. gängigen "Yulesville!"-Kompilation, die rare Rock'n'Roll, Rhythm'n'Blu-es-Songs und Instrumentals rund um die Win-ter- und Weih-nachtszeit zwi-schen 1950 bis 1963 bereit hält. Auf dem Spielplan stehen zahlreiche Christmas Rockabilly Kracher, blue-sige Titel (u.a. Lightnin' Hopkins, Dee Dee Ford) und bekannte Namen der Rock'n'Roll-Szene wie The Drifters, Claude McPhatter, The Penguins und The Four Seasons. UTE BAHN