This two-disc volume from
Definitive Records
offers up 30 tracks recorded in 1958. By this point, rock & roll had been around for a few years and with
Elvis Presley
's draft into the U.S. Army that March, a number of other young rockers rose to prominence.
Ricky Nelson
hit number one with "Poor Little Fool,"
the Everly Brothers
released their now-iconic "All I Have to Do Is Dream," and a young Latino-American named
Ritchie Valens
had the biggest hit of his short lifetime with "Donna." Crooners like
Bobby Darin
("Splish Splash") took a swing at lighter, rock-oriented material and a young
Bob Gaudio
offered up a novelty smash about "Short Shorts" with his band
the Royal Teens
. Just two years later
Gaudio
and three other Jersey Boys would light up the charts as
the Four Seasons
. The year 1958 was also strong for African-Americans in rock with
Chuck Berry
's "Sweet Little Sixteen,"
Little Richard
's "Good Golly Miss Molly," and
the Big Bopper
's "Chantilly Lace." The
Platters
also continued their run of hits with the beautiful "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." ~ Timothy Monger