In the 1950s,
Columbia Records
was widely regarded as the most prestigious record label in America, as well as one of the most conservative, and they were relatively late to enter the
rock & roll
game. However, thankfully the label's Nashville branch wasn't nearly as cautious about such things as the home office in New York, and their subsidiary labels
OKeh
and
Date
were more than willing to pick up the slack, and as a result this compilation offers a lot more frantic early rockin' than some folks might expect.
Ronnie Self
kicks off the set with his classic
"Ain't I'm a Dog,"
and his three tracks are the highlights here, though
the Collins Kids
run a close second with four outstanding tunes, including
"I'm in My Teens"
and the lascivious
"Whistle Bait."
While
Carl Perkins
'
Columbia
sides have never received the same acclaim as his early records for
Sun
,
"Pink Pedal Pushers"
"Where the Rio de Rosa Flows"
shows he was still picking up a storm and making with the rhythm, while
Billy Brown
's
"Did We Have a Party"
is a reverb-drenched one-off wonder. And a number of
's top
country
acts cut great rockers in the 1950s, and
Lefty Frizzell
"You're Humbuggin' Me,"
Marty Robbins
"Pretty Mama,"
Rose Maddox
"Wild Wild Young Men"
are all top-shelf stuff, with
the Maddox Brothers
closing out the package with the hilarious parody/tribute
"The Death of Rock and Roll"
(as well as the gotta-hear-it-to-believe-it
"Ugly and Slouchy"
).
Bear Family
have included well-written and informative liner notes on all the artists, and the remastering is strong throughout; this is one of the better installments in this consistently fine series, and anyone who digs classic
rockabilly
and early
will finds lots to like here. ~ Mark Deming