Dean wrote:
Episode #2 of ROOTS ROCK RADIO is now archived at https://www.mixcloud.com/dean-fiora/roots-rock-radio-1950s-rock-n-roll-episode-2/
Here's the playlist:
1. WILD WEEKEND, The Rockin’ Rebels (1962-63)
First released as by simply "The Rebels" in early 1960 on the Mar Lee label out of Buffalo NY.
They also had several records before this starting with "Rockin' Crickets" as by The Hot Toddys on Shan-Todd label in 1959 (which even got a UK release here that year on Pye International and now enjoys very rare status)
2. SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL, Big Joe Turner (1954)
Gotta be my #1 favorite record evah!! (wonder if anyone else here will agree? :)
3. JUMPS, GIGGLES AND SHOUTS, Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps (1957)
The HUGE downside of living in England was of course missing out on tons of American music never released here---but there was a small upside too--in getting special UK only 45rpm releases like this one on Capitol b/w "Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That
Old Gang Of Mine).
Topside is one of my very favorite GV numbers
6. BROWN-EYED HANDSOME MAN, Chuck Berry (1956)
Here's an example of the "missing out" I was just talking about
Because UK London in their wisdom (?) passed on releasing Chuck's original here the first time I ever heard the "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" song was by Buddy Holly. It was only later I caught up with Chuck's original (thanks to the great Transat import
record store in London who imported TONS of US r&r,r&b and blues stuff)
8. BABY, LET’S PLAY HOUSE, Elvis Presley (1955)
Hands down for me Elvis' BEST EVER record!!
And the template for much of the white rockabilly that followed
14. LET THE BOOGIE WOOGIE ROLL, Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters (1953, unissued)
GREAT early Drifters number (from the same 1953 session that produced "Money Honey") and first released on the "All Star Rock & Roll" EP on Atlantic (other tracks by Ruth Brown,LaVern Baker and Ivory Joe Hunter) in 1956 or 1957 (depending on which online
source you consider most reliable) and then more definitely in 1960 when it appears on Atlantic single b/w "Deep Sea Ball"
25. LIFE IS BUT A DREAM, The Harptones (1955)
One of the best ever uses of a 1950's recording in a movie is where this classic number plays as the background to Henry and Karen's wedding sequence in Scorcese's brilliant "Goodfellas"
30. I NEED A MAN, Barbara Pittman (1956)
Big favorite of mine that comes in at #5 in my updated Favorite Femmes records of 1956
1. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye Ella Fitzgerald
2. Manhattan Ella Fitzgerald
3. Jambalaya Little Brenda Lee
4. Jim Dandy LaVern Baker
5. I Need A Man Barbara Pittman
37. MAYBE, The Chantels (1958)
Over here this classic was voted #1 WORST record of the year (1958 dated by UK release)---IIRC the poll was done by the folk at "New Musical Express" weekly music paper
40. RUMBLE, Link Wray (1958)
Great instrumental--my #2 instrumental of 1958 (beaten only by "Rebel Rouser")
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