The Fifties: Rockabilly Fever

The Fifties: Rockabilly Fever is another great rockabilly collection for your listening pleasure. Thanks to the great comments I’ve been getting, I get the feelin’ some of you would like more rockabilly. While I certainly am no expert when it comes to rockabilly, sometimes you just know good stuff when you hear it, and this one is loaded with great stuff.

Zydeco Live!

Does the accordion scare the shit out of you? How about washboards? If so then this post is probably not for you. For the rest of you here is some hot live authentic zydeco music, direct from Richard's Club in Lawtell, Louisiana. Zydeco Live! is a split CD from John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys along with Willis Prudhomme and the Zydeco Express. Great stuff indeed.

The Neatbeats - Far And Near

If by chance you dig that Liverpool Sound, you will love the Neatbeats. So what if these guys came along three decades later, they have nailed that sound using vintage equipment. Stylistically they are similar to The Kaisers, but not quite as polished. Far And Near was this Japanese quartets first album,  released in 1998. They cover a lot of Beat standards from the original beat era, on their second album the band would contribute five originals to compliment the covers.

The Neatbeats - Mercurial...

Mercurial... the second great album from The Neatbeats. 

The Troll - Animated Music (Smash, 1968)

Animated Music was the sole long player from this Chicago outfit. The band was previously known as The Trolls and had three 45’s on ABC prior to the albums release. Heavy fuzz numbers (Satin City News, A Winter’s Song, Mourning of the Day, Werewolf and Witchbreath) alongside some british psych influenced quirky pop (Mr. Abernathy, Everybody's Child, I’ve Only Myself To Blame) make for a very enjoyable listening experience. There are also a couple of turds in the punch bowl, I’ll let you determine which tracks qualify. As a bonus I have posted all six tracks from their first three 45’s, here.

The Boston Tea Party (Flick Disc, 1968)

The Boston Tea Party hailed from Burbank California, where the band started life as a surf band in 1963. This pop-psych album was the bands one and only LP, released in 1968 on the Flick Disc label. Hardly in the top tier of albums from the period, yet still an enjoyable listen, that is if one can overlook some truly horrific guitar solos (check out I’m Tellin’ You for a prime example). Thankfully the organ and rhythm section along with the vocals save the day and make this listenable. Pick of the litter is The Time Being and We Have Already Died. The band also contributes three tracks to the Cycle Savages soundtrack from 1969 Fantasy, Chained To Your Heart and We Have Already Died.

The East Side Sound [1959-1968]

The East Side (of LA) Sound!

The Scotty Story: Minnesota's Legendary '60s Rock Label!

Superb collection of sixties sounds from Warren Kendrick's infamous Scotty label. Kendrick was quite the multi tasking musical genius, perhaps most famously for his involvement with the Litter and Electras. His producing, song writing (almost half of the songs on this set), ear for talent were exceptional.

Wild Men Ride Wild Guitars: Original Rockabilly and Chicken Bop Vol. 1 (1990)

Wild Men Ride Wild Guitars was the first of a three volume series, long out of print, but you should be able to find used copies at a reasonable price should you chose to do so. This first volume digs into the Challenge records vault. Challenge was started by Joe Johnson and Gene Autry in 1957, Autry would bail on the project in 1958. With a loan from Decca Records Johnson continued at the helm. Absolutely great stuff on all three volumes.

Rockin' In The Farmhouse: Original Rockabilly and Chicken Bop Vol. 2 (1992)

Rockin' In The Farmhouse takes a look at the Roulette and associated labels output.

Wail Man Wail!: Original Rockabilly & Chicken Bop Vol. 3 (1993)

Wail Man Wail! takes another look at the Challenge and Jackpot labels output between 1957 and 1960.