More Country Stars Go Rockabilly-Various Artists.
Released: 03/11/2023
Record Label Riverside Records.
Cat No: CDRIVERSID223
Reviewed by Terry Mead 03/01/2025
The sequel to last year's Country Stars Go Rockabilly is finally here:
Swedish Riverside Records continues here with a second volume of country artists who fell for the frenzy of making "rockabilly" recordings after a youngster at Sun Records in Memphis splurged his way up the charts in the United States. More Country Stars Go Rockabilly contains 40 well-known country artists performing rockabilly titles. The first cd starts with a 13 year old (!) Dolly Parton in her first recording followed by artists like Charlie Rich, Lefty Frizzell, Martha Carson, Buck Owens, Jimmy Dean, Bobby Bare and many more. Just as before the booklet contains biographies on each artist that participates.
Album Review: So, let’s take a look at some of the more notable and lesser known forty tracks. The collection begins with 13-year-old Dolly Parton's 1959 debut album "Puppy Love", recorded in Eddie Shuler's Gold Band studio in Lake Charles, a jolly little number not to be confused with Paul Anka’s song of the same name. You’re Humbuggin’ Me first released by Rocket Morgan but better known by Lefty Frizell in 1958 is a lively tune that pronounces the future of Rockabilly. Next up “Black Cat” by Tommy Collins a slappin’ clappin’ number, followed by “Crazy Daisy” a similar theme with a slower beat. Billy Walkers “I’ve Got Leavin’ On My Mind” with its traits of Johnny Burnette intro is a cruisy upbeat tune that perpetuates the era. Sonny James “You Got That Touch” borders more on the popular market with its riveting beat. “Now Stop” certainly doesn’t not even for a breather it’s an energetic number from Martha Carson. With is creative backing vocal’s Buck Owens “Sweet Thing” is a lament with a story. Jimmy Deans “Nothing Can Stop My Love” is a pure Rocker, while Country renouned singers Marty Robbins and Slim Whitman have followed suit with “ Mean Mama Blues” and “Candy Kisses”. Bobby Bare is more than 500 miles from his roots with “Vampira” with its rockin’ beat. Claude Kings “Run Baby Run” gives it the Bo Diddley treatment whilst “Circle Rock” has some traits of Jerry Lee in the breaks.
Moving onto disc 2 we find Billy Craddock’s “Ah Poor Little Baby” a driving number with the distinctive “Ah” stops, Wayne Raney’s “Shake Baby Shake” is a Rockabilly bopper with Wayne giving us a treat on the harmonica, following this Ferlin Husky with “Wang Dang Doo” a stupendous piece of sheer pulsating music that will have you stomping. Next up one of the many car themed tunes from the fifties “ If You Don’t Know” one of my old favourites with its colourful lyrics. Rusty Draper’s “Tiger Lilly” borders on crooning rockabilly style, “Teenage Wedding” by Mel Tillis brings in a few famous people attending rock n rolling to a jiving beat while a harmonious vocals song tells us about dirty “Ernie” portrayed by Merle Kilgore. Chip Taylor tells us “I’m Ready To Go Steady” with a catchy little number that jumps up at you followed by Eddy Arnolds Hillbilly crossover “Hep Cat Baby” a soothing laid back affair. Hawkshaw Hawkins “Waiting For My Baby” is another bopper with a Western Swing cut and lastly brings us to “Carry On” by Jimmy Newman with some distinctive piano-rolling.
So, to Summarise there is still a touch of authenticity in several artists, preferably those who were more rooted in hillbilly, honky tonk and western swing but the crossover is there and shows in these tracks and credit to these artists that moved with the times and took the plunge into a fantastic time in music history. Well worth a purchase to time travel with these artists again.
Track List:
Disc 1
1. Dolly Parton - Puppy Love
2. Rusty & Doug Kershaw - Hey Mae
3. Charlie Rich - Rebound
4. Skeets Mcdonald - You Oughta See Grandma Rock
5. Lefty Frizzell - You're Humbuggin' Me
6. Tommy Collins - Black Cat
7. Doug Sahm - Crazy Daisy
8. Billy Walker - I've Got Leavin' On My Mind
9. Justin Tubb - Rock It Down To My House
10. Sonny James - You Got That Touch
11. Martha Carson - Now Stop
12. Buck Owens - Sweet Thing
13. Jimmy Dean - Nothing Can Stop My Love
14. Marty Robbins - Mean Mama Blues
15. Slim Whitman - Candy Kisses
16. Bobby Bare - Vampira
17. Hank Snow - Hula Rock
18. Claude King - Run Baby Run
19. Ernest Tubb - Thirty Days
20. Cowboy Copas - Circle Rock
Disc 2
1. Bobby Helms - Tennessee Rock & Roll
2. Billy Craddock - Ah, Poor Little Baby
3. Al Terry - Watch Dog
4. Hank Thompson - Rockin' In The Congo
5. Wayne Raney - Shake Baby Shake
6. Ferlin Husky - Wang Dang Doo-
7. George Hamilton Iv - If You Don't Know
8. Don Gibson - Sweet, Sweet Girl
9. Little Jimmy Dickens - I Got A Hole In My Pocket
10. Rusty Draper - Tiger Lilly
11. Rose Maddox - Move It On Over
12. Carl Smith - Go Boy Go
13. Mel Tillis - Teen Age Wedding
14. The Louvin Brothers - Cash On The Barrel Head
15. Merle Kilgore - Ernie
16. Chip Taylor - I'm Ready To Go Steady
17. Eddy Arnold - Hep Cat Baby
18. Ned Miller - Old Mother Nature And Old Father Time
19. Hawkshaw Hawkins - Waiting For My Baby
20. Jimmy Newman - Carry On
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