Sun Records Originals : 52 Rockabilly Rarities

johnaalex

4 days ago7 min read

Sun Records Originals : 52 Rockabilly Rarities

Date of release : February 2025

Record Label : Sun

Reviewed date : March 2025

52 Rockabilly Rarities from 706 Union Avenue, that sure sounds like an appealing promise! Is there really something new under the Sun?

Now, the question is what is or isn’t a rarity…. If you started collecting the various waves of Sun records releases 30 to 40 years ago (especially the Charly Records and Bear Family ones), you may rather consider many of these tracks as “Classic Rarities”.

But it’s true that there’s also a few rarest things, well worth discovering or rediscovering, and the sound quality is very good. Apart from one or two exceptions, the content is pure Memphis gold, the cream of the many lesser-known Sun rockabillies.

It seems this comp. is only available online. A CD release could have been good at least to get more information on the tracks.

Eddie Bush – Hey Baby Doll

Right from the start, this track from 1959 put us into the depth of the Sun sound, with a great backing from WS Holland on drums and Carl Mann on piano. Eddie Bush may not be the best singer under the Sun, but with a band like this, you can’t go wrong!

Ken Cook – Problem Child (Don’t Be Runnin’ Wild)

Ken Cook recorded this track best known by Roy Orbison in 1958. Great band again with the cream of the house, including Billy Lee Riley, Jack Clement and Jimmy Van Eaton.

Tommy Blake – Shake Around

Great stompin’ rockabilly number from 1958, 100% Sun sound.

Cliff Gleaves – Love Is My Business

I’ve always liked this one. Good vocal from Cliff, great guitar break from Roland boy and swingin’ piano groove from Charlie Rich.

Dan Beard – Rakin’ And Scrapin’

I would rather call this one a Classic than a Rarity! Fabulous sax led rockabilly tune from 1956. If some still think that sax and rockabilly don’t match, just listen to that one.

Alton and Jimmy – I Just Don’t Know

Superb vocal harmonies from Alton and Jimmy and great guitar break. Great tune!

Cast King – Baby Doll

Pure hillbilly bopper with nice vocals harmonies and jumping rhythm.

Harold Dorman – To Be With You With this very nice ballad recorded in 1957, Harold Dorman may be considered one of the first Elvis impersonator. And he’s up to the job!

Curtis Hobock – My Bonnie

Great primitive stompin’ rhythm on this one!

Johnny Powers – Waitin’ For You

Very cool track from the great Johnny Powers, recorded in 1959 with the Sun ‘All-stars’ band (Brad Suggs, Billy Riley, Jimmy Van Eaton Charlie Rich, Matin Willis)

Jimmy Haggett – Rock Me Baby

Again, this one from 1955 should rather be labelled as a classic nowadays. Slappin’ bass, stompin’ rhythm, sharp guitar, boppin’ vocal… the definition of rockabilly!

Wade and Dick – Move Baby Move

This one was not released (like many others from this collection) but it’s probably one of the best track recorded at Sun (along with…100 others?). This song certainly had a huge influence on many other Rockabilly bands from the 1980s. A killer!

Linda Gail Lewis – Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees)

Linda recorded in 1963 at the ‘new’ Sun studio (639 Madison) with her big brother on the piano. Good swingin’ track with nice sax break. More than 60 years later, Linda is still rockin’. Hats off!

Johnny Carroll – Rock It Baby, Rock It

Again this one can hardly be called a rarity nowadays. It was actually not recorded at Sun, but in Fort Worth Texas with a certain Georges Jones on drums! While it was not released at that time, the song had its moment of glory as it gave its title to the movie of the same name.

Mack Self – I Vibrate

Recorded in 1958, very good tune from Mack with a nice country-rock feel to it.

Wade Cagle and The Escorts – Forty Days

Good take of the well-known Chuck Berry “30 days” song to which Ronnie Hawkins added 10 days more. Wade didn’t add any more, but his take is still well worth listening to.

Dickey Lee – Hey Heart

Sun record also got some beautiful ballads. This one is from 1958 with nice doo-woop styled backing vocals.

Jimmy Wages – Mad Man

Brilliant track with menacing vocals, backed by a terrific slappin’ bass. I like the little touches of steel guitar that reinforce the track's originality. Punk rock before its age?

Don Hosea – Never Did I

Good boppin’ tune from 1958 with the cream of 706 Union Avenue : Roland Janes, Jimmy Van Eaton, Stan Kesler and Jimmy Wilson. Pure Sun sound!

Ray Harris – Lonely Wolf Another frantic number with terrific guitar and vocal. Just fabulous!

Jimmy Haggett – How Come You Do Me Like You Do?

Another classic from 1956. Perfect bopper!

Alton and Jimmy – What’s The Use

Recorded in 59 with Billy Riley on bass and Jimmy van Eaton on drums and unknown sax player. Superb vocal harmonies from Alton Lott and Jimmy Harrell.

Johnny Powers – Me and My Rhythm Guitar

Still from 59, a great tune from Johnny and his rhythm guitar. He’s also supported by Martin Willis on sax and the faultless rhythm section of Billy Riley, Jimmy Van Eaton and Brad Suggs.

Dan Stinit – Mean Eyed Cat

A very late take of the Johnny Cash classic, as it was recorded in 1966. Dan’s vocals pale in comparison to Cash…

Ernie Barton – Battle of Earl K Long

Still in the style of Cash, but Ernie’s voice is much more up to scratch than Dan Stinit’s. Very enjoyable country bopper.

Wade and Dick – Don’t Need Your Lovin’ Baby (Alternate)

Another great one from Wade and Dick with great guitar work and cool vocals. This seems to be an alternate take, but no more details are provided.

Glenn Honeycutt – All Night Rock

Again, I would consider this one as a rockabilly standard nowadays. Recorded in 1956 with Roland Janes, Jimmy Van Eaton and Jimmy Wilson on piano. Pure Sun gold!

Patsy Holcom – I Wanna Rock

Here’s a rockin’ gal for a change. Good bopper from 57 with good guitar break from Roland Janes

Curtis Hobock - Apron Strings

Recorded in 59 or 60 with restricted back-up band it seems. Great vocal performance and guitar work, but we miss the slap-back echo on this one.

Jimmy Wages – Miss Pearl

Another frantic tune from Jimmy. No information on the backing band, but they sure were inspired. Too bad Jimmy Wages recorded only four songs at Sun… at least we’re lucky to have those.

Bill Yates – Popcorn Polly

Here's a rarity that could have remained a rarity! As the title suggests, it's popcorn-RnB with typical sixties sound and silly female backing vocals. The guitar break is still worth listening but the whole thing is far from the Sun sound. After Jimmy Wages it's a bit of a shock! Recorded in 64 at 639 Madison, the times they were changing…

Alton and Jimmy – Why Do I Love Alton and Jimmy sound like a relief after Bill Yates. Good stomper with the full Sund sound from 706 Union Avenue.

Ken Cook – Crazy Baby (Alternate)

Another cool one with great slap-back effect and haunting rhythm.

Cliff Thomas – Jumpin’ Jack

Good jivin’ track from 1957 with swingin’ piano and girl chorus.

Mack Self – Going Crazy

Good hillbilly bopper from 55 or 56 with steel guitar and fiddle.

Onie Wheeler – Walking Shoes

Another hillbilly who caught the boppin’ bug in Memphis!

Johnny Carrol – You Made Me Love You

Johnny treat us with a nice Presley-ish ballad, but I’m not convinced that his voice is really up to the task.

Maggie Sue Wimberly – Rock and Roll Cinnamon Tree

Another hillbilly bopper from 56.

Johnny Powers – Trouble (I’m Evil)

I like this very primitive version of Trouble. It sounds as if Jimmy Van Eaton is banging on a wooden crate.

Dan Beard – Baby Don’t Lie To Me

Good rockabilly from 1957 with frantic vocal from Dan.

Rayburn Anthony – Ham Bone

Great version of Hambone by Rayburn. I guess we can call this one a rarity, one that is worth discovering for sure.

Harold Dorman – Spark of Love

Recorded in 57, another Elvis inspired ballad. Not bad at all!

Vernon Taylor – Your Lovin’ Man

Another superb and not so well-known rockabilly from 58. If you haven’t heard that one yet, jump on it!

Wade Cagle and The Escorts – Oowee Oowee

Dancin’ and swingin’ tune with full blown sax and cool rhythm changes. Perfect for the dance floor.

Jimmy Haggett – Rabbit Action

Back to the boppin’ hiccupin’ master, Mr Jimy Haggett. As primitive and raw sound as you’d expect.

Ken Cook – I Fell In Love, Starts with a nice Berry-ish guitar intro and keeps a stompin’ rhythm throughout. All good!

Dan Beard – Rock Around The Town

Another hiccupin’ stompin’ masterpiece from 56.

Tracy Pendarvis – Uh, Huh, Oh Yeah

This one is not so commonly heard. Another good rockabilly with nice a nice groove.

Linda Gail Lewis – Sittin’ & Thinkin’

Linda’s version of the Charlie Rich tune with superb backing from her big brother on piano. I could have done without the organ though… but we’re in 1963.

Don Hosea – John Henry

This one also deserve the rarity label. Mr John Henry, the well know steel-drivin’ man is rockin’ along the track.

Tomy Blake – You Better Believe It

Nice ending with Tommy Blake. A good rockin’ track with superb piano from Jimmy Wilson and the always great backing from Jimmy Van Eaton and Roland James.

Conclusion : nothing new under the Sun… this is still the best Record Company ever!

Track list :