ALL ORIGINAL 45 RPM SINGLE VERSIONS - DIGITALLY REMASTERED FOR HIGHEST QUALITY SOUND Rock ‘n’ roll was still new in 1957, full of the exuberance and vitality of youth. Recapture those halcyon days of early rock with Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1957: Rhythm & Rock, a compendium of classic and rare hits from the days of ducktailed cats and poodle-skirted chicks. One of two new volumes in Hit Parade’s Jukebox Classics series, Rhythm & Rock brings back a time when a nickel bought [Read More...]
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Hard to Find Jukebox Classics 1957: Rhythm & Rock gives us so many classic hits from the golden era of rock and roll back in 1957. The sound quality is really very good; and the artwork is nicely done as well. This is anything but elevator music; and there are plenty of dance tunes here, too.
Chuck Berry starts things off with his huge hit entitled “Rock & Roll Music.” This is classic early rock music and it still sounds good all these years later! Chuck sings this very well and the melody works great with those electric guitars and that piano! Of course, Little Richard scored a huge hit with his “Good Golly, Miss Molly.” “Good Golly, Miss Molly” really rocks well and Little Richard never sounded better! “Ain’t Got No Home” by Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry really lets him open up and expose the wide–really wide–range of his voice; and Clarence Henry sure does this one up right!
“Little Bitty Pretty One” by Thurston Harris always makes me smile; and I love that finger snapping as a creative way to use percussion in the song! Thurston sings this with all his might and just one listen proves it. Listen also for “Hand Clappin’” by Red Prysock; this has a rocking melody that also hints at a jazzy type of arrangement. “Hand Clappin’” is an awesome number on this CD. “Chain Gang” by Bobby Scott shines equally bright; and the backup vocals fit in well on “Chain Gang.”
Billy Ward & His Dominoes perform a slow and somewhat mellow version of “Deep Purple;” and I really like the way they do this song. Billy Williams also does a sublime rendition of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter;” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter” has a fine beat and Billy sings this with panache. I love it! In addition, The Rays perform their hit “Silhouettes;” “Silhouettes” deals so well of a man’s hurt feelings when he discovers that his one true love has been unfaithful to him.
Chuck Willis does a great job on “C.C. Rider;” “C.C. Rider” sounds great and this is easily a major highlight of this album. Chuck Willis aces this number seemingly effortlessly, too. “The Fool” by Sanford Clark has a great early rock and roll flavor mixed in with just a twist of country; and the CD ends with Charlie Gracie performing “Butterfly.” “Butterfly” is one of those tunes that you might not recognize the name of the tune–but when you hear it you will remember this one instantly. It’s an oldie that still remains a goodie!
Hard to Find Jukebox Classics 1957: Rhythm & Rock is a fine CD for people who enjoy early rock and roll. I highly recommend this CD for people who like this genre of music.
“See it, Hear It, Get It!”. That is what the original Regency advertisement said about the world’s first pocket radio the TR-1. Offered in a total of 11 colors, the TR-1 sold like hotcakes in the mid 1950’s. Seems like just about every teenager was bound and determined to have one. And it was certainly no coincidence that the emergence of the music that would come to be known as rock and roll can be traced to the introduction of the transistor radio. Return with us now to those golden days of yesteryear with Hit Parade records stunning new release “Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1957: Rhythm and Rock”. Enjoy once again two dozen classic recordings from what many consider to be the golden age of rock and roll.
As you might expect, “Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1957: Rhythm and Rock” features a number of recordings by members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Chuck Berry knocked ‘em dead with the the Top Ten favorite “Rock & Roll Music” in the late fall of ‘57. And who can ever forget Little Richard’s rollicking “Good Golly Miss Molly”? Rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly gave us his classic “Oh Boy” during 1957 as well. All of these tunes are included here. Ruth Brown, who had been an important figure on the R & B charts for years finally managed to make a splash on the pop charts in 1957 with her version of Leiber and Stoller’s “Lucky Lips”. Sensational! Doo-wop afficianados will enjoy the Ray’s big hit “Silhouettes” as well as Eugene Mumford’s stirring lead vocal on Billy Ward and the Dominoes recording of “Deep Purple”. Also included here are tunes by such legendary artists as Sam Cooke, Chuck Willis and Clarence “Frogman” Henry. One of my personal favorites in this collection is Billy Williams terrific take on “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter”. I often wondered why we never heard too much more from Billy Williams. What I did not realize was that he was 47 years old when he recorded this song. Just a few years later Billy Williams would lose his voice due to complications from diabetes. Such a shame! Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention Red Prysock’s
sensational instrumental “Hand Clappin’”. Although this record failed to make the Billboard Hot 100, “Hand Clappin’” was used as a theme song by dozens of prominent DJ’s around the country. This one is a real period piece.
Suffice to say that Hit Parade records has come up with yet another winner. The 12 page booklet is packed with biographical information on each of the artists and useful chart information for each tune. Likewise, the sound quality is first rate. Let me assure you that these are all the original recordings you would remember blasting from that little transistor radio you owned way back when. A great mix of tunes you will play again and again. Highly recommended!