Rockin' From Coast To Coast: Volume 2 CD - Import

Another volume of raw 1950s rock where obscurity fights it out with quality. The former trait getting the upper hand more often than not, although you might have heard a few of the names here, particularly Wanda Jackson and Ronnie Dee (aka Ronnie Dawson). Like the first volume, it's an OK sampler of the range of unbridled sounds recorded in the wake of the original rock & roll explosion, from both white and (less often) black artists. Joe Clay's "Duck Tail," Big T Tyler's "King Kong," and Tarheel Slim's "No. 9 Train" are big enough cult favorites that they -- along with the Jackson and Dawson cuts -- are on Rhino's Loud, Fast & Out of Control '50s rock box set. The remainder of the CD consists of about 20 other high-octane performances that are, more often than not, quite derivative of Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard, to name the most obvious targets. Sometimes the imitation is blatant enough to actually preclude even casual enjoyment; why listen to the Catalinas' "Speechless" when it's obvious as hell that it would not have existed if not for "Breathless" by Jerry Lee Lewis? On the other hand, some of the unknown tracks have their share of thrills, like Joyce Harris' screams-her-throat-raw version of "Got My Mojo Working." Some reasonably well-known names are scattered throughout the rest of the set: Roy Brown trying New Orleans rock & roll on "Saturday Night," Ersel Hickey doing "Goin' Down the Road," future soul singer Sugar Pie DeSantos duetting with Peewee, and Jerry Reed and Joe South playing the stormy acoustic guitars powering Ric Cartey's "Scratchin' on My Screen." ~ Richie Unterberger

26 crackers from the late 1950s to the early '60s, ranging across 20 labels, feat. Joe Clay, Ronnie Pearson, Tarheel Slim, Wanda Jackson, Roy Brown, Catalinas, Don Cole, Ric Cartey, Gene Wyatt, Buddy Covelle, Ersel Hickey & many others

Contains 26 tracks.

Performers include: Joe Clay, Ronnie Pearson, Tarheel Slim, Wanda Jackson, Roy Brown, Catalinas, Don Cole, Ric Cartey, Gene Wyatt, Buddy Covelle, Ersel Hickey, Sugar Pie & Peewee.

Liner Note Author: Rob Finnis.

Photographer: Rob Finnis.