Rock On CD - Import

Not many record shops get their own widely available compilation CD, but not many record shops meant as much to as many people as London's Rock On. (The fact that its owners also founded Ace Records obviously helped the disc find a good home and caring representatives.) Rock On originated as a market stall in Portobello Road and later Soho, then gained its first real storefront in Camden Town; any other contenders for the crown of the first collectors' record shop devoted to rock & roll are very difficult to find. It developed a steady clientele throughout the '70s, and became the store of choice for rock & roll inheritors to find some original sources for the material they were about to cover or become influenced by. (Picturesque impressions conveyed in the liner notes include Elvis Costello with armfuls of soul 45s as he was recording Get Happy!!, and Bobby Gillespie scoring a rare Doug Sahm LP.) From the evidence of this store sampler, staff-members Ted Carroll and Roger Armstrong loved souped-up American rock and R&B, whether that included original sources or such '60s/'70s inheritors as Dr. Feelgood, the Flamin' Groovies, Roky Erickson, and Peter Holsapple (all of whom make appearances). Rarities abound, and the Ace compilers (pun intended) present a good balance between favorites that are always good to hear (Amos Milburn's "Chicken Shack Boogie," Huey "Piano" Smith's "Don't You Just Know It") and plenty of deeper rarities. ~ John Bush

ú2008 compilation that focuses on the eclectic and inspiring music sold at the UK's finest small retail chain: Rock On. The three Rock On retail outlets in London each had a distinctive clientele and sold a wider selection of records than any other record stores between them. Hundreds of thousands of people came through the doors of the stalls and the shop and left with fond memories and great records. This CD covers most all of the styles of music sold at the Rock Ons and provides a trip down memory lane for the many regular customers. Through the doors of the various Rock Ons came Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and a host of people who had barely even heard of themselves. 28 tracks including cuts from Huey Piano Smith, Link Wray, Koko Taylor, Peter Holsapple, Joe Tex, Fats Domino and many others. Ace.