Janis Martin Female Elvis: Complete Recordings 1956-60 CD - Import

The only female rocker of the 1950s to blow Wanda Jackson out of the water, Janis Martin earned her moniker as "the female Elvis." The truth in that claim can be heard on this excellent compilation of her complete works, all of which were recorded between 1956 and 1960.

Thirty songs, and not a loser in the bunch. This little lady rocks -- hard -- and she doesn't start to slow down until 21 songs in. The best is sort of like Elvis' early RCA sides, only better, mixed with some wildness that makes one wonder if Sun Records wouldn't have been a better home for her. As it happens, Martin is a good enough singer that even the slow ballads like "Cry Guitar" and "One More Year to Go" come off well -- she had a rich, strong, slightly throaty voice that would have allowed her to make it in country music, or even pop (check out the Duke Ellington-authored "Squeeze Me") as easily as rock & roll, if that was what she wanted. What's more, she could write songs as well, and that was pretty rare for female performers of the time; her originals here compare pretty favorably with standards like "Ooby Dooby." "Blues Keep Calling" is a hot number in any discography. ~ Bruce Eder

Here's the original wild woman of rock 'n' roll! She signed with RCA two months after Elvis and cut unvarnished rockabilly and rock 'n' roll for the next two years. RCA wasn't kidding when they dubbed her 'The Female Elvis'. Backed by the crack Nashville and New York session men, she cut 26 stellar cuts like Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll, Will You Willyum, My Boy Elvis, Bang Bang, Love Me To Pieces, Ooby Dooby, and Let's Elope Baby. All 26 RCA cuts are here together with a 1960 Palette session that included Teen Street and the honky tonk classic Cry Guitar. One of the Bear Family label's first CDs--and still one of the best!

Digitally remastered by Bob Jones.

Recorded at RCA Victor Studios and Owen Bradley Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee; RCA Victor Studio 1 and RCA Victor Studio 3, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Bob Allen.

Producers: Steve Sholes, Jeff Kluger, Chet Atkins.

Personnel: Janis Martin (vocals); George Barnes, Al Chernet (guitar); Chet Atkins (electric guitar); Floyd Cramer, Shorty Long (piano); Murray Harman, Jr., Bunny Shawker (drums).

Liner Note Authors: Bob Allen; Bob Allen.

Photographers: Hans Peter Zdrenka; Diethold Leu; Jon Broven; Adam Komorowski.

Personnel includes: Janis Martin (vocals, guitar); Thomas Grady Martin (guitar, bass); George Barnes, Al Chernet, Tony Mottola, Danny Peri, Hank Garland, Jimmy Atkins, Dave Rich, Chet Atkins (guitar); George Berg (tenor saxophone); Andy Ackers, Joe Harnell, Floyd Cramer, Shorty Long (piano); Boyce Hawkins (organ); Sam Bruno, Arnold Fishkin, Bob Moore, Charles Grean (bass); Bunny Shawker, Murray M. "Buddy" Harman (drums); Jala Divigard, Jim Farmer, Bettye McCormick, Melvin Little Ryan, Jerry Duane, Marge Murphy, Dot Evans, Lew Anderson, Bob Miller (background vocals).

The Jordanaires: Neal Matthews, Jr., Hoyt H. Hawkins, Raymond C. Walker, Hugh Gordon Stoker.