Bear Family Records is to pay tribute to rockabilly artist Ronnie Self, in a new edition of its long-running Rocks series. Recent entries have included James Cotton, Eddie Bond and Roy Brown.
The compilation will include his first hit from 1956, “Pretty Bad Blues, alongside 32 other recordings. The album features tracks including Bop-A-Lena, Big Blon’ Baby, You’re So Right For Me, Ain’t I’m A Dog and Rocky Road Blues as well as some demos and recordings from the 1960s.
“Struggles with destructive substances hampered Self’s musical career as time went on and ultimately brought his life to a much-too-early end in 1981, but Ronnie left us some of the craziest, most unhinged recordings of the classic rockabilly era that still pack a full-fledged wallop today.” Bear Family Records Press release
The album’s package will match others in the Rocks series, being presented in a digipak. It will also come with a booklet containing liner notes by Bill Dahl. There will also be rare photographs and illustrations.
Jamie’s reaction: I always get a great deal of excitement when I see a new addition to the Rocks series is announced. Ronnie Self is a name that seems familiar to me, but I’m not sure I can pinpoint anything in particular. Based on his reputation and the excellent work continually done by Bear Family Records, this has potential to be another educational revelation of the highest order. I look forward to rocking!
Ronnie Self Rocks will be available from Bear Family Records from the 2nd of August 2024
Tracklisting:
- This Must Be The Place – Ronnie Self
- You’re So Right For Me – Ronnie Self
- Home In Your Hand – Ronnie Self
- Three Hearts Later – Ronnie Self
- Petrified – Ronnie Self
- The Boss’s Daughter – Ronnie Self
- Bop-A-Lena – Ronnie Self
- Big Town – Ronnie Self
- Houdini – Ronnie Self
- My Own Kick Going – Ronnie Self
- I Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – Ronnie Self
- Pretty Bad Blues – Ronnie Self
- Wild And Wooly Life – Ronnie Self
- Date Bait – Ronnie Self
- Biggest Dog In Town – Ronnie Self
- Flame Of Love – Ronnie Self
- Big Fool – Ronnie Self
- About Cured? – Ronnie Self
- Rocky Road Blues – Ronnie Self
- Bless My Broken Heart – Ronnie Self
- Ain’t I’m A Dog – Ronnie Self
- Do It Now – Ronnie Self
- Big Blon’ Baby – Ronnie Self
- When He Flies Away – Ronnie Self
- Some Things You Can’t Change – Ronnie Self
- Black Night Blues – Ronnie Self
- Too Many Lovers – Ronnie Self
- Ugly Stick – Ronnie Self
- Ain’t I A Dandy – Ronnie Self
- Instant Man – Ronnie Self
- Get Out Of My Life – Ronnie Self
- Grandma’s Rockin’ (Demo) – Ronnie Self
- Money Honey (Demo) – Ronnie Self
