Bear Family Records have released the latest instalment in their That’ll Flat Git It series: Volume 49 – Rockabilly and Rock’n’Roll from the vaults of Columbia and Epic Records. Containing 26 tracks, does this edition live up to the quality of its predecessors?
There is a pleasing mix of artists featured in this collection. Although I’m not sure I would describe much of it as rock and roll. The sound swings more towards rockabilly: that moment in time when rock and roll was exploding and the previously country artists and producers made attempts to follow the fashion.
There are some exceptions to this of course, such as Link Wray’s contribution which displays his trademark forceful guitar work and vocal delivery. The following track, Commonwealth Jones’ Who’s Been Here leans heavily into the Blues side of Rock and Roll, with a compelling guitar-driven backing and engaging vocals.
As might be expected of the era from the two record labels, Epic and Columbia, Owen Bradley’s studio and the musicians who worked frequently with him are to be found all over this collation. Such celebrated talents as Grady Martin, Bob Moore and Hank Garland contribute heavily to this collection of rockabilly and rock and roll tunes.
Spotlight On…
Billy Walker’s Whirlpool stands out for its broad appeal: it exhibits traits of country, rock and roll and the hybrid rockabilly while managing to be in the middle of the road. Special mention must go to the two previously unissued tracks: it is always a treat to feel privy to something that has lain in an archive for many years until it finally sees the light of day and finds and audience.
Carl Perkins’ Pop, Let Me Have the Car makes a valiant effort at capturing the teen experience in the moment with its energetic and heartfelt pleas to the protagonist’s father.
Jimmy Dickens’ 1959 Country Ways and City Ideas is a pleasing example of an artist preserving their identity while tentatively exploring a little of the newer way. This song has tiny echoes of his 1949 release Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed, with his trademark fun, bouncy, crisp yet genuine delivery.
A Little Something Extra…
A nice touch is the disc art, which is a reproduction of the Carl Perkins single included on this compilation, Pop Let Me Have the Car.
The included booklet is extensive, comprised of biographical and career information on each artist. It adds valuable context to the music.
Track Listing
- Billy Brown Run ’em Off
- Johnny Horton Ole Slew Foot
- Billy Craddock Lulu Lee
- The Collins Kids The Cuckoo Rock (previously unissued)
- “Little” Jimmy Dickens Salty Boogie
- Billy Walker Whirlpool
- The Tunesmiths Oh Stop!
- Rose Maddox Hey Little Dreamboat
- Ronnie Self Flame of Love
- Carl Perkins Pop, Let Me Have the Car
- Link Wray and The Ray Men Mary Ann
- Commonwealth Jones Who’s Been Here
- Werly Fairburn I’m Jealous (previously unissued)
- Charlie Adams Black Land Blues
- Onie Wheeler Onie’s Bop
- David Frizzell Tag Along
- Jim Burgett The Living Dead
- Ersel Hickey Hangin’ Around
- Johnny Bond All I Can Do is Cry
- Johnny Hicks Pick Up Blues
- Johnny Horton I Don’t Like I Did
- “Little” Jimmy Dickens Country Ways and City Ideas
- Jimmy Murphy I’m Lookin’ For A Mustard Patch
- Jaycee Hill Crash Out
- Carl Perkins Jive After Five
- Wally Hughes Bye Bye Baby (Movin’ Down the Line)
Conclusion
This is a real melting pot of the mentioned genres. It ends up as a representation of country and blues artists and producers with country and blues sensibilities, attempting the transition to the popular new, trendy sound.
That’ll Flat Git It! Volume 49: Rockabilly and Rock’n’Roll is a pleasant dive into the changing face of music in a particular era of American history. In these 26 tracks, it feels like we get an albeit superficial glimpse of how the established music world was trying to adapt to the times and make some sense of the societal shifts going on.
This compilation could please country, rockabilly, blues and rock and roll fans alike, as there is a little of each and a combination of all available here. It sits well alongside the previous volumes in the That’ll Flat Git It! series. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the popular American music of the late 1950s. It definitely lives up to the quality we have come to expect from Bear Family with their That’ll Flat Git It! series.
