The elusive Dennis Herrold may have only made a handful of recordings for Imperial, but many consider Hip Hip Baby a Rockabilly classic. Bear Family Records has released a 10″ vinyl package that combines all of his recordings together into one place, accompanied by a few added extras; Is it worth picking up?

The idea behind this package was to shed some light on a mystery; Who exactly was Dennis Herrold? Thankfully, the people behind this release have done their research, and have gathered together everything into a single package. The album contains four individual songs by Dennis Herrold, plus additional takes. The music, from a wider point of view, isn’t groundbreaking but not the worst I have heard. A catchy chorus smothered in slapback echo and caked in reverb; It is clear to see why Hip Hip Baby holds a prime place for fans. The alternative take, released for the first time, is a scaled-back production, allowing the musicianship to shine. Unreleased recordings, such as a no fade out version of Make With The Lovin’ and the groovy Don’t Push Away, are welcome additions to this collection.

The tracks mentioned previously are credited as written by Dub Dickerson, whose recordings make up the rest of the compilation. According to the label, this release marks the first time Boppin’ In The Dark has featured on vinyl. The reason behind the inclusion seems random until you read the documentation supplied with the release. Overall, Dickerson’s tracks complement the key event nicely.

Bonus CD

The collection includes a bonus CD, featuring all the tracks from the vinyl plus a few relevant extras. Songwriter Erma Lee Herrold was the wife of Dennis around this time, who had a hand in writing many classics including Stood Up and Precious. Included are notable versions by fellow Imperial artist Ricky Nelson, Rocker Bob Luman, Warner Mack, Tony Wilson and Justin Tubb. Including these songs doesn’t feel overly necessary, but adds context to the story, and extra value. I am not always a fan of bonus CDs in vinyl releases, but this one is welcome.

Overall, the sound quality is mostly good, with few minor flaws. One or two of the tracks suffer from small dropouts, but they are barely noticeable when listening casually. Hearing them from vinyl is a pleasure, as there is a real authenticity to the sound.

A Little Bit Extra…

The vinyl sleeve looks nice, featuring a rare image of Dennis Herrold performing live. Also included is a small booklet, featuring the complete story written by Rock ‘n’ Roll expert and music journalist Alex Petrauskas. The attention to detail is marvellous, and a fascinating insight into characters who have remained a mystery for so long.

Conclusion

The name Dennis Herrold won’t be a name familiar to everyone, and that may put some off from purchasing this album. However, this release is a great representation of a recently uncovered story in Rock ‘n’ Roll history. The attention to detail throughout the release is amazing, If you’re looking to own everything there is of Dennis Herrold, this is a great purchase!

Vinyl Tracklisting:

Side A

Dennis Herrold – Hip Hip Baby
Dennis Herrold – Hip Hip Baby (Alt. Take)
Dennis Herrold – Don’t Push Away
Dennis Herrold – Make With The Lovin’ (Fade Out)
Dennis Herrold – Make With The Lovin’ (No Fade Out)

Side B

Dennis Herrold – You Arouse My Curiosity
Dub Dickerson – Boppin’ In The Dark
Dub Dickerson – (I Think I’m) Falling In Love
Dub Dickerson – Sugar Lips

Bonus CD:

Dennis Herrold – Hip Hip Baby
Dennis Herrold – Hip Hip Baby (Alt. Take)
Dennis Herrold – Don’t Push Away
Dennis Herrold – Make With The Lovin’ (Fade Out)
Dennis Herrold – Make With The Lovin’ (No Fade Out)
Dennis Herrold – You Arouse My Curiosity
Dub Dickerson – Boppin’ In The Dark
Dub Dickerson – (I Think I’m) Falling In Love
Dub Dickerson – Sugar Lips
Ricky Nelson – Stood Up
Bob Luman – Precious
Warner Mack – Falling In Love
Tony Wilson – Stood Up
Justin Tubb – Sugar Lips

The Mystery Of Dennis Herrold is available from Bear Family Records