Still active and in use in the 21st Century, Memphis’ Sun Records was one of the original record labels that brought America what came to be called ‘rock and roll’. But if you judge that genre in retrospect, as on this 18 song collection, you’ll quickly see that the roots of rock were R&B, swing, blues and country. Where did it go wrong?
This album includes arguably the “first” rock and roll song, Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket ‘88’, with Ike Turner as a sideman before his “hits” with wife Tina. Sweet harmonies are delivered by The Prisonaires on “Just Walkin’ In The Rain”, while the rockabilly wagon is rolling on the hoot of Billy Lee Riley’s “Flyin’ Saucers Rockin’ Roll”. Carl Perkins influences everyone from The Beatles to Eric Clapton on the swinging “Honey Don’t”, as does Bill Justis on the appropriately titled instrumental “Raunchy” with the patented sax solo. Johnny Cash levels the playing field with his chugging chords of “Rock Island Line” and the foreboding “Folsom Prison Blues”, and while we’re on the subject of chugging, don’t forget the classic “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee” by Malcum Yelvington. When pop music was still fun.