When southern white boys started playing their own style of R&B, they called it “Rockabilly”. Dorsey Burnett was one of the pioneers of it, writing tune covered by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings and Rick Nelson in the process. This two disc 63 song compilation brings out his earliest tunes from 1955-62 from his hit singles and a couple of his earliest albums.
In retrospect, it’s easy to pick up the impact of Elvis Presley in Burnette’s voice and delivery. While things start off her in a highly countrified demeanor with “ Go Mule Go”, things soon start rocking with one of the earliest reads of the highly influential tune “The Train Kept A-Rollin” and carry on through his trio with brother Johnny on “ Honey Hush”. The top 30 hit “Tall Oak Tree” is included, as well toe tapping takes of “ “Hey Little One”. By 1960 he was returning to more of a MOR route as n “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and “Red Roses” while going into the Fabian direction by the time of “I Got Sun In The Morning” and “Don’t Let Go”. An excellent reflection of pre-Beatles teen sounds.