8717278721248

Great British Rock 'n' Roll 1948-1956

Various Artists

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Format: 2CD

Cat No: SCCD1124

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Release Date:  29 January 2007

Label:  Smith & Co

Packaging Type:  Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)

No of Units:  2

Barcode:  8717278721248

Genres:  Rock 'N' Roll  

  • Description

    Of the four Smith&Co 'Just About As Good As It Gets' releases this month, this 62-track volume is the hardest to categorize. Many would argue that there was no such thing as Great British Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s, or at least not until 1958 when Cliff Richard's "Move It" offered a rather more convincing home-grown hit than all of its predecessors.

    However, apart from the Skiffle explosion there was another quirky musical scene happening in Britain during the late '40s and '50s. As far as PMD is aware, this compilation is the first authoritative musical documentation of that scene.

    Perhaps it should better be classed as Nostalgia rather than Rock 'n' Roll but there is a lot of fascinating stuff here, such as the Deep River Boys (from Virginia, USA, recording in Britain during their many UK tours), Ray Ellington (a British-based black bandleader of American & Russian descent) and Winifred Atwell, a classically trained pianist from Trinidad who would go to 'her other piano' to belt out some rockin' boogies.

    Elsewhere there are numerous talented British jazzers seeing which way the wind was blowing and jumping that jive, and some up 'n' coming UK popsters swaying their hips to the transatlantic rhythm. And of course Tommy Steele, who was acclaimed as Britain's first Rock 'n' Roll star.

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Rock a Beatin' Boogie - The Deep River Boys
      • 2. Giddy Up a Ding Dong - Ray Ellington
      • 3. Rock With the Caveman - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 4. Teach You to Rock - Tony Crombie & His Rockets
      • 5. Boogie In The Groove - Winifred Atwell
      • 6. Ain't That a Shame - The Southlanders
      • 7. Seventeen - Don Lang
      • 8. Honky Tonk - Bert Weedon
      • 9. Shake
      • 10. Rattle and Roll - The Deep River Boys
      • 11. Bell Bottom Blues - Alma Cogan
      • 12. Stranded in the Jungle - Ray Ellington
      • 13. Big City Blues - The Kirchin Band
      • 14. Elevator Rock - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 15. Don't Nobody Move - Lee Lawrence
      • 16. Oakie Boogie - Lita Roza
      • 17. Yancey Special - Winifred Atwell
      • 18. Blue Suede Shoes - The Canadians
      • 19. Why Do Fools Fall in Love - Alma Cogan
      • 20. My Boy Flat Top - Frankie Vaughn
      • 21. I Want You to Be My Baby - Don Lang
      • 22. Doomsday Rock - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 23. Shortin' Bread Rock - Tony Crombie & His Rockets
      • 24. Tweedlee Dee - The Kirchin Band
      • 25. Rokin' Through The Rye - The Canadians
      • 26. Sound Barrier Boogie - Thunderclap Jones
      • 27. That's Right - The Deep River Boys
      • 28. Hamp's Boogie Woogie - Winifred Atwell
      • 29. Where In The World Is Billy - Eve Boswell
      • 30. Rock 'n' Roll Opera - Lee Lawrence
      • 31. I Didn't Know - Johnny Brandon

      Disc 2

      • 1. Rock Around the Clock - The Hedley Ward Trio
      • 2. Whole Wide World - The Deep River Boys
      • 3. Let's You and I Rock - Tony Crombie & His Rockets
      • 4. Rebel Rock - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 5. Jimmy Dorsey Boogie - Winifred Atwell
      • 6. Rock A Boogie Baby - Diana Decker
      • 7. (Oh Baby) Beedleumbo - The Kirchin Band
      • 8. Rock 'N' Roll King Cole - Eric Delaney Band
      • 9. D.R. Rock - Bert Weedon
      • 10. Smack Dab in the Middle - The Deep River Boys
      • 11. Rock Around the Town - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 12. Dreamboat - Alma Cogan
      • 13. Rock Around The Island - Don Lang
      • 14. I Want You to Be My Baby - Eric Jupp
      • 15. Sham Rock - Tony Crombie & His Rockets
      • 16. Rock Around the Clock - The Deep River Boys
      • 17. Juke Box Baby - The Canadians
      • 18. Singing the Blues - Tommy Steele and The Steelmen
      • 19. Cross Hands Boogie - Winifred Atwell
      • 20. Five Guys Named Moe - The Ray Ellington Quartet
      • 21. Rock 'N' Roll Blues - Don Lang
      • 22. Paper Kisses - Alma Cogan
      • 23. Strip the Camshaft - The Ray Ellington Quartet
      • 24. Vine Street Bogie - Winifred Atwell
      • 25. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - The Deep River Boys
      • 26. Chine Boogie - Bert Weedon
      • 27. Shim Sham Shuffle - Johnny Brandon
      • 28. Razzle Dazzle; Shortnin' Bread Rock - Ken Jones and his Rock 'n' Rollers
      • 29. Giddy Up A Ding Dong; Saints Rock 'n' Roll - Ken Jones and his Rock 'n' Rollers
      • 30. ABC Boogie - Five Smith Brothers
      • 31. She Loves to Rock - The Stargazers
      • . Rock a Bye Baby - Johnny Brandon