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VINTAGE
ROCK 'N' ROLL & ROCKABILLY
The
Kalin Twins -> Buddy Knox
| THE KALIN TWINS |
Bear Family BCD 15597 |
When |
● CD $21.98 |
At the age of 24 these New York twins hit the top 40 with When
and then spent the next four years trying to repeat that success. One
reason for that failure is suggested in the detailed booklet: the Kalins
preferred pop to rock 'n' roll. So, Decca's attempt to fit them into the
teenage mold often produced half-hearted stuff. The 30 cuts include Jumpin'
Jack/ Forget Me Not/ Dream Of Me/ I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door and the
aptly named It's Just Terrible. Excellent notes, great photos, and
impeccable sound quality. But music that's too mainstream to qualify as
effective rock 'n' roll. (DH)
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| THE KEYMEN |
Collectables 0685 |
Surf Party A Go-Go |
● CD $11.98 |
16 tracks from mid 60s by surf group from Las Cruces, NM -
many previously unissued.
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| SID KING |
Bear Family BCD 15535 |
Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight |
● CD $21.98 |
29 tracker covering the career of one of the very earliest
White rock 'n' roll outfits. Texan Sid King started his career in 1952 doing
Western Swing and Country & Western but like other teenagers of the
time gradually started incorporating R&B into his sound. King and the
5 Strings really hit their stride in 1954 after signing with Columbia,
cutting some of the very best rockabilly ever made, mostly at Jim Beck's
Dallas studio. I Like It/ Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/ Purr, Kitty,
Purr/ Sag, Drag And Fall/ Let 'Er Roll/ Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight
are all top notch rockabilly tunes with the classic slap bass, jive lyrics
and red hot guitar work. Many songs from the next notch down are as good
as many other performers' best tunes too. All of the material from the
Bear Family LP 15048 is here with the addition of the fine Dot single from
'59 - Hello There Rockin' Chair/ Once Upon A Time , a 1953 Starday
pairing (done as the Western Melody Makers) - Who Put The Turtle In
Myrtle's Girdle/ If Tears Could Cry plus five more previously unissued
tunes. A super 36 page booklet is also included. (AE)
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| TOM KING & THE
STARFIRES |
Collectables 0695 |
Roots Of The Outsiders |
● CD $11.98 |
14 tracks, 35 minutes, very good. This stuff would be
essential to any collector of pre-Beatles rock if not for the typical
crappy Collectables sound quality. The Starfires were a Cleveland rock
band that besides doing plenty of rockin' sides later evolved into The
Outsiders, of Time Won't Let Me/ Help Me Girl fame, & also
included for a while drummer Jimmy Fox, not previously documented, who
later went on to fame with Joe Walsh in The James Gang. There's singles,
rehearsal sessions, jams, even 2 sets of liner notes including
remembrances by Fox. For all you old-time Clevelanders, this set includes Stronger
Than Dirt, used extensively on Ghoulardi's Tv show, + I Love You
Cause I Love You/ Ring Of Love/ Chartreuse Caboose. (GM)
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| THE KINGSMEN |
Collectables 5073 |
Louie Louie And More Golden Classics |
● CD $11.98 |
An even dozen tunes from the rulers of the cool Northwest
60's teen scene, the Kingsmen. These guys had a no frills approach that
helped launch thousands of garage bands that could easily approximate the
three chord racket of the naughty Louie Louie or the goofy The
Jolly Green Giant . The B-sides of their 2 big hits are here - Haunted
Castle , a boss instro and Long Green , a tune too great to
have been just a B-side. Killer Joe , Annie Fanny , The
Climb , Little Sally Tease and the rest of the Wand singles
didn't do much on the charts at the time (mid 60's) but they're all fun,
rockin' tunes.
(AE)
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| THE KINGSMEN |
Collectables 5628 |
"Louie Louie" - The Very Best Of
The The Kingsmen |
● CD $13.98 |
26 track collection including several live instrumentals - Louie
Louie/ Jolly Green Giant/ Death Of An Angel/ The Climb/ Little Sally
Tease/ That's Cool, That's Trash/ Shout/ Little Green Thing/ Mustang Sally,
etc.
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| THE KINGSMEN |
Jerden JRCD 7004 |
Live & Unreleased |
● CD $14.98 |
14 tracks, 47 minutes, recommended. I don't know what took
so long but Jerry Dennon, the original Kingsmen producer, has finally put
out the Wand out-takes from 1964. Louie Louie is the still the
greatest rock'n'roll song of all-time so the rest of the Kingsmen's
repertoire has to have great historical importance by association. So
here's the stuff that was too raw for the Wand LP. Kingsman
Introduction is actually a version (recorded live) of You Can't Sit
Down . The re-recorded version of Louie Louie is here, with
saxman Lynn Easton taking over vocal chores due to Jack Ely's sudden
departure. The instrumental Bent Scepter is like a cross between Louie,
Louie and Money . Most of the rest is from a live show from the
early 60's where we hear our heros run through the frat party top ten - What'd
I Say/ Twist & Shout/ Do You Love Me/ Money/ I Go Crazy/ Long Tall
Texan , etc. as well as a few of their originals, Doin' The Seaside
and David's Mood ....
AE
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| THE KINGSMEN |
Rhino 70745 |
Greatest Hits |
● CD $11.98 |
Recorded in 1963 for $38.00 (including the B side), Louie
Louie still puts almost every subsequent rock 'n' roll song to shame
with its simple but effective riff, killer guitar solo and licentious
lyrics. If your Kingsmen records are as well played as mine you'll find
this brilliant sounding CD issue a welcome addition. All 8 of their Wand
hits are here including Money , Little Latin Lupe Lu , The
Jolly Green Giant , etc. as well as 10 other primo cuts like the B
side to Louie Louie , Haunted Castle and the way too cool That's
Cool, That's Trash . Don't dare plan another party until you have this
collection to slap in the CD player. Rosalie/ Little Sally Tease/ Annie
Fanny/ Killer Joe , etc. (AE)
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| THE KINGSMEN |
Sundazed 6027 |
Since We've Been Gone |
● CD $11.98 |
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| BILL KIRCHEN |
Black Top 1109 |
Tombstone Every Mile |
● CD $14.98 |
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| THE KNICKERBOCKERS |
Big Beat CDWIKD 122 |
A Rave Up With The Knickerbockers |
● CD $18.98 |
22 tracks, 57 minutes, recommended. The Knickerbockers, from
New Jersey, are best known for their big hit
Lies - the best "Beatles" tunes not done by the fab five. Singer
Buddy Randell had a voice that just so happened to be a dead ringer for
John Lennon's.
Lies was undoubtably the highlight of their career but they were
remarkably consistant not only in the English invasion style but also
drawing from many American styles - soul, the Rascals, white vocal groups,
etc. Being older than the garage bands of the 60's, the Knickerbockers
already knew how to play their instruments and come up with catchy,
rockin' arrangements. This 22 song collection highlights their upbeat side
and includes a nice info packed booklet and also includes 8 tunes not
originally released. Lies/ One Track Mind/ I Can Do It Better/ High On
Love/ Stick With Me/ You're Bad , etc. (AE)
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| THE KNICKERBOCKERS |
Sundazed 11002 |
Presenting The Fabulous Knickerbockers |
● CD $13.98 |
20 cuts (8 in stereo) from this fine 60s group, including Lies/
Rumors, Gossip, Words Untrue/ Jerktown.
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| BUDDY KNOX |
Coed 1001 |
The Liberty Sides And More |
● CD $19.98 |
|
| BUDDY
KNOX/ BUDDY KNOX & JIMMY BOWEN |
Collectables 6212 |
Buddy Knox/ Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen |
● CD $13.98 |
Two Roulette LPs, from 1957 and '58 respectively, on one CD.
The first features 11 great sides by Knox including such hits as Party
Doll/ Rock Your Little Baby To Sleep and Hula Love as well
covers of rock 'n' roll classics like Rock House/ Mary Lou and Maybelline.
The second features tracks by Knox and his fellow member of The Rhythm
Orchids, Jimmy Bowen. Bowen is a pretty dull singer but there's lots of
fine sides by Knox like That's Why I Cry/ Somebody Touched Me and Whenever
I'm Lonely.
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