The Golden Age Of American Rock'n'Roll Volume 12 Various Artists (Golden Age Of American Rock and Roll)

£12.56

Genre:
Rock'n'Roll
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1280

This admirable series is so aptly named. Contrary to popular thought, if you had a bit of imagination and knew where to search, it really was a golden age, as any old relics (like me) who remember it will readily agree. We’re looking and feeling increasingly weird and marginalised these days, of course.

At a time when most music purveyors and consumers care little about history, context, who wrote a song, who played on it, who produced it, which region it burst from, what inspired it, which label it was released on, and other important sniff-snaff, I think we should all get down on our knees every so often and thank the great cosmic duck for the unswerving Ace Records and all who sail in her.

Disinterred, as usual, by the meticulous and inexhaustible Rob Finnis, this is the 12th volume of 45 rpm treasure. Thirty gems; no clinkers. Some familiar; some obscure. Stimulating examples not only of rock’n’roll (as advertised) but of R&B, teen-pop, country rock, Motown, surf, Spector, soul and other emerging strands. Magnificent sound; illuminating notes.

Back in the late 50s, one could dehydrate, wither up and die waiting for the useless, fusty, paternalistic BBC to play any (okay, practically any) of these records. Were it not for the legal payola of Radio Luxembourg we would have been lost – but thanks to their fluctuating long-reach signal, beamed towards war-torn, Conservative-governed, broke and busted, soot-encrusted Britain, we glimpsed the exotic wonder of America.

For many of us, worship of all things American had become an established religion. Everything seemed so much better over there ... girls, cars, clothes, gangsters, cowboys, songwriters, films, film stars, Negroes, trains, planes, juke boxes, jazz, climate, beaches, history, geographical features, place names, rivers, hair styles, radio, television, sport, street names, magazines, food, skyscrapers, athletes, boxers, confectionery, sunshine, comics, even their flag and their money. But at least we got our hands on some of their music – and that was the key, that’s what coloured up our drab world, changed the very nature of our existence.

As a result of hearing their records on Lux, the hippest kids of my generation – the Eric Burdons, the George Harrisons, the Mick Jaggers, the Guy Stevens, the Ian Samwells, the Roger Eagles – grew up idolising the likes of Larry Williams, Bo Diddley, James Ray, Slim Harpo, Charlie Gracie and Arthur Alexander.

They marvelled at the clang of the guitar solo on ‘Bad Motorcycle’, at the undulating riff of ‘Raunchy’, the teenage ingénue Gladys Horton pleading with the postman, the grisly imagery of ‘Dinner With Drac’, the falsetto braggadocio of Jimmy Jones, the open-hearted anguish of Jerry Butler.

They gurgled at lines like “I knew by the way he smoked, he was a bad motorcycle”, “I found to my shock, I was on the wrong block!” and “I used to lie, I used to cheat, and step on people’s feet – but now I’m stepping on to glory ... I’m saved!”

But few would have heard the fabulous “5” Royales cut or fleeting vocal groups the Velaires and the 3 Friends – showcased here in pristine quality.

Mesmerised by ‘Whole Lotta Woman’, Brian “Hank” Rankin changed his name to Marvin – while another young British guitarist, Jim Sullivan, unwittingly provided Conway Twitty with the arrangement for ‘Lonely Blue Boy’.

I still find this music endlessly fascinating – but, as my parents always predicted, I’m sure I’ll grow out of it one day.

By Pete Frame

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Road Runner - Bo Diddley

  • 02 Preview Bad Motorcycle - The Storey Sisters

  • 03 Preview Raunchy - Bill Justis

  • 04 Preview Silhouettes - The Rays

  • 05 Preview Handy Man - Jimmy Jones

  • 06 Preview If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody - James Ray with The Hutch Davie Orchestra

  • 07 Preview Bristol Stomp - The Dovells

  • 08 Preview Rainin' In My Heart - Slim Harpo

  • 09 Preview Short Fat Fannie - Larry Williams

  • 10 Preview Dinner With Drac Part 1 - John Zacherle

  • 11 Preview Back To School Again - Timmie Rogers

  • 12 Preview Little Latin Lupe Lu - The Righteous Brothers

  • 13 Preview If I Can't Have You - Etta & Harvey

  • 14 Preview Think - The "5" Royales

  • 15 Preview Lonely Blue Boy - Conway Twitty

  • 16 Preview Butterfly - Charlie Gracie

  • 17 Preview Please Mr Postman - The Marvelettes

  • 18 Preview Let The Four Winds Blow - Roy Brown

  • 19 Preview Whole Lotta Woman - Marvin Rainwater

  • 20 Preview Let's Go Trippin' - Dick Dale & the Del-Tones

  • 21 Preview He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler

  • 22 Preview Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker

  • 23 Preview You Better Move On - Arthur Alexander

  • 24 Preview Saved - LaVern Baker

  • 25 Preview There's No Other (Like My Baby) - The Crystals

  • 26 Preview Roll Over Beethoven - The Velaires

  • 27 Preview Dedicated (To The Songs I Love) - The 3 Friends

  • 28 Preview The Jam Part 1 - Bobby Gregg & His Friends

  • 29 Preview Come To Me - Marv Johnson

  • 30 Preview Every Day I Have To Cry - Steve Alaimo

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

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This one grooves all the way through. ★★★★

Record Collector

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