"The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (September 2002 Ace Records CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

  

"...For Your Precious Love..."

The superb 'tenth' instalment of Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series followed the same route as Volumes 1 to 9 – offering fans 30 cleverly sequenced Mono US 7" singles that hit the American Pop charts with a nice combo of the obvious and the obscure. Like preceding volumes some are in Stereo (in this case only two - see Track Notes below) and only a few tracks actually made the British charts (even though many are now well known).

And all of this rare and hip material is presented to music lovers on both sides of the pond by a British record company that gives a damn - with a hard-won reputation across four decades of reissue quality (best tape sources used – no needle drops). The full 18 volumes up to late 2015 are listed below. So lets have some 'Ya Ya' as we shake our 'Ooby Dooby' at 'Maybelline' (while her mother-in-law's out of town)...

UK and USA released September 2002 - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 850 (Barcode 029667185028) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows (76:29 minutes):

1. Early In The Morning – THE RINKY-DINKS

August 1958 US 7" single on Atco 45-6121 (peaked at 24)

August 1958 UK 7" single on London HLE 8679 (didn't chart)

Credited in the UK as The Rinky-Dinks featuring Bobby Darin – the song is a co-write between Bobby Darin and Woody Harris

2. Will You Willyum – JANIS MARTIN

April 1956 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-6491 (peaked at 50)

Not released in the UK

3. Searchin' – THE COASTERS

March 1957 US 7" single on Atco 45-6087 (peaked at 3)

June 1957 UK 7" single on London HLE 8450 (peaked at 30 in Sept 1957 for 1 week)

Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller

4. You Can Have Her – ROY HAMILTON

January 1961 US 7" single on Epic 5-9431 (peaked at 12)

February 1961 UK 7" single on Fontana H 298 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version

5. Just Because – LLOYD PRICE

February 1957 US 7" single on ABC-Paramount 45-9792 (peaked at 29)

June 1957 UK 7" single on London HL 8438 (didn't chart)

His debut UK 45 and it's a listed rarity at £150

6. Rockin' Red Wing – SAMMY MASTERS

January 1960 USA 7" single on Lode 108 (peaked at 64)

May 1960 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers WB 10 (didn't chart)

Originally issued September 1959 in the USA with a different-mix on Warner Brothers 5102 but it didn’t chart – the 1960 reissue on Lode 108 did. The British 78" is late for 1960 for the fading format and is therefore a listed rarity at £150

7. I Shot Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES

June 1960 USA 7" single on Triple-X 104 (peaked at 52)

August 1960 UK 7" single on Pye International 7N 25060 (didn't chart)

Stereo Version - credited as "I Shot Mister Lee" in the UK

8. Stood Up – RICKY NELSON

December 1957 USA 7" single on Imperial X5483 (peaked at 2)

January 1958 UK 7" single on London HLP 8542 (peaked at 27)

Features Joe Maphis and James Burton on Guitars – his first chart hit in the UK

9. Believe Me – THE ROYAL TEENS

August 1959 USA 7" single on Capitol 4261 (peaked at 26)

September 1959 UK 7" single on Capitol CL 15068 (didn't chart)

Miscredited as Capitol 4281 on the inlay and in the booklet

10. Little Girl Of Mine – THE CLEFTONES

March 1956 USA 7" single on Gee GG-1011 (peaked at 57)

September 1956 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 3801 (didn't chart)

The British 45 has "You, Baby You" on the A-side with "Little Girl Of Mine" on the flip – it’s also very rare as a 45 - listed at £500.00

11. Under The Moon Of Love – CURTIS LEE

October 1961 USA 7" single on Dunes 2008 (peaked at 46)

October 1961 UK 7" single on London HLX 9445 (didn't chart)

Co-written with Tommy Boyce (who would pen hits for The Monkees) and Produced by Phil Spector

12. A Lover's Question – CLYDE McPHATTER

September 1958 USA 7" single on Atlantic 45-1199 (peaked at 6)

November 1958 UK 7" single on London HL-E 8755 (didn't chart)

Written by Brook Benton and Jimmy Williams

13. The Hunch – PAUL GAYTEN

October 1959 USA 7" single on Anna 1106 (peaked at 68)

November 1959 UK 7" single on London HLM 8998 (didn't chart)

His second UK 45 is a listed rarity at £90

14. Mona Lisa – CARL MANN

March 1959 USA 7" single on Philips International 3539 (peaked at 25)

September 1959 UK 7" single on London HL-S 8935 (didn't chart)

15. What Can I Do – DONNIE ELBERT

July 1957 USA 7" single on DeLuxe 45-6125 (peaked at 61)

Not released in the UK

16. Shirley – THE SCHOOLBOYS (Orchestra Conducted by Leroy Kirkland)

November 1956 USA 7" single on Okeh 4-7076 (peaked at 91)

Not released in the UK

17. This Should Go On Forever – ROD BERNARD

February 1959 USA 7" single on Argo 5327 (peaked at 20)

April 1959 UK 7" single on London HLM 8849 (didn't chart)

First US issue in 1958 was on Jin Records 45-108

18. I Love You – THE VOLUMES

March 1962 USA 7" single on Chex 1002 (peaked at 22)

June 1962 UK 7" single on Fontana 270109 TF (didn't chart)

19. For Your Precious Love – JERRY BUTLER and THE IMPRESSIONS

June 1958 USA 7" single on Abner 1013 (peaked at 11)

September 1958 UK 7" single on London HL 8697 (didn't chart)

Group featured Curtis Mayfield. The single was issued on three label variants Falcon 1013 (April 1958), Vee Jay VJ 280 (May 1958) and Abner 1013 (June 1958). All previous issues on CD have been in Stereo with overdubs – Ace has located an original 1958 pristine Mono master without overdubs

20. Gilee – SONNY SPENCER

October 1959 USA 7" single on Memo M-17984 (peaked at 82)

September 1959 UK 7" single on Parlophone R 4611 (didn't chart)

Written by Don Covay and John Berry – the A-side is "Oh Boy" in both the USA and UK

21. We Told You Not To Marry – TITUS TURNER

October 1959 USA 7” single on Glover 201 (peaked at 83)

January 1960 UK 7" single on London HLU 9024 (didn't chart)

22. Why – THE CUES

October 1956 USA 7" single on Capitol F3582 (peaked at 77)

January 1957 UK 7" single on Capitol CL 14682 (didn't chart)

Ollie Jones on Lead Vocals – a Jesse Stone song (credited as Charles Calhoun) - in the UK "Prince Or Pauper" was the A-side with "Why" on the flip – a listed rarity in the UK at £150.00

23. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE "5" ROYALES

December 1957 USA 7" single on King 45-5098 (peaked at 81)

April 1961 UK 7" single on Ember EMBS 124 (didn't chart)

A No. 3 hit for The Shirelles on Scepter 1203 in February 1961

24. Sugaree – RUSTY YORK

June 1959 USA 7" single on Chess 1730 (peaked at 77)

Not released in the UK

Written by Marty Robbins and first recorded by The Jordanaires on Capitol F3610 in 1957 – Rusty York's version appeared on two labels before Chess bought the masters – P.J. Records 45-100 and Note Records 10021

25. Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) – THE CHORDS

February 1954 USA 7" single on Cat 45-104 (peaked at 85)

September 1954 UK 7" single on Columbia SCM 5133 (didn't chart)

Originally issued as the B-side to "Cross Over The Bridge" in the USA – the B-side "Sh-Boom" became the hit and it was reissued in June 1954 with "Sh-Boom" as the A and "Little Maiden" as the B (also on Cat 45-104). The September 1954 UK issue on 45 is Columbia SCM 5133 – hugely rare and listed at £2000+ - the British 78" is Columbia DB 3512 and is booked at £200+ (both had "Little Maiden" as the B-side).

26. Ooby Dooby – ROY ORBISON and Teen Kings

May 1956 USA 7" single on Sun 242 (peaked at 59)

Not released in the UK (see Note)

Note: It was first issued in the UK in September 1957 as part of the "Hillbilly Rock" 4-Track EP by Roy Orbison on London RES 1089 (Track 1 on Side 2). It was finally issued as a stand-alone 45 in the UK in October 1970 on Sun 6094 001 as part of the Rock 'n' Roll revival of the time with "Devil Doll" on the B-side.

27. Hearts Of Stone – THE CHARMS

September 1954 USA 7" single on De Luxe 45-6062 (peaked at 15)

March 1955 UK 7" single on Parlophone MSP 6155 (didn't chart)

A December 1954 cover of the song by The Fontaine Singers on Dot 45-15265 went to No. 1 on the USA pop charts. The UK 7" single of The Charms original on Parlophone MSP 6155 is a listed as a Vocal Group rarity at £500 – the UK 78" on Parlophone R 3988 is listed at £60

28. Ya Ya – LEE DORSEY

July 1961 USA 7" single on Fury 1053 (peaked at 7)

Not released in the UK (see Note)

Note: although not issued in the UK in 1961 – it belated turned up as the B-side to "Do-Re-Mi" in March 1965 on Sue Records WI 367 – it's a listed British rarity at £40.

29. Ain't Got No Home – CLARENCE "Frogman" HENRY

October 1956 USA 7” single on Argo 5259 (peaked at 20)

March 1957 UK 7" single on London HLN 8389 (didn't chart)

His debut 45 in the UK is a listed rarity at £150

30. Maybelline – CHUCK BERRY and His Combo

July 1955 USA 7” single on Chess 1604 (peaked at 5)

Not released in the UK (see Notes)

Notes: Chuck Berry's legendary debut 45 "Maybelline" first turned up in the UK in June 1956 as the lead off track on Side 1 of the "Rhythm And Blues With Chuck Berry" 4-Track EP on London REU 1053. It was finally released as a stand-alone 45 in the UK boasting a commemorative 50th Anniversary picture sleeve in April 2005 on Chess 9830034 with its original US B-side "Wee Wee Hours" (also issued on a 2-track CD single).

NOTES: all tracks are in MONO except tracks 4 and 7 – which are in STEREO

Volume 10 has an info-packed 28-page booklet festooned with ROB FINNIS liner notes and cool pics - quality publicity photos of forgotten names like Janis Martin, Sammy Masters, Curtis Lee, The Schoolboys, The Volumes and Titus Turner (to name but a few). These snaps run alongside rare Trade Adverts for The Coasters, Lloyd Price, Ray Hamilton, Ricky Nelson (sheet music too), The Royal Teens, The Cleftones, The Charms and one of the originators of Rock 'n' Roll – Chuck Berry (debut 45 "Maybelline"). The two-page colour collage of British 45s in their labels bags that was a feature on Volumes 1 to 4 has been replaced for 5 to 12 with smaller pictures of various UK and US record labels throughout the text (all songs in chronological order) - Finnis connecting all the musical and historical dots. Compiled by Trevor Churchill, John Broven and Rob Finnis – the clever sequencing makes it feel like an old jukebox (especially if you shuffle play) and this CD compilation features a generous total playing time of 76+ minutes.

The DUNCAN COWELL Remasters are fantastically good – toppermost of the poppermost Audio quality on rarities like the Jackie Wilson vocal pyrotechnics of "You Can Have Her" by Roy Hamilton – here in gobsmacking Stereo glory.  There’s even a genuine reissue scoop in the first-ever-on-CD MONO mix of the Jerry Butler/Impressions classic "For Your Precious Love" – all previous versions being false Stereo with overdubs (this mix is Mono without overdubs and it sounds stunning). Speaking of superlative and influential vocalists – Clyde McPhatter gets his shuffling moment to shine on the irrepressible "A Lover’s Question" – so clean and full of life. In fact despite the disparate sources – the Audio is uniformly great throughout (like all the other volumes) and will warm the cockrels of collector's hearts who’ve wanted this quality on CD for decades now.

Volume 10 opens with an echoed-yell followed by the catchy New Orleans shuffle of "Early In The Morning" by the delightfully titled Rinky-Dinks featuring none other than Bobby Darin backed up with ‘yeah yeah yeah’ girly vocals and saxophone blasts. A coy but not-quite-so-innocent Janis Martin tells us that she won’t dance with Henry because she wants her "Will You Willyum" – and with a coolsville name like Will Yum - can you blame her excitement. The Coasters are favoured with a Lieber/Stoller seek-and-destroy winner in the fab "Searchin'" – but they’re blown of the proverbial Audio bathtub with an astonishing Stereo Version of "You Can Have Her" where Roy Hamilton sounds uncannily like Jackie Wilson on a vocal roll (what a blast this track is). John Lennon would touch on Lloyd Price’s "Just Because" during his "Rock 'n' Roll" LP sessions in 1974 (on Apple) though I don't know if he'd approve of the sappy 'Indian Maid' pseudo bopper "Rockin' Red Wing" by Sammy Masters – even if it does have excellent Sax solos.

Beautifully clear Audio also accompanies the answer song "I Shot Mr. Lee" by The Bobbettes sounding like LaVern Baker singing about 'a handsome cat'. Speaking of the same – Ricky Nelson gives it some casual disdain in "Stood Up" even though the poor chap is broken hearted and all a quiver. 'I still love you' blows out of the lungs of the white boy Vocal Group The Royal Teens on "Believe Me" - while a 'diddle-diddle-deh' background chant runs through the unintentionally upbeat "Little Girl Of Mine" by The Cleftones (fab audio on this). Crudely recorded by Phil Spector and yet full of atmosphere and hubris – "Under The Moon Of Love" by Curtis Lee is co-written with Tommy Boyce who would later pen hits for The Monkees.

Rock and Roll and Rockabilly fans will flip for a trio of steppers – first up is the 'cold and lonely work of art' song "Mona Lisa" by Carl Mann where his guitar apes Buddy Holly as the band sticks to Fats Domino (and yet it all works) – a fantastic rocker in "Sugaree" by Rusty York – a tune I’ve had on Bear Family CDs and placed on endless rocking compilations – and finally an irresistible lip-curling "Ooby Dooby" by Roy Orbison and The Teen Kings when he started out at Sam Phillips' Sun Records in 1956. Other bopping winners include "Gilee" by Sonny Spencer – a new one on me and a real discovery – and finally a vocal group I adore – The Cues on Capitol and their fabulous dancer "Why" which I've had on Bear Family's "Why" LP and subsequent CD from years back (see reviews) – present here in Audio that's just as good.

As I said of Volumes 1 to 9 – what's wicked about these Ace CD compilations is the oddities – finding gems you just don't know. The drum-lurch of "The Hunch" by Paul Gayten is the kind of one-off instrumental that could only have been from the period – his Saxophone wailing alongside a rolling piano as those drums echo in the background (great stuff). The 'I warned you prat' song "We Told You Not To Marry" by Titus Turner is an absolute hoot. A posses of girlies sing to tell poor Titus and he answers their taunts - shucks but they warned him not to marry Bonny - but Titus ignored them - says he loved her - and just went ahead anyway - and now she and the baby won’t leave him alone and nothing he does seems to be enough (Mr. T under pressure from her indoors folks). But my absolute poison on this CD is Donnie Elbert's quivering voice on the smoocher "What Can I Do". It fills the whole song with an amazing longing and a genuine sense of 1957 teenage angst. And then that sailing-in Saxophone solo seals the audio deal and the tunes in my heart with my bullet (and again here with a superbly clean transfer).

In some respects its hard to hear The "5" Royales ham-fisted and heavy-handed version of "Dedicated To The One I Love" with new ears when The Shirelles' delicate and lovely 1961 cover version remains so engrained in your heart. There are far better Five Royales tunes - see my extensive review of "Soul & Swagger: The Complete "5" Royales 1951-1967" – a magnificent 2014 5CD Book Set on Rockbeat. Life could be a dream for The Chords in "Sh-Boom" (here in superb audio also) - while the equally infectious 'boom boom' chant of The Volumes on "I Love You" squares off a nice set of Vocal group inclusions. And don't get me started on the Soulful gorgeousness of "For Your Precious Love" – Jerry Butler and The Impressions here in clean Mono for the first time ever apparently. Dooby do indeed...

Like Volumes 1 to 9 – instalment No. 10 is an adventurous, period evocative, cleverly paced compilation that barely puts a foot wrong. Loving the damn lot. And there are seventeen more volumes where this came from...

Titles in "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series are:

1. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63 (Ace CDCHD 289, November 1991)

2. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 2: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 445, March 1993)

3. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 3: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 497, January 1994)

4. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 4: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 500, October 1994)

5. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 5: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 600, October 1995)

6. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 6: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 650, January 1997)

7. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 700, November 1998)

8. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 8: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 750, November 1999)

9. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 9: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 800, February 2001)

10. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 850, September 2002)

11. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1200, September 2007)

12. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: 30 Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1280, February 2011)

13. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Country Edition (Ace CDCHD 845, April 2002)

14. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Novelty Edition (Ace CDCHD 890, November 2003)

15. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition 1953-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1000, May 2004)

16. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special "Bubbling Under" Edition – Regional Hits That Just Missed The Hot 100 1959-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1050, March 2006)

17. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll – The Follow-Up Hits: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits (Ace CDCHD 1190, January 2008)

18.  The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)

This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - BLUES, GOSPEL, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...