"Ronnie Rocks" by RONNIE HAWKINS [and The Hawks] – Original Recordings from 1958 to 1963 on Roulette Records featuring Fred Carter, Jr. and Jimmy Ray Paulman on Guitars with guests Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Richard Manuel of The Band on Three 1961-1963 Roulette Tracks with Polydor Records artists Roy Buchanan on Bass and King Curtis on Saxophone (January 2008 GERMAN Bear Family CD Compilation of Jurgen Crasser Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...She Took The Keys To My Cadillac Car..."

The kind of compilation you'd normally ignore and shouldn't. 

Last time I touched on Arkansas' great survivor Ronnie Hawkins and his band of Gene Vincent-like Rock 'n' Roll reprobates 'The Hawks' was all the way back in August 1990. EMI UK was putting out Remastered compilations to beat the band, feeding a hungry CD buying public pigging out on nostalgia. 

One of those was the American Rhino CD-compilation "The Best Of Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks" given a UK issue on Roulette CDROU 009 - EMI CDP 794890 2 - its 18 raucous Blue Caps-type tracks Remastered and mid-priced to tempt lapsed buyers on a budget. This Bear Family compilation begins with a track that opened that British CD all the way back in 1990 – a then Previously Unreleased June 1958 cover of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days". 

Fast-forward to early 2008 and what you get here is almost double that Rock 'n' Roll trouble in track numbers - 32 to be exact and a near 77-minutes playing time. There is hugely improved sound courtesy of BF's resident Audio Engineer genius JURGEN CRASSER and very tasty presentation into the bear pit bargain - a card digipak with a jammed 48-page booklet put together by a name familiar to Rock and Rollers everywhere – BILL MILLAR. 

With a Discography from IAN WALLIS - "Ronnie Rocks" also has lots of juicy Stereo too in the album tracks, guests that feature four members of The Band with blistering 1963 geetar from a young Robbie Robertson (they are on ten tracks) and Bear even manage to find one Previously Unreleased cut from 1958 (a different version of "Horace"). There is much to detail, so on to the Mary Lou's, Mr. Dynamo's and Mojo Men...

Released in Germany on 28 January 2008 - "Ronnie Rocks" by RONNIE HAWKINS on Bear Family BCD 16873 AR (Barcode 4000127168733) offers 32 Remastered Original Recordings from 1958 to 1963 that plays out as follows (76:42 minutes):

1. Thirty Days - first issued August 1990 on the CD Compilation "The Best Of Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks"

2. Hey Bo Diddley - 1958 CANADA 45-single on Quality 1827, A-side 

3. Ruby Baby - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

4. Forty Days - May 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4154, A-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078

5. Horace - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

6. One Of These Days - May 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4154, B-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078

7. Wild Little Willy - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo 

8. Whatcha Gonna Do (When The Creek Runs Dry) - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

9. Mary Lou - August 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4177, A-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 

10. Oh Sugar - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

11. Odessa - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

12. My Gal Is Red Hot - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

13. Need Your Lovin' (Oh So Bad) - August 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4177, B-side - also on "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 

14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy - from the 1959 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

15. Hay Ride - April 1960 US 45-single on Roulette 4249, B-side of "Ruby Baby" - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

16. Baby Jean - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo 

17. Southern Love - November 1959 US 45-single on Roulette 4209, A-side - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

18. Hey Boba Lou - from the 1960 US LP "Ronnie Hawkins" on Roulette SR 25078 in Stereo

19. Clara - February 1960 US 45-single on Roulette 4228, A-side - also on the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

20. Honey Don't - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

21. Sick & Tired - from the 1960 US LP "Mr. Dynamo" on Roulette SR 25102 in Stereo

22. You Know I Love You - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

23. Sexy Ways - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

24. Come Love - October 1961 US 45-single on Roulette 4400, B-side of "I Feel Good" - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

25. I Feel Good - October 1961 US 45-single on Roulette 4400, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

26. Suzie Q - from the 1964 CANADA LP "Mojo Man" on Roulette SR 25390 in Stereo 

27. Matchbox - from the 1964 CANADA LP "Mojo Man" on Roulette SR 25390 in Stereo

28. High Blood Pressure - June 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4502, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo 

29. Mojo Man - from the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

30. Bo Diddley - April 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4483, A-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

31. Who Do You Love - April 1963 US 45-single on Roulette 4483, B-side - also on the 1964 US LP "The Best Of..." on Roulette SR 25255 in Stereo

32. Horace - June 1958 recording PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 

NOTES: From September 1961 to May 1963 and at five different recording sessions, four members of Ronnie’s group would famously later become THE BAND – the backing group for Bob Dylan in 1966 and a huge group in their own right from 1968 - Jamie 'Robbie' Robertson on Lead Guitar, Rick Danko on Rhythm Guitar, Richard Manuel on Piano with Levon Helm on Drums. They feature on ten - Tracks 22 to 31. Other sessioning players included ace axeman and future Polydor Records star Roy Buchanan playing Bass on Tracks 30 and 31, Backing Vocals from Cissie Houston, Dee Dee Warwick and Dionne Warwick on Tracks 22, 23 and 24, King Curtis on Tenor Saxophone on Tracks 25 and 26 with Jerry Penfound on Tenor Saxophone for Tracks 26, 28 and 29. Ronnie Hawkins sings Lead Vocals throughout.

With this compilation you get the 50ts Rock 'n' Rollin' Ronnie & The Hawks on tunes like their cover of The Drifters huge hit "Ruby Baby" and the crossover Rockabilly-Pop sound of "Mary Lou" and "My Gal Is Red Hot" - Jimmy Ray Paulman playing the distinct geetar on those sessions. But when he hit the 60s and boys in The Band (literally) join proceedings - the sound goes through the roof into almost dangerous garage or even an early form of Punk. When Robbie Robertson is slashing away on "Sexy Ways" or the fantastic "Suzie Q" (you so realise from hearing this why Juicy Lucy covered "Who Do You Love" the wild-slashing-guitar way they did in 1969 when you hear Robertson here) - you're reminded of a dangerous Link Wray - almost live on stage - his guitar is that distorted – a bad Diddley Daddy eyeing your daughter with ill-intent. But whatever tune you play, it's all so hugely enjoyable. This is a constantly surprising CD - even his cover of Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't" sounds fresh and Ronnie-fied. There are many more where that came from. 

In July 2021 the Bear Family "Rocks" series numbers 60 artists and rising (I've reviewed a dozen or so, see list below) and all come highly recommended. 

Just don't forget to feed your need for "High Blood Pressure" from that Arkansas "Mojo Man"... 

The "Rocks" CD Compilation Series by Bear Family of Germany 

60 Artists as of July 2021...

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW]

2. Pat Boone

3. Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown 

4. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]

5. The Cadillacs [see REVIEW]

6. The Coasters 

7. Eddie Cochran

8. Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

9. Bobby Darin

10. Fats Domino

11. The Drifters 

12. Champion Jack Dupree 

13. Duane Eddy 

14. The Everly Brothers 

15. Narvel Felts 

16. The "5" Royales 

17. Connie Francis

18. Don Gibson

19. Glen Glenn

20. Bill Haley

21. Roy Hall

22. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]

23. Dale Hawkins

24. Ronnie Hawkins [see REVIEW}

25. Screamin' Jay Hawkins [see REVIEW]

26. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]

27. Sonny James

28. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids

29. Sleepy LaBeef

30. Brenda Lee

31. Jerry Lee Lewis [see REVIEW]

32. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]

33. Little Richard

34. Bob Luman [see REVIEW]

35. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

36. Carl Mann

37. Scotty McKay 

38. Clyde McPhatter 

39. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]

40. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]

41. Ricky Nelson

42. Little Junior Parker 

43. Carl Perkins

44. Louis Prima 

45. Roy Orbison

46. The Platters 

47. Lloyd Price [see REVIEW]

48. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]

49. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]

50. Billy Lee Riley 

51. Marty Robbins 

52. Jack Scott

53. Shirley & Lee

54. The Treniers

55. (Big) Joe Turner [see REVIEW]

56. Conway Twitty

57. Richie Valens 

58. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

59. Link Wray 

60. Rusty York

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton

2. Marvin Rainwater 

3. Marty Robbins Vol.1

4. Marty Robbins Vol.2

5. Marty Robbins Vol.3

"Screamin' Jay Rocks [aka "Rocks]" by SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS (2008 Bear Family CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Put A Spell On You…"

I suppose if you were to nitpick - Screamin' Jay Hawkins never really 'rocks' (in the true sense of the word) on any of these 31 odes to lunacy, coffins and fragrant armpits - but he doesn't half put a grin on your face every time he opens his flamboyant and very unPC mouth. Lewd, crude and genuinely crackers in the frontal lobe area (he'd regularly expose his penis to old ladies in the audience on stage on a Saturday night and end up in jail on Sunday morning) - Screamin' Jay Hawkins was the real deal - the funniest shock-entertainer in Rock 'n' Roll's long pantheon of wild men and women. And this fabulous near eighty-minutes of musical mayhem is testament to his unhinged genius. Here are the degenerate and depraved details...

Released September 2008 in Germany - "Screamin’ Jay Rocks" by SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS is on Bear Family BCD 16687 AR (Barcode 4000127166876) and breaks down as follows (77:57 minutes):

1. Little Demon (1956, Okeh 4-7072, B-side of "I Put A Spell On You")

2. Baptize Me In Wine (1954, Timely 1004, A)

3. Not Anymore (1954, Timely 1004, B-side of "Baptize Me In Wine")

4. In My Front Room (unissued 1955 Mercury recording, first appeared on the 1990 2CD compilation "Spellbound! 1955-1974" on Bear Family BCD 15530)

5. This Is All (1955, Mercury 70549, A)

6. What That Is (unissued 1955 Mercury recording, first appeared on the 1990 2CD compilation "Spellbound! 1955-1974" on Bear Family BCD 15530)

7. (She Put The) Wamee (On Me) (1955, Mercury 70549, B-side of "This Is All")

8. Well I Tried (1955, Wing 90005, A)

9. Talk About Me (1955, Wing 90055, B-side of "Even Though")

10. Take Me Back (1956, Grand 135, A)

11. I Is (1956, Grand 135, B-side of "Take Me Back")

12. $10,000 Lincoln Continental (Take 2) (unissued 1955 Reco-Art Recording, first appeared on the 1991 CD compilation "From Grand To Gotham" on Interstate Music Ltd SJH CD 71829)

13. You Ain't Foolin' Me (unissued 1956 recording, first appeared on the 1991 CD compilation "At Home With Screamin' Jay Hawkins" on Acadia ACAM 8116)

14. Yellow Coat (first issued on the 1958 USA Mono LP "At Home With Screamin' Jay Hawkins" on Epic LN 3448)

15. I Put A Spell On You (1956, Okeh 4-7072, A - B-side is Track 1 "Little Demon")

16. Frenzy (1957, Okeh 4-7087, B-side to "Person To Person")

17. Alligator Wine (1958, Okeh 4-7101, A)

18. There's Something Wrong With You (1958, Okeh 4-7101, B-side to "Alligator Wine")

19. Person To Person (1957, Okeh 4-7087, A)

20. You Made Me Love You (1957, Okeh 4-7084, A)

21. Little Demon (Alternate Take) (unissued 1956 recording, first appeared on Disc 2 of the 4CD Box Set "Loud, Fast & Out Of Control: The Wild Sound Of 50's Rock" by Various Artists on Rhino R2 75704)

22. Armpit No. 6 (1958, Red Top 126, A)

23. Just Don't Care (1962, Enrica 1010, B-side of "I Hear Voices")

24. Strange (1964, Roulette 4579, B-side of "The Whammy")

25. The Whammy (1964, Roulette 4579, A)

26. Party Doll (unissued 1964 recording, first appeared on the 1997 CD compilation "Lotta Boppin' (And Plenty Scream' Too): Roulette Rock & Roll, Vol. 4" on Sequel NEM 921)

27. All Night (unissued 1966 Decca recording, first appeared on the 1990 2CD compilation "Spellbound! 1955-1974" on Bear Family BCD 15530)

28. Mountain Jive (unissued 1966 Decca recording, first appeared on the 1990 2CD compilation "Spellbound! 1955-1974" on Bear Family BCD 15530)

29. Do You Really Love Me (1969, Phillips 40645, B-side of "Constipation Blues")

30. Please Don't Leave Me (first issued on the USA LP "Because Is In Your Mind" on Phillips PHS 600-336 in 1970)

31. Knock-Kneed Nana (Take 7) (previously unissued 1958 Columbia recording - first issue here)

"Rocks" comes in a (three-flaps) foldout card digipak with a detachable oversized booklet offering fans a chunky 64-pages of stunningly detailed liner notes by long-time fan BILL MILLAR. The text is peppered with up-close and personal black and white stills from a gig at The Washington Hotel in Mayfair, London in January 1965 and then The Ram Jam Club in April 1966. You get reproductions of a great Ebony Magazine advert from 1957 with the "Spell-maker" (Dr. Scholl's sandals ahoy!) - publicity poses with his trademark skull 'n' crossbones stage get up and even 'labour' papers to enter the UK in February 1966. The Richard Weize and George White discography from 1952-1970 starts on Page 41 and doesn't finish until Page 62. The CD reflects the Okeh label for "I Put A Spell On You" and the single in its label bag is pictured beneath the see-through CD tray - as usual - a very tasty job done by BF.

It opens with the lesser-heard "Little Demon" - the anarchic B-side to his 1956 lifelong signature tune "I Put A Spell On You" (over 35 cover versions of it and counting). "Little Demon" has lyrics like "...done put pretty hair on grandma's bald head..." - nice. After two dullish early 1954 cuts - things pick up big time with the Fats Domino piano-rolling R'n'B of "In My Front Room" showcasing his great rasping voice. "This Is All" is the same - a breakneck vocal hovering over a slow-rolling brass-filled Rhythm 'n' Blues section which features Mickey Baker (prominently) on Guitar with Big Al Sears and Sam 'The Man' Taylor on Saxes.

He goes all Muddy Waters got my-Mojo-working on the blues "$10,000 Lincoln Continental" and he names all the garish colours of his wardrobe in "Yellow Coat" - witty Rock 'n' Roll and up there with anything Chuck Berry could write. The wonderful "I Put A Spell On You" still makes me giggle but even better is "There's Something Wrong With You" with its manic giggles and lines like "...roast baboon salad smothering in bubblegum...you ain't all there..." But the absolute bomb is "Armpit No. 6" about his woman's odours where he says "...she's stone from the sticks...with her own kind of perfume...armpit No. 6..." and then starts sniffing! "Just Don't Care" is brill Fifties boogie while "Strange" and "The Whammy" are full of his trademark manic voodoo rhythms and racy lyrics - what a blast!

If Screamin' Jay Hawkins didn't exist - you'd imagine God would have to invent him. He died in 2000 aged 70 with six wives behind him and approximately 33 children (I say approximately). And isn't that just 'so' Rock 'n' Roll...

PS: The "Rocks" Series by Bear Family features the following artists:

1. Chuck Berry [see REVIEW}

2. Pat Boone

3. Johnny Burnette [see REVIEW]

4. The Cadillacs [see REVIEW]

5. Eddie Cochran

6. Bobby Darin

7. Fats Domino

8. Connie Francis

9. Don Gibson

10. Glen Glenn

11. Bill Haley

12. Roy Hall

13. Slim Harpo [see REVIEW]

14. Dale Hawkins

15. Ronnie Hawkins

16. Screamin' Jay Hawkins [see REVIEW]

17. Wanda Jackson [see REVIEW]

18. Sonny James

19. Buddy Knox & Jimmy Bowen with the Rhythm Orchids

20. Sleepy LaBeef

21. Brenda Lee

22. Jerry Lee Lewis [see REVIEW]

23. Smiley Lewis [see REVIEW]

24. Little Richard

25. Bob Luman [see REVIEW]

26. Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

27. Carl Mann

28. Amos Milburn [see REVIEW]

29. Ella Mae Morse [see REVIEW]

30. Ricky Nelson

31. Carl Perkins

32. Roy Orbison

33. Lloyd Price [see REVIEW]

34. Piano Red (aka Dr. Feelgood) [see REVIEW]

35. Charlie Rich [see REVIEW]

36. Jack Scott

37. Shirley & Lee

38. The Treniers

39. Big Joe Turner [see REVIEW]

40. Conway Twitty

41. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

42. Rusty York [see REVIEW]

The Bear Family "Rockin' Rollin'" Series features:

1. Johnny Horton

2. Marvin Rainwater

3. Marty Robbins Vol.1

4. Marty Robbins Vol.2

5. Marty Robbins Vol.3