"The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956" by ELMORE JAMES & HIS BROOMDUSTERS (Originally June 1994 UK Ace Records/Vanguard 3CD Long Box Set of Remasters – Reissued August 2007 UK Vanguard/Ace Records 3CD Set in a Jewel Case with Same Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

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"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

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"…Dusted Off His Blues…"

When the vinyl album "The Best Of Elmore James" first appeared in February 1965 in the UK on Sue Records ILP 918 priced at 29/11d - certain white English boys (chaps from Cream, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin) grabbed it, listened to the 'loud electric slide blues guitar' of this Delta son and quietly shat their Carnaby St. pants.

"Dust My Broom" is one of those tunes/riffs that has literally altered history - a game-changer that's been copied and modified to buggery ever since it's first appearance back in Mississippi in the 1930's. Lyrically the words "dust my broom" (which reputedly date back to the 17th Century and mean "leave home quickly") were first mentioned by Carl Rafferty in 1933 and Kokomo Arnold in 1934. 

But it was the legendary slide player ROBERT JOHNSON who finally put the words into a song title when he cut "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" on Vocalion 03475 in 1937. Elmore James met the great man sometime in late 1937 (a year before Johnson died) and adapted the song to his own emerging style - electrified guitar slashed by a bottleneck slide. Elmore James' version (credited to Elmo James) first appeared as a 78" in late 1951 on Trumpet Records 146 with an uncredited Sonny Boy Williamson playing harmonica (it's pictured on Page 8 of the book) - and history was made. 

But quite apart from 'that' famous riff - this 3CD (reissue) set makes a strong case for Elmore Leroy James as being way more than a one-song wonder. Here are the early-in-the-morning details...

"The Classic Early Recordings 1951-1956" by ELMORE JAMES & HIS BROOMDUSTERS originally appeared as an American 71-track 3CD set in long-box form in June 1994. This is the August 2007 Ace Records double jewel-case UK reissue (same tracks and annotated booklet) on Ace Records ABOXCD 4 (Barcode 029667000420) and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 "Canton Crusade" - 62:28 minutes:

1. Dust My Broom (1951 USA 78" on Trumpet 146, A)

2. Please Find My Baby (Version 1) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

3. Hawaiian Boogie (Version 1) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

4. Please Find My Baby (Version 2) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1022, A)

5. Hand In Hand (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1031, A)

6. Long Tall Woman (Previously Unreleased Until 1993 Box Set)

7. Rock My Baby Right (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1048, B-side of "Dark And Dreary")

8. One More Drink (Take 1) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

9. My Baby's Gone (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

10. One More Drink (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

11. Lost Woman Blues (aka "Please Find My Baby (Version 3)") (Previously Unreleased Until 1993 Box Set)

12. I Believe (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5000, A)

13. I Held My Baby Last Night (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5000, B-side of "I Believe")

14. Baby What's Wrong (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5003, A)

15. Sinful Woman (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5003, B-side of "Baby What's Wrong")

16. Round House Boogie (1953 USA 7" single on Meteor 5001, A - reissued on Meteor 5024 in 1955 as "Sax Symphonic Boogie" with the B called "Flaming Blues" - see 19)

17. Dumb Woman Blues (1954 USA 7" single on Meteor 5016, B-side of "Sax-Ony Boogie")

18. Sax-Ony Boogie (1954 USA 7" single on Meteor 5016, A)

19. Kickin' The Blues Around (first issued as "Kickin' The Blues Around" in 1953 on the USA 7" single Meteor 5001 - reissued as "Flaming Blues" in 1955 on the USA 7" single Meteor 5024)

20. I May Be Wrong (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1010, A)

21. Sweet Little Woman (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1010, B

Disc 2 - "Broomdusting In Chicago" - 70:35 minutes:

1. Early In The Morning (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1011, A)

2. Can't Stop Lovin' (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1014, A)

3. Hawaiian Boogie (Version 2) (1953 recording on the 1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

4. Make A Little Love (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1014, B-side of "Can't Stop Lovin'")

5. My Best Friend (Take 1) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

6. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 2) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

7. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 3)

8. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 4) - 3 and 4 Previously Unreleased until 1993

9. Make My Dreams Come True (Take 7) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1031, B-side of "Hand In Hand")

10. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

11. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

12. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 3) - previously unreleased until 1993

13. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 4) - previously unreleased until 1993

14. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 5) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

15. Strange Kinda Feeling (Take 6) (1953 USA 7" single on Flair 1022, B-side of "Please Find My Baby")

16. Dark And Dreary (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

17. Dark And Dreary (Take 2) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

18. Dark And Dreary (Take 4) (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1048, A)

19. Quarter Past Nine (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

20. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 1) - previously unreleased until 1993

21. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 8) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

22. Where Can My Baby Be (Take 9) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

23. Please Come Back To Me (Sho' Nuff I Do) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

24. Session Talk & False Start/Sho' Nuff I Do - previously unreleased until 1993

25. Sho' Nuff I Do (Alternate Take) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

26. Sho' Nuff I Do (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1039, A)

27. 1839 Blues (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1039, B-side of "Sho' Nuff I Do")

28. I Got A Strange Baby (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

29. Canton, Mississippi Breakdown (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

Disc 3 - "Culver City To The Crescent City" - 58:22 minutes:

1. Standing At The Crossroads (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1057, B-side of "Sunny Land")

2. Late Hours At Midnight (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1062, A)

3. Happy Home (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1069, A)

4. Sunny Land (1954 USA 7" single on Flair 1057, A)

5. The Way You Treat Me (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1062, B-side of "Late Hours At Midnight")

6. No Love In My Heart (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1069, B-side of "Happy Home")

7. Dust My Blues (Take 3) (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1074, A)

8. I Was A Fool (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1074, B-side of "Dust My Blues")

9. Blues Before Sunrise (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1079, A)

10. Good Bye (Baby) (Take 1) (1955 USA 7" single on Flair 1079, B-side of "Blues Before Sunrise")

11. So Mean To Me (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

12. So Mean To Me (Take 3) (1969 USA LP "Anthology Of A Blues Legend" on Kent LP 9001)

13. So Mean To Me (Take 4) (1987 UK LP "Let's Cut It: The Very Best Of Elmore James" on Ace Records CH 192)

14. Chat & False Start To "Wild About You Baby" - Previously unreleased until 1993

15. Wild About You (1956 USA 7" single on Modern 983, A)

16. Wild About You Baby (1965 USA LP "Original Folk Blues" on Kent KLP-5022)

17. Elmo's Shuffle (Instrumental) (Take 3) (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

18. Elmo's Shuffle (Take 4) (1983 UK LP "King Of The Slide Guitar" on Ace Records CH 68)

19. Elmo's Shuffle (Take 5) - Previously Unreleased Until 1993

20. Long Tall Woman (1970 USA LP "The Resurrection Of Elmore James" on Kent LP 9010)

21. Long Tall Woman (1956 USA 7" single on Modern 983, B-side of "Wild About You")

The 40-page CD-sized booklet opens with pages of track credits but the superbly detailed RAY TOPPING liner notes begin properly on Page 6 and finish on Page 31 with a Discography that follows. Inbetween the text are black and white and colour photos of EJ and various support bands, reproductions of those rare Meteor, Modern, Trumpet and Flair American labels, trade adverts, label calling cards, photos of Joe Bihari (Modern Records) and even a copy of his birth certificate from 27 January 1918.

Topping disentangles the messy mastertapes situation surrounding so much of EJ's recorded legacy - admitting that a few titles are dubbed from clean 78"s because masters are either lost or destroyed (Modern cannibalised their tapes in the 60's). Given all that - the BOB JONES remasters are a revelation for what is notoriously badly recorded material. I've heard CDs of EJ's material that a few shades short of unlistenable - not the case here. It's rough for sure in places - but it is at least real.

After the crackly start of "Dust My Broom" - you get to track 2 "Please Find My Baby" - and suddenly there it is - 'that' electric sound. It's an immediate gritty ballsy and visceral kick in the teeth and you can hear 'everybody' who was influenced by his style - from Fleetwood Mac right on through to Johnny Winter and George Thorogood. His great raspy vocal comes shining through on the lonesome "Long Tall Woman" while Ike Turner's piano so compliments "Rock My Baby First". The production values improve on "Baby What's Wrong" (recorded Nov 1952 in Chicago) with J T Brown on Saxophone and Johnny Jones on Piano. James is just about audible on the fabulous R'n'B boogies of "Sweet Little Woman" and "I May Be Wrong" by Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs - sounding not unlike some long lost rocking masterpiece. Elmore's rocking rearrangement of Robert Johnson's "I Believe" (also known as I Believe (My Time Ain't Long)") was Fleetwood's Mac's UK debut single on Blue Horizon in November 1967 (miscredited to Jeremy Spencer) - and practically defined their first album sound.

Johnny Jones once again provides tasty piano fills for "Can't Stop Lovin'" while the whole band whips up a storm for the instrumental "Hawaiian Boogie" which features those trademark licks on his as JT Brown blasts away on a Sax. The growth of "Make My Dreams Come True" (Take 7 is the master) and "Strange Kinda Feeling" (Take 6 is the master) are documented through several aborted/truncated takes - the band finding their groove. And the properly Bluesy "Please Come Back To Me" features Ike Turner on Guitar with Raymond Hill on Tenor Sax. And we return to Robert Johnson for "Standing At The Crossroads" where James puts in a hugely confident vocal against a brassy backdrop. Back to that slasher style for "Dust My Blues" which is one my faves on here.

Given what's gone before - the audio on here is years ahead of what we've had to put up with before - even if it is a bit rough around the gills. But in some respects isn't that what made Elmore James so electrifying in the first place...

Artwork for the original Long Box 

"The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" by THE CADETS and THE JACKS [and ROCKATEERS] (1995 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters Covering 1955 to 1958 on Modern and RPM Records) – see also Volume 1 from 1994 "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…Fine Lookin' Baby…"

Volume 1 in the story of the intertwining American Vocal Groups THE CADETS and THE JACKS is "The Cadets Meet The Jacks: Stranded In The Jungle" - a September 1994 25-track CD on Ace CDCHD 523 (Barcode 029667153423). 

Well here comes Volume 2 concentrating on THE JACKS side of things. UK released May 1995 - "The Jacks Meet The Cadets Volume 2: Why Don't You Write Me?" on Ace CDCHD 535 (Barcode 029667153522) has more detailed liner notes by noted Rhythm 'n' Blues expert JIM DAWSON and superlative remastered sound from original analogue master tapes (68:25 minutes).

THE CADETS released 14 singles on Modern and THE JACKS managed 7 on their subsidiary label RPM (the same group using a different name) as well as an ultra-rare one-off by THE ROCKATEERS on M.J.C. Records. But each of these intertwined R'n'B Vocal Group incarnations charted big just once. THE JACKS got there first in July 1955 with "Why Don't You Write Me?" on RPM Records 428 (rose to Number 3) while THE CADETS made it with the novelty hit "Stranded In The Jungle" on Modern 944 in July 1956 (rose to Number 4). "Stranded In The Jungle" was in itself a cover of a JAYHAWKS song on Flash Records 109 that made Number 9 in July 1956.

Using both CDs - here is a discography for each group and their American singles:

[7/1] = Track number 7 on Volume 1 while [7/2] = Track 7 on Volume 2 etc...

THE CADETS

1. Don't Be Angry [7/1] b/w I Cried  [7/2] (Modern 956, April 1955)

2. Rollin' Stone [6/1] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 960, June 1955)

3. I Cried [7/2] b/w Fine Lookin' Baby [10/2] (Modern 963, July 1955)

4. Annie Met Henry [5/1] b/w So Will I [24/2] (Modern 969, 1955)

5. Do You Wanna Rock [4/2] b/w If It Is Wrong [15/2] (Modern 971, November 1955)

6. Heartbreak Hotel [18/1] b/w Church Bells May Ring [15/1] (Modern 985, February 1956)

7. Stranded In The Jungle [1/1] b/w I Want You [19/2] (Modern 994, June 1956)

8. I Got Loaded [22/1] b/w Dancin' Dan [22/2] (Modern 1000, September 1956)

9. I'll Be Spinning [23/1] b/w Fools Rush In [3/1] (Modern 1006, Nov 1956)

10. Love Bandit [13/1] b/w Heaven Help Me [3/2] (Modern 1012, December 1956)

11. Wiggle Waggle Woo [12/2] b/w You Belong To Me [20/2] (Modern 1017, 1957)

12. Pretty Evey [10/1] b/w Rum, Jamaica Rum [20/1] (Modern 1019, May 1957, credited as Aaron Collins & The Cadets)

13. Hands Across The Table [8/1] b/w Love Can Do Most Anything [11/1] (Modern 1024, August 1957 credited as Will Jones & The Cadets)

14. Ring Chimes [17/1] b/w Baby Ya Know [12/1] (Modern 1026, December 1957)

THE JACKS

1. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w Smack Dab In The Middle [9/1] (RPM 428, April 1955) - this was withdrawn for...

2. Why Don't You Write Me? [1/2] b/w My Darling [25/2] (RPM 428, July 1955)

3. I'm Confessin' [13/2] b/w Since My Baby's Been Gone [2/2] (July 1955, RPM 433)

4. This Empty Heart [23/2] b/w My Clumsy Heart [4/1] (November 1955, RPM 444)

5. How Soon [6/2] b/w So Wrong [11/2] (January 1956, RPM 454)

6. Why Did I Fall In Love? [18/2] b/w Sugar Baby [24/1] (April 1956, RPM 458)

7. Dream A Little Longer [9/2] b/w Let's Make Up [14/2] (July 1957, RPM 467)

THE ROCKATEERS

1. They Turned The Party Out Down At Bessie's House [8/2] b/w My Reckless Heart [17/2] (1958, M.J.C Records 501)

Volume 2 has 1 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED OUTTAKE - a version of "Dream A Little Longer". As with Volume 1 - the much-revered LITTLE WALTER DE VENNE researched and compiled the set and the hugely informative 12-page booklet by JIM DAWSON gives a virtual track-by-track history - even reproducing tiny Cashbox Adverts in between the text. But the big news is the stunning audio quality. The greatly missed 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES mastered the tracks initially for the 1987 LP "The Cadets Meet The Jacks" - whilst this set CD reissue boasts 1995 Post Production work done by DAVID YOUNG at Sound Mastering in London. The sonic clarity is fabulous - clear, full of life, great presence and sounding like they were recorded yesterday and not a half-a-century ago.

Aaron Collins and Will "Dub" Jones handled the leads on The Cadets sides while Tenor Willie Davis fronted The Jacks with the other three integral parts of the group being - Ted Taylor (Tenor), Glendon Kingsby (who left to pursue Gospel) and Lloyd McCraw (Baritone).

Vocal Group fans will love the CD inclusion of the ultra-rare ROCKATEERS single which was essentially a private press on M.J.C. (stands for group members McCraw, Jones and Collins) - it's listed at $2000 + (if you can find a copy) and to my knowledge is first time on CD here. I love the piano-driven "Fine Lookin' Baby" and finger-clicking "Let's Make Up" reminds me of THE CUES. What is also noticeable about THE JACKS material is that it's more Crooner Doo Wop than the rocking sides of THE CADETS - lovely stuff like "I'm Confessin'" and "Dream A Little Longer".

Ted Taylor enjoyed a great solo career - both Collins and Davis would join The Flairs in 1961 while Betty and Rosie Collins (his sisters) recorded as The Teen Queens. Will "Dub" Jones would later be with The Coasters as their Bass Vocalist - staying with them for over 10 years.

Great stuff and just as good as Volume 1...

"Somethin' Else: The Ultimate Collection" by EDDIE COCHRAN (February 2009 GERMAN Bear Family 8CD Box Set of Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 100s Of Others Is Available in my

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BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD   

Just Click Below To Purchase for £3.95

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

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"…No Harm Done…Just Havin' Some Fun…On The Weekend…"

It's astonishing to think that when Ray Edward Cochran was taken from us in a freak car accident while on tour in England in April 1960 - he was only 6 months into his 21st year and had already clocked up over 200 recordings - the bulk of which are presented in this eagerly awaited and sumptuous box set...

"Somethin' Else: The Ultimate Collection" by EDDIE COCHRAN is typical of the German Reissue Company’s legendary excellence. Released February 2009 on Bear Family BCD 15989 HK (Barcode 4000127159892) - 8 CDs are housed in label-themed 2CD jewel cases inside a 12” x 12" Box Set offering up a huge 262 tracks. There's a beautifully illustrated album-sized 194-Page Hardback Book that is a truly a thing of beauty (yes ‘hardback’!).

The set was compiled and prepared across several years by noted expert ANTOON VAN OLDEREN and Bear Family label boss RICHARD WEIZE. But this kind of quality and high-art finish doesn't come cheap - there's little change out of one hundred & fifty pounds - even online.

The remastering was handled by 'BOPPIN' BOB JONES, JAY RANELUCCI and PETER J. REYNOLDS - and being Bear Family - the sound quality is GORGEOUS - first generation tapes used, meticulous transfers - a typically superb job done. It's distributed in the UK by John Beecher's Rollercoaster Records of Chalford, Gloucestershire.

CONTENTS:

Disc 1, 35 Tracks, 74:13 minutes, Disc 2, 35 Tracks, 74:10 minutes

Disc 3, 34 Tracks, 76:45 minutes, Disc 4, 24 Tracks, 50:27 minutes

Disc 5, 24 Tracks, 60:04 minutes, Disc 6, 43 Tracks, 78:17 minutes

Disc 7, 28 Tracks, 62:09 minutes, Disc 8, 39 Tracks, 63:32 minutes

For US fans there's the first 3 singles on Ekko as The Cochran Brothers, the lone 7" on Crest, the 14 that followed on Liberty (A&B for each) and the 3 Liberty albums proper from 1957, 1960 and 1962. 

 

For UK fans there's the 13 London singles followed by the 10 Liberty ones and the 4 important albums - "Singin' To My Baby" (1958), "The Eddie Cochran Memorial Album" (1960), "Cherished Memories" (1962) and "My Way" (1964). I've checked and they're ALL on here. 

The 70's to 90's gave us major EMI retrospectives - the "Legendary Masters" 2LP set from 1972, the 4LP "20th Anniversary" box from 1980 and the "Eddie Cochran" 6LP/4CD box of 1988 - the bulk of these are here too (with some omissions). On top of that, Tony Martin's ROCKSTAR label of the UK carried the flag for Cochran for years and put out 9 EPs and 9 LPs worth of material (much unreleased) - the bulk (not all) of these reissues are also here.

The songs themselves consist of master versions, alternate takes, stereo mixes, interviews, live tracks, false starts and studio chatter - and as you can imagine, it's a mixture of the great and the un-listenable (the stereo stuff on Disc 5 is thrilling while the live tracks are badly recorded and filled with screaming...)

THE HARDBACK BOOK:

The book is both gobsmacking and problematic. Firstly it's bent and curved when you take it out (other buyers have had the same) because the binding can't take the weight. And while the endless photographs of British, Irish, German, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch and even Israeli 7"s, 78"s, EPs and Albums are a wonder to behold and most are in colour - there's an unforgivable 'lack' of info beneath or beside them. Text should be embellishing all of these snaps - chart positions, B-sides, writers credits, what album it came off - but nothing - there isn't even release dates on them...

Take Page 161 - you're shown his July 1958 UK debut LP on London HA-U 2093 with another sleeve beneath it - Liberty LBY 1158. There's no explanation that LBY 1158 is the May 1963 reissue of HA-U 2093 - there's no track list for either LP - there's no rear sleeves pictured either. All the Rockstar photos are slightly blurred - like their copies of copies. And disappointingly there's no printed US or British discographies for easy reference - numerical pointers as to where the tracks are on this massive box. (I've created my own for fans in the 'Comment' box - both singles and albums).

 

What is good is the 5000-word essay by Stuart Coleman peppered with rare full-sized photos combined with stunning outtake stills and global posters for his 3 movies "The Girl Can't Help It", "Untamed Youth" and "Go, Johnny Go". My favourite photos are on Page 37 where the beautiful actress Yvonne Lime from "Untamed Youth" holds Eddie's cheeks in her hands with a look of pure affection and then on Page 66 there's Cochran and his flame Sharon Sheeley flicking through records racks in a Hollywood vinyl store - she clearly in love with him and unable to hide her pride. 

The Discography between Pages 99 and 118 is more of a jazz-style date-by-date Sessionography compiled by Antoon van Olderen, STUART COLMAN, RUSS WAPENSKY and RICHARD WEIZE. 120 entries start with his earliest stuff in mid 1953 through to his last recordings in January 1960 - including all session work and collaborations in between. You find out that the June 1961 UK single "Weekend" b/w "Cherished Memories" on London HLG 9362 has exclusive mixes - different to the US versions. Also I count a little under 10 previously unreleased versions exclusive to this box, with the bulk of others having appeared on albums/CDs now long deleted.

Ultimately it's down to the music - and as I sit here listening to "Weekend" and "Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie" in STEREO - tears are in my eyes. God bless you Eddie Cochran wherever you may be...

Wallet-buster or not - and despite the book niggles - this is a stone 5-star recommended.

PS: this review is dedicated to "Boppin'" Bob Jones who died in April 2009 - he remastered 1000's of recordings for Ace Records, Bear Family and other top reissue labels and brought joy to millions of fans…

EDDIE COCHRAN - USA 7" singles Discography 

with Bear Family "Somethin' Else" 2009 GERMAN 8CD Box Set track references

(e.g. 1/10 is Disc 1 Track 10 and so on)

COCHRAN BROTHERS

[Eddie and Hank Cochran – not related nor brothers]

1.   Mr. Fiddle b/w Two Blue Sing Stars (Ekko 1003, June 1955)

[A is 1/8 – B is 1/9]

2.   Guilty Conscience b/w Your Tomorrow Never Comes

      (Ekko 1005, July 1955)

[A is 1/10 – B is 1/11]

3.   Tired And Sleepy b/w Fool’s Paradise

(Ekko 3001, May 1956)

[A is 1/18 – B is 1/19]

EDDIE COCHRAN

4.   Skinny Jim b/w Half Loved

(Crest 1026, July 1956)

[A is 2/1 – B is 2/2]

(Note: there is another overdubbed version of the A “Skinny Jim” on the 1962 UK LP “Cherished Memories” on Liberty LBY 1109 and there are 4 takes of the B-side “Half Loved” too – all are on this Bear Family Box)

5.   Sittin’ In The Balcony b/w Dark Lonely Street

(Liberty F-55056, February 1957)

[A is 2/7 - B is 1/31]

6.   Mean When I’m Mad b/w One Kiss [with the Johnnie Mann Singers]

(Liberty F-55070, May 1957)

[A is 2/8 – B is 2/9]

(Note: this is the only Cochran US single issued in a picture sleeve during his lifetime; it’s extremely rare and commands $1000+)

7.   Drive In Show b/w Am I Blue [with the Johnny Mann Orchestra & Chorus]

(Liberty F-55087, July 1957)

[A is 2/12 – B is 2/10]

8.   Twenty Flight Rock b/w Cradle Baby [with Johnny Mann Orchestra & Chorus]

(Liberty F-55112, November 1957)

[A is 2/18 – B is 2/11]

(A-side is Version 2; Version 1 is on his July 1958 debut British LP “Singin’ To My Baby”, London HA-U 2093 and also UK 7” single HL-U 8386 – it’s 1/28)

9.   Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie b/w Pocketful Of Hearts

(Liberty F-55123, January 1958)

[A is 2/26 – B is 2/24]

(Note: the A is in MONO, but there is another take without the guitar overdub on the box in STEREO – it’s 5/7)

10.      Pretty Girl b/w Teresa

(Liberty F-55138, May 1958)

[A is 2/25 – B is 2/28]

(Note: A is an exclusive mix to the USA; there is a different version on the UK 7” single London HL-G 9464 – it’s 4/6. The box set also contains a 2-track Stereo version of the song on 5/5 with a further 3-track Stereo version with overdubs on 5/13)

11.      Summertime Blues b/w Love Again

(Liberty F-55144, July 1958)

[A is 2/30 – B is 2/33]

(Note: the British ‘A’ on London HL-U 8702 is a different mix to the US version – it’s 4/1) 

12.      C’mon Everybody b/w Don’t Ever Let Me Go

(Liberty F-55166, October 1958)

[A is 3/6 – B is 3/5]

(Note: the A is known as the “Speeded Up” version, but there’s also a STEREO version with guitar overdub and running at the correct speed on the UK-only 1984 LP “Portrait Of A Legend” on Rockstar RSR LP 1008 – it’s 4/2)

13.      Teenage Heaven b/w I Remember

(Liberty F-55177, February 1959)

[A is 3/8 – B is 3/9]

14.      Somethin’ Else b/w Boll Weevil Song

(Liberty F-55203, July 1959)

[A is 3/17 – B is 3/18]

15.      Hallelujah, I Love Her So b/w Little Angel

(Liberty F-55217, November 1959)

[A is on 3/26 – B is on 3/25]

(Note: A is a Ray Charles cover and the spelling of it doesn’t use an exclamation mark as his original did at the end of the word Hallelujah, but a comma. There’s two further versions of “Hallelujah…” – an echoed version with strings which first appeared on the UK’s 1980 4LP box set “20^th Anniversary Album” on United Artists ECSP 20 (4/10) and a STEREO version on the UK-only 1984 LP “Portrait Of A Legend” on Rockstar RSR LP 1008 (5/10).

There are 10 versions of the B-side “Little Angel” – the master (3/25) is an overdubbed version of Take 10. The other versions are Take 1, 3, 5, 6 9 and 2 further version of 10 – all are on this box. Also worthy of note is that another version of Take 10 of “Little Angel” (5/11) is exclusive to the Bear Family set – it’s a different STEREO cut to the one that appeared on the Rockstar LP of 1984 (5/9))

16.      Three Steps To Heaven b/w Cut Across Shorty

(Liberty F-55242, March 1960)

[A is on 3/32 – B is on 3/33]

(Note: the A-side is Version 2 in Mono - a Version 1 in MONO and Version 2 in STEREO both appeared on the UK’s 1980 4LP box set “20^th Anniversary Album” on United Artists ECSP 20 – they’re on this box as 3/16 and 5/2 respectively.

The B-side master for “Cut Across Shorty” is a ‘speeded-up’ version of Take 21 – however, the ‘correct speed’ version of Take 21 also appeared on the UK’s 1980 2LP set “20^th Anniversary Album”, while a STEREO version of the take appeared on the UK-only 1984 LP “Portrait Of A Legend” on Rockstar RSR LP 1008 - they’re also on this box as 4/9 and 5/3)

17.      Lonely b/w Sweetie Pie

(Liberty F-55278, August 1960)

[A is on 2/32 – B is on 2/23]

(Note: there is a second version of the A-side with overdubs available on the 1962 USA LP “Never To Be Forgotten” on Liberty LRP 3220 – it’s 4/22)

18.      Weekend b/w Lonely

(Liberty F-55389, December 1961)

[A is 3/14 – B is on 2/32]

(Note: there is a STEREO version of “Weekend” on the UK-only 1984 LP “Portrait Of A Legend” on Rockstar RSR LP 1008 – it’s 5/12. “Lonely” is as per the A entry for number 17)

There were many re-issues throughout the rest of the Sixties and onwards in the USA, but they were more of what went before. It should be noted though that this was NOT the case in the UK, where new and previously unreleased Cochran material was issued by both EMI and the ROCKSTAR label (specialising in both Cochran and Gene Vincent).  The Rockstar label put out 7” EP’s also – many are referenced in the BF box. See my separate UK 7” singles discography post…

EDDIE COCHRAN - UK 7" SINGLES Discography

With reference to where the tracks can be located on the Bear Family 2009 8CD Box Set

"Somethin' Else – The Ultimate Collection"

Note:

(a) London 78's and 45's (1 to 13)

Most UK 78's credited their catalogue numbers without a prefix (HLU 8386), but the 7"s prefixed the catalogue numbers with 45-.

Most listings have since dropped the 45- prefix, but for accuracy purposes I’ve reinstated the prefix in this discography (it’s what’s on the actual records themselves anyway).

(b) Catalogue number spacing

Also some catalogue numbers on the UK 7" singles separated the lettering before the number – some didn't. For accuracy, I've reflected what was on the actual singles themselves – e.g. 45-HLU 8386 and 45-HL-U 8880.

EDDIE COCHRAN – UK 7" Singles Discography (referencing Bear Family)

1.   20 Flight Rock b/w Dark Lonely Street

London 45-HLU 8386 (April 1957)

[A is 1/28 - B is 1/31]

(Note: the original UK 78" and 7" both credit the A as "20 Flight Rock" – its spelt "Twenty Flight Rock" on the US issue and subsequent British reissues)

2.   Sittin' In The Balcony b/w Completely Sweet

London 45-HL-U 8433 (June 1957)

[A is on 2/7 – B is on 1/29]

(Note: the B-side is an exclusive mix - Version 1; Version 2 is on the US debut LP "Singin' To My Baby" on Liberty LRP 3061 - it's 2/17)

3.   Summertime Blues b/w Love Again

London 45-HL-U 8702 (September 1958)

[A is on 4/1 - B is on 2/33]

(Note: the A-side "Summertime Blues" is a different mix to the US version and exclusive to the UK single – the US version (2/30) has reverb and fading at the end, the UK version is without reverb and has an ending. The B is the same for both UK and US singles, but there is a different overdubbed vocal version on the 1962 USA LP "Never To Be Forgotten" on Liberty LRP 3220 – it's 4/21)

4.   C'mon Everybody b/w Don't Ever Let Me Go

London 45-HL-U 8792 (January 1959)

[A is on 3/6 – B is on 3/5]

5.   Teenage Heaven b/w I Remember

London 45-HLU 8880 (June 1959)

[A is 3/8 – B is on 3/9]

6.   Somethin' Else b/w Boll Weevil Song

London 45-HL-U 8944 (September 1959)

[A is on 3/17 – B is on 3/18]

7.   Hallelujah, I Love Her So b/w Little Angel

London 45-HLW 9022 (January 1960)

[A is on 3/26 – B is on 3/25]

8.   Three Steps To Heaven b/w Cut Across Shorty

London 45-HLG 9115 (May 1960)

[A is on 3/32 – B is on 3/33]

9.   Sweetie Pie b/w Lonely

London 45-HL-G 9196 (September 1960)

[A is on 2/23 – B is on 2/32]

(Same Takes, but the A & B are reversed to the USA issue on Liberty F-55278)

10.   Weekend b/w Cherished Memories

London 45-HLG 9362 (June 1961)

[A is on 3/14 – B is on 3/34]

(Note: both A & B-side takes were exclusive to this UK release; the US versions for Liberty F-55389 are 3/14 and 2/32)

11.   Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie b/w Pocketful Of Hearts

London 45-HL-G 9460 (November 1961)

[A is on 2/26 – B is on 2/24] 

(Note: the A is in MONO, but there is another take without the guitar overdub on the box in STEREO – it’s 5/7)

12.   Pretty Girl b/w Teresa

London 45-HLG 9464 (November 1961)

[A is 4/6 - B is 2/28]

(Note: the A is an exclusive mix to the UK release; there is a different version on the USA 7” single on Liberty F-55138 – it’s 2/25)

13.   Undying Love b/w Stockin's 'n' Shoes

London 45-HLG 9467 (November 1961)

[A is on 2/14 – B is on 2/19]

14.   Never b/w Think Of Me

Liberty LIB 10049 (October 1962)

[A is on 2/22 – B is on 3/15]

15.   My Way b/w Rock 'n' Roll Blues

Liberty LIB 10088 (April 1963)

[A is on 3/10 – B is on 3/11]

16.   Drive In Show b/w I Almost Lost My Mind

Liberty LIB 10108 (August 1963)

[A is on 2/12 – B is on 4/20]

17.   Skinny Jim b/w Nervous Breakdown

Liberty LIB 10151 (April 1964)

[A is on 2/1 – B is on 3/3]

18.   C'mon Everybody b/w Summertime Blues

Liberty LIB 10233 (April 1966)

[A is on 3/6 – B is on 4/1]

(Note: see 3 for Notes on “Summertime Blues”)

19.   Three Stars b/w Somethin’ Else

Liberty LIB 10249 (December 1966)

[A is on 3/13 – B is on 3/17]

(A is exclusive to the UK single)

20.   Three Steps To Heaven b/w Eddie’s Blues

Liberty LIB 10276 (May 1967)

[A is on 3/32 – B is on 3/20]

21.   Summertime Blues b/w Let’s Get Together

Liberty LBF 15071 (June 1968)

[A is on 4/1 – B is on 3/4]

(Note: see 3 for Notes on “Summertime Blues”)

22.   Somethin' Else b/w Milk Cow Blues

Liberty LBF 15109 (1968)

[A is on 3/17 – B is on 3/21]

23.   C'mon Everybody b/w Mean When I'm Mad

Liberty LBF 15366 (June 1970)

[A is on 3/6 – B is on 2/8]

24.   Somethin' Else b/w Three Steps To Heaven

United Artists UP 35361 (April 1972)

[A is on 3/17 – B is on 3/32]

25.   Summertime Blues b/w Cotton Picker

United Artists UP 35408 (July 1972)

[A is on 4/1 – B is on 2/6]

(B is on the United Artists 2LP set UAS 9959 “Legendary Masters No.4”)

26.   Summertime Blues b/w C'mon Everybody

United Artists UP 35796 (March 1975)

[A is on 4/1 – B is on 3/6]

(Note: see 3 for Notes on “Summertime Blues”)

27.   C'mon Everybody b/w Milk Cow Blues

United Artists UP 36121 (June 1976)

[A is 3/6 – B is on 3/21]

28.   C'mon Everybody b/w Don’t Ever Let Me Go

United Artists Silver Spotlight Series UP 603 (June 1979)

[A is 3/6 – B is 3/5]

29.   Think Of Me b/w Pretty Girl

United Artists FREE 12 (1979)

[This single wasn’t released as a stand-alone issue – it came in a picture sleeve free with the LP “The Eddie Cochran Singles Album” from 1979 on UAK 30244. It’s included here for completeness]

[A is on 3/15 – B is on 4/6]

30.   What I'd Say b/w Milk Cow Blues

Rockstar RSR-SP 3001 (1979)

[A is not on the box set – the Take used for B is unknown]

31.   Skinny Jim b/w Half Loved

Rockstar RSR-SP 3002 (1979)

[Neither is referenced in the box set]

32.   Twenty Flight Rock b/w Teenage Cutie

United Artists UP 618 (March 1980)

[A is on 1/28 – B is on 2/29]

33.   I Want Elvis For Christmas b/w The Tender Age

Rockstar RSR-SP 3004 (1980)

(Both sides are by HOLLY TWINS featuring EDDIE COCHRAN)

[A is on 7/12 – B is on not on the Box]

34.   Three Steps To Heaven b/w Cut Across Shorty

United Artists Silver Spotlight Series UP 36520 (October 1980)

[Reissue of 8]

35.   Somethin' Else b/w Boll Weevil Song

United Artists Silver Spotlight Series UP 36521 (October 1980)

[Reissue of 6] 

36.   Summertime Blues b/w Twenty Flight Rock

Liberty Golden 45’s G45 19 (May 1984)

[A is on 4/1 – B is on 1/28]

37.   C'mon Everybody b/w Don’t Ever Let Me Go

Liberty UP 603 (1984 Reissue of 28 – Box set track places are the same)

38.  C'mon Everybody b/w Don't Ever Let Me Go

Liberty EDDIE 501 (Feb 1988)

[As per 28 and 37]

39.  Somethin' Else b/w Boll Weevil Song 

Liberty EDDIE 502 (April 1988) [As per 35]

40. Three Steps To Heaven b/w Cut Across Shorty

Liberty UP 36520 (1988) [Another reissue of 8 and 34]