“The Road Is Rocky – The Complete Studio Masters 1956-1971” by GENE VINCENT. A Review of the 2005 BEAR FAMILY 8CD BOX SET.

“Be-Bop-A-Lula…Let’s Rock Again!”
Fans of “The Screaming End” have waited all their lives for a tribute to their hero like this and the much-anticipated BCD 16257 HL doesn’t disappoint.

"The Road Is Rocky - The Complete Studio Masters 1956-1971” is typical of Bear Family's legendary excellence - released March 2005, 8 CDs are housed in label-themed 2CD jewel cases inside a 12"x12" Box Set offering up a huge 223 tracks. There's a beautifully illustrated album-sized 134-Page Hardback Book (yes hardback) and resplendent in its full-colour cover, the whole package has an air of real class about it. Genuinely - just holding it - is a thrill…

The set was compiled and produced by DEREK HENDERSON and the stunning essay on Vincent’s tortuous life is by noted expert IAN WALLIS (it’s both ruthlessly honest yet quietly affectionate). Label boss RICHARD WEIZE and TONY BARRETT (of Rockstar Records in the UK) handled the tape research with the remastering carried out by JAY RANELLUCCI, BOB IRWIN and KIP SMITH. And being Bear Family, the sound quality is GORGEOUS - first generation tapes used, meticulous transfers - a typically superlative job done.

CONTENTS:
Disc 1: label is Capitol USA 7” of “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, 27 Tracks, 64:44 minutes
Disc 2: label is Capitol USA 7” of “Lotta Lovin’”, 29 Tracks, 68:51 minutes
Disc 3: label is Capitol USA 7” Promo Sleeve of “Git It”, 28 Tracks, 61:20 minutes
Disc 4: label is Capitol USA 7” Promo of “Be Bop Boogie Boy”, 34 Tracks, 79:53 minutes
Disc 5: label is Capitol USA 7” Promo of “Wild Cat”, 28 Tracks, 63:59 minutes
Disc 6: label is Columbia UK 7” of “Private Detective”, 26 Tracks, 62:15 minutes
Disc 7: label is Challenge USA 7” Promo of “Bird-Doggin’”, 28 Tracks, 76:31 minutes
Disc 8: label is Kama Sutra USA 7” of “How I Love Them Old Songs”, 23 Tracks, 73:32 minutes

The discography by Richard Weize, RUSSELL WAPENSKY and Derek Henderson contains 210 entries from his first recordings in May 1956 in Nashville to his last two in January 1971 in London. All 7 of his Capitol albums are here - “Bluejean Bop!” from 1956 through to “The Crazy Beat Of…” from 1963 - “Shakin’ Up A Storm” from 1964 on Columbia, “Gene Vincent” on London from 1967 (Challenge in the USA) and his 3 Dandelion and Kama Sutra albums of the early Seventies. You can also sequence in both A&B of all 40 of his 7” singles (a large number of them were non-album tracks). The bluesy “Baby Blue” (his 10th UK single from 1958) is fantastic…

The book is wonderful, black and white stage shots, an adoring John Lennon looking over his shoulder, backing group the BLUE CAPS posing in the studio, the one with Eddie Cochran, Joe Brown and Billy Fury all looking so young and full of promise. I particularly dig the snap of Gene and Jet Harris with a winking Little Richard and a smiling Sam Cooke – now’s there’s a conversation you wanna hear!

Musical rarities include “Beautiful Brown Eyes” which was only available on an ultra rare French single from 1959, both the Playground and Forever US-only 7” singles from 1968 and 1969 of “Story Of The Rockers” and “Pickin’ Poppies” because all 4 sides have different mixes and finally the two exclusive tracks Vincent cut for the B&C Records compilation “Battle Of The Bands” in 1971 – his last proper studio recordings. There’s also several previously unreleased STEREO tracks.

If I was to point out a downside, it would be that he did a further 5-track live session for The Johnny Walker Show at Radio 1 in London on the 1st of October 1971 – just 11 days before he died in the USA – but it’s not included on here. It was released as “The Last Session” in 1987 by John Peel on one of his Strange Fruit/Nighttracks 12” singles – and you can’t help but feel that it should have been included.

Vincent Eugene Craddock died from liver failure on 12 October 1971 in the Emergency Room of a California hospital, aged only 36 - years of chronic alcoholism having finally done for him. It was a sad and painful finish.

But for fans the world over, he will always be the real deal – silver microphone in hand, leg thrust forward, the thrill of rock ’n’ roll literally shaking his limbs and quivering his voice. And this beautiful and loving box set only brings that home in spades.

Bear Family’s “Rocky…” is a very real reason as to why this reissue label is held in such awe. It costs for sure – but quality always does. A real winner – and well done boys - you keepers of the flame.

PS:
For fans, I’ve posted full LP and 7” UK discographies in two separate comments attached to this review – each references where the tracks can be found on this box set (info the book doesn’t provide you with in one place)

I’d also recommend as essential “The Outtakes”, a 2007 follow-up set by Bear Family which contains a staggering 226 tracks from 1956 to 1968 – it’s a mini 6CD box with a beautifully detailed 76-page booklet - with the vast majority of these priceless ‘in session’ gems having never been released before anywhere

And last - with regard to price, some online retailers are trying to get over £300 for this box set – don’t! It is available shrink-wrapped and as new for £129 + P&P from their distributors in the UK, Rollercoaster Records of Chalford Gloucestershire (www.rollercoasterrecords.com) or for 174 Euros + P&P from Bear Family direct at www.bearfamily.de in Germany

GENE VINCENT UK LP DISCOGRAPHY from 1956 to 1971 (with reference to the BEAR FAMILY 8CD Box Set “The Road Is Rocky”).

The following UK LP discography references the Track Placing on the 2005 Bear Family 8CD Box set “The Road Is Rocky – The Complete Studio Masters 1956-1971”
(i.e. 1/15 after the song title is Disc 1/Track 15).

His first 5 albums are credited to GENE VINCENT and his BLUE CAPS – after that it’s GENE VINCENT solo albums

1. “Bluejean Bop!”
November 1956 – UK Debut LP on Capitol Records T 764, MONO Only
Side 1:
1. Bluejean Bop [1/15]
2. Jezebel [1/5]
3. Ain't She Sweet [1/11]
4. Jumps, Giggles and Shouts [1/14]
5. Who Slapped John [1/13]
6. Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine) [1/8]

Side 2:
1. Up A Lazy River [1/10]
2. Bop Street [1/17]
3. I Flipped [1/11]
4. Waltz Of The Wind 1/9]
5. Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back [1/20]
6. Peg O' My Heart [1/7]

2. “Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps”
August 1957, UK LP on Capitol Records T 811, MONO Only
Side 1:
1. Red Blue Jeans And A Pony Tail [2/7]
2. Unchained Melody [1/27]
3. Hold Me, Hug Me, Rock Me [1/26]
4. You Told A Fib [1/19]
5. Cruisin' [2/4]
6. You Better Believe [2/6]

Side 2:
1. Double Talkin' Baby [1/25]
2. Blues Stay Away From Me [1/22]
3. Cat Man [1/24]
4. I Sure Miss You [1/4]
5. Pink Thunderbird [2/2]
6. Pretty, Pretty Baby [2/3]

3. “Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll”
December 1957 – UK LP on Capitol Records T 970, MONO Only
Side 1:
1. Frankie and Johnnie [2/29]
2. In My Dreams [2/9]
3. You'll Never Walk Alone [2/20]
4. Brand New Beat [2/28]
5. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon [2/18]
6. Flea Brain [2/27]

Side 2:
1. Rollin' Danny [2/13]
2. Your Cheatin' Heart [2/22]
3. You Belong To Me [3/1]
4. Time Will Bring You Everything [2/14]
5. Should I Ever Love Again [2/26]
6. It’s No Lie [2/25]

4. “A Gene Vincent Record Date”
September 1958, UK LP on Capitol Records T 1059, MONO Only
Side 1:
1. Five Feet Of Lovin' [3/13]
2. The Wayward Wind [3/18]
3. Somebody Help Me [3/12]
4. Keep It A Secret [3/2]
5. Hey, Good Lookin' [3/15]
6. Git It [3/5]

Side 2:
1. Teenage Partner [3/7]
2. Peace Of Mind [3/8]
3. Look What You Gone And Done To Me [3/14]
4. Summertime [3/16]
5. I Can't Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) [3/17]
6. I Love You [3/6]

5. “Sounds Like Gene Vincent”
October 1959, UK LP on Capitol Records T 1207, MONO Only
Side 1:
1. My Baby Don't Allow [4/17]
2. I Can't Believe You Want To Leave [4/4]
3. I Might Have Known [4/15]
4. In Love Again [4/1]
5. Ready Teddy [4/19]
6. You Are The One For Me [3/27]

Side 2:
1. I Got To Get To You Yet [4/5]
2. Vincent's Blues [4/20]
3. Maybe [3/28]
4. Now Is The Hour [3/19]
5. My Heart [4/6]
6. Maybelline [4/10]

6. “Crazy Times!”
May 1960, UK LP on Capitol Records T 1342 (MONO)
May 1960, UK LP on Capitol Records ST 1342 (STEREO)
Side 1:
1. Crazy Times [4/26 Mono - 5/6 Stereo]
2. She She Little Sheila [4/23 Mono - 5/3 Stereo]
3. Darlene [4/24 Mono (Version 1) - 5/4 Stereo (Version 2)]
4. Everybody's Got A Date But Me [4/33 Mono - 5/13 Stereo]
5. Why Don't You People Learn How To Drive [4/25 Mono - 5/5 Stereo]
6. Greenback Dollar [4/27 Mono - 5/7 Stereo]

Side 2:
1. Big Fat Saturday Night [4/28 Mono - 5/8 Stereo]
2. Mitchiko From Tokyo [4/34 Mono - 5/14 Stereo]
3. Hot Dollar [4/30 Mono - 5/10 Stereo]
4. Accentuate The Positive [4/22 Mono - 5/2 Stereo]
5. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain [4/32 Mono - 5/12 Stereo]
6. Pretty Pearly [4/21 Mono - 5/1 Stereo]

7. “The Crazy Beat Of Gene Vincent”
August 1963, UK LP on Capitol Records T 20453 (STEREO and MONO)
Side 1:
1. Crazy Beat [5/17 Stereo]
2. Important Words [4/16 Mono]
3. It’s Been Nice [5/19 Stereo]
4. Lonesome Boy [3/26 Mono]
5. Good Lovin’ [5/21 Stereo]
6. I’m Gonna Catch Me A Rat [5/18 Stereo]

Side 2:
1. Rip It Up [4/9 Mono]
2. High Blood Pressure [4/11 Mono]
3. That’s The Trouble With Love [5/20 Stereo]
4. Weeping Willow [5/16 Mono]
5. Teardrops [5/23 Stereo]
6. Gone, Gone, Gone [4/14 Mono]

8. “Shakin’ Up A Storm” [as GENE VINCENT and THE SHOUTS]
October 1964, UK LP on Columbia Records 33SX 1646 (MONO Only)
Side 1:
1. Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey [6/22]
2. Lavender Blue [6/14]
3. Private Detective [6/17 Stereo]
4. Shimmy Shammy Shingle [6/18]
5. Someday (You’ll Want Me To Want You) [6/24]
6. Another Saturday Night [6/23]
7. Slippin’ And Slidin’ [6/16]

Side 2:
1. Long Tall Sally [6/19]
2. Send Me Some Lovin’ [6/21]
3. Love, Love, Love [6/13]
4. Good Golly Miss Molly [6/20]
5. Baby Blue [6/25]
6. Susie Q [6/26 – mistakenly printed as 6/25]
7. You Are My Sunshine [6/15]

9. “Gene Vincent”
September 1967, UK LP on London HA-H 8333 (MONO Only)
[Notes: These recordings were made for Gene Autry’s Challenge label in the USA, but were never issued as an album there. Three USA 7” singles were released on Challenge 59337, 59347 and 59565, but they all failed to do any sales business and Vincent was dropped from the label. There is a CD called “Ain’t That Too Much – The Complete Challenge Sessions” on Hollowbody HC 12004 from 1994 (a Sundazed label), which is referenced in the Bear Family discography because it has SIX STEREO TAKES on it. These STEREO alternate versions appear on the 2nd Bear Family Gene Vincent Box Set, “The Outtakes”, a 6CD set from 2007]

Side 1:
1. Hurtin’ For You Baby [7/7]
2. I’m A Lonesome Fugitive [7/10]
3. Born To Be A Rolling Stone [7/6]
4. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo [7/8]
5. Poor Man’s Prison [7/9]
6. Words And Music [7/11]

Side 2:
1. Bird Doggin’ [7/1]
2. I’ve Got My Eyes On You [7/4]
3. Love Is A Bird [7/5]
4. Ain’t That Too Much [7/2]
5. Lonely Street [7/3]
6. Am I That Easy To Forget [7/12]

10. “Best Of Gene Vincent”
October 1967, UK LP on Capitol Records T 20957 (MONO Only)
[Capitol Rainbow Label Design on Original Issues]
[Note: both of the following “Best Of” UK LPs gathered up large numbers of Vincent’s UK singles on Capitol because they were originally NON-ALBUM tracks on both A & B; these issues mark their first appearance on UK albums. The second volume was issued in both Mono and Stereo - the Mono issue was quickly deleted after release with the Stereo version on ST 21144 kept on EMI’s catalogue for a few years more. The STEREO mixes are not on this box set, but are on the 2nd one “The Outtakes” from 2007.]

Side 1:
1. Say Mama [4/2]
2. Lotta Lovin' [2/12]
3. Wear My Ring [2/11]
4. Gonna Back Up Baby [1/12]
5. Rocky Road Blues [3/11]
6. Important Words [2/5]
7. I Got A Baby [2/21]
8. Bluejean Bop [1/15]

Side 2:
1. Woman Love [1/3]
2. Pistol Packin' Mama [5/15]
3. Little Lover [3/10]
4. Right Here On Earth [4/31]
5. Wild Cat [4/29]
6. Unchained Melody [1/27]
7. My Heart [4/6]
8. Be-Bop-A-Lula [1/2]

11. “Best Of Gene Vincent Vol.2”
February 1969, UK LP on Capitol Records T 21144 (MONO)
February 1969, UK LP on Capitol Records T 21144 ST 21144 (STEREO)
[Original issues have a Rainbow Label design]

Side 1:
1. B-I-Bickey-Bi Bo Bo Go [2/1 Mono]
2. Frankie And Johnny [2/29 Mono]
3. The Night Is So Lonely [4/7 Mono]
4. Git It [3/5 Mono]
5. Yes, I Love You Baby [3/3 Mono]
6. Walkin’ Home From School [2/24 Mono]
7. I Got It [2/10 Mono]
8. Crazy Legs [1/6 Mono]

Side 2:
1. I’m Going Home (To See My Baby) [5/25 Mono]
2. Five Days, Five Days [2/8 Mono]
3. True To You [2/15 Mono]
4. Right Now [2/19 Mono]
5. Well, I Knocked Bim Bam [1/18 Mono]
6. Over The Rainbow [4/18 Mono]
7. Race With The Devil [1/1 Mono]
8. Be-Bop-A-Lula [1/2]

12. “I’m Back And I’m Proud”
January 1970, UK STEREO LP on Dandelion S 63754 [Distributed by CBS in the UK]
(USA LP of the same name was on Dandelion D9-102. Among the musicians featured were Denis “Mars Bonfire” McCrohan of Steppenwolf and Skip Battin of The Byrds; the album of mostly cover versions was produced by the legendary Kim Fowley)
Side 1:
1. Rockin' Robin [7/23]
2. In The Pines [7/15]
3. Be Bop A Lula ’69 [7/26]
4. Rainbow At Midnight 7/20]
5. Black Letter [7/19]
6. White Lightnin’ [7/16]

Side 2.
1. Sexy Ways [7/25]
2. Ruby Baby [7/24]
3. Lotta Lovin' [7/17]
4. Circle Never Broken [7/18]
5. Scarlet Ribbons [7/22]

13. “If Only You Could See Me Today”
1971, UK STEREO LP on Kama Sutra 2316 009
(The US LP was issued as “Gene Vincent” on Kama Sutra KSBS 2019 in July 1970; “Sunshine” and “Geese” were issued as a 7” single in the USA on K 514 in the same month; Chris Darrow plays Fiddle on “Danse Colinda”)
Side 1:
1. Slow Times Comin' [8/3]
2. Sunshine [8/1]
3. I Need Woman's Love [8/2]
4. Danse Colinda [8/4]
5. Geese [8/5]

Side 2:
1. 500 Miles (Away From Home) [8/6]
2. Listen To The Music [8/7]
3. If Only You Could See Me Today [8/8]
4. A Million Shades Of Blue [8/9]
5. Tush Hog [8/10]

14. “The Day The World Turned Blue”
1971, UK STEREO LP on Kama Sutra 2316 005 (STEREO)
(The USA LP (same title) was issued on Kama Sutra KSBS 2027 in November 1970)
Side 1:
1. How I Love Them Old Songs [8/11]
2. High On Life [8/12]
3. North Carolina Line [8/15]
4. You Can Make It If You Try [8/13]
5. Our Souls [8/16]
6. Looking Back [8/21]

Side 2:
1. The Day The World Turned Blue [8/19]
2. Boppin' The Blues [8/18]
3. There Is Something On Your Mind [8/14]
4. Oh Lonesome Me [8/17]
5. The Woman Is Black [8/20]

15. “Battle Of The Bands Volume 1”
(1971, B&C Records BCM 103)
(A Various Artists compilation that features 2 Gene Vincent and The Houseshakers tracks)
1. Say Mama ’71 [8/22, Mono]
2. I’m Movin’ On [8/23, Mono]

16. “The King Of Fools”
June 1974 LP on EMI’s budget label Regal Starline SRS 5177
(Some of this LP’s tracks are referenced in the Bear Family discography (not all) because they mark their first appearance on LP in STEREO. The album also contains several single only releases like “Humpity Dumpity” (MONO) and “Temptation Baby” (STEREO) which I’ve noted below)

Side 1:
1. The King Of Fools [6/3, Stereo]
2. Where Have You Been All My Life [6/8, Stereo]
3. A Love ‘Em And Leave ‘Em Kinda Guy [6/12, Mono]
4. The Beginning Of The End [6/9, Mono]
5. La Den Da Den Da Da [6/10, Mono]
6. Spaceship To Mars (from the film “It’s Trad, Dad!”) [6/1, Mono]

Side 2:
1. Be-Bop-A-Lula [1/2, Mono]
2. You’re Still In My Heart [6/4, Stereo]
3. Held For Questioning [6/5, Stereo]
4. There I Go Again (Whoops I’m Dreaming) [6/2, Mono]
5. Humpity Dumpity [6/11, Mono]
6. Temptation Baby (from the film “Live It Up”) [6/7, Stereo]

Born 11 February 1935 in Norfolk, Virginia, Vincent Eugene Craddock died from liver failure on 12 October 1971 in the Emergency Room of a California hospital, aged only 36 - years of chronic alcoholism having finally done for him.

This wonderful and properly respectful 8CD Bear Family box set finally does him and his musical legacy justice – and in spades.

PS: Outakes, sudio chatter and rare Stereo versions are available on the companion volume to this box, the 2007 Bear Family 6CD mini box set "The Outtakes"
PPS: see also the UK 7” singles list - posted separately