Mornin' Cats and Kittens! let's take a quick step back to appreciate some of the gents who helped give us rock and roll. Have just put together a pretty cool play list of Gene Vincent, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Chuck Berry. Pretty tough not to tap your toe with this stuff rockin' the speakers.
With the proper nods to early jazz, country, gospel and delta blues, it's easy to forget how new and controversial this stuff was, coming from both black and white musicians. Also easy to recognize so many of the riffs, beats and grooves that continue to make up rock and roll to this very day. Even the heaviest Pantera and Sabbath cuts owe debts to these cats.
After all, how early Beatles tunes were actually covers of Little Richard, Berry, Holly, Perkins, etc. And the Fab Four certainly has laid their share of rock's foundation.
My personal favorites on the playlist? "Be-Bop-a-Lula" by Gene Vincent (guitar work by Cliff Gallup) and "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles.
Would love to hear your thoughts/opinions/stories about the brilliant mono records that feature these greats.
Go in peace....
G.O.T.
Elvis- The King? Give me a physical break. Not even in the discussion. Jerry Lee, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry- those were the Kings. Jerry Lee was a Rockin' BMF. So he married his 13 yr old cuzzin', it's rock and roll man. Besides if she was as hot as Winona Rider, who could blame him?
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