VA - British Rock'n Roll Anthology [2009] (5 X CDs)

BRITISH ROCK AND ROLL

VA - British Rock'n Roll Anthology [2009] (5 X CDs)

Not every single track on this 5 CD set of homegrown rock'n'roll will make the liver quiver, the knees freeze and the bladder splatter, but for the average listener this collection provides an excellent overview of the pre-Beatles British rock era, illuminating that time, from the mid-fifties onwards, when the likes of Lionel Bart, penning ersatz rock'n'roll hits for the likes of Tommy Steele and Anthony Newley, started the ball rolling for the Fabs.  There are key hits from almost all the major figures, and the emphasis is firmly on rockin': Newley's Idle on Parade is selected, for example, rather than a ballad. Those who came to fame via the 2 I's coffee bar are well represented, of course - Wee Willie Harris's tribute to the place, Rockin' at the 2 I's is present and correct.

And to entice those who may have bought much of this before there are a few comparative rarities and non-hits now of historical importance including early Tom Jones (Chills and Fever), pre-Who (the High Numbers' I'm the Face), a Joe Cocker Beatles cover which never made it (and isn't all that good: I'll Cry Instead), songwriter Mort Shuman's version of Turn Me Loose and young Rod Stewart's take on Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.  Also, of particular note in among the covers of American material is an authentic British rock classic, Shakin' All Over, by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, not to mention Vince Taylor's Brand New Cadillac. Even the Goons' Bloodnok's Rock'n'Roll Call is included, which suggests a degree of wit on the compiler's part (and unlike the Ying Tong Song it swings).

If you are looking for a collection which includes, in the sleeve note writer's words "almost every area in British rock music's rise ... from Big Bands to the Beatles" then this may well be it. (Amazon)

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Pt.1     Pt.2 

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Track lists

CD1

01 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen Rock With The Caveman 1:56

02 Lonnie Donegan Cumberland Gap 1:59

03 Jim Dale Be My Girl 2:01

04 Lord Rockingham's Xi Hoots Mon! 2:15

05 Marty Wilde A Teenager In Love 2:21

06 Johnny Kidd & The Pirates Shakin' All Over 2:20

07 Adam Faith Poor Me 1:47

08 Joe Brown & The Bruvvers A Picture Of You 2:20

09 Viscounts Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp Bomp Bomp) 2:48

10 Jet Harris Man With The Golden Arm 2:09

11 Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers Ain't Misbehavin' 2:07

12 Eden Kane Well I Ask You 2:16

13 Billy Fury Wondrous Place 2:25

14 Tornados Telstar 3:21

15 Chris Farlowe Air Travel 2:12

16 Tom Jones Chills And Fever 2:52

17 High Numbers I'm The Face 2:31

18 Joe Cocker I'll Cry Instead 1:43

19 Beatles Ain't She Sweet 2:13

CD2

01 Lonnie Donegan Rock Island Line 2:30

02 Marion Ryan Why Do Fools Fall In Love 2:50

03 Terry Dene Start Movin' (In My Direction) 2:54

04 Colin Hicks Wild Eyes And Tender Lips 1:54

05 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen Tallahassee Lassie 2:03

06 Marty Wilde Bad Boy 2:22

07 Joe Brown & The Bruvvers Darktown Strutters Ball 2:12

08 Jet Harris Besame Mucho (Kiss Me) 2:18

09 Brook Brothers Warpaint 1:59

10 Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers You've Got What I Like 1:36

11 Davy Jones Amapola 2:11

12 Helen Shapiro Don't Treat Me Like A Child 2:33

13 Shadows Wonderful Land 2:02

14 Bern Elliot & The Fenmen Money 2:29

15 Dave Berry My Baby Left Me 2:02

16 Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders Hello Josephine 2:07

17 Animals Baby Let Me Take You Home 2:21

CD3

01 Frankie Vaughan Green Door 2:48

02 Lonnie Donegan Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O 1:43

03 Anthony Newley Idle On Parade 1:39

04 Terry Dene Pretty Little Pearly 1:49

05 Marty Wilde Endless Sleep 2:19

06 Craig Douglas Nothin' Shakin' 2:31

07 Billy Fury Maybe Tomorrow 2:13

08 Mort Shuman Turn Me Loose 2:32

09 Jetstreams Bongo Rock 2:05

10 Eden Kane Get Lost (In My Arms) 2:46

11 Lyn Cornell I Sold My Heart To The Junkman 2:24

12 Nero & The Gladiators Entry Of The Gladiators 2:24

13 Jimmy Powell Sugar Babe [Part 2] 2:22

14 Cyril Davies Country Line Special 2:20

15 Georgie Fame Do The Dog 3:13

16 Jimmy Justice Bloodshot Eyes 2:30

17 Marauders That's What I Want 2:20

18 Mojos Everything's Alright 2:21

19 Spencer Davis Group Dimples 2:21

CD4

01 Tony Crombie & The Rockets Teach You To Rock 2:03

02 Four Jones Boys Tutti Frutti 1:59

03 Frankie Vaughan These Dangerous Years 2:14

04 Southlanders The Mole In The Hole 2:05

05 Joey Castell I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone 2:34

06 Wee Willie Harris Love Bug Crawl 2:13

07 Ted Heath & His Music Tequila 2:04

08 Vince Eager & The Vagabonds Yea Yea 2:27

09 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen Come On, Let's Go 1:59

10 Sally Kelly Little Cutie 2:16

11 Viscounts Shortnin' Bread 1:52

12 Rhet Stoller Chariot 2:12

13 Louise Cordet I'm Just A Baby 2:03

14 Lee Diamond & The Cherokees I'll Step Down 2:16

15 Jet Harris & Tony Meehan Diamonds 2:25

16 Steve Marriott Give Her My Regards 1:55

17 Dennisons Walking The Dog 2:34

18 Undertakers Just A Little Bit 2:26

19 Rod Stewart Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 2:09

CD5

01 Tommy Steele & The Steelmen Singing The Blues 2:25

02 Frankie Vaughan Seventeen 2:07

03 Goons Bloodnok's Rock 'n' Roll Call 3:12

04 Petula Clark Baby Lover 2:25

05 Lord Rockingham's Xi Wee Tom 2:15

06 Marty Wilde Honeycomb 2:13

07 Most Brothers Whole Lotta Woman 2:30

08 Wee Willie Harris Rockin'  At The Two I's 2:35

09 Terry Dene Baby She's Gone 2:50

10 Vince Taylor & The Playboys Brand New Cadillac 2:37

11 Viscounts Rockin' Little Angel 2:30

12 Lonnie Donegan Have A Drink On Me 2:51

13 Joe Brown & The Bruvvers I'm Henry The Eighth I Am 1:56

14 Billy Fury & The Four Jays That's Love (Alt. Take) 1:49

15 Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers Can Can 62 2:29

16 Casey Howie & The Seniors True Fine Mama 2:00

17 Big Three Some Other Guy 1:49

18 Lulu & The Luvvers Shout 2:53

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