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Various Artists - That'll Flat Git It, Vol.20 - Event (1959)

Track listing:
  1. Baby Baby Curtis Johnson 1:55
  2. Rollin' Pin Min Ricky Coyne 1:42
  3. Evenin' Time Scotty Mckay 2:00
  4. Lover Boy Curtis Johnson 1:56
  5. Hold On Tight Javalans 1:41
  6. Bunny Hop Rock Slim Martin 2:28
  7. Baby Let's Play House Curtis Johnson 2:08
  8. Champagne, Charlene Herbie Lee Iii 2:31
  9. Slick Chic Johnny Houston 2:07
  10. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine Curtis Johnson 2:26
  11. Evil Hearted Man Blues Dick Curless 2:33
  12. Rock-A-Billy Boogie Danny Harrison 2:01
  13. Let's Do A Little Rockin' (Sax) Curtis Johnson 2:02
  14. Say I Do Four Dappers 1:55
  15. Your Love Will Come My Way Javalans 1:43
  16. Teenage Love Affair Curtis Johnson 1:59
  17. Rockin' On The Range Johnny Houston 2:21
  18. Ding Dong Dreamers 2:31
  19. I Need You Baby To Love (Sax) Curtis Johnson 1:29
  20. I Want You To Know Curtis Johnson 1:58
  21. Rollin' Dynamite Scotty Mckay 1:46
  22. Lover Boy (With Acoustic Guitar) Curtis Johnson 0:56
  23. Come Dance With Me Javalans 2:00
  24. Rockin' Too Much Bill Braddy & The Western Star 2:16
  25. Heading For The High School Hop Curtis Johnson 2:24
  26. The Red Bird Boogie Joe Taylord 2:20
  27. Jealous Hearted Me Jimmy Copeland 2:23
  28. Let's Do A Little Rockin' (Guitar) Curtis Johnson 2:21
  29. Blue Eyed Blonde Bill Braddy & The Western Star 2:13
  30. Torrid Tessie Lee Johnny Houston 1:32
  31. I Need You Baby To Love (Guitar) Curtis Johnson 1:37
  32. Baby You Done Me Wrong Four Drappers 1:58
  33. It's Not Easy To Forget Roy Aldridge 2:05
  34. You're The One Curtis Johnson 1:49
  35. Give Me A Kiss For Christmas Johnny Houston 2:25
  36. Rock And Roll Baby Dreamers 2:07
  37. Short Fat Fannie Curtis Johnson 2:15

Notes

Bear Family's ongoing series of rockabilly and early rock & roll compilations continues with this 37-track overview of the archives of Event Records, a label based out of Portland, ME, that documented the rockin' action in New England in the 1950s. If you weren't aware that the Land of the Lobster was a haven for rockabilly, you're surely not alone, but Event's bosses had the good sense to import a few acts from south of the Mason-Dixon line as well as searching out worthy local talent, and if this isn't near the top of the heap in the That'll Flat Git It! series, it offers up plenty of solid (and hard to find) twang-infused rock. Highlighting the proceedings are a dozen tracks from Curtis Johnson, a strong rockabilly belter whose Elvis covers suggest he'd spent plenty of time studying the King's early Sun sides, and whose other tunes find him in even more impressive form. (Jazz fans take note: guitarist Lenny Breau backs up Johnson on several cuts, recorded when the picker was still in his teens.) Other noteworthy performances include a pair of revved-up sides from Scotty McKay, engaging cuts from the harmony-fueled Javalins and the well-mannered Ricky Coyne, and some hot-wired country from the Western Starlighters and Jimmy Copeland. (You might want to skip over Slim Martin's contribution, though; the title "Bunny Hop Rock" is an oxymoron if there ever was such a thing.) As always, Bear Family's packaging and remastering are sharp, and Colin Escott's liner notes tell listeners as much as is known about the artists on board. Cool stuff, and a solid look at a little-known scene.

Rockabilly collectors are a hearty, fanatical breed with little compunction about seeking out rare, rarely heard singles based on legend or label. Not everybody has the time or patience to find original pressings, even if they love the music, so for the average collector, Bear Family's multi-volume That'll Flat Git It! series is the way to dig deep into the rockabilly arcana. The series is divided by label, spotlighting the forgotten sides and smaller hits for labels as well-known as Decca and RCA, along with lesser-known regional labels. This is not everything that was released on a label, of course, but it is a fairly thorough overview of what kinds of rockabilly the label released, and it hits almost all of the high points, at least as far as rockabilly collectors are concerned (and when the label can't fit everything on one disc, it breaks it up in two parts). Like many multi-part series, this is strongest on the earlier volumes, but if you're a dyed-in-the-wool collector, any of these volumes are worthwhile. Some of them are loaded with generic mediocrities, but they all have a couple of dynamite gems, plus they're presented lovingly, with wonderful sound and detailed, well-researched liner notes. This is essentially a collector's series, but it's a collector's series in the best sense — filled with rare gems worth seeking out and presented in a luxurious fashion.