Rockabilly

Rockabilly may have been pretty revolutionary at the time, but 40 years later it sounds a lot like just another style of country music. There are a lot of well-done, reasonably priced collections out there, and once I started listing them it was tough for me to stop. If you really like this stuff, look for some Eddie Cochran and/or Gene Vincent, too.

Wanda Jackson
Vintage Collection

Hot Dog! This here is just too much woman for me, and for you too, I'll bet. This collection just brushes over her country sides, the most famous of which is the original of Silver Threads and Golden Needles. It's mostly her smoking rockabilly sides, some of which she wrote, with backing from Buck Owens and steel guitar great Ralph Mooney, among others. They didn't sell, and Wanda found religion pretty soon after.

Rosie Flores is a big fan, and has toured with a comeback-minded Wanda within the last few years.

Carl Perkins
Original Sun Greatest Hits

Carl Perkins was the reason Sam Phillips felt secure selling Sun Record's rights to Elvis. In fact, he may have been just as big had he not been severely injured in a car wreck just when he should have been promoting Blue Suede Shoes. This catches the crazy energy of early rockabilly, nowhere more than in the all-time classic Dixie Fried. Perkins was probably the most genuine, down to earth person in the entire entertainment industry, as well.

Elvis Presley
Elvis at Sun

The songs here surely must rank among the most influential recordings in the history of American music. This remastered, cleaned-up version of Elvis's Sun material is essential.