The Black and White Roots of Rock'n'Roll is a unique two CD set that juxtaposes both the black and white versions of many embryonic Rock 'n' Roll songs.
The music is generally from the late 40's and early 50's and comes from several different genres that eventually gave birth to what was named "rock and roll." The compilers' liner notes state that they disagree with the "conventional wisdom" that rock and roll consisted of white artists stealing from and imitating black artists. They contend that there was in fact greater fluidity, more of a back and forth transmission between white and black recording artists during the period than critics recognize. Thus, they pair a "white" version of each song with a "black" version to make their point. Some songs are first done by "white" artists and others are first done by "black" artists. The race is in quotes because in some cases, e.g., the first song, which is described as a "white" version, the backing musicians are said to have been white but the singers were black.
It is admirable that the compilers have produced a CD to support their musicological thesis. Most of the "black" versions are far more impressive as early "rock and roll." In large part, this is because the white audience at the time was used to crooners like Bing Crosby, etc., and most of the white singers on these tracks adopt a vocal style that is compatible with their audience's tastes, while the black artists sing in a freer fashion that eventually emerged as the dominant "rock and roll" singing style. Also the black versions use saxes to embellish the music while the white versions tend to favour fiddles. So there's just more power in the black versions. But the songs are great. A number of the lyrics may surprise with their obvious sexual allusions - these must have been way out of bounds of the mainstream radio at the time.
50 tracks and a 12-page booklet with extensive liner notes, photos and other memorabilia.
1. House Of Blue Lights - Ella Mae Morse With Freddie Slack
2. House Of Blue Lights - Merrill Moore
3. Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris
4. Have You Heard the News? - Link Davis
5. Guitar Boogie - Arthur Smith and The Crackerjacks
6. Bounce Pee Wee - Pee Wee Crayton
7. Rock The Joint - Jimmy Preston and The Prestonians
8. Rock The Joint - Bill Haley With The Saddleman
9. Birmingham Bounce - Hardrock Gunter and The Pebbles
10. Birmingham Bounce - Amos Wilburn and His Aladdin Chickenshackers
11. Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown
12. Teardrops From My Eyes - Hawkshaw Hawkins
13. Bloodshot Eyes - Hank Penny
14. Bloodshot Eyes - Wynonie Harris and His All Stars
15. Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats
16. Rocket 88 - Bill Haley and The Saddlemen
17. No Help Wanted - The Carlisles
18. No Help Wanted - The Crows
19. Sixty Minute Man - The Dominoes
20. Sixty Minute Man - Hardrock Gunter and Roberta Lee
21. One Minute Julep - The Clovers
22. One Minute Julep - Louis Prima and His Orchestra
23. Alarm Clock Boogie - Billy Briggs
24. Alarm Clock Boogie - Bill Darnell With Georgie Auld Orchestra
25. The Hucklebuck - Charlie Shavers With Tommy Dorsey
26. Hound Dog - Big Mama Thorton With Kansas City Bill Orchestra
27. Hound Dog - Tommy Duncan and The Miller Brothers
28. Why Dont You Haul Off And Love Me - Wayne Raney
29. Why Dont You Haul Off And Love Me - Bull Moose Jackson and His Buffalo Bearcats
30. For You My Love - Larry Darnell With Paul Gayten Orchestra
31. For You My Love - Melvin Price and His Santa Fe Rangers
32. The Shot Gun Boogie - Tennessee Ernie Ford
33. The Shot Gun Boogie - Eddie Mack With Cootie Williams
34. Grandpa Stole My Baby - Roy Brown and His Mighty Mighty Men
35. Grandpa Stole My Baby - Moon Mullican
36. Rag Mop - Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
37. Rag Mop - Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra
38. Rockin' With Red - Piano Red
39. Rockin' With Red - Little Johny Dickens
40. Triflin' Women Blues - Moon Mullican
41. Triflin' Women - Wynonie Harris and His All Stars
42. Gravy Train - Tiny Bradshaw and His Orchestra
43. Gravy Train - York Brothers
44. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It - Hank Williams ans His Driftin' Cowboys
45. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It - Fat Man Robinson Quintet
46. Tend To Your Business - James Waynes
47. Tend To Your Business - Clyde Moody
48. Crazy Man Crazy - Bill Haley With Haley's Comets
49. Crazy Man Crazy - Lucky Enois Quartet
50. Thirteen Women and Only One Man in Town - Dickie Thompson & Orchestra
sample 1
sample 2
