This three disc compilation aims to trace the history of rock and roll through its origins, influences, music styles and artists. Spanning four decades from the 1920's to the 1950's (and even one track from 1916!), these recordings cover several genres from the early blues and country, to swing, big band, rhythm and blues, western swing, jump blues and to what eventually became known as "rock and roll".
Whilst not definitive or comprehensive (or totally accurate in terms of some "original" versions), it does give an insight into the evolvement and the terminology of what has become one of the most popular forms of music in history. A treat for both the purists and the casual listener.
(disc one)
Unknown Artist– The Camp Meeting Jubilee
Trixie Smith– My Man Rocks Me
Jim Jackson – Kansas City Blues
Charley Patton– Going To Move To Alabama
Hank Williams– Move It On Over
Tampa Red– It's Tight Like That
Clarence "Pinetop" Smith– Pinetops's Boogie Woogie
Jimmy Blythe– Jimmy Blues
Blind Roosevelt Graves– Crazy About My Baby
Washboard Rhythm Kings– Tiger Rag
Boswell Sisters*– Rock And Roll
Benny Goodman, Helen Ward– Get Rhythm In Your Feet
Harlem Hamfats*– Oh Red!
Mississippi Jook Band– Skippy Whippy
Robert Johnson– Cross Road Blues
Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa– Sing! Sing! Sing! (With A Swing)
Ella Fitzgerald– Rock It For Me
Sister Rosetta Tharpe– Rock Me
Bob Wills– Ida Red
Big Joe Turner– Roll 'Em Pete
Buddy Jones – Rockin' Rollin' Mama
John Lee Williamson– New Early In The Morning
Will Bradley– Down The Road A Piece
The Andrews Sisters– Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Virginia O'Brien– Lullaby (Rock A Bye Baby)
(disc two)
Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra– Flying Home
Illinois Jacquet– Blues, Pt. 2
T-Bone Walker– Mean Old World
Judy Garland– The Joint Is Really Jumpin' Down At Carnegie Hall
Gertrude Niesen– Rockin' The Town
Nat King Cole– Straighten Up And Fly Right
Sister Rosetta Tharpe– Strange Things Happening Every Day
Helen Humes– Be Baba Leba
Joe Liggins– Honeydripper
Arthur Smith – Guitar Boogie
Mose Allison– That's All Right (Mama)
Shirley And Lee– Let The Good Times Roll
Ella Mae Morse, Freddie Slack– House Of Blue Lights
The Delmore Brothers– Hillbilly Boogie
Pee Wee King– Ten Gallon Boogie (Original)
Wynonie Harris– Good Rocking Tonight
Wild Bill Moore*– We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll
Muddy Waters– I Can't Be Satisfied
Amos Milburn– Chicken Shack Boogie
Bill Haley– Rovin' Eyes
The Orioles– Its Too Soon To Know
Stick McGhee– Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
Erline Harris– Rock And Roll Blues
Jimmy Preston– Rock The Joint
Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five– Saturday Night Fish Fry
Fats Domino– The Fat Man
Goree Carter– Rock A While
(disc three)
Hardrock Gunter– Gonna Dance All Night
Arkie Shibley And His Mountain Dew Boys– Hot Rod Race
The Dominoes– 60 Minute Man
Les Paul & Mary Ford– How High The Moon
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats– Rocket '88
Charlie Gracie– Boogie Woogie Blues
Big Mama Thornton– Hound Dog
Charlie Gracie– Rockin' An' Rollin
Lloyd Price– Lawdy Miss Clawdy
The Dominoes– Have Mercy Baby
The Clovers– One Mint Julep
The Crows– Gee
Bill Haley And His Comets– Crazy Man, Crazy
Ray Charles– Mess Around
Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters– Money Honey
The Johnny Burnette Trio– Honey Hush
Big Joe Turner– Shake, Rattle And Roll
The Chords– Sh-Boom
Sunny Dae And The Knights*– Rock Around The Clock
Ray Charles– I've Got A Woman
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters– Work With Me, Annie
The Robins– Riot In Cell Block Number Nine
LaVern Baker– Tweedle Dee
Buddy Holly– Bo Diddley
Chuck Berry– Maybellene
Little Richard– Tutti Frutti
Carl Perkins– Blue Suede Shoes
Elvis Presley– That's Alright Mama
Bill Haley And His Comets– Rock Around The Clock
Elvis Presley– Heartbreak Hotel
The First Rock And Roll Record
