WCBS FM101.1 - History of Rock: The 50's, Part 2

by Various Artists

Compiled For WCBS FM101.1 (series)

History of Rock: The 50s, Pt. 2 is a much more varied collection than the previous volume. Along with great doo wop cuts by the Mystics ("Hushabye"), the Nutmegs ("Story Untold"), and the Students ("I'm So Young"), there is early rock & roll from Jerry Lee Lewis ("Great Balls of Fire"), the Everly Brothers ("Wake Up Little Susie"), and Carl Perkins ("Blue Suede Shoes"), teen idol sounds from Fabian ("Turn Me Loose") and Frankie Avalon ("Venus"), as well as some wonderful novelty songs from Bobby Day ("Rockin' Robin") and the Royal Teens ("Short Shorts"). The collection plays like an hour or so of really fun and diverse '50s oldies radio, something that is getting harder to the point of impossibility to find on your radio dial any more. The only thing that makes the disc less than ideal is having two songs by some of the artists (Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers). As great as the songs are, it would have been nice to add two more artists. That is a minor point, however, and shouldn't keep anyone from picking up this entertaining disc. ~ Tim Sendra