I heard Johnny Cash doing “I Will Rock and Roll With You” on the radio last week. He’s in beautiful voice even if he in’t sure he loves rock n roll in this collection of songs by him, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison (+ John Fogerty). Check out also Carl Perkins’ “Birth Of Rock And Roll.” Had me (secretly) dancing in studio this morning. Gimme some piano son!
Click here.
From Amazon:
“4.0 out of 5 stars I know it’s “only Rock and Roll,” but I LOVE it! By Brent. Format: Audio CD.
OK, CERTAINLY it could’ve been produced better – but, hey, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis all on one CD, commemorating the birth of Rock and Roll? Like Perkins sings in “Birth Of Rock And Roll,” “I was here when it all happened – I watched Memphis give birth to rock and roll.” And that’s the truth, folks. Yes, it is WAY too slickly produced (WHY Chips Moman and NOT Sam Phillips?), but these guys – and, of course, The King, Elvis – INVENTED Rock And Roll. Notice I said “Rock And Roll” there, NOT “rock,” there’s all the difference in the world. Yeah, these guys were making this kind of music back when it was DANGEROUS. I guess the current generation knows only of Roy Orbison by way of the (one-off) Traveling Wilburys back in (whew..1988), or Johnny Cash by (ugh) “Boy Named Sue,” or Jerry Lee by the allegations of his…naughtiness. But if you want to know how rock and roll originally sounded, check out the afore-mentioned Carl Perkins song, or, especially, Jerry Lee’s “Keep My Motor Running.” (yup, you can just BET “motor” was a metaphor…) …”
+ John Fogerty? Oh, wow!
I well remember all those other good old boys, but I have a major crush on John Fogerty. Who can possibly imagine CCR without him? But him without CCR? Another story altogether.
And you're so right, Lloyd. "Rock and roll" did make all the difference in the world.
K