Theophilus Punoval
The Queen says it's OK...
How about the best pre-1965 rockabilly? Please no Stray Cats, Dave Edmunds or Nick Lowe. They were devotees, and are owed thanks for their work, but they weren't original. Same for Joe Ely, Steve Earle and other Roots Rockers that recorded after '65.
Can we agree that Duane Eddy, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, the Everleys, Roy Orbison, Del Shannon and The Killer are all a given and don't need to be cited? The same goes for Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee, Charlie Rich and, of course, The King.
My picks are Elroy Dietzel ("Rockin' Bones"), The Phantom ("Love Me", described as "92 seconds of rockabilly genius"), Johnny Burnette, a true madman ("The Train Kept A-Rollin'", "Lonesome Train On A Lonesome Track") and Lew Williams ("Cat Talk").
A couple of other guys are Johnny Bell ("Flip Flop And Fly") and Wally Dean for his great version of "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee".
Ersel Hickey deserves a salute not only for his iconic rockabilly photo but for tunes like "Bluebirds Over The Mountain".
One guy you never hear of is Johnny Kidd. Listen to "Castin' My Spell" or "Shakin' All Over" and you understand that he was what John Lennon wanted to be. His work was on the cusp of the era, dying in a car crash in '66.
I'd love to hear of other cats (or chicks) that advanced the cause of lettin' our backbones slip.
Can we agree that Duane Eddy, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, the Everleys, Roy Orbison, Del Shannon and The Killer are all a given and don't need to be cited? The same goes for Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee, Charlie Rich and, of course, The King.
My picks are Elroy Dietzel ("Rockin' Bones"), The Phantom ("Love Me", described as "92 seconds of rockabilly genius"), Johnny Burnette, a true madman ("The Train Kept A-Rollin'", "Lonesome Train On A Lonesome Track") and Lew Williams ("Cat Talk").
A couple of other guys are Johnny Bell ("Flip Flop And Fly") and Wally Dean for his great version of "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee".
Ersel Hickey deserves a salute not only for his iconic rockabilly photo but for tunes like "Bluebirds Over The Mountain".
One guy you never hear of is Johnny Kidd. Listen to "Castin' My Spell" or "Shakin' All Over" and you understand that he was what John Lennon wanted to be. His work was on the cusp of the era, dying in a car crash in '66.
I'd love to hear of other cats (or chicks) that advanced the cause of lettin' our backbones slip.
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