This Is My Bag/Total Commitment
Artist: Del Shannon

Both of Shannon's 1966 LPs, This Is My Bag and Total Commitment, are squeezed onto this reissue from the Beat Goes On label; while recorded well after Shannon's commercial peak, enough worthwhile performances are included here to make the set worthwhile for casual fans as well as completists. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide Read More

Rockin' Bones: The Legendary Masters
Artist: Ronnie Dawson

Two-CD, 34-song overview of Dawson's early recordings, spanning 1957 to 1962. Includes most of his singles from the era, and a tall heap of acetates, demos, and alternate takes; in fact, over half of the material was unreleased at the time. The stylistic variety is a little manic, moving from raw home demo rockabilly-blues to straight studio... Read More

Great Country Songs
Artist: Elvis Presley
Community Score: 8.00

Great Country Songs compiles 24 of the finest country songs Elvis Presley recorded between 1955 and 1976, from "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" to "Guitar Man." Many familiar performances are available, as are five previously unreleased tracks designed to bait collectors, and the collection does a good job of establishing Elvis' credentials as a... Read More

I'll Never Lay My Guitar Down
Artist: Sleepy LaBeef

Original rockabilly basso profundo Sleepy LaBeef returned with I'll Never Lay My Guitar Down and the great news was that it's even better than the last album he had put out on the Rounder imprint, the truly involved Strange Things Happening. Like the last one, this biscuit is produced by Jake Guralnick (who guests on lap steel and guitar) and... Read More

Uranium Rock: The Best of Warren Smith
Artist: Warren Smith

Uranium Rock: The Best Of is a wonderful 24-track collection containing all of Warren Smith's essential Sun recordings, from "Rock 'n' Roll Ruby" and "Ubangi Stomp" to "Black Jack David," "Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache," and "Uranium Rock." It's a more concise and more effective compilation than Bear Family's The Classic Recordings, and... Read More

Elvis 56
Artist: Elvis Presley
Community Score: 8.50

Sure the music on here's great. How could it not be? It has 22 of his hottest tracks from his first year at RCA, including not only the hits "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Too Much," but such noted early rockers as "My Baby Left Me," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Money Honey," and "So Glad You're Mine." From a collector's... Read More

Ain't That Too Much: The Complete Challenge Sessions
Artist: Gene Vincent

Faced with a career that was going nowhere fast on a treadmill of gigs, booze and oldies, Gene Vincent re-grouped in 1966 and with the help of an all-star team of Southern California studio whizzes, recorded a batch of songs that stand out as some of his best work. Challenge Records assembled some top-notch session cats like Glen Campbell, Al... Read More

The Essential Collection
Artist: Elvis Presley
Community Score: 7.40

After releasing three massive "decades" box sets covering the '50s, '60s, and '70s, RCA/BMG tried to distill "essence of Elvis" down to one disc on Elvis Presley - The Essential Collection. Despite the 28 track shoe-horn feat, it's an impossible task, one that will likely please few by trying to please too many. Several chosen tracks are clearly... Read More

Red Hot: The Best of Billy Lee Riley - AVI
Artist: Billy Lee Riley