Critic's Review
Jim Smith, All Music Guide
Spanning most of Mullican's career with King Records (1946-1956) and featuring crucial hits that weren't included on Ace's Moonshine Jamboree compilation, this is a nice volume two of sorts for people looking for more of the pianist's prime work. Surprisingly, even though it covers nearly identical years, there are only a few overlaps from Moonshine Jamboree, and among The EP Collection's treasures is the early classic "New Jole Blon," the wonderfully raucous boogie "Showboy Special," and Mullican's own version of "Jambalaya," the Hank Williams hit that is generally acknowledged to have been co-written by the pianist. It also boasts "Country Boogie," a 1951 recording which, if the drummer at the session had maintained a backbeat instead of merely flirting with one, would have certainly passed as one of the first genuine rock & roll instrumentals ever recorded.
