Essential Sun Collection

Carl Perkins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 21, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Recall Records UK
• ASIN: B00000JAH4
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,770 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Rock Guitarists
  • #7 in Music > Indie Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro
  • #72 in Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro > Rockabilly

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Movie Magg

2. Turn Around

3. Let The Jukebox Keep On Playing

4. Gone, Gone, Gone

5. Blue Suede Shoes

6. Honey Don't

7. Sure To Fall

8. Tennessee

9. Boppin' The Blues

10. All Mama's Children

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Honky Tonk Gal

2. Perkins Wiggle

3. You Can't Make Love To Somebody

4. That Don't Move Me

5. Lonely Street

6. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby

7. Somebody Tell Me

8. Sweethearts Of Strangers

9. Keeper Of The Key

10. Be Honest With Me

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

36 of the absolute best recordings by this highly influential early rock 'n' roller. Inclues 'Blue Suede Shoes', 'Boppin' The Blues', 'Dixie Fried', 'Your True Love', 'That's Right' and 'Glad All Over'. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Overlook This for Carl's Greatest!, August 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Essential Sun Collection (Audio CD)

If you're looking for one basic Carl collection, this may be your best bet. The sound is surprisingly OUTSTANDING ("warm, clear, punchy, vivid" are some words that come to my mind), better than the slightly "digital harsh"-sounding single disc that Rhino (which is usually one of the best for sonic quality) put out in the late '80s, and for the price of one disc you get 2 discs with 36 tracks total. And the booklet (with notes on every track here) is outstanding for a "budget" collection. Only the hardest of the hard-core fans will need more of Sun-era Carl, namely the expensive Bear Family box. This is the best collection (and value) for everyone else.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Collection, February 27, 2007

By 

Jess "Jess" (Coal Country, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Sun Collection (Audio CD)

Here is a great collection of the Rockabilly-sound of Carl Perkins. This is a 2-CD set of one of the most influential guitarists ever. All of Carl's biigest hits are here, but more importantly, are the inclusion of his earliest releases which are much more country/honkytonk than those released by actual country/honkytonk stars of the same era! The sound is excellent although you do have to overlook the poorer recordings of those first few numbers included on the 2d disc. The liner notes are present, but not overly informative; really nothing to complain about, but they could be a bit more detailed. Still, I would have to say that this is probably the most basic, yet accurate, collection available.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true "best of" collection: probably all the Carl Perkins you will ever need!, June 29, 2009

By 

Bernardo Quiroga Gomez - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Sun Collection (Audio CD)

Despite the fact that Carl Perkins kept recording until shortly before his death during the mid 90's, his golden legacy will always be comprised mainly by the material he recorded for Sun Records during the 50's. It was this set of performances, not his later music, that influenced The Beatles and many others throughout the years. Hence, it would be perfectly fair and fitting to call this collection "Carl Perkins' All-Time Greatest Hits".

"The Essential Sun Collection" renders his other two best-known compilations obsolete: all tracks from Rhino's "Carl Perkins - Original Sun Greatest Hits" and Varese's "The Complete Sun Singles" are included here. As a matter of fact, the first disc of this beautiful 2CD collection has the exact same material as the Varese set, complementing the story with Perkins' other period highlights on disc two. Also note this double album features every track from Carl's milestone debut LP "Dance Album."

Sound quality is excellent throughout, and considering that the other two 1CD compilations, as well as Carl's debut LP, all sell for roughly the same price as this title each (around $13-$14), this compilation offers the best value overall.

Please note that this product includes original Sun versions only. Most of the Carl Perkins products I have seen in stores include markedly inferior re-recordings Carl made of his old Sun sides and other Rock & Roll era hits. Do yourself a favor, and get the real McCoy. If you like early rock & roll and rockabilly, you will not regret it.