Customer Reviews

Rockbilly Boogie

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Founded in 1953, the Johnny Burnette Trio were not just contemporaries of Elvis Presley, they were very instrumental in influencing Elvis, the "Sun Sound," and Rock 'n Roll itself. Comprised of 3 young prizefighters with a Memphis reputation for "wild music," this trio's pioneering musical fusion of hillbilly and blues boogies is credited by the Memphis Music Hall Of Fame with "inventing Rockabilly." Their 1956 single release of "Train Kept A-Rollin'" b/w "Honey Hush" and its revolutionary distorted fuzztone guitar is listed by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as one of the most influencial recordings in the development of the music. In an era of individual stars, many call them The First Great Rock Band. Some even call them the first punk band. They remain influencial to this day. "Rock Billy Boogie" (correct spelling) not only is credited with giving this exciting subgenre its name, but was originally named for Johnny and Dorsey Burnette's first-born toddlers, Rocky Burnette and Billy Burnette, who use to shake and dance as the trio rehearsed at home. Now both Rocky Burnette and Billy Burnette are continuing the great family heritage, with both having also recently worked with legendary trio guitarist, Paul Burlison.

Of course this disc is essential: fantastic, raw rockabilly music. The term "rockabilly" was coined by Cashbox writers, attempting to describe not only hillbilly rockers, but the music of Chuck Berry (even Fats Domino was called a rockabilly by at least one writer). So, while Dorsey and Johnny named their kids Rocky and Billy they didn't actually invent the phrase.

There is the very strong likelihood that on many tracks the only member of the trio actually performing is Johnny himself. While Dorsey and Paul play on the NYC sessions ("Tear it Up"), and while Paul plays 2nd electric guitar on some of the Nashville tracks ("Train Kept..." and "Blues Stay Away From Me") it is the great session cat, guitarist Grady Martin playing the inventive licks on the majority of these recordings. This has been an on-going controversy amongst musicians and rockabilly fans, and it is surprisingly not mentioned in this forum. Despite this, the recordings here are wonderful examples of southern white rock & roll at its most primitive, even if some slick dudes had to dumb themselves down to play it.

I recently had about 500 Cd's stolen consisting of Rockabilly, Country, Surf, Jazz and Rock from Sun Ra to Buck Owens to Wreckless Eric. This CD was the one I had to go out and purchase the next day. If your livin without this CD you ain't. This is why the electric guitar was made. Plus Bear Family records is just the greatest label on the planet.

Pure and simple folks, the Johnny Burnette Trio is top shelf and in the running for greatest rockabillys ever. These guys were gods and were leaders on the cutting edge "back in the day." This should be standard issue to all music lovers no matter what style of music they like. These guys have a far reaching influence that goes beyond the rockabilly "scene" and even Aerosmith knows how important they were to rock and roll history. Buy this, and buy it now!

"Rockabilly Boogie, Please Don't Leave Me, Lonesome Train, Your Baby Blue Eyes, Train Kept A-Rollin, Lonesome Tears in my Eyes and Honey Hush" are greats of the genre. The originals are really cool, but to think they took Fats Domino songs, already classics in their own right, and made them into a real rockers, great! Some of the other songs might not be everyone's thing, with a more bubble gum sounding back up chorus appearing from time to time, but it doesn't really take away from the album as a whole. The tracks on this album influenced so much music that came later, it really is a classic.

Actually I am, I'm just trying to get at that guys goat who wrote that nasty review, with comparisons to elvis. There is no comparing Elvis to Johnny, there is no denying Elvis' Sun recordings are great, even if he did nothing at all worthwghile after leaving Sun. However everything Johnny Burnette recorded in this part of his career is worthwhile, almost, he did sell out like Elvis later on... So in many ways thier careers are comparable. They are different artist and not comparable, one is not better then the other, it would be like comparing johhny cash with Hank Williams, Sr., both good country artists but totally different styles. This cd is exellent, and I recomend it, along with The Sun Elvis cd, buy them both today and stop comparing and just enjoy the music

Judging by what's been written about this group you might expect something close to rapture when you pop this CD in. It's good stuff, to be sure, and some of it is great. But fans of the old Sun Records stuff won't find anything revelatory here. The guitar work is pretty cool and distinctive, and Burnette can scream with the best of them. Problem is, that scream almost seems set to a timer. It becomes formulaic after awhile and just doesn't have the same spontaneity of Gene Vincent or early Elvis.

Nitpicking aside, fans of early rock 'n' roll and roots music shouldn't be disappointed by this album. It's like a slab of prime rib: great stuff, but still a bit of a letdown when you've ordered the filet mignon.

This is an amazing rock and roll CD. It's classic rockabilly that sounds as fresh today as it did when it was first released more than 40 years ago.

If you were interested in buying just one rockabilly CD, this is the one to get. A perfect album that has never been surpassed. You haven't heard rockabilly until you've listened to the Johhny Burnette Trio.

True, that's what Billy Lee Riley and his Little Green Men claimed to play BUT: imagine it's 1956 and you hear "Train Kept a'Rollin" come on the radio...

The only possible explanation for what is coming out of your radio would be that aliens had landed and they brought guitars. Paul Burlison is, for my money, the most amazing guitar player to come out of the rock-a-billy era. Sure there are other greats, but none play with frantic energy, the plethora of stylings, and the quirkiness that Burlison does. My jaw drops everytime I listen to this stuff.

Johnny Burnette and the Rock & Roll Trio were one of the most influential bands in rockabilly and rock, beside Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. "Rockbilly Boogie", "Rock Therapy", "Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)", "Sweet Love on My Mind", "Your Baby Blue Eyes", "The Train Kept A-Rollin'", "Lonesome Tears in My Eyes" and "Tear It Up" were covered over and over again by the Beatles, the Stray Cats, Shakin' Stevens, the Cramps, Aerosmith, the Yardbirds, Motorhead,... Nice slappin' bass by Dorsey Burnette and raw guitar by Paul Burlison. That record really make you rock!