6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good collection of Sun's non-Elvis hits, January 15, 2000
This review is from: Sun Records: 25 All-Time Greatest Hits (Audio CD)
Given that this set includes none of the sides Elvis Presley cut for Sun, the title is something of a misnomer. Adding "except for those recorded by Elvis," would be more accurate, and even then, one might pick bones about omissions such as Warren Smith's "Ubangi Stomp" or The Prisonaires "Just Walkin' in the Rain."
What's here is stellar, bedrock music, weighted heavily towards Sun's rock 'n' roll years. Given the Elvis caveat, it provides a good overview of Sun's hit-making, while shortchanging the blues recordings of the label's early years, and owner/producer Sam Phillips' earliest sides, that were licensed to other labels.
Anyone interested in the (well anthologized) hits will enjoy this disc, perhaps augmented by one of the Elvis' "Sun Sessions" releases. But for those who really want to get a better sense of Sun, the label, and a clearer view of the musical arc it traced, Rhino's trip-disc box set is the better bet.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
wella, wella there's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on!, August 27, 2001
This review is from: Sun Records: 25 All-Time Greatest Hits (Audio CD)
All twenty-five tracks sound as if it was just yesterday when Sam Phillips was at the helm...the sound that came from the studio was original...never was there a time like this...all the kids at school were immediately transfixed and turned on...even my 70 year old grandmother loved this new and exciting sound...it wasn't the names that got under your skin...it was the MUSIC!
Remember when you'd run to the local record store just to see what came out that week...not much has changed, except then it was 45 rpm and now it's CD's...radio stations would put this on the turntables, spin and the music would pull you in like a magnet...great times had by one and all...SUN RECORDS was a big part of this ritual.
The leaders of the pack were ~ Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and of course the King himself...ELVIS (who doesn't appear on this compilation)...they filled the air-waves with excitement that kept you wanting more. Music historians this is a MUST HAVE for your collection...Cary E. Mansfield (collection producer), Varese Sarabande Records/Varese Vintage share memories of the good times...when this new music hit the charts with a resounding BANG!
You might try other Varese Vintage titles ~ "25 All-Time Greatest Summer Songs" (302-066-148-2)..."The Best of the Boston Sound" (302-066-235-2)..."Roy Orbison-The Complete Sun Sessions" (302-066-233-2)...check out my reviews on amazon.com/music.
Total Time: 67:53 on 25 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-048-2 ~ (1999)
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