Customer Reviews

From the Vaults: The Complete Sun Singles, Vol. 2

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"The Complete Sun Singles Volume 2" is the second of six CD sets which collect all the single masters ("A" and "B" sides) released under Sam C. Phillips' Sun and Phillips International record labels. Sun fans should hear every volume in the collection; there's no better way to follow the rise and fall of Phillips' recordings. But for anyone familiar with the handful of Sun/Phillips International hits like "Blue Suede Shoes," "I Walk The Line," "Great Balls of Fire," and "Raunchy," and an interest in hearing more, only a few of the volumes are essential listening.

Volume 2 is the most essential set in the collection. It covers Sun's Golden Years (1955-1957), when Sun was the label that set the musical trends of the future. These trends are heard in the featured hits of Carl Perkins ("Blue Suede Shoes," "Matchbox"), Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues," "I Walk The Line") and Roy Orbison ("Ooby Dooby"), as well as in the strongest Rockabilly of Billy Riley, Sonn! y Burgess and Warren Smith.

The nature of "The Complete Sun Singles Collection" says it all: if it was released under the Sun or Phillips International label, it will be on one of the collection's six volumes. With that sort of criteria, the listener can expect to hear some songs which would otherwise have no place on any collection, as well as others which ought to appear more frequently (Ernie Chafin's "So Lonesome" is one of the greatest gems on the set!) Volume 2 has the distinction of being the one volume that lacks a forgettable song. The material in this set was recorded during Sun's most innovative and hit-laden period, so it's no surprise that its track listing reads like a Greatest Hits collection. This is the stuff that defined Rock and Roll, and neither the Sun enthusiast nor the listener with a casual interest in Sun recordings should be without "The Complete Sun Singles Volume 2."

This is a truly wonderful example of great rock'n'roll/rockabilly. Volume 2 of "The Complete Sun Singles" unearths many rare gems that really should have more exposure than some of the more typical examples of early rock'n'roll. It covers the very fertile and most successful period between 1955-57. The likes of Rosco Gordon, Sonny Burgess, Malcolm Yelvington, Billy Riley and Warren Smith really hold their own in the company of better known legends such as Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis & Roy Orbison among others. It becomes obvious as the set moves along that the purely country and blues tracks are being phased out in favor of the rockabilly/rock'n'roll leanings that become more dominant. This Volume of the series really kicks butt and the sound quality is superb with that hint of rawness that sets a Sun Records release apart from other labels. The obvious highlights here include "Matchbox", "Blue Suede Shoes" (Perkins), "Get Rhythm", "I Walk The Line" (Cash), "Ooby Dooby" and Rockhouse (Orbison) "Whole Lotta Shakin..." & "It'll Be Me" (Jerry Lee) however special mention should go to Warren Smith's rockin' "Miss Froggie" and "Ubangi Stomp" as well as Billy Riley's "Flying Saucers Rock 'N' Roll" & "Red Hot". Another forgotten gem is Jerry Lee Lewis' "End Of The Road", originally the b-side to "Crazy Arms" and a pointer to the incendiary firebrands of "Whole Lotta Shakin'" and "Great Balls Of Fire" etc..

As with the other volumes, a wonderful, informative 72 page booklet is included featuring label depictions of all singles included... both the 'A' & 'B' sides!! This is a typically high standard release from Bear Family and a wonderful complement to the other volumes. It's apparent that Volume 2 is probably the most essential of all the 6 volumes in the series but I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to buy just this volume and not the others. One other nice touch is a picture of Sam Phillips which forms on the spines of the 6 volumes when they are filed together on your shelf (much like the covers of "Beatles Anthology" CD/LP/DVD series).

As a purely historical document, "The Complete Sun Singles Volume 2" is a must for any serious music collector interested in the birth of rock music. If you're like me and just love CD boxed sets then you really should have it.