Zoom Records Anthology "Rockin' Tucson in the '50's"

Various Artists - Rock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: January 2, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zoom Records
• ASIN: B000234SCG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #546,059 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Scandal – King Rock and The Knights

2. Send-Di – King Rock and The Knights

3. Lonesome Road Rock – Pete Ronstadt & The Nightbeats

4. Nightbeat – Pete Ronstadt & The Nightbeats

5. Doreen – Pete Ronstadt & The Nightbeats

6. Cryin’ All Night – Pete Ronstadt & The Nightbeats

7. Sea of Love – Pete Ronstadt & The Nightbeats

8. I Think of You – Jack Wallace & The Hi-Tones

9. You Are The One – Jack Wallace & The Hi–Tones

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

King Rock and The Knights: The wildest, groovinest, hard pounding-rockinest sound anywhere. Roger Hohlenkamp is King Rock with Knights Bob Dickey, Carson Noel, and Tom Hawk.

The two cuts featured here were re-released on a 45 in 1965 and Send-di became a hit in Pittsburgh as the theme song of WZUM's legendary jock "Mad Mike" Metrovich. It is also featured on the Itzy label LP and CD "Pittsburgh's Greatest Hits." Scandal and Send-di were both cuts on on the German label Buffalo Bop's Strictly Instrumental Series.

Pete Ronstadt and The Nightbeats: Fast or slow, these vocals with Pete were the world’s best. (You may have heard of Pete's little sister, Linda Ronstadt) Besides Pete on the vocals and guitar,there was Nate Foster-guitar, Bert Roberts-Drums, Lance Hoopes-Sax, and Don Grossberndt-Piano.

Lonesome Road Rock was the biggest hit of all the Zoom sounds in Tucson. These singles have shown up quite often on foreign early rock compilation albums including the recent Collector's Records "Rockabilly Hoodlums" (Hot Greaseball Action) CD series. Actually, the words "hoodlums" and "greaseball" are really misnomers; the group was about as clean-cut as you could get...just look at the cover photo.

Jack Wallace and the Hi-Tones: He could have been Elvis, but he was just a couple of years too late. Jack’s deep vocals along with the doo-wop harmony of LeRoy Meadows and Dave First of the Hi-Tones are a real treat.

This was the first Zoom Record and had the blue and silver label. All future releases would be the distinctive red and silver color. The week You Are The One was released it was played on the air very hour as a KTKT Exclusive (Tucson's top station).

Product Description

Zoom Records was Southern Arizona’s first rock and roll record label. It was the creation of two 17 year old Tucson, Arizona, Catalina High School students, Burt Schneider and Ray Lindstrom. All the records were produced during a short 7 month period in 1959, but they capture the independent rock sound of the era.

They were all recorded in Phoenix at Audio Recorders of Arizona, where Duane Eddy made all his big hits. Legendary engineer, and Grammy award winner, Jack Miller was at the controls. He was famous later for sessions with many top stars including the Rolling Stones.

None of the records were giant chart busters, but they got heavy play and made the hit sheets in Tucson as well as a few other places in the US and Europe. They continue to be included on many US and overseas compilation releases featuring 50's American rock and roll and rockabilly.

No early rock collection is complete without the "Southern Arizona Sound."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this stuff!!, June 22, 2004

By 

Todd W. Hohlenkamp (Clifton Park, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zoom Records Anthology "Rockin' Tucson in the '50's" (Audio CD)

This is a great album! Some of the best music to ever come out of Southern Arizona. I only have one gripe... No disrespect to Carson Noel, but the lead for King Rock and the Knights was Roger Hohlenkamp. Yup, he's my Dad :-)