The Sun Records Collection, Vol. 2

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 25, 2005
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Country

Review

Sam Phillips launched his Sun Records label in Memphis in 1952 (he added a subsidiary, Phillips International, in 1957), and as the world knows, he discovered Elvis Presley and broke rock & roll on an unsuspecting public in 1954, making the so-called Sun Records sound a Rosetta Stone for the ensuing rock revolution. But like with all stories, there is more to the Sun saga than Presley and the other stars that Phillips discovered (which included Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, and Jerry Lee Lewis). Initially Phillips recorded mostly black bluesmen from the Memphis area, moving on to an eccentric cast of country players, as well, and while the pressurized test tube that was Memphis (and Sun Studios in particular) in the early '50s eventually produced rock & roll, it also issued forth all manner of other strains of country and blues DNA in recordings that are utterly fascinating. This two-CD set features a disc each of Phillips' country and blues experiments, and these ragged bits of vinyl are something special indeed. Among the gems on the country disc are Malcom Yelvington's (now there's a stage name) "It's Me Baby," Mack Vickery's reverb-laced "Fool Proof," Mack Self's echoing waltz "Easy to Love," Howard Serratt's Woody Guthrie-like "Troublesome Waters," and Warren Smith's lovely tumbleweed ballad "I Fell in Love." The blues disc offers Rufus Thomas' bizarre "Tiger Man (King of the Jungle)," a sequel of sorts to Thomas' "Bear Cat," which was in turn an answer song to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," Junior Parker's "Mystery Train" Xerox, "Love My Baby," Jeb Stuart's jaunty, horn-augmented "I Bet You're Gonna Like It," and Harmonica Frank Floyd's primitive, ragged, and utterly mesmerizing "Howlin Tom Cat." It's quite a stew, and most of it still sounds vital, fascinating, and a little bit strange even in the early stages of the 21st century. A stripped-down set, Sun Records Collection, Vol. 2 comes with virtually no liner notes, but the music is the proof of the matter, and it more than makes this a decent look behind the curtains at the genius and mayhem that was Sun Studios. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
New Mexico (Lyrics)		Johnny Cash	(2:04)
It's Me Baby		Malcolm Yelvington	(2:24)
Who Will the Next Fool Be		Charlie Rich	(2:22)
Don't Believe		Slim Rhodes	(2:17)
Fool Proof		Mack Vickery	(2:35)
Turn Around (Lyrics)		Carl Perkins	(2:59)
Jump Right out of This Jukebox		Onie Wheeler	(2:21)
Easy to Love		Mack Self	(2:43)
Crazy Arms (Lyrics)	Ralph Mooney, Chuck Seals	Jerry Lee Lewis	(2:37)
Gonna Dance All Night		Hardrock Gunter	(2:22)
Troublesome Waters		Howard Serratt	(3:01)
Defrost Your Heart	Quinton Claunch, Tjay Contrelli	Charlie Feathers	(2:32)
Don't Make Me Go (Lyrics)		Johnny Cash	(2:27)
Now She Care No More for Me		Doug Poindexter	(3:00)
I Fell in Love		Warren Smith	(2:40)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Highway Man		Howlin' Wolf	(2:25)
The Woodchuck		Billy "The Kid" Emerson	(3:06)
Boogie Blues		Earl Peterson	(2:31)
Tiger Man (King of the Jungle)		Rufus Thomas	(2:47)
Easy		Jimmy & Walter	(2:58)
Cotton Crop Blues		James Cotton	(3:01)
Love My Baby		Junior Parker	(2:34)
I Bet You're Gonna Like It		Jeb Stuart	(2:35)
Dark Muddy Bottom		Billy Lee Riley	(2:25)
Hello Hello Baby	Traditional	Jerry Lee Lewis	(3:23)
Charlie's Boogie		Charlie Rich	(1:09)
Seems Like a Million Years		Willie Nix	(2:43)
Howlin Tom Cat			(2:44)
Boogie in the Park		Joe Hill Louis	(2:45)
Cool Down Mama		Long John Hunter	(2:12)

Credits

Jerry Lee Lewis (Arranger)