Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Sanctuary TV
- Cat.no: TDSAN019
- Released: August 2005
- Rating: 10/10
Two CD set and 50 tracks that’ll take you to Rock’n’Roll heaven.
This collection does exactly what it says on the tin – sweaty foreheads,hollering, scoffed brothel-creepers, thumping upright basses, twangingguitars, pounding pianos, and a whole lotta quiffs and riffs. Let’s notforget, at the time, the ’50s and ’60s, this music was totally earth -shattering stuff. Some commentators, particularly the American church dubbedit ‘ The Devil’s Music.’
Some might say quite a few little devils emergedfrom this era – not mentioning any names. Containing the usual suspects -Elvis, Bill Haley, Carl Perkins, Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry – you also getthe odd unsung heroes such as Johnny Preston (Cradle of Love), MarvinRainwater (Whole Lotta Woman), The Penguins (Earth Angel) and Mickey andSylvia (Love Is Strange).
My first indelible image of the genre was seeing the flick Rock Around TheClock on telly in the mid 60s, and I was blown away. Just watching BillHaley and His Comets banging out the signature tune was a life changingexperience. The excitement was too much for a youngster – but unforgettable.Track 2, That’s Alright is recognised as the first Rock’n’Roll record,covered by Elvis.
Elsewhere, there’s an excellent choice mid-paced ballads like Be Bop A Lulaby Gene Vincent, Roy Orbison’s Only The Lonely, proving that he was arguablythe best singer of the lot.
Then there’s the awesome vocal by Little Richard on Good Golly Miss Mollythe first ‘rock voice’, as tears up the piano with the rhythm sectionpounding in the background- a real classic.
Sadly, most of this lot have snuffed it, with the exception of Jerry LeeLewis who I saw two years ago in Manchester – thank goodness I went. MartyWilde is still touring with great success.
A rather strange inclusion is Gene Pitney’s UK debut single, I Wanna Love MyLife Way (sounding more like Neil Sedaka), which peaked at 26 in ’61.
Sadly the UK representation is pitiful – Lonnie Donnegan, Marty Wilde, BillyFury, and no Sir Cliff – shameful!
Like the opening song says – “Get outta that kitchen and rattle those potsand pans .”
Verdict – essential for all music lovers and mobile DJs everywhere.
This is where it all started.
The full list of tracks included are :
Disc 1:
1. Shake, Rattle & Roll – Bill Haley & The Comets
2. That’s Alright Mama – Elvis Presley
3. That’ll Be The Day – Buddy Holly & The Crickets
4. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
5. Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
6. Be Bop A Lula – Gene Vincent & Blue Caps
7. Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard
8. Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
9. Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson
10. Bye Bye Love – Everly Brothers
11. Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry
12. Tequila – The Champs
13. Runaway – Del Shannon
14. Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) – Roy Orbison
15. Poetry In Motion – Johnny Tillotson
16. Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
17. Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
18. Blue Moon – The Marcels
19. Good Timin’ – Jimmy Jones
20. Runnin’ Bear – Johnny Preston
21. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For – Emile Ford & Checkmates
22. Don’t You Rock Me Daddy-O – Lonnie Donegan
23. What In The World’s Come Over You – Jack Scott
24. Let’s Jump The Broomstick – Brenda Lee
25. Chantilly Lace – The Big Bopper
Disc 2:
1. Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly
2. At The Hop – Danny & The Juniors
3. Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & The Comets
4. Good Rockin’ Tonight – Elvis Presley
5. C’mon Everybody – Eddie Cochran
6. Only You – The Platters
7. Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry
8. Handy Man – Jimmy Jones
9. Seven Little Girls Sittin’ In The Back Seat – Paul Evans & The Curls
10. You’ll Never Know What You’re Missing – Emile Ford & Checkmates
11. Cumberland Gap – Lonnie Donegan
12. Maybe Tomorrow – Billy Fury
13. Picture Of You – Joe Brown
14. Endless Sleep – Marty Wilde
15. Johnny Remember Me – John Leyton
16. Telstar – The Tornados
17. Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
18. Cradle Of Love – Johnny Preston
19. Giddy Up A Ding-Dong – Freddie Bell & The Bell Boys
20. Little Darlin’ – The Diamonds
21. Stupid Cupid – Connie Francis
22. When – The Kalin Twins
23. Whole Lotta Woman – Marvin Rainwater
24. It’s Only Make Believe – Conway Twitty
25. Earth Angel – The Penguins
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.