Smith & Co

A new genre in the “Just about as good as it gets!” series, this 2CD highlights the many great Rock ‘n’ Roll instrumentals which emerged from the U.S. along with the vocal hits. The Instrumental has always been popular and thrived especially with the advent of the cylinder player and the Victrola. With the coming of jazz on record, that popularity soared, as, for the 1st time, black people had dance music that they could relate too. The coming of swing in the 1930's took instrumental music to another level again. Not only were white and black teenagers buying records, as well as going out dancing, the bands were being received with fanatic adulation at their stage shows. This huge enthusiasm was contagious and soon spread worldwide, especially to Britain, where local dance and jazz bands soon picked up on what the Americans were doing. After World War II, many of the big swing bands had to cut down their personnel, as costs were too high, but those smaller combos churned out a stream of instrumental records, really hitting the heights with the coming of rock 'n' roll. Aside from the jazzmen, the early days of rhythm & blues played a large part in popularising instrumental music, as will be seen wandering through this fascinating collection.

1. Chuck Berry-In-Go
2. Duane Eddy & The Rebels-Movin 'n' Groovin'
3. B. B. Cunningham-Electrode
4. Floyd Cramer-Flip Flop & Bop
5. Owen Bradley-Big Guitar
6. Ritchie Valens-Fast Freight
7. The Champs-Midnighter
8. Scotty Moore Trio-Have Guitar-Will Travel
9. Ace Cannon-.38 Special
10. Sonny Burgess-Itchy
11. Lynn Vernon-Moon Rocket
12. Chuck Berry-Blue Feeling
13. Chet Atkins-Dance With Me Henry
14. Arthur Smith & his Crackerjacks-Guitar Boogie
15. Merle Travis-I'll See You in My Dreams
16. Duane Eddy & The Rebels-Rebel Rouser
17. Les Paul & Mary Ford-How High The Moon
18. B.B. Cunningham-Scratchin'
19. Merrill Moore-Nola Boogie
20. Country Cats-Hot Strings
21. Buddy Knox & The Rhythm Orchids-Rockabilly Walk
22. Chuck Berry-Deep Feeling
23. The Champs-Gone Train
24. Ace Cannon-Big Shot
25. Duane Eddy & The Rebels-Cannonball
26. Chet Atkins-Tweedle Dee
27. Al Casey-Ramrod
28. Ritchie Valens-Big Baby Blues
29. Merle Travis-Cannonball Rag
30. Sonny Burgess-Thunderbird
31. The Champs-Train To Nowhere
32. Bill Haley & The Comets-Blue Comet Blues
33. Link Wray-Rumble

Listen to Track 1 - 5

1. The Champs-Tequila
2. Bill Justis-Raunchy
3. Sil Austin-Slow Walk
4. Lawson Haggart Rockin' Band-Dumplings
5. Fats Domino-Fats Frenzy
6. Bill Haley & The Comets-Rudy's Rock
7. Noble (Thin Man) Watts-Hard Times (The Slop)
8. Willie Mitchell-Bongo Beat
9. Lee Allen-Walkin' With Mr. Lee
10. Red Holloway-Foolin' Around Slowly
11. T.J. Fowler-Back Biter
12. Red Prysock Band-Rock 'n' Roll
13. Fats Domino-Second Line Jump
14. Jimmy Cavallo & his House Rockers-Footstompin'
15. Kid King's Combo-Skip's Boogie
16. The Blazers-Walk On
17. Bill Justis-College Man
18. Pete Johnson & Albert Ammons-Walkin' The Boogie
19. Lawson Haggart Rockin' Band-The Stroll
20. Dave Appell & The Applejacks-Dinner With Drac
21. Willie Mitchell -The Crawl
22. Rusty Bryant-The Honeydripper
23. Fats Domino-Swannee River Hop
24. Alan Freed & His Rock 'n' Roll Band-The Grey Bear
25. Bill Haley & His Comets-Goofin' Around
26. The Nino Tempo Band-Heartburn Motel
27. Lawson Haggart Rockin' Band-Yancey Special
28. Bill Doggett-Honky Tonk
29. Fats Domino-The Fat Man's Hop
30. Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra-Jay-Dee's Boogie Woogie

Listen to Track 1 - 5