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That’ll Flat Git It! Vol. 45: Rockabilly & Rock'N'Roll From The Vaults Of Imperial Records

Review by Gary Hill

This collection from Bear Family gathers up a lot of rockabilly and rock and roll music. I guess you figured that out from the title, right? I would say that, while it’s not the best set from them, it has its charms. For me a lot of the music tends to be somewhat generic vintage stuff, but there are some tunes that really stand out. Since this is Bear Family, you know the packaging is great.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Tommy Lomonte – Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

Raw and hard rocking, this is a driving way to start things in style.

Ricky Nelson – Shirley Lee

There is a real driving rockabilly groove at play on this track.

Bob Luman –Wild Eyed Woman

Blues, country and rock and roll merge here. This one doesn’t work as well for me at the last couple tunes did.

Roy Brown – Saturday Night

Here we get another old-school rock and roller.

Gloria Jean Pitts– I Don't Stand No Quittin'

This energetic and passionate tune has a lot of R&B and blues at its core. The saxophone lends some definite magic.

Merle Kilgore– Everybody Needs A Little Lovin'

The fiddle brings some bluegrass to the piece. The number is a downhome tune with a lot of country built into it. Yet, it’s still has a rock and roll vibe at play.

Gene Henslee– Rockin' Baby

There is some jazz and country in the mix on this rocker. It’s way too repetitive for me my tastes, but I do like the section where the violin and guitar trade licks. The piano solo and bass work that accompanies is great, too.

The Burnette Brothers– My Honey

Here we get a pretty standard vintage rock and roller.

Slick Slavin– Speed Crazy

Race car oriented rock and roll is on the menu here. This is a classy tune.

Jackie Walker– Only Teenagers Allowed

I like this rock and roller a lot. It’s classy stuff.

Bob Luman– Blue Days, Black Nights

This cut has a lot of rockabilly at its core. I like the guitar work a lot, and the whole tune works reasonably well.

Merle Kilgore– Ernie

This rock and roller has a real honky-tonk vibe in a lot of ways.

Ricky Nelson – One Of These Mornings

I dig the energy and groove on this one quite a bit.

Laura Lee Perkins– Kiss Me Baby

This bluesy tune has a lot of charm and style. The guitar work is solid.

The Leen Teens– So Shy

A pretty standard rock and roller, this doesn’t really hold any kind of surprises.

Jay Blue– Get Off My Back

There is an echoey rock and roll vibe at play here. This manages to stand a little taller than some of the other music here.

Dennis Herrold– Don't Push Away

This bouncy tune has plenty of country and rock and roll in the mix. The guitar solo is classy.

Ronnie Smith – Long Time No Love

Now this classic sounding rock and roller is one of the standouts on the disc. It’s got a lot of charm and style. I’m not overly crazy about the backing vocals, though.

Ricky Nelson – Milk Cow Blues

This driving rock and roller is another highlight of the set. The guitar sound is so cool, and everything about this works to elevate it.

Roy Brown– Slow Down Little Eva

With some bluesy vocals and a real emphasis on rhythmic elements, this is unusual. It’s also a strong tune. The variety it brings to the set really pulls this track to the forefront here.

Sonny Anderson – Yes, I'm Gonna Love You

We’re back into more standard rockabilly territory here. While it’s not bad, I wouldn’t consider it a standout by any means.

Lew Williams– Don't Mention My Name

I really like this tune a lot. It has some cool guitar just grooving throughout. The piano is a nice touch, too. This is more of a shuffling jam that works quite well.

Nick Venet – Love In Be Bop Time

More standard rockabilly jamming is on the menu here. This has some charms, but I wouldn’t consider it one of the highlights.

The Sidewinders – Sidewinder

This instrumental track has some surf music vibes. It’s a strong tune that lands among the better stuff here.

Bob Luman– This Is The Night

I love the guitar work on this. The whole cut has a strong vintage rock and roll groove.

Freddy Fender –Mean Woman

There is a 12-bar blues at the heart of this number. It has some rock and roll elements at play, too. It’s another classy number.

Ronnie Diamond– Life Begins At 4 O'Clock

Here we get some powerhouse vintage rock and roll. This tune is on fire.

Bobby Jay – Sweet Little Stranger

This is a pretty typical rock and roller It’s also very strong. It’s just really well done.

Dennis Herrold– Make With The Lovin’ (unedited)

More of a rockabilly groove is in place. The instrumental parts of this lean toward surf music. It’s another classy tune.

Jackie Walker– Good Good Feeling

This vintage rock and roller is not bad, but it doesn’t really stand out.

Merle Kilgore– Start All Over Again

I love the blues and jazz groove that’s built into this. The vocals lean between rock and roll and crooner styles. This is just such a cool track.

Bob Luman– Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache

This rockabilly number works pretty well. It’s just doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from the rest here. I do like the bass groove and the understated guitar soloing.

Gene Henslee– Diggin' N' Datin'

There is a real hoedown vibe to this rockabilly number. I love the guitar sound here. The piano is great, too. All in all, this is energetic romp that works quite well.

Dub Dickerson–Sugar Lips

Bouncy and playful rockabilly is in the driver’s seat here. This cut isn’t bad, but it just doesn’t work that well for me.

Jack Tucker– Lonely Man

There is a lot of country at the heart of this energetic romp. It’s another that just doesn’t really do a lot for me personally. That said, I do like the guitar work a lot.

 
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