Indefatigable collectors of rockabilly and early rock & roll who have amassed all of Buffalo Bop's compilations can turn to the Netherlands' Collector Records for a similar product line that is even spottier in terms of sound quality and content.
Real Rockin' (or
Reallll Rrrrockin', as the title appears on the cover), is billed as a collection of "original early rockers," but is actually quite varied in its presentation of independent and private label singles from the late '50s and '60s. The program veers between the instrumental rock & roll of the Pastels and the Legends, the piano boogie of Earl Craig & the Downbeats, the rockabilly of Bill Swing, and the
Bill Haley-style rock of Rand Parker & the Strolers. Phil Gray is an
Elvis Presley sound-alike whose three cuts also appear on Buffalo Bop's compilation I Dreamed I Was Elvis, and Judy Layne turns in a rock version of
Irving Berlin's "Always." Uncle Alvis' 1968 single (an outlier, chronologically speaking) is straight country. The recordings are mastered from vinyl with uneven results, and the booklet provides no information beyond a few photos and label shots. Even the track list is full of typos and misinformation. Many of these songs have appeared on various Buffalo Bop compilations, but
Real Rockin' differs in its presentation in that it provides both the A- and B-sides of many singles and multiple songs by single artists, which is not usually the case with Buffalo Bop titles. Most of these original singles are difficult, if not impossible, to find, so
Real Rockin' provides a service for oldies rock & roll collectors even if the quality isn't always the greatest. ~ Greg Adams