Red Hot Rockin’

Ronnie Hawkins may well have been the last great rock and roller to surface during the 1950s. His comparative lack of chart success certainly wasn’t his fault—he was just a victim of bad timing as squeaky-clean teen idols replaced the first generation rockers that popularized the music a few short years before he emerged. By the time Roulette Records boss Morris Levy signed Rompin’ Ronnie in the spring of 1959, there was only time for him to post two sizable hits with his versions of Chuck Berry’s Forty Days and Young Jessie’s Mary Lou. They’re both aboard this collection, along with ten more scorchers by the Arkansas wildman. Slashing guitar solos aplenty by Jimmy Ray Paulman and Fred Carter, Jr. are part of the fun; towheaded stick twirler Levon Helm stokes a ferocious beat on every track, including The Hawk’s remakes of Red Hot and Honey! Don’t. Levy thought he’d found the next Elvis when he discovered Ronnie Hawkins, and he just might have been right if he’d turned up a few years earlier! The bonus CD, compiled exclusively for this release, features cover versions and originals. Music expert Bill Dahl has written the in-depth liner notes, and Canadian collector, archivist, music historian and decades-long radio deejay Dave Booth has thankfully provided us with a load of wonderful photos.