Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records

Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records

Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records
Our Price: $18.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $3.77 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

Music CD Cover

Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-10-30
Music Label: Rhino / Wea
Soundtracks:
  1. That's All Right Mama - Paul McCartney
  2. Mystery Train - Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde
  3. My Bucket's Got a Hole in It - Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
  4. Blue Suede Shoes - Johnny Hallyday
  5. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Elton John
  6. Blue Moon of Kentucky - Tom Petty
  7. Sitting on Top of the World - Van Morrison & Carl Perkins
  8. Don't Be Cruel - Brian Ferry
  9. Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache - Bob Dylan
  10. Walkin' in the Rain - Eric Clapton
  11. Lonely Weekend - Matchbox 20
  12. Who Will the Next Fool Be? - Sheryl Crow
  13. It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You - Chris Isaak
  14. I Walk the Line - Live
  15. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - The Howling Diablos & Kid Rock
  16. You Win Again - Mandy Barnett with the Jordanaires

Free Music Notes for Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records

Free Music Review: Blame It On Sam, Okay?
Hit: 4 Stars

I have already commented elsewhere in this space about the Public Broadcasting Service's American Masters 2001 production of Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records elsewhere in this space. Here we have a CD produced in tandem with that effort. And not just any old CD but a CD that has material covered by artists who either are in, will be in or are on a short list to be included in, some musical Hall of Fame. Strangely, when I first heard this CD I was put off by it but it was because I thought, correctly, if stupidly that covers of the Sun classics could not possibly measure up to the originals, even if done by extremely competent musician. Well, on a second hearing I got over that little personal problem and while the originals still set the standards there are some very good, and in at least one case, better covers of the classics.

So who is good here? Well, start with a nice cover by Paul McCartney (you know him) and the Elvis classic That's All Right. Jeff Beck with a fair rendition of another Elvis classic Mystery Train. A nice upbeat cover of My Bucket's Got A Hole In It. An excellent Blue Suede Shoes by Johnny Halladay. A passable Whole Lot of Shaking Going On by Elton John. Okay covers of Blue Moon of Kentucky by Tom Petty and Sittin' On Top Of The World by Van Morrison and Carl Perkins. A right on cover of Don't Be Cruel by Brain Ferry. A surprisingly good cover of the little known Red Cadillac and Black Mustache by the endlessly surprising Bob Dylan. Classic throwback performance of Just Walking In The Rain by Eric Clapton and Lonely Weekend by Matchbox Twenty. A so-so performance of Jerry Lee's (who can do it better) Who Will The Next Fool Be by Sheryl Crow. A standup performance of Johnny Cash's Walk The Line by Live. Another classic throwback performance by Mandy Barnett on You Win Again. The biggest surprise and the one that clearly is done better than the original is Kid Rock's cover of the Jerry Lee covered Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee. I have taken the time to evaluate each song in this collection to both do penance and to give just a whiff of what this masterful album hold in store for you. These are serious artists paying their dues to artists who played Rock and Roll for keeps. Kudos.

Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records Poster

Most of the artists on this tribute to Sam Phillips's legendary Memphis label have chosen to cover the rockabilly hits. It isn't until a genuine Sun rockabilly artist--the late Carl Perkins--makes an appearance, joining Van Morrison for Howlin' Wolf's "Sittin' on Top of the World," that things briefly get bluesy. Instead, Paul McCartney, Jeff Beck, Chrissie Hynde, Tom Petty, and Bryan Ferry all offer up loving, note-for-note recreations of early Elvis tunes, even if it was Jerry Lee Lewis, not Elvis, who recorded a cover of "Don't Be Cruel" (Ferry's tune) for Sun.

But Elton John and Mandy Barnett both do The Killer (Lewis) proud here, as Sheryl Crow later does for Charlie Rich, and Led Zep's Page & Plant do for Sonny Burgess. Especially marvelous is Bob Dylan's subtle and, at times, hilarious take on Warren Smith's "Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache." It's a career highlight and every bit as enchanting as Robert Gordon's '70s cover version. Like the label itself, there are more hits than misses here. --Bill Holdship

Folk Music CDs

Music Genres
Top music charts in 25 Albums I Could Not Live Without
Lake Shore Drive at Twenty Five ImageLake Shore Drive at Twenty Five
Release date: 1997-06-24; Music CD
Best price: $8.88
Price in other shops: $10.99
Wind & Wuthering ImageGenesis - Wind & Wuthering
Release date: 1994-12-13; Music CD
Best price: $5.54
Price in other shops: $9.98
Blue ImageJoni Mitchell - Blue
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops: $11.98
Wings Over America ImagePaul McCartney - Wings Over America
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $44.49
Pack up the Plantation: Live! ImageTom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Pack up the Plantation: Live!
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $8.12
Price in other shops: $13.98
Heart Like a Wheel ImageLinda Ronstadt - Heart Like a Wheel
Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops: $11.98
Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records ImageGood Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records
Release date: 2001-10-30; Music CD
Best price: $9.88
Price in other shops: $18.98
Honkin' on Bobo ImageAerosmith - Honkin' on Bobo
Release date: 2004-03-30; Music CD
Best price: $3.24
Price in other shops: $11.98
U218 Singles ImageU2 - U218 Singles
Release date: 2006-11-21; Music CD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops: $13.98
Close to the Edge ImageYes - Close to the Edge
Release date: 2003-08-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops: $11.98
Top Rated Albums
Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack ImageThe Rolling Stones - Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack
Release date: 2008-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $19.98
I'm Not There ImageOriginal Soundtrack - I'm Not There
Release date: 2007-10-30; Music CD
Best price: $11.11
Price in other shops: $19.98
Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute ImageSongs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute
Release date: 1997-08-19; Music CD
Best price: $20.99
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood ImageDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Release date: 2002-05-28; Music CD
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops: $11.98
Lucky You ImageOriginal Soundtrack - Lucky You
Release date: 2007-04-24; Music CD
Best price: $3.39
Price in other shops: $13.98
Sun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection ImageSun Records: Ultimate Blues Collection
Release date: 2003-08-19; Music CD
Best price: $17.59
Price in other shops: $29.98
Sun Records 50th Anniversary Collection ImageSun Records 50th Anniversary Collection
Release date: 2002-08-06; Music CD
Best price: $15.89
Price in other shops: $21.98
Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute ImageTimeless: Hank Williams Tribute
Release date: 2001-09-25; Music CD
Best price: $1.87
Price in other shops: $18.98
Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash ImageKindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash
Release date: 2002-09-24; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $9.98
Good Rockin' Tonight -  The Legacy of Sun Records ImageGood Rockin' Tonight - The Legacy of Sun Records
Release date: 2002-10-08; Published: 2001; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops: $9.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles