Various Artist - Boppin' By The Bayou: Rock Me Mama! (2015)

Unbelievably, this is the eleventh CD in this now classic compilation Boppin’ By The Bayou series, which Ace launched back in 2012. Rock Me Mama! definitely maintains the incredibly high benchmark of the series, featuring an equally wondrous collection of late 50s/early 60s Southern rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll, suffused with hot New Orleans R&B and Cajun boogie. Once again superbly compiled and noted by Louisiana rock ‘n’ roll expert Ian Saddler, it captures the tremendous vigour and raw power of the swampy rockabilly created in South Louisiana.

Mostly taken from the vaults of Louisianan label bosses JD Miller, Eddie Shuler and Floyd Soileau, this could well be the best release in the series to date. Featured artists from other editions of Boppin’ By The Bayou return with further prime examples of hot gumbo rock.

Rock Me Mama! hits the ground running with the rollicking ‘Switch Blade Sam’ by Jeff Daniels, in which Charlie Brown, Stagger Lee, Switch Blade Sam and the narrator have a violent altercation over Long Tall Sally and other shady women in a sleazy bar.

Among the numerous highlights are a singer known as Danny singing the slow, bluesy ‘Bad Luck’ (Johnny Cash should have covered this), and the mysterious Johnny Jano’s jumping rockabilly ‘Havin’ A Whole Lotta Fun’. Richard Bros (their picture featured on the CD cover) deliver a quintessential slice of South Louisiana rockin’, Al Ferrier sings a fine cover of Hank Williams’ standard ‘You Win Again’, while it’s easy to see why Ian Saddler picked Ken Lindsay’s perfect rockabilly ‘Rock Me Mama’ is the title of the compilation.

Saddler’s CD illustrates just how much vintage rock ‘n’ roll, of remarkable quality, remains unissued. Long may Ace continue to unearth these recordings, producing further editions of explosive Boppin’ Bayou compilations. If you are looking for top draw, primeval, wild rock ‘n’ roll, then purchase Rock Me Mama! --Ian Johnston, Louder Than War