The name Niki Sullivan might not be familiar to everyone, but he has an important place in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. As a founder member of The Crickets, which featured Buddy Holly, he played on a majority of the band’s material as a guitarist. After leaving the band in 1958, Sullivan would go on to record a solo single for Dot Records. “It’s All Over” was released in 1958, with the B-Side of “Three Steps to Heaven” (both Sullivan originals).

Other material was recorded in 1959, but was ultimately not released. Slithers have surfaced over the years, but most recordings from those sessions have remained behind closed doors. Germany’s Bear Family Records have changed all that, giving much of the material its first outing on physical media.

The set is presented as a 10″ vinyl disc and contains the two songs released on Dot Records, the tracks recorded in 1959 and two recordings from 1965. It’s a perfect idea for the rare material to premiere on vinyl. If history hadn’t intervened, fans would’ve enjoyed Sullivan’s unreleased material on the medium for years. Better late than never!

My Thoughts

My first thought upon placing the stylus onto the grooves of this release was how many of the songs resembled the style of The Crickets. This isn’t surprising, as Niki played a part in shaping their sound, so it makes sense that some of it spilt into his solo material. The voice, while different to Buddy’s, does share some characteristics; He’s applying a similar lilt to his phrasing. The guitar, naturally, has a distinctive tone.

An example of these similarities lies in the hidden classic “I Told Everybody”, a pleasant Crickets-style throwback complete with heavy slapback vocal and unique celeste hits that keep things engaging. The same could be said for “Waitin'”, a dreamy ballad soaked in late ’50s sentimentality with echoes of “Everyday”. “It Really Doesn’t Matter Now”, in its original incarnation, feels like a lost Crickets track. It has the guitar-driven feel and that bit of gravitas during the middle section.

There are some genuinely fine pieces of Rock and Roll. The “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” style intro of Treat ’em Gently and the classic R’n’R style of “Say Hey Little Lover”. The backing vocals on some tra.cks, Doo-Op style, are also pretty pleasing. There are two Instrumentals on this release. The first is “Take ‘9’”, fairly standard Surf style fare with an incessant beat. The second is the Celeste and piano-led “Creepin’ In”, a brief but rockin’ side.

The album ends with two tracks by Soul Inc., the band Niki played with in the 1960s. It’s a different style that won’t be to everyone’s taste, as it’s clear they were aiming for a Garage Rock band sound akin to The Rolling Stones. It’s nice to hear “It Doesn’t Really Matter Now” interpreted differently, but I personally believe it lacks the sensitivity of the Crickets’ style performance. The title track, You Better Get a Move On, is a scream full of energy! These recordings clash stylistically with the rest, but its nice that they’re included.

Sound Quality

Given the age of the material, this album has excellent sound quality. Any discrepancy in the sound can be attributed to the production techniques and fads of the time, and it also depends on the listener. Personally, I find the chaotically boomy sound of “It’s All Over”, with its wailing sax, backing vocals and heavy reverb appealing. On others, such as “I Told Everybody”, the heavy slapback does do something to the clarity of Niki’s voice, but it also provides an energy that suits the style.

The main draw of this release is those 1959 session tracks, remastered from the analogue master tapes provided by Music Historian John Dixon. They sound surprisingly fresh for unreleased material from the late 1950s. The only track that I felt was lacking in quality was “Say Hey Little Lover”, where either the recording conditions weren’t great or there had been tape degradation in the intervening years. Whatever it was, its still rocking.

A Little Something Extra…

The 10″ vinyl comes in a nicely printed sleeve, with clear images and track listing. The included booklet, written by Roland Heinrich, is well researched, with the full story on Niki Sullivan’s career until his passing in 2004. It provides clarity on what he did after the recording session, including his stint as a member of Soul Inc. Also included are rare photographs and artwork.

There is only one thing that I would change about this release: It would have been nice to have had a CD included as an extra with bonus tracks. The track listing is pretty extensive, but it misses some middle recordings that Sullivan made as a member of other acts. This label has included similar CDs on previous releases, so I’m surprised there isn’t one here.

Conclusion

It’s incredible to be able to listen to “new” material from a founder of The Crickets. The 1959 recordings are a pleasant trip that reveals a forgotten crevice, adding even more appreciation to Niki Sullivan’s name. Not all of the compositions are instant classics, but they highlight a potential that wasn’t utilised effectively.

This is going to be one of those records that I’ll get off the shelf from time to time, and have a little Rockin’ session! Bear Family Records has assembled a package that does the material justice. Beautifully remastered with the best available elements, along with a booklet providing much context. The order of material is perfectly positioned, with the released material opening and closing the album with the rarities in between. Each track sounds like a forgotten classic. Highly recommended. You Better Get a Move On is available to order from Bear Family Records. It is limited to 500 copies.