Bear Family Records has added the next instalment to their That’ll Flat Git It! series. Volume 51 focuses on Rockabilly and Rock ‘n’ Roll from the archives of the Challenge and subsidiary Jackpot. Gene Autry and Joe Johnson founded the label in 1957. Containing 36 tracks mostly recorded in the late 1950s, is this collection worth picking up?

The label is perhaps most famous for the huge hit “Tequila”, recorded by the Champs for Challenge in 1958. This compilation offers the opportunity to hear what other rockin’ material was being produced for the associated labels in this era.

My Thoughts

As a fan of the Rockabilly genre, some of these recordings are familiar, but I had no idea they came from a label founded by a famous Cowboy movie star! There are a few familiar names here, including a pre-Country Bobby Bare, alongside the more obscure offerings. As with other compilations of this type, the perfect opportunity to discover a gem!

Most of the recordings included were made in the late 50s, during the commercial emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly. Some familiar genre templates are used here, as expected when looking at this era. Fans of this series will know of the similarities. I always find it fascinating to hear different interpretations.

These compilations always provide an opportunity to hear rarely heard recordings, perfect for collectors. This contains the only single recorded by Phil Carter, entitled Amazon, an uptempo Rockabilly number lyrically of its time. There are several engaging instrumentals, or pretty much instrumentals, that pack a nice punch; I particularly enjoyed The Riptides’ Machine Gun. Ralph Mooney’s Moonshine also has a pleasing amount of solos from guitar, fiddle, and piano.

My personal highlights here include Dean Beard’s “Egad, Charlie Brown”, The Champs’ “Alley Cat”, The Kuf-Linx’s “So Tough” and Kip Tyler’s “She Got Eyes”. Some of the tracks by Huelyn Duvall, including “Friday Night on a Dollar Bill”, are also underappreciated gems.

The album ends with Jim and Rod’s (The Noble Bros) “Didn’t It Rock”, a memorable number placed at the end like a statement. This one may also be one of my favourites on the album, and I shall probably be singing it for some time!

Sound Quality

The quality of the recordings sounds good considering their age. Most of them sound like they derive from something near a master, while others sound like a 45. Whatever the situation, any imperfections in sound are part of their charm, nostalgia and character.

A Little Something Extra…

As with other entries in this series, the package comes with a 36-page booklet. There are liner notes by Bill Dahl, plus rare photographs and illustrations. The amount of work put into the booklet is always welcome, as it helps to add context to the mix of recordings. This one, in particular, had a bumper load of information on each artist where available.

Conclusion

This is another interesting collection of historical tracks that will please fans of the series. It provides a snapshot of the era that shows one label’s roster of artists adapting to emerging trends. One or two iconic tracks, a couple of faces who would become famous and a whole lot of material that has since mostly fallen into obscurity. Fans and collectors can rediscover some great material here, as is always the case with this series. That’ll Flat Git It! Volume 51 is available to order from Bear Family Records.

Track listing

The Champs – Everybody’s Rockin’
The Four Teens – Spark Plug
Bobby Bare – Vampira
Wynn Stewart – Come-On
Phil Carter – Amazon
Dean Beard – Egad, Charlie Brown
Jerry Wallace – With This Ring
George Weston – Well Don’t You Know
Huelyn Duvall – Pucker Paint
Johnny and Jonie – Kee Ro Ryin’
The Champs – Alley Cat
Bobby Milano – Life Begins at Four O’Clock
Al Downing with the Poe Kats – Down on the Farm
The Four Teens – Go Little Go Kat
Huelyn Duvall – Three Months to Kill
The Riptides – Machine Gun
The Kuf-Linx – So Tough
Dean Beard – Shiverin’ and Shakin’
Huelyn Duvall – Friday Night on a Dollar Bill
Kip Tyler – She Got Eyes
The Cherokees – Uprisin’
Kimball Coburn – Boo-Be-Ah-Bee
Lee Harris – When The One You Love Don’t Love You
George Weston – Hey Little Car Hop
The Kuf-Linx featuring John Jennings – Eyeballin’
Ralph Mooney – Moonshine
Wynn Stewart – Unce Tom Got Caught
Kimball Coburn – My Little Girl
Huelyn Duvall – Teen Queen
Kip Tyler and The Flips – Wail Man, Wail
Jerry Wallace – Good and Bad
Dave Burgess with The Champs – Maybelle
Prentice Moreland – Holy Mack’rel
Huelyn Duvall – Comin’ or Goin’
The Contenders – Tequila Song
Jim and Rod (The Noble Brothers) – Didn’t It Rock