Thursday, October 22, 2015

Carl Perkins - Memphis

Carl Perkins' work is sorely lacking in my collection for some odd reason, although somewhere along
the line I picked up this budget CD. While it is a good, rockin' record, it does not consist of original, or even early recording from the man. The CD "booklet" says almost nothing, so I don't know the story of this collection, but it sounds as if it were done in the 80's or 90's. Well done, yes, and no obnoxious 80's drum sounds or annoying keyboards, and Carl's guitar is generally front and center, but it doesn't have the magic of the early days.

Included are fun versions of hits by Carl and his early contemporaries, such as "Blue Suede Shoes" (of course), "Matchbook", "Honey Don't", "Whole Lotta Shakin'", "Maybellene", "Birddog", "Be-bop-a-Lula" and lots more. As I say, it's all a good time and well done for udpates, but just not the same as the early days. If he were doing a modern record, it would be nice to hear newer originals. As it is, it's a good nostalgia record, without having the power of the originals. Not bad, but not anything that is necessary.