Caroline Casey & The Stringslingers (USA)
This Broken Crown
ETCD3022
© El Toro Records 2008

Legendary music producer Kim Fowley highly recommends this album, calling Caroline Casey "The Honky-Tonk Queen of Austin!"

"This Broken Crown" delves deeply into country music of the late 1950s to the late 1960s, with an thirteen tracks combining into an irresistible blend of mostly original high-steppers, barstool tear-stirrers, and classic Texas two-steppers. Caroline Casey's music and lyrics embody the careworn, steel-spined resignation of Loretta Lynn or the "devil take me" attitude of early Johnny Paycheck or Don Gibson.

Some legendary Texas-based talents have also made their mark on the album, including acclaimed singer-songwriter Stephen Lee Canner, who contributed “Caffeine, Nicotine.”

Award-winning songwriter and ‘rockabilly legend’ Al Urban penned a previously unreleased waltz (“Used Wedding Rings”) back in 1965, which will also be heard for the first time on "This Broken Crown," much to the enjoyment of Al Urban fans everywhere. Al Urban has been writing songs since the mid 1940s, and wrote several hits for popular 60s country singer Charley Pride.

Also featured on "This Broken Crown" is country music sensation Brennen Leigh, who duets with Caroline on the title track and shows her stellar mandolin skills on "Daddy's Girl."

Caroline Casey & the Stringslingers recently conducted a live performance and interview on KUT's Folkways show with host Kevin Connors, and in Mid-April 2008, Caroline's music was featured by host Laurie Gallardo on NPR affiliate KUT 90.5's "Radio Without Borders!"

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

Roy Brown (USA)
Saturday Night!
(King & Imperial Recordings)
© El Toro Records 2008

The complete King & Imperial recordings on one disc!!!

When you draw up a short list of the R&B pioneers who exerted a primary influence on the development of rock & roll, respectfully place singer Roy Brown's name near its very top. His seminal 1947 DeLuxe Records waxing of "Good Rockin' Tonight" was immediately ridden to the peak of the R&B charts by shouter Wynonie Harris and subsequently covered by Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more early rock icons (even Pat Boone). In addition, Brown's melismatical pleading, gospel-steeped delivery impacted the vocal styles of B.B. King, Bobby Bland, and Little Richard (among a plethora of important singers). Clearly, Roy Brown was an innovator -- and from 1948-1951, an R&B star whose wild output directly presaged rock's rise.

Roy Brown didn't have to wait long to dominate the R&B lists himself. He scored 15 hits from mid-1948 to late 1951 for DeLuxe, ranging from the emotionally wracked crying blues of "Hard Luck Blues" (his biggest seller of all in 1950) to the party-time rockers "Rockin' at Midnight," "Boogie at Midnight," "Miss Fanny Brown," and "Cadillac Baby." Strangely, his sales slumped badly from 1952 on, even though his frantic "Hurry Hurry Baby," "Ain't No Rockin' No More," "Black Diamond," and "Gal From Kokomo" for Cincinnati's King Records rate among his hottest house rockers.

Brown was unable to cash in on the rock & roll idiom he helped to invent, though he briefly rejuvenated his commercial fortunes at Imperial Records in 1957. Working with New Orleans producer Dave Bartholomew, then riding high with Fats Domino, Brown returned to the charts with the original version of "Let the Four Winds Blow" (later a hit for Domino) and cut the sizzling sax-powered rockers "Diddy-Y-Diddy-O," "Saturday Night," and "Ain't Gonna Do It." Not everything was an artistic triumph; Brown's utterly lifeless cover of Buddy Knox's "Party Doll" -- amazingly, a chart entry for Brown -- may well be the worst thing he ever committed to wax (rivaled only by a puerile "School Bell Rock" cut during a momentary return to King in 1959).

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. Hurry Hurry Baby
2. Old Age Boogie (Parts 1 &2)
3. Laughing But Crying
4. Grandpa Stole My Baby
5. Money Can't Buy Love
6. Letter From Home
7. Midnight Lover Man
8. Mr Hound Dog's In Town
9. Caldonia's Wedding Day
10. Trouble At Midnight
11. Crazy, Crazy Women
12. Everything's All Right
13. Bootleggin Baby
14. No Love At All
15. Up Jumped The Devil
16. Don't Let It Rain
17. Ain't No Rockin No More
18. Queen Of Diamonds
19. Gal From Kokomo
20. Worried Life Blues
21. Fanny Brown Got Married
22. Black Diamond
23. Shake 'Em Up Baby
24. Saturday Night
25. Everybody
26. The Tick Of The Clock
27. I'm Stickin With You
28. Party Doll (#13, 1957)
29. Let The Four Winds Blow (#5, 1957)

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Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins (USA)
That's Life!
© Ropin' Records 2008

Johnny Carlevale & The Rollin' Pins are a raw rockabilly racket with an edge that pays homage to Carlevale's New England roots!

Johnny Carlevale - lead vocals/acoustic rhythm guitar
Ace Brown - electric lead guitar
Derek Moniz - double bass
Jeremy "Snake" Kroger - percussion

Most of the band's over all influence comes from the wild sounds of the New England rockabilly greats from the 1950's such as Gene Maltais, Ricky Coyne, Joe Therrian Jr., Curtis Johnson, and many many more!

Mixed with Carlevale's originals you will hear covers from some of the artists that played in the New England area in the late 1950's and early 1960's!

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1. Cry Baby
2. Love Sick Spell
3. Baby Names
4. Evening Time
5. Love Me
6. I Think I'm Goin' Crazy
7. Black & Blue Baby
8. Just One Kiss
9. The Tunnel Of Love
10. Tease Me
11. That's Life
12. Rollin' Pin Mim
13. She Gives Me Love
14. You Better Stop
15. Madi Jane

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Pat Cupp & The Flying Saucers (USA)
Long Gone Daddy
The Complete 50's Recordings
ETCD1019
©El Toro Records 2008

Here, then, are those vital sounds - the complete 1950s recordings of Pat Cupp, singles, alternative takes and demo recordings; including perennial boppin' club classics and rockabilly dancefloor fillers such as "That Girl Of Mine", "Do Me No Wrong", "I Guess It's Meant That Way" and, of course, the phenomenal "Long Gone Daddy". Get ready to /rock away your misery and roll away your blues/ with that /long gone daddy/...Pat Cupp.

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Pat Cupp (USA)
Pat Cupp
HS05001
© Wild Hare Records 2005

Pat Cupp is Back!!!!

In the fall of 2004, Pat Cupp contacted a small, but well known rockabilly label, Wild Hare Records. Pat was looking to record some songs that he had written over the past 40 plus years. You see Pat, is a prolific song writer as well as monumental rockabilly star. His epic recording "Long Gone Daddy" is one of the best of the genre and Pat's expressive, unique voice makes one set up and take notice.

Pat has not recorded much since 1957, but he has not lost anything in the way that he presents a song. So Pat traveled to Berkeley Springs, WV from his home of Texarkana, Arkansas and recorded 10 great rock n roll classics. The CD is remarkable for many reasons. The first thing that strikes you is Pat's song writing and his varied approach to songs. He is not a one trick pony. On the CD, you will find great rockers right out of the Pat Cupp song book circa 1957; then there are a few hillbilly classics with twangy guitar and great feel; then two bigger than life 1950 ballads full of room reverb and tremolo guitar; then he does some cha cha and even rockin' jump blues as well. All of the songs were recorded in one track takes, Pat is dead on the numbers and the band is all about vintage sound and feel. By the way no electric bass or digital sound here....... Pat likes it raw and real.....all analog with slap bass and acoustic rhythm guitar too!

Pat is a very busy man these days. He is appearing at the Rockin' 50's fest In Greenbay in April, then to Shreveport for the Rockabilly Revue Weekender in September and finally to the fall Hemsby in the UK. Pat is our pick for the historic act to watch. He is full of rockabilly fire and is just a great guy to watch and to talk with.

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The Bar-M Boys (USA)
The Bar-M Boys
HS04002
© Wild Hare Records 2004

Paul Moore - Fiddle
Johnny Moore - Guitar
Ira Arnstburger - Steel Guitar
Audie Reed - Mandolin

Previously unreleased real Appalacian string band music from 1939. Transfered from original 78 rpm records. Recorded in Appalacian Maryland and includes hot renditions of traditional hillbilly dance hall songs. Hot fiddle, guitar, mandolin, resonator guitar and banjo. Ther BAR M Boys Cd is the real deal and not a modern make over. Hear what a real depression era hot string band sounded like!

The Music Man
To many, Rev.Paul Moore was determined gospel preacher. To others a family man, yet to others a MR Fixit/handyman. He was always full of wisdom, mechanical skill and music.

The Fiddler
Paul grew up in much simpler, but harder time called the Great Depression. His musical roots lie in the music heard across the old parlor radio. His early influences included The Carter Family and Asher and Jimmie Sizemore. Paul's parents paid $1 a week to provide a violin and lessons. Paul quickly grew into a lightning fast fiddle player and many area folks beleived him to be the best to ever play mountain fiddle. In 1939, Paul and his group "The BAR M Boys" recorded 3 78rpm records which we proudly have released on CD. In fact Paul, before his passing was quietly coming to grips with his musical legacy. Not only of these fine recordings, but what he has passed onto his son David (Co-Owner of Wild Hare). David's biggest musical influence was his father. Although, they rarely seen music in the same favorable light, David's roots guitar picking is due to his dad's influenece. In latter days, Paul loved to listen to old radio shows and his primitive gospel and hillbilly music. His last days were filled with music, his first true love. Thank fully his music and legacy will live on in his recordings. Goodbye Dad, we will all miss you!

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