Interestate Rockabilly

Is rockabilly perhaps the first white form of rock 'n' roll? It clearly embraces the country component, along with the influence of rhythm & blues, resulting in an explosive mix that never fails to captivate.
It's widely known that officially Elvis Presley fired the first shot, recording That's All Right, and Carl Perkins, with Gone, Gone, Gone, alongside Sonny Fisher, with Rockin' Daddy, became the genre's first composers. So its birth could be dated back to 1954, and it was in 1956 when it truly hit the big time on the charts, only to be forgotten in 1957, in favor of a much less savage way to rock.
But rockabilly, with its natural rawness, remained there, in the underground, achieving some minor regional success and leaving thousands of wonderful examples of its existence that would later become prized collector's items.
Interestingly, in 1956, Eisenhower's interstate highway plan was also born, a turning point in interstate road communications across the USA, which was a genuine revolution for mass population.
Two big changes in the same year that we've taken advantage of, to pick up from the roadside of those rock 'n' roll highways a few examples of great 45s, recorded by small record labels that seemed relegated to oblivion. One shot per state, eight record labels, eight different artists, condensing two raw diamonds into the coolest way ever - 8 x 7" 45 rpm wax records box set plus 4 pages 7” booklet!
Ready for that Interstate Rockabilly journey?


Record 1: Norfolk - Virginia

Side A: Willie Phelps - Yes Siree, yes siree (Ferwood Records)

Side B: Trail Blazers - Grandpa's Rock (Watson Records)

Record 2: Memphis - Tennessee

Side A: Jimmy Pritchett - That's the way I fell (Crystal Records)

Side B: Don Hosea - Everlasting love (Crystal Records)

Record 3: Wayne - Michigan

Side A: Harold L. & The Offbeats - Three years (Happy Hearts Records)

Side B: Al Burnette & His Souther Swingsters - Humpty Dumpty (Happy Hearts Records)

Record 4: Trumann - Arkansas

Side A: Teddy Redell - Gold dust (Vaden Records)

Side B: Bobby Brown - Please, please baby (Vaden Records)

Record 5: Crowley - Louisiana

Side A: Al Ferrier - Kiss Me Baby (Rocko Records)

Side B: Tommy Strange - Nervous and shankin' all over (Rocko Records)

Record 6: Hammond - Indiana

Side A: The Gaye Sister - Oh Ricky (Glenn Records)

Side B: Ray Lynn - Mean mean woman (Glenn Records)

Record 7: Taylor - Texas

Side A: "Wild" Billy Taylor & The Clefs - Little Jewell (Fame Records)

Side B: Dickie "Bird" Newland With The Jimmy Heap Orch - Pearly Mea (Fame Records)

Record 8: Mobile - Alabama

Side A: Louis Dee & Deltones - I Could love you baby (Flag Records)

Side B: Polk Brothers - Going to the hop (Flag Records)