Bill Haley and His Comets:

Greatest Hits:(1969)

Well, this is some killer early Rock'n'Roll, isn't it? I mean Danny Cedrone's solo on Rock Around The Clock is worth the price of admission. I've been a Bill Haley fan since I was a tiny kid. As a five year old I was knocked out by See You Later Alligator. 

Tennessee Ernie Ford:

Sixteen Tons:(1973)

Sixteen Tons originally came out for Tennessee Ernie in 1955. This Pickwick reissue came out in '73 as a compilation of singles. It's an interesting mix of 1950's pop in that it contains schmaltzy orchestration like First Born, and Latin flavored rhythms like The Watermelon Song. But, of course, the center piece is the dark tough sounding song Tennessee Ernie is known for, Sixteen Tons. I must admit I rarely make it passed Sixteen Tons, and I can't get enough of that one.

 

Fats Domino:

The Legendary Music Man Fats Domino: (1976)

Fats Domino is a king in the great Rock'n'Roll pantheon, and yet not as mentioned as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis or Jerry Lee Lewis. Even though he was out of the gate before them. Several reasons for this exist, but I'm going to keep to the music. Anytime a Domino tune is spun I'm guaranteed to start tapping a foot, and moving because his music is just intoxicating. This double compilation album released in the Seventies is a great document of the man's career.