50 scene-setting singles that surfaced in the UK in the lead-up to the Rock & Roll revolution
Inspired by the “prequel” editions of Stuart Colman’s “I Shall Be Released” feature, which appeared in leading rock & roll magazine Now Dig This back in January and February 2013, Fantastic Voyage has commissioned a set of three double CDs under the heading of The Road To Rock & Roll. The series aims to highlight the surprisingly large amount of scene-setting American recordings that surfaced in the UK during the two decades that led up to the rock & roll era. The first pairing, Jitterbug Jive, concentrates on the period 1934 to 1952 and features rare material by the likes of Tiny Bradshaw, Lefty Frizzell and Bull Moose Jackson.
There is a popular misconception that prior to the advent of rock & roll, America was hip to the trip whilst the UK was decidedly square. Far from it. As far back as the 1930s, British record buyers could purchase and did purchase the kind of music that would one day form the basis of the big beat. Serving as a taster for things to come, some of the most divergent recordings under the sun managed to find a slot in amongst the standard fare of crooners, comedians and light instrumentalists. Along the way, the unlikely scenario brought about the first ever appearance on domestic wax and shellac of some of the greatest names in music history. Only now, after a great deal of research and diligence, is it possible to show just how the long and winding road to rock & roll was mapped out for the great British public.
Compiled and annotated by music historian and producer Stuart Colman, the three volumes of The Road to Rock & Roll will present trailblazing American jazz, rhythm & blues, hillbilly and pop released in the UK between 1934 and 1955, ahead of the rock & roll explosion. Other artists featured on the first volume, Jitterbug Jive, include Joe Turner, Will Bradley, Hank Williams, Louis Jordan, Red Foley, Lionel Hampton and Louis Prima. The second volume is scheduled for autumn 2013.
- First in new series inspired by Stuart Colman’s column for rock & roll magazine Now Dig This
- 50-track 2CD set compiled and annotated by music historian, producer and former BBC Radio 1 presenter Stuart Colman
- Trailblazing American jazz, rhythm & blues, hillbilly and gospel released in the UK ahead of the rock & roll explosion
- Featured artists on Vol. 1: Jitterbug Jive include Tiny Bradshaw, Lefty Frizzell, Bull Moose Jackson, Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton and Louis Prima