CD - VA - Play The Music Louder - 4 Star Boogies & Jumpin' Hillbilly

'Independent record label' is usually used as a blanket alternative to draw a line between the handful of 'major' labels and every one else, but if there is a dazzling variety among the myriad companies that lie under that blanket. While the phrase might connote small time to some, or bring to mind operations that had only a handful of releases or at most a few dozen, there were among those Independents some that could oxymoronically be called 'Major Minors' —  long-lived labels that might not have had the clout, distribution or regular chart action of the majors but which nevertheless released hundreds of records and included on their rosters some genuine stars. Syd Nathan's King Records comes to mind as one example, as does Bill McCall's prolific, important — and fairly notorious — Four Star label.

Bill McCalls legendary 'Four Star' label began life in 1945 as a subsidiary of Dick Nelson's 'Gilt Edge' Records. McCall issued a considerable amount of good music, which today is highly collectable and indeed expensive to purchase. This CD focuses on Four Star's heyday as an important, influential, and independent label, and features vibrant recordings from 1947 to 1955.

The performers range from major names like the Wilburn Brothers, to regional stars like Jerry Irby, Jerry Jericho and Don Whitney who are still revered by collectors and fans of music of the era, to obscure performers almost totally forgotten today, like Owen Perry and Kelly West.

The word boogie is perhaps to many associated with race music and black jump tunes, however these Hollywood Hillbillies could boogie in their own way. This stunning compilation presents 25 jumping hillbilly boogies, and with a well-chosen variety of artists and every track having a vibrant sound, its guaranteed to please.

This is a must-have for lovers of pre-rockn roll, country boogie sound, jumped-up honky-tonk, late-period western swing and offers a fascinating insight into the world of jumping country boogie.

With a running time of 65 minutes and 35 seconds and a booklet jam packed with information from compiler Kevin Coffey, you are on the right track to discovering many long forgotten tracks.

Tracklist:

1. Grandpa Boogie - Kelly West & His Friendly Country Boys
2. Alabama Baby - Floyd & Lloyd
3. Fisherman's Blues - Claudie Ham
4. Kentucky Saturday Night - Tex Ferguson & Arkansas Valley Boys
5. Bunkhouse Boogie - Pete Graves & His Bunkhouse Buddies
6. First Time I Saw That Gal - Jerry Irby & the Ranchers
7. the Crawdad Hole - Jack Grant & His 7V4 Ranch Boys
8. Drive Slow Baby - Kelly West & His Friendly Country Boys
9. Pickin' 'Em Up - Owen Perry
10. Jesse James Boogie - Jesse James
11. Boogie Woogie Dance - Smiling Jerry Jericho
12. Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby - Jimmy Short & the Silver Saddle Ranch Boys
13. Cadillac Blues - Don Churchill & His Texas Mavericks
14. Buy Me a Bottle of Beer - Jerry Irby & His Texas Ranchers
15. Rambler's Boogie - Tommy Kizziah & His West Coast Ramblers
16. Music Making Mama from Memphis - RD Hendon & His Western Jamboree Cowboys
17. Sixty Days - Bill Tutt
18. Service Station Blues - Drifting Johnny Smith & Rhythm Rangers
19. Dance with Her Henry - Tommy Scott & Ramblers
20. Long Tom Boogie - Tommy Kizziah & West Coast Ramblers
21. Down in Dixie - Theodore Wilburn
22. Tobacco Chewing Boogie - Billy Jack Wills & His Western Swing Band
23. Red Hot Boogie - Don Whitney
24. Who's Kidding Who - Smiling Jerry Jericho
25. Jumpin' from Six to Six - Tommy Scott & His Ramblers