TRACK LISTING

Disc 1
Blues & Rhythm

Album Notes
Informed by blues, boogie woogie, jazz, R&B, hillbilly and country music, Rock 'n' Roll became the first music to aim directly at a teenage audience, and it hit. Rock 'n' Roll extended an unparalleled influence around the world. This box set presents 118 candidates for the first Rock 'n' Roll record ever recorded. Rock 'n' Roll: "A form of popular music arising from and incorporating a variety of musical styles, especially rhythm and blues, country music and gospel. Originating in the United States in the 1950s, it is characterised by electronically amplified instrumentation, a heavily accented beat, and relatively simple phrase structure." Thus is the term Rock 'n' Roll described in one dictionary. Other definitions add, "known for its strong beat and urgent lyrics" and "usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles.

Proper does it again -- at least musically -- by assembling this whopping four-disc, 118-track box set of the greatest in vintage rhythm & blues, hillbilly boogie, doo wop, and early rock & roll and rockabilly. Simply looking through the list of credits one can get dizzy from the star-studded lineups as well as entry upon entry of bona fide classics by artists who are little known to anyone but collectors and aficionados. There is more here than one can take in, justifiably in a month of Sundays, from T-Bone Walker and Big Mama Thornton to Fats Domino and the Moonglows; from Elvis and Bill Haley to Piano Red and Ray Charles; from Bill Monroe and Jimmy Bryant to the Robins and Bunny Paul. In addition to the great-sounding archival track list is a decent liner booklet with terrific photos. The most amazing thing is the price: this set retails for around $25 U.S. There is no reason for anyone interested in early rock & roll and its roots not to score this baby and put it on the shelf. ~ Thom Jurek

A milestone Proper release, this is our 100th Properbox set featuring 4 cds of digitally remastered music and one of our most extensive fully illustrated booklets yet (68 pages) with comprehensive essays, track by track analysis and full discographies, all presented in new slimline packaging. Rock’n’Roll: “A form of popular music arising from and incorporating a variety of musical styles, especially rhythm and blues, country music and gospel. Originating in the United States in the 1950s, it is characterised by electronically amplified instrumentation, a heavily accented beat, and relatively simple phrase structure.” Thus is the term rock’n’roll described in one dictionary. Other definitions add, “known for its strong beat and urgent lyrics” and “usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles.” Rock’n’roll was all of that and more. Informed by blues, boogie woogie, jazz, R&B, Appalachian folk music, bluegrass, hillbilly and country music, Rock 'n' Roll became the first music to aim directly at a teenage audience, and it hit. Rock 'n' Roll extended an unparalleled influence around the world. This box set presents 118 candidates for the first rock 'n' roll record ever recorded. This set features 4 CDs looking at the tracks that kickstarted rock'n'roll, arranged pretty much by the important contributing genres. So, disc one focuses in on the Blues & Rhythm artists, featuring the likes of Ray Charles, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Tiny Bradshaw, Big Joe Turner, John Lee Hooker, Roy Brown and many, many more. Disc two zones in on the Doo Wop and vocal group influences, with the likes of the Ravens, Penguins, Dominos, Drifters, Cardinals, Clovers and many more. Disc three then moves in to take a look at how the country artists contributed with tracks from the likes of Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Bryant, Moon Mullican, Brother Claude Ely, Merle Travis and more. Finally disc four takes a look at the artists forever associated with the birth of rock'n'roll, with the likes of Elvis Presley, Jackie Brenston, the Crows, Bill Haley, Ruth Brown and many others represented. This boxset features those from the obvious to the obscure, with classic tracks throughout, and is an excellent overview of the melting pot of influences that went into the development of rock'n'roll. Hopefully with all these artists together it will open some eyes to those they've perhaps overlooked in the past. Ultimately though, it's just a damn good listen!