Cub Classic

A characteristically humongous (8-CD) box set from the wonderful obsessive-compulsives at Bear Family, documenting the Killer's '60s tenure at Smash Records. Lewis made consistently good music during this period, but the combination of his personal scandals and the British Invasion made him a pariah to radio programmers until mid-decade, when he returned to his country roots. Highlights of the set include the entirety of a Texas live show, with Lewis and his crack band rendering various early rock standards at dangerously high (i.e., proto punk) speed, some excellent duets with his (then) wife Linda Gail, and gorgeous renditions of standards like Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and Merle Haggard's "Lonesome Fugitive." Lewis fans with deep pockets should grab this one immediately…

Is there an early rock & roller who has a crazier reputation than the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis? His exploits as a piano-thumping, egocentric wild man with an unquenchable thirst for living have become the fodder for numerous biographies, film documentaries, and a full-length Hollywood movie.

Originally released in 2000, this collection offers 20 hard-to-find ’60s pop hits from the Atlantic, Atco and Warner Brothers vaults. This CD offers the original hit single versions of hard-to-find hits like “Al Di La” by Emilio Pericoli, “Angel on My Shoulder” by Shelby Flint and “Let’s Think About Living” by Bob Luman, as well as the iconic “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher. Collectors will want rare tracks like Rose Garden’s “Next Plane To London” and the doo wop classic “Looking For An Echo” by Kenny Vance. Every song has been lovingly remastered from the original master tapes for stunning clarity and rich sound. All but five tracks are in stereo.

The Tokens are generally thought of as the vocal group who brought their "Lion Sleeps Tonight" hit to yet another generation through the success of The Lion King. But what we have here is the great lost Tokens album, recorded in 1968 and promptly turned down by Warner Bros…