Proteus needs help. In the spirit of facilitation, let's actualise the man properly with this, the greatest of all the rockers-
'Rock Around The Rockpile'- Ray Anthony
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OEyjpScJdMQ
This is not open for discussion. It's the greatest. The End.
Hold Me Hug Me Rock Me- Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps.
This song was the first track on the first Gene Vincent album I ever bought and it grabbed me the first time I ever heard it. I don't expect it to let go any time soon. Psychotic soloing from Cliff Gallup, rollicking rhythm, hootin' and hollerin' from the Blue Caps. Perfection.
Train Kept A Rollin'- Johnny Burnette and the RnR Trio.
This song is flat out intimidating. Sheesh! Grady Martin's riffing is pure evil. Johnny Burnette's tortured howl is inspired. Often covered, never bettered.
Be Bop A Lula- Gene Vincent again.
Well.. it's genre defining, innit?
I have one and only one absolute, all-time favorite rockabilly song. It's so far ahead of the rest that it's in a class by itself:
"Race With The Devil" By Gene Vincent!
Runners-up: "I Can't Hardly Stand It" by Charlie Feathers; "Bang Bang" by Janis Martin; "Her Love Rubbed Off On Me" by Carl Perkins
...and, of course, any fast Gene Vincent song with the original Blue Caps, but particularly "Cat Man", B-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go!", "I Flipped" "Jump Back Honey, Jump Back", "You Told A Fib", "Cruisin'", and "Who Slapped John". Some of the slower ones are stunning as well, especially "Woman Love" and "I Sure Miss You".
I like rockabilly that uses nonsense syllables or nursery rhymes in the lyrics regardless of who does it. And - heresy alert! - I prefer Robert Gordon and Link Wray's version of "Flying Saucers Rock and Roll" to the original.
Not to put these in as a list, just in the interest of possibly expanding someone's repertoire...
Bobby Helms', "Tennessee Rock 'n' Roll."
I'm fond of his popabillies, "No Other Way," "Love My Lady." Smooooth.
In no particular order.
False Hearted Girl-Tennessee Ernie Ford & Ella Mae Morse
Love Me-The Phantom
Nervous Breakdown-Eddie Cochran
Actually, speaking of Eddie Cochran. i wore my Eddie T-shirt to work today, I couldn't find a clean cowboy shirt, I was loathing spending all day telling people who he was. But waiting for my coffee, instead a well dress businesswoman stopped and said "Ah, I have to ask you, where'd you get your Eddie Cochran T-shirt." It was a heartwarming start to the day.
Pappy said: - I Don't Come From Nowhere by the Quakes - Rose in the Devil's Garden by Tiger Army - The Girl in Blue by the RHHJust to balance with Mr. Trouble.
I don't come from nowhere has an amazing mood to it. The opening lick just sets the mood and as the song goes it just builds and builds and builds until it unleashes into my favorite solo that is VERY unexpected in it's rockiness and just an awesome bit of jeckyl and hyde if you know what I mean.
Rose in the Devil's garden has less to do with fancy guitar work (a tribute to simple songs being able to be good songs) and more to do with lyrics and a hook I really like.
The girl in blue has the best tone I've ever heard from a guitar. The best.
I fought the law, Sonny Curtis (that song any version and X- hungry wolf are why I wanted to play in the 1st place)
anything Scotty, Bill and Elvis
Damn near anything by the Cramps. that early vinyl I had led a young punk down the path to roots and rockabilly. Ivy still has one of the coolest, rough and tumble, bad ass rebellious Gretsch sounds ever!
Tryin' to narrow down to 3 makes my eye twitch
Only three, huh? Meh: I must engage in flagrant disregard for mathematical accuracy.
"Your True Love" -- Carl Perkins
"Love Me" -- The Phantom (yeah, Pseudo Man!)
"Let's Go Bopping Tonight" -- Al Ferrier
"Hoy Hoy" -- Collins Kids
Why these? Err...ummm... because I like them? No dancing about architecture here. 
Ronnie Self was a force of nature.
Paul/FF909
TAG4 & Truthtellerspook! Thanks for remembering my man Ronnie Self! Too cool that you played with him Tag...
I highly recommend Ronnie's Bear Family CD release...
Speaking about Bear Family and Cochran...any word on the Eddie Cochran Box Set that they're working on?
All my other favourites have been mentioned but I didn't notice my number 1 rockabilly pick- The Fool by Sanford Clark- Could never get enough of the Al Casey intro and solo-
Anything by Wanda Jackson (hot Dog, Let's have a party, etc)
Ubangi Stomp by Warren Smith (the only version that matters--sorry Robert Gordon)
Cracka Jack (joe Clay) solo by Mickey Baker fickin Killer.
"It'll be me" by Jerry Lee Lewis just because it has the line "If you see a new face on your totem pole, if you find a new lump in your sugar bowl" which just ticles me on so many levels for no apparent reason.
Tired and Sleepy by the Cochran Brothers (Hank and Eddie, not really brothers but an unbeleivable song non the less.
"Forked up Grill" by The Billy D Light Trio because it is about a chick with a great body and a busted up face which I think we have all been with at least once. (think "Baggy" the ugly sister Curly always gets in the Three Stooges Shorts)
You can hear that one
Or a different version on Video HERE
Plus we are retarded drunk on both!!!!
Billy,
Holli had to pull that from Drexel's bookstore store p.a. because it sounds just like f@&ked up grill!
That makes more sense than a forked up grill anyway.
Ha-Ha!
I find it hard to do these lists. There's so many good ones and all slightly different. I'll give it a shot.
Rock Around The Clock
Rock This Town
Great Balls Of Fire
I really dig songs like
Cats like us (Hillbilly Hellcats) New York City girls (the Rev) Bible Candle and Skull from (Those Legendary Shack Shakers)
Probably not really moondoggin' rockabilly, but hell, the genre is wide.
