One of the many UA repackages of Cochran’s catalogue, nothing special here, but the cover is a terrific record of greaser culture . . .
'The Golden Years of Rock 'n' Roll' - 6 disc set (1975)
Was this the final 1970s compilation by Alan Warner of golden oldies from the UA, Liberty and Imperial catalogues? This was billed as a World Records release, part of the EMI group, and probably sold through mail order like a Reader’s Digest set. 102 tracks are played out in chronological order from 1948 to 1964. Another MONO release.
Clive Richardson from Shout magazine provided the notes, design by anonymous . . . you can tell.
'Rock 'n' Roll Jamboree' 4 disc boxed set UA (1974)
UMO 4000 . . . at some point in 1974 UA repacked the first 2 volumes of the Many Sides of Rock ’n’ Roll and put them in a box with a booklet that reproduced the notes from inside the gatefold sleeves. The one significant difference was that these four discs are all in MONO . . . all three volumes and the four single disc sets were all ‘electronically enhanced to simulate a stereo effect.’ The mono purists were out there pushing their agenda . . . and Alan Warner and UA were now working their side of the road.
16 Golden Oldies, From the Vaults - volumes 1-3
Each volume offers ‘16 Golden Oldies’ from the usual catalogue culprits, the first two are on the Liberty label and the final one on UA. All put together by the estimable Alan Warner
LBS 83278 . . . Photography Mike Hasted, motorcycle courtesy of Raymond Way Motors Ltd, Kilburn. Rings and chains courtesy of Adrien Mann
LBS 83377 . . . cover photograph by Red Saunders. This one goes full topless and seems to have escaped from the store room of Tommy Roberts’ emporium, Mr. Freedom. It makes no sense in this context whatsoever, but I think it is great.
UAS 29153 . . . design is credited to ‘Painted Lady, London.’ I can’t make out signature beneath the car.
Zigzag magazine #12 (May 1970) – I think I need that Jett Powers collection . . .
Zigzag #20 (1972)
Rock 'n' Roll Is Here To Stay UA 1973
UAS29336 is the catalogue number and the fourth volume, I think, of Alan Warner compilations. The usual United Artist/Liberty/Imperial contractees are all here along side a licensed Jerry Lee Lewis Sun cut, but the real interest is with the ‘70s sleaze: the Bardot lookalike model and the Ted in full drape mode, cutthroat razor and cheroot. And the chopper, the ultimate period prop . . . cliche on cliche . . . Nice.
Photography by Bryce Attwell
The Many Sides of Rock'n' Roll Vols 1-3
The late 60s - early 70s rock ’n’ roll revival bought not only old rockers back to British stages and new bands to beat on the traps of the first generations song books, but it also bought a small flood of reissues. Some of the best of these were curated on the United Artists label under the guidance of Alan Warner.
The three double album volumes were released in 1973-74 with each side themed, ‘instrumentals, ‘rock’n’ roll stars’, ‘teen ballads’, ‘groups’ and so on. Each came with a four page photograph styled album of images of the groups and singers and some cursory notes .
UA had access to the catalogues of Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Johnny Burnette, The Ventures, and Bobby Vee and they mined these tape vaults mercilessly.
Pierre Tubbs was the art director across the series and he utilised a number of photographers and illustrators.
Photo session produced by Norman Seef (Los Angeles) and it is awful . . .
Illustration by Bob Cotton
Illustration by Michael Bennallack-Hart. This album pushes into the mid-1960s with The Count Five’s ‘Psychotic Reaction’ and it gives a plug to the ‘superb anthology of similar items on an album called Nuggets on Elektra.’