Rusty Rocks

• Track Listing

It's time to pay tribute to one of the great unknowns. Most rock 'n' roll fans know Rusty York's hit, Sugaree... , it's one ofthe last truly great rockabilly singles. But there was much more to his career, and it's a career that opens the door ontothe thriving Cincinnati scene in the 1950s. We begin with Rusty York in the King and Rite studio in 1957 covering several ofthe big hits of the day before hooking up with Jackie DeShannon's manager/partner, Pat Nelson, to record a blisteringinstrumental, Cajun Blues, for Fraternity and Dot. He recorded Sugaree for Nelson's label, but it was acquired by Chess, and became a nationwide hit. Rusty York toured with Jack Scott and the big stars of the day. He recorded one more sessionfor Chess (unissued at the time) before cutting more instrumentals for Sage & Sand Records. Then, in 1961, came theincredible session for King with Hank Ballard's band, featuring Tremblin', Lovestruck, and Ballard's Tore Up Over You. We close with the rare rocking version of Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me To Do, the song that Elvis wouldmake into a classic a few years later. Rusty York became a successful studio owner. He rarely plays revival shows, but he's one of the great untold stories of therock 'n' roll era. Bear Family has gone to great lengths to find original audio sources, and we've borrowed Rusty York's ownphoto album to make this set into an absolute must-have

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