Happy New Year, 1954

Lots of people spent the week between Christmas and New Year's filling their latest iPod or figuring out how to use the Wii. I was traveling back in time 50 or so years with the best box set I have ever heard.

I’ve had my eyes on The Roots Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: 1946-1954 (Hip-O) since it was released in 2004. But, received as a Christmas present, it made 2008’s end truly memorable. There are other collections that attempt to tell this story, but none are as encompassing, or sound this clean. It may be true you need more than three discs to fully capture the evolution of the music from post-World War II to 1955, but the 60 tracks include every significant moment while also containing enough obscurities and surprises to make it essential. While heavy on R&B and electric blues, tunes from Hank Williams, the Delmore Brothers, Hank Snow, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Bill Haley & His Comets illuminate the hillbilly side of rock ’n’ roll’s roots.

It’s long been argued which was the first rock ’n’ roll song and many examples are included: Wynonie Harris' "Good Rockin' Tonight," Jimmy Preston & His Prestonians' "Rock the Joint," Stick McGhee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88," Big Mama Thornton's original version of "Hound Dog," Junior Parker's "Mystery Train," Hank Ballard & the Midnighters' "Work With Me Annie," Wild Bill Moore's "We're Gonna Rock, We're Gonna Roll," Arthur Crudup's original version of "That's All Right," and the Chords' "Sh-Boom." There’s also doo-wop from the Clovers, pop from Johnny Ray, 1940s jazz from Lionel Hampton and Louis Jordan, and even gospel from Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

It’s also interesting to hear original versions of tunes that have become part of the rock and blues canon: “I Got Loaded,” “Baby, Don’t Do It,” “Shake a Hand,” “Eye Sight to the Blind.” Some might quibble with the tracks chosen to represent Little Richard and Fats Domino, or the absence of Elvis Presley and John Lee Hooker. The liner notes could be a bit more expansive as well. However, this is a quintessential history lesson, one that you couldn’t possibly sleep through.