In 2014, a special compilation of music from Sun Records was released on vinyl for Record Store Day. It contained some well-known and beloved songs, such as Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On.” The tracks were selected by folks who work in record stores, and the pressing was limited to 4,000 copies. Each year since then, a new Sun Records compilation has been released, always with tracks chosen by record store employees. This year Record Store Day is split into two days, the first of which was on June 12th. On that day, Having A Party: Sun Records Curated By Record Store Day, Volume 8 was released. This record also contains tracks by Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, though lesser known numbers. There are also songs from Bettye Lavette, Slim Rhodes and Alvin Robinson, among others. The songs here are all fun, fitting with the compilation’s title. And really, after the long, awful year of the pandemic, we are all in need of a party. Well, here it is.
Side One
The album opens with a fun and funky tune from Bettye Lavette, “We Got To Slip Around,” in which she says they have to “be together whenever we can.” Oh yes. Sure, this song is about cheating, but we can forget that for the moment and just think about being with the people we’ve been missing during the pandemic. And I love the way this track ends, with the instruments fading and just her voice remaining for a moment. Then we really start to shake and move and cut loose with Frank Ballard’s “Shake ‘Em Up Baby.” The party is now getting into full swing. This track has such a good feel about it. That’s followed by “Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees),” the second of three tracks in a row with some form of the word “shake” in its title. And, hey, we can take the hint and shake our stuff. While Linda Gail Lewis sings that nothing is shaking but the leaves on the trees, we can hear for ourselves that that just isn’t the case. Kind of like when Jerry Garcia would sing that nothing was shaking on Shakedown Street. The saxophone lead here is fantastic and forceful. I wish it went on a bit longer, but the player certainly makes the most of the moment. This is one of the record’s highlights. Then in “I’m Gonna Shake It & Break It,” Rosco Gordon (spelled “Roscoe” on this record) sings, “I’m gonna make it/I’m gonna shake it/I’m gonna take it/I’m gonna break it/I’m gonna try everything, girl, to get along with you.” Shake and boogie all night, that will work. “I’m gonna shake it/Girl, I’m never gonna stop/I’m gonna rock it/Girl, I’m not even gonna take a break.” Well, all right! That’s the sort of party we’re looking for.
In “Gonna Romp And Stomp,” Slim Rhodes promises “We’re gonna have fun tonight,” and I don’t doubt that for a second, not with this delicious bit of country swing rockabilly playing. That’s followed by “Friday Night,” with Jerry Lee Lewis rocking both the keys and us, telling us, “It’s Friday night and I feel fine.” It’s difficult to keep from feeling fine with such good music on. He also tells us that he has an urge to spend every penny he earned this week. And why not? To tell with the bills, we need to have some fun! The first side then concludes with The Brightlights’ “Motor City Funk Pt. 1,” which has a delicious party atmosphere right from the moment it starts. It’s one of those loose tunes that basically insists on everyone dancing. Nothing else is necessary.
Side Two
The party continues on the record’s second side, picking up right where it left off, with “Motor City Funk Pt. 2.” And The Brightlights are still urging folks to put their feet together. Hey, is this party thrown by Quentin Tarantino? This song gets wonderfully goofy, and as it’s ending it sounds like an essay is being assigned. The funky vibes continue with Soul Suspects’ “Funky Drop,” another song in which a dance is introduced. But whatever you’ve been doing so far is just fine. Just keep moving and enjoying that great beat. And speaking of the beat, that song is followed by Clarence Murray’s “Dancing To The Beat.” “You’re driving me insane/It’s very, very plain/You got the power/My heart’s beating louder.” Now that is the sort of declaration of love I completely understand.
But for me, things get even better with “Groovy Train,” a totally delicious instrumental track from Wade Cagle & The Escorts. It moves like a train, one everyone wants to jump aboard, because we know this train is going to be all about the action. Hell, the band calls itself The Escorts. This track is another of the album’s highlights. That’s followed by another instrumental track, the Four Upsetters’ rendition of “You Can’t Sit Down,” a song that was a hit for The Dovells. I dig that work on keys, the way it builds energy toward the end. That’s followed by Alvin Robinson’s rendition of Earl King’s “Come On,” which he recorded under the title “Let The Good Times Roll.” There are a lot of songs with that title, and they’re all good. This one has a great raw energy as well as a good deal of soul and some nice work on guitar, and it is one of my favorite tracks. The album concludes with Carl Perkin’s rendition of “Drink Up And Go Home.” “Don’t tell me your troubles/I’ve got enough of my own/Be thankful you’re living/Drink up and go home.” Aw, does that mean the party’s over?
Record Track List
Side One
- We Got To Slip Around – Bettye Lavette
- Shake ‘Em Up Baby – Frank Ballard
- Nothin’ Shakin’ (But The Leaves On The Trees) – Linda Gail Lewis
- I’m Gonna Shake It & Break It – Rosco Gordon
- Gonna Romp And Stomp – Slim Rhodes
- Friday Night – Jerry Lee Lewis
- Motor City Funk Pt. 1 – The Brightlights
Side Two
- Motor City Funk Pt. 2 – The Brightlights
- Funky Drop – Soul Suspects
- Dancing To The Beat – Clarence Murray
- Groovy Train – Wade Cagle & The Escorts
- You Can’t Sit Down – Four Upsetters
- Let The Good Times Roll – Alvin Robinson
- Drink Up And Go Home – Carl Perkins
Having A Party!: Sun Records Curated By Record Store Day, Volume 8 was released on June 12, 2021 through Org Music. It is limited to 3,000 copies.
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