1-CD (Digipak) with 36-page booklet, 33 tracks. Total playing time approx. 78 minutes.

The first CD compilation ever with recordings from the vaults of the record companies Blue Moon and Bella Records from Santa Clara and San José in California respectively.

The album includes the complete recordings of Johnny Amelio and Joe Gradie and presents many more rockers.

More than ten tracks are released here for the first time on CD, and two numbers were completely unknown until now: rare demos by The downbeats with Johnny Amelio, which we dubbed from a rare acetate.

The booklet provides never before seen photos and detailed information about the history of the labels Blue Moon and Bella.

The two record labels Blue Moon and Bella Records from California were both owned by John Pusateri, who originally came from Franklin, Louisiana, and moved to San José in the 1920s. There he first founded Bella Records and in 1957 Blue Moon Records in Santa Clara.

In keeping with the concept of the Bear Family's 'That'll Flat Git It!' series, only the most rocking titles from the Blue Moon & Bella catalogues were selected for this release. And these recordings can compete with the best of the genre!

Here we tell one of those stories that record collectors dream about! In addition to the more well-known musicians such as Johnny Amelio, the Savoys and Gradie O'Neal, you'll find a large number of lesser-known colleagues such as Buddy Bennett, Chuck Royal, Joe Jaros and the Empala Six - to name but a few.

Since most of the original master tapes are lost forever, the majority of the masters have been transferred from rare and hard to find original single releases (45's), carefully restored and remastered to meet Bear Family's quality standards.

This is a promising and long-awaited project that we hope will be welcomed with open ears by fans of Rockabilly, by those who basically love the music of the fifties and by all those who are passionate about the music scenes and culture of California. We believe: you should not miss this album either!

Track Listing

• The Downbeats feat. Johnny Amelio - Jugue
• Chuck Royal & The Sharpsters - My Baby's Gone
• The Empala Six - Travellin'
• Gradie O'Neal & The Bella Tones - Baby 'Oh' Baby
• Clyde Arnold & The Sharps - I've Got A Baby
• Pat LaRocca - Rowena
• The Empala Six - Empala Rock
• Toby & Ray - Bom Du Wa
• Gradie Joe & The Western Gernts - Rock And Roll Cindy
• Wes Griffith & The Treys - Rockin' Mary
• The Downbeats - I'll Forever Love You
• Linda & The Epics - Gonna Be Loved
• Chuck Royal & The Sharpsters - Blue Moon Keep On Shining
• The Fretts - Rockin' Baby
• The Empala Six - Double Time
• The Downbeats feat. Johnny Amelio - Jugue (alt. take)
• The Savoys - with The Bella Tones - The Mortal Monster Man
• Buddy Bennett & The Margilators - Baby Don't Go
• Clyde Arnold & The Sharps - Scrounge
• Gradie O'Neal & The Bella Tones - Turkey Neck Stretch
• Chuck Royal & The Sharpsters - You're Like A Butterfly
• The Downbeats feat. Johnny Amelio - Downbeats
• Johnny Amelio - Jo Ann - Jo Ann
• Gradie Joe & The Western Gents - Rock-A-Billie Music
• The Empala Six - Sweet And Sour
• Marguerite Trina - The Rocking Tree
• Joe Jaros - Bon Bon Baby
• Sonny Stafford - Record Hop Blues
• The Martells with The Bella Tones - Rockin' Santa Claus
• Gradie Joe & The Western Gents - It's Blue Monday
• Shorty Joe & His Red Rock Canyon Cowboys - Bayou Ball
• The Downbeats feat. Johnny Amelio - I'll Forever Love You (Acetate)
• The Downbeats feat. Johnny Amelio - Grab Me (Acetate)

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

Language: English

Run Time: 78:00 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 06/26/20

UPC: 5397102175954