1-CD Digipac (4-plated) with comprehensive booklet, 33 tracks

Contains rarities that will surprise both pop fans and collectors. Includes tracks by established stars like Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee and Doris Day, who you'd never think would 'stoop so low. 'Reveals the importance of 'cover records' in the era just before the emergence of 'singer/songwriters' all but ended that industry-wide practice. Contains tracks that give new meaning to the word 'clueless. 'Reveals the efforts (some of them desperate) of singers, songwriters, musicians and arrangers to come to terms with what 'rock 'n' roll' really meant. Shows some surprising successes at coming to terms with rock 'n' roll by singers you'd never expect to 'get it. 'Here are the companion Volumes to the successful 'They Tried To Rock: The Hillbillies '- Volumes 1 and 2 (BCD 17350, BCD 17406).

Volumes 3 and 4 follow the early struggle by Popsters, including Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, the Mills Brothers, Perry Como and Lawrence Welk, who tried to come to terms with rock 'n' roll's challenge to traditional pop music. This took place during the early to mid-1950s, before anybody knew whether it was just a fad that would blow over or something that truly threatened to revolutionize popular music.

Many Popsters hated it and privately made fun of it, while at the same time they saw their record sales plummet and their radio play and personal appearances affected. Popsters were faced with the same career-altering choice that affected the Hillbillies in Volumes 1 and 2: Do we fight 'em or join 'em?

Some Popsters were equipped to adapt and did a fine job of it. Others, weren't and didn't. For the first time, Bear Family has collected some vintage performances by Popsters who tried their best to pass themselves off as rockers. Many of these tracks - by both the famous and the not-so-famous - have become quite rare...Read more at: https://www.bear-family.de/

Track Listing

• Lola Ameche - Little Red Webb
• Lola Ameche - Rock The Joint
• Ames Brothers - Rockin' Shoes
• Pat Boone - Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)
• Perry Como - Juke Box Baby
• Crew Cuts - Sh Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)
• Alan Dale - The Girl Can't Help It
• Billy Eckstine - The Tennessee Rock And Roll
• Eddie Fisher - Dungaree Doll
• Fontane Sisters - Please Don't Leave Me
• Sarah Vaughan - Hey Naughty Papa
• Georgia Gibbs - Great Balls Of Fire
• Eydie Gorme - Soda Pop Hop
• Eartha Kitt - Honolulu Rock-A-Rolla (Honolulu Rock And Roll)
• Steve Lawrence - Party Doll
• The Mills Brothers - Get A Job
• Jaye P Morgan - Baby Don't Do It
• Les Paul & Mary Ford - Fantasy
• Louis Prima, Feat Keely Smith With Sam Butera And The Witnesses - Jump Jive And Wail
• Joe Reisman - Bo Diddley
• Kay Starr - Fool Fool Fool
• Mcguire Sisters - Sincerely
• Jerry Mercer - Blue Suede Shoes
• Patti Page - (Oh) What A Dream
• Betty Johnson - I'll Wait
• Vicki Young - Riot In Cell Block Number 9
• The Hilltoppers - Do The Bop
• Big Dave And His Orchestra - Rock And Roll Party
• Ella Mae Morse With Big Dave And His Orchestra - Money Honey
• Dean Martin - Just Kiss Me
• Peggy Lee - Ev'ry Night
• Jim Lowe - Maybellene
• Teresa Brewer - Rock Love

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

Run Time: 81 mins

Release Date: 03/27/15

UPC: 5397102174162