-In the 1950s, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a fierce race to successfully launch a satellite into space.
-The Soviet Union fired up its Sputnik satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, winning the race and heating up the battle for space supremacy.
-Bear Family Records® presents U.S. musicians and singers from a variety of genres who took this topic and recorded a variety of songs, all dealing with the space age.
-R'n'R with Joe Montgomery and Carl Mann, R&B with Danny Overbea, Frank Motley and Jesse Belvin, a.o., plus instrumentals, percussionists, vocal groups and guitarists such as Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West.
-Extensive liner notes by music expert and historian Bill Dahl in the illustrated and detailed booklet.
-Carefully restored recordings, primarily from the 1950s and 1960s.
-Look forward to a wild ride through the stratosphere!
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into earth's orbit, the satellite's ascendancy officially commencing the Space Age.
Naturally, rock and rollers inclined toward social commentary offered their own musical spin on the interplanetary action, as did singers from other genres--country, R&B, pop, surf, and a number of styles in between.
They're all represented on this galactic Bear Family compilation, from rockabillies Joe Montgomery, Carl Mann, and Jerry Engler to R&B stalwarts Danny Overbea, Paul Perryman, Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley, and velvet-voiced Jesse Belvin.
Songs about satellites sail skyward, interspersed with high-flying instrumentals by Jimmie Haskell, percussionist Bobby Christian, and the mysterious Comrade X (Dorsey Burnette was involved).
Vocal groups have their say via Vernon Green and The Medallions, The Equadors, and The 3 Honeydrops, while Young John Watson's 1954 instrumental masterpiece Space Guitar and mind-boggling wordless workouts by country guitar genius Jimmy Bryant and steel guitar wizard Speedy West are genuinely otherworldly.

Track Listing

• Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra - Men Into Space
• The Teen-Clefs - There Goes Sputnik
• Joe Montgomery - Planetary Run
• Ray Anderson & The Home Folks - Sputniks And Mutniks
• Jimmy Bryant with Speedy West - Stratosphere Boogie
• Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley & His Crew - Space Age
• Galen Denny - Gonna Build A Rocket
• Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders - My Satellite
• Carl Mann - Satellite No. 2
• Paul Perryman - Satellite Fever – Asiatic Flu
• The 3 Honeydrops - Rockin' Satellite
• The Equadors - Sputnik Dance
• Danny Overbea - Space Time
• Jerry Engler & The Four Ekkos - Sputnik (Satellite Girl)
• Bill Thomas - The Sputnik Story
• Vernon Green & The Medallions - Rocket Ship
• Comrade X - Theme From Spacenik
• Jimmy Haskell & His Orchestra - Weightless Blues
• Bobby Christian & His Orchestra - Count Down – Flight Into Orbit
• Cees & His Skyliners - Rocking To Telstar
• Young John Watson - Space Guitar
• Speedy West - Space Man In Orbit
• Charlie Ryan - Rocket Race
• Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra - Astrosonic
• The Nocturnes - Journey To The Stars
• The Chantays - Space Probe
• The Velvetones - Static
• Dick Jacobs & His Orchestra - Shooting Stars
• Earl Bostic - Up There In Orbit

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

Run Time: 75:00 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/03/23

UPC: 4000127176943