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

• Pat Boone - Rock Love
• Pat Boone - The Fat Man
• Perry Como - Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So)
• Art Mooney & His Orchestra - Tutti Frutti
• Jo Stafford - I Got A Sweetie
• Eileen Barton - Fujiyama Mama
• The Chordettes - Eddie My Love
• The Hilltoppers Feat Chuck Schrouder - Ka Ding Dong
• Betty Johnson - Little White Lies
• Vicki Young With Big Dave & His Orchestra - (I'm) All Shook Up
• Ella Mae Morse - Lovey Dovey
• Tony Bennett - Close Your Eyes
• Jim Lowe - Blue Suede Shoes
• Les Paul & Mary Ford - How High The Moon
• Donny Baker - Drinkin' Pop-Sodee Odee (Pop Pop)
• The Crew Cuts - Susie Q
• Jean Dinning - Bo Diddley
• Pearl Bailey - Can't Rock And Roll To Save My Soul
• Teresa Brewer - Bo Weevil
• Rosemary Clooney - Shot Gun Boogie
• Nat King Cole - Send For Me
• Doris Day - Two Hearts, Two Kisses (Make One Love)
• Hugo & Luigi - Rockabilly Party
• Guy Mitchell - Rock A Billy
• Johnny Ray - Flip Flop And Fly
• Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music - Rock And Roll Ruby
• The Diamonds - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
• Dorothy Collins - My Boy Flat-Top
• Cindy (Lord) & Lindy (Doherty) - Let's Go Steady
• Gloria Mann - Teenage Prayer
• Georgia Gibbs - Rock Right
• Don Cornell - See Saw
• Don Cherry - Band Of Gold

Additional Details

Label: Bear Family Records

Genre: Pop/Rock

Run Time: 79 mins

Release Date: 03/27/15

UPC: 5397102174179