Vintage Rockabilly On The YouTube

December 5, 2006 3:42 AM

Vintage Rockabilly On The YouTube:

Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
Johnny Cash - Heartbreak Hotel
Wanda Jackson - Mean Mean Man
Webb Pierce - Teenage Boogie
Johnny Burnette, - Lonesome Train
The Sparkletones - Rocket
The Collins Kids - Bird Dog
Carl Perkins - True Love
Gene Vincent - Spaceship to Mars
Eddie Cochran - Sitting In The Balcony
Johnny Cash - Get Rhythm
Elvis Presley - Money Honey

posted by y2karl (29 comments total)

Eddie Cochran - Something Else
The Sparkletones - Black Slacks
YouTube - Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula
Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
Gene Vincent - You Are My Sunshine
The Collins Kids - High School Confidential
Ronnie Dawson - Hazel
Johnny Cash - Big River
Ritchie Valens - Ooh My Head
The Collins Kids -Chantilly Lace
Wanda Jackson with Joe Maphis - Cool Love
Ronnie Hawkins - I Need Your Lovin'
Johnny Burnette Trio - Hound Dog
Johnny Horton - Battle Of New Orleans


See also

Bobby Lawson

Eddie Cochran

The Sparkletones
posted by y2karl at 3:42 AM on December 5, 2006 [1 favorite]

y2karl, are you getting kickbacks from YouTube?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:56 AM on December 5, 2006

And that Johnny Cash doing Elvis, man, that was a scream! Had no idea Cash was such a comedian: great comic moves!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:06 AM on December 5, 2006

Not sure I need lists of YouTube product here...
posted by Gungho at 4:26 AM on December 5, 2006

Not sure I need lists of YouTube product here...

Then you'll want to ignore this link: it's a very curious little clip (YouTube) of a record being played. It's a 78rpm, from 1957, of the Crickets (Buddy Holly wasn't getting top billing in their earliest days, apparently) doing Not Fade Away. It sounds fantastic, and just watching that black plastic spin around is so pleasing...

And apologies to y2karl if you already posted this at some point in the past: entirely likely, I know.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:37 AM on December 5, 2006

Tedious.
posted by bardic at 4:44 AM on December 5, 2006

Johnny Burnette - Lonesome Train
posted by caddis at 4:45 AM on December 5, 2006

GYOB
posted by rxrfrx at 4:49 AM on December 5, 2006

Rock-a-billy shows the country influence on early rock, this video shows some of the jazz influence:

Bill Haley - Rudy's Rock

By the way, another awesome post y2karl.
posted by caddis at 4:50 AM on December 5, 2006

Vintage Rockabilly on DailyMotion.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 4:51 AM on December 5, 2006

Johnny Burnette Trio - Train Kept a Rollin'

Okay, it ain't much of a video, but it's better than this!
posted by kimota at 4:59 AM on December 5, 2006

Ooh, oooh! Tomorrow, do 80s songs! Or maybe 90s psychobilly/trailer rock.
posted by Eideteker at 5:04 AM on December 5, 2006

Great stuff. I've always loved that Elvis impression that Johnny does. And for those who don't know, that Ronnie Hawkins link is a rare look at a very, very young version of The Band backing him up. Levon (my favorite drummer) looks like he's about twelve.
posted by EarBucket at 5:07 AM on December 5, 2006

Oh, and Ronnie was moonwalking in 1959, incidentally.
posted by EarBucket at 5:09 AM on December 5, 2006

Can someone please explain to me how the search function on YouTube works? I'm not sure I understand the complexities and I would like to make a post to MetaFilter's front page tomorrow.
posted by bobobox at 5:16 AM on December 5, 2006

Uh-oh, Steven C. Den Beste isn't going to like this.......

(rock on, y2karl)
posted by briank at 5:20 AM on December 5, 2006

a rare look at a very, very young version of The Band backing him up.

Yeah, that's definitely Levon Helm, and I'd wager it's Richard Manuel on piano (impossible to tell for sure, though), but is that Robbie on guitar? Doesn't much look like him, but of course with the infamous lo-res of YouTube it's really hard to tell...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:23 AM on December 5, 2006

Another great set—thanks, y2karl, you magnificent deejay you!
posted by languagehat at 5:30 AM on December 5, 2006

is that Robbie on guitar?

I'm not sure. Looking at the video, my best guess is a young John Kerry.
posted by EarBucket at 5:39 AM on December 5, 2006

This is a fantastic set of rock and roll gold. Thanks Y2Karl.

That "Sittin' in the Balcony" bit is both uncomfortable and hilarious - one of my favorite Eddie Cochran songs - not at all how I'd expect to see it portrayed!
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 5:40 AM on December 5, 2006

Baby, Let's Play House

My favorite Elvis song
posted by chillmost at 5:57 AM on December 5, 2006

About 1:30 into Gene Vincent - You Are My Sunshine is one of the best shots I've seen in a 1950's rock and roll video.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 5:58 AM on December 5, 2006

About 1:30 into Gene Vincent - You Are My Sunshine is one of the best shots I've seen in a 1950's rock and roll video.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 8:58 AM EST on December 5

Are you referring to the shot of the girl in the audience and Vincent's leather clad legs?

Great post y2karl, my boss and my clients both hate you right now.
posted by marxchivist at 6:07 AM on December 5, 2006

Nice. The Collins Kids especially. I could listen to them for hours on end. (Some Glen Glenn woulda been cool, but I won't quibble.)

It's a style that keeps getting revived because it's so timelessly cool. (And rockabilly chicks are hawt)
posted by jonmc at 6:08 AM on December 5, 2006

Are you referring to the shot of the girl in the audience and Vincent's leather clad legs?

I am indeed!
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 6:12 AM on December 5, 2006

Nice! Rhino has a kickin' new collection in this vein called "Rockin' Bones". Tis splendid.
posted by MaxVonCretin at 6:16 AM on December 5, 2006

chillmost: "Baby, Let's Play House

My favorite Elvis song"

This one is mine.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 6:53 AM on December 5, 2006

y2karl, as far as I'm concerned, you are currently the best thing on the entire internets.
posted by MinPin at 6:59 AM on December 5, 2006

Johnny Horton - Battle Of New Orleans

OK, I suppose, but he's no Lonnie Donegan.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:01 AM on December 5, 2006