Search - Ray Smith :: Rockin Little Angel: The Sun Years Plus (Dig)

Comprehensive compilation of early recordings

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 05/27/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though he did not enjoy the success of many of his more famous labelmates and peers of the era (Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis among them), Ray Smith gained some recognition as his signature-song-to-be "Rockin' Little Angel" climbed towards the pop top-20 in 1960. It was followed up by a minor hit "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey" but subsequent recordings never took off and Smith has been mostly relegated to one-hit wonder status.



His early recordings done at Sun Records, the label so famously credited with launching many of the early pioneers of rock and roll, did not result in any real hits. Only upon signing with Judd Records did Smith see the light of commercial success but unfortunately, it was not sustainable. Even after a return to Sun, hit records eluded him and, while continuing to record for many years at many different labels, Smith never again attracted the music-buying public's big dollars.



This new compilation from Germany's esteemed Bear Family Records gathers up, in their usual top-notch form, many of Smith's Sun and Judd recordings and represents the first high-quality legit collection of Smith's records for those labels. This 34-track single CD includes recordings from his stints at Judd and both Sun periods. Alongside his hit recordings and early releases are a number of previously unreleased sides. Bear has done their usual thorough treatment here.



Accompanying the remastered recordings is a massive 55-page liner notes booklet with many photos, illustrations, a discography and a detailed artist profile. Though all the tracks are in mono, Bear has done their usual comprehensive audio restoration and there are few apologies needed for the sound quality.



While up to now overshadowed by that of his peers, Smith's music finally gets the Bear Family treatment and this new piece fills a long-standing gap in the reissue market of early rock and roll artists. Of more interest to the completist but contained here is a welcome addition to the library of the fan of the early rock era music."