Tracklist
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01. Jello Sal - Benny Ingram
02. How Can I Keep You Lovin' Me - Benny Ingram
03. Hootchie Coochie Gal - James Mask & His Impalas
04. Cuban Queen - James Mask & His Impalas
05. Sweetest Little Girl - James Mask & His Impalas
06. Cute Little Queen - James Mask & His Impalas
07. Let The Juke Box Die - James Mask & His Impalas
08. Save Your Love - James Mask & His Impalas
09. Stolen Honey - James Mask & His Impalas
10. Dance With Me - Rick Emerson & The Sidewinders
11. Side Winder - Rick Emerson & The Sidewinders
12. Anna - Rick Emerson & The Sidewinders
13. Gully Washer - Rick Emerson & The Sidewinders
14. Roberta - Chuck Akin
15. Weary Blues Goodbye - Bob Perry
16. Two Tiny Rings - Bob Perry
17. The Rest Of My Life - Bob Perry
18. Can't Hardly Wait - Bob Perry
19. Don't Say Those Things - Bob Perry
20. It's The Way You Are - Bob Perry
21. The Time Has Come - Bob Perry
22. She's The One - Bob Perry
23. Save The Last Dance For Me - Merle Ray & The Southern Rockets
24. Roll That Rig - B J And The Boys
The small independent Bandera label, based in Chicago, recorded a bunch of rockabilly (or rockabilly-influenced) sides in the late 1950s and early '60s that are highly valued by rockabilly collectors, though none of them were close to being a hit. This CD has a couple dozen of them, a third of which are released here for the first time anywhere. As the title indicates, Bandera's brand of rockabilly was sometimes more country-influenced than the norm for the style. While that might disappoint those who favor the music at its most frenetic, it makes for a refreshing change of pace from the usual anthologies of rockabilly obscurities. To be sure, there are some standard (if somewhat generic) wildman rockabilly cuts. Yet you'll also hear stuff that's more in the early Conway Twitty mold (Benny Ingram's "How Can I Keep You Lovin' Me"); things that sound more like hillbilly music influenced by rock & roll, rather than the other way around; ripping, twangy instrumental rock with a touch of Link Wray fuzz/grunge (Rick Emerson & the Sidewinders' 1958 "Side Winder"/"Gully Washer" single); and, on the latest track, a sort of honky tonk truck song-rock & roll fusion (B.J. & the Boys' 1964 single "Roll That Rig (Again)"). On his eight tracks, Bob Perry sounds a bit like early Marty Robbins, though rawer, the country influence drawn out by some use of steel guitar. (As a matter of fact, according to the liner notes, Perry later built much of his club act around performing Marty Robbins impersonators!) Perry's portion is the most satisfying segment on the CD, but the disc as a whole is certainly above average for a specialist-oriented rockabilly compilation, and recommended to more adventurous collectors of the style.
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