Once upon a time, in a far away land called the 1950´s, there were two nubile forms of music kicking around in American voices. One of these was countrymusic with its roots in Hank Williams and a history that dated back to English rhyme and verse. At the same time, Black America was creating and enjoying a style of music known as rhythm and blues which, of course, was really (dare we say it?) roots blues performed with a lot of rhytm. In those days, R&B records were called Rare Records by the white middle-class radio establishment.

The airwaves were largely dominated by the pop music of the era and the world was deluged with a variety of poor man´s Frank Sinatras. Country music was off in one corner and R&B was off in the other. It was time for a marriage. It is not precisely known who performed the cermony that joined R&B and Country music in hy wedlock forever but the reslut was, of course Rock & Roll. Suddenly the tempos of R&B were joined with the harmonics of Country music and there hasn´t been a teenager of an octogenarian wince who has not been able ro rock around the clock, Vic Damone took a cab, Elvis Presley got real, real gone, and Chuck Berry was bosser than boss.

Now if you wanted to rock and you were a hillbilly, what other kind of music could you make than Rockabilly? Rockabilly is both the father and son of Rock & Roll, and Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent mapped out a musical territory in which Country, Pop, Rhythm & Blues and Blues all joined hands.

Strangely enough as the 50´s drew to a close, Rockabilly, born and raised in the United States, became an exile from its home land. The British public, never ones to let a good sound flounder, carried on the Rockabilly tradition through the era of The Beatles, the later psychedelic 60´s, and the bland-on-bland 70´s. Today as always, Rockabilly music is at the forefront of the English music scene. Even the punkers of the last few years have not been able to dump the Teddy Boys who live and breathe nothin but Rockabilly. Americans have sadly long since forgotten the magnificent art of Eddie Coachran, but in England he is as much a legend as Elvis Prelsy.

Which all brings us to Shakin´Stevens. Shaky, as he is known to his friends and fans, is a major. He is super dynamic young performer who carries on the great Rockabilly tradition with flare and originality. Many of the songs on this Epic NU-Disk have been smash hits aroudn the world and are available in Emeria for the first time in this mini collection. Song slike Marie, Marie reflect the vibrant sexual stance of Rockabilly and in every way demonstrate what has made Shakin´Stevens such a super-shakin´ star.

Shakey now has his own TV show, syndicated throughout the world including the U.S., and he can now be seen and heard by all those who love exciting rockin´ music.