Charlie Rocks

Personnel: Charlie Rich (vocals, piano); Dorothy Ann Dillard, Neal Matthews, Jr., Hugh Gordon Stoker, Anita Kerr, Ray C. Walker, Hoyt Hawkins (vocals); Charles McCoy (guitar, harmonica); Kelton Herston, Sidney Maker, Ray Edenton, Roland Janes, Scotty Moore, Wayne Moss, Brad Suggs (guitar); Lillian Hunt, Cecil Lee Tanner, Solie Fott, Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower (violin); George Binkley III (viola); Floyd Newman (saxophone); Martin Willis (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Fred Ford (tenor saxophone); Will Ackerman (organ); William E. Justis (vibraphone); John W. Greubel, James Wilkerson, Alex Jackson , J.M. Van Eaton, Buddy Harman (drums).
Liner Note Author: Hank Davis.
Recording information: Phillips Studio, Nashville, TN; RCA Victor Studio, Nashville, TN; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN.
Illustrators: Colin Escott; R.A. Andreas; Hank Davis.
Photographers: Colin Escott; R.A. Andreas; Hank Davis.
In contrast to the Charly label's Charlie Rich compilation, THE COMPLETE SUN MASTERS, released at just about the same time in mid-2009, Bear Family's CHARLIE ROCKS goes one step further and includes some of Rich's eclectic, unclassifiable recordings from his Smash Records tenure in the mid-'60s, including strikingly good soul-country songs like "Mohair Sam" and "I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water." The earlier Sun rockabilly hits are all here, of course--"Lonely Weekends," "Rebound," Break-up"--oddly Elvis-like in vocal approach yet much more adult in feeling, which was both Charlie Rich's blessing and his curse. It wasn't till the Nashville of the '70s that this singer-pianist's particular brand of musical and emotional sophistication began to be appreciated.