Rock [Bear Family]

Recording information: Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (02/07/1958); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (02/07/1958); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (02/07/1958); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (02/07/1958); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (02/07/1958); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (02/07/1958); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (02/07/1958); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (02/07/1958); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (03/06/1959); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (03/06/1959); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (03/06/1959); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (03/06/1959); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (03/06/1959); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (03/06/1959); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (03/06/1959); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (03/06/1959); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (04/16/1957); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (04/16/1957); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (04/16/1957); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (04/16/1957); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (04/16/1957); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (04/16/1957); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (04/16/1957); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (04/16/1957); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (04/21/1955); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (04/21/1955); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (04/21/1955); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (04/21/1955); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (04/21/1955); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (04/21/1955); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (04/21/1955); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (04/21/1955); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (05/??/1958/06/28/1962); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (06/28/1953); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (06/28/1953); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (06/28/1953); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (06/28/1953); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (06/28/1953); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (06/28/1953); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (06/28/1953); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (06/28/1953); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (08/09/1953-08/06/1956); Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY (09/19/1955); Audio Video Recording Co. Inc., New York, NY (09/19/1955); Bell Sound Studio, New York, NY (09/19/1955); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (09/19/1955); Coastal Recording Co., New York, NY (09/19/1955); Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA (09/19/1955); Perch Recording Studio, New York, NY (09/19/1955); Sun Recording Studio, Memphis, TN (09/19/1955).
Illustrators: Bill Millar; Ray Funk; Steve Richards ; R.A. Andreas.
Photographers: Bill Millar; Ray Funk; Steve Richards ; R.A. Andreas.
Bear Family's 2013 collection Rock rounds up 32 of the rocking-est sides the Drifters cut between 1953 and 1963, otherwise known as their glory years for Atlantic. The hits are here, including "Let the Boogie Woogie Roll," "Honey Honey," Such a Night," and "Ruby Baby," along with some rarities, all coming in the form of alternate takes, but this isn't best seen as either a hits collection (major hits like "This Magic Moment, "Save the Last Dance for Me," and "Up on the Roof" are all missing) or a rarities trawl, but rather a disc that shines the spotlight on the Drifters' wildest, swinging moments, and on that level it succeeds beautifully. Overall it's a bunch of fun, but the greatest thing about the disc is how it pushes neglected gems like the swinging "I Gotta Get Myself a Woman," the rampaging "Baltimore," and the gritty novelty blues of "Steamboat" to the forefront. Anybody who knows just the hits but wants to dig deeper will be well-served by this collection ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine