A big star on both sides of the Atlantic in the pre-rock'n'roll 1950s - and a big favourite of our late Queen and her sister Princess Margaret - Tennessee Ernie Ford was making hillbilly records that rocked long before that term became common currency, post-Elvis. Ernie is no stranger to the Jasmine catalogue, with several other compilations preceding the release of this new special 'concept collection'.
Acknowledging the impact made by his early Capitol Records hits, Ernie's original 1957 album "Ol' Rockin' Ern" revisited and presented a dozen of his late 40s and early 50s hillbilly classics in a more contemporary, rock 'n' roll-friendly format. It has not been available in its original form since Jasmine's Stetson label last reissued it, on vinyl, almost 40 years ago!
This expanded CD release brings you that original album in its original running order, followed by Ernie's pioneering hillbilly boogie versions of the same songs, presented in the same running order as the later versions and allowing you the opportunity to enjoy "Ol' Rockin' Ern" and young rockin' Ern in whichever format takes your fancy.
There's also the further bonus of several more up-tempo tracks that have not appeared on any of Jasmine's previous Ernie compilations. For many in the UK, Ernie's invigorating 78s would have been their first exposure to what was then called 'hillbilly' music. There were no pop charts when many of his biggest sellers were first issued, but you can be sure that most if not all of the original versions here would have made the Top 20 if we'd had such a thing back then.
Jasmine is more than happy to expand its Ernie catalogue with another fine collection of his work, and one that truly lives up to its title!
