The Female Elvis: Complete Recordings 1956-60

by Janis Martin

Overview

Thirty songs, and not a loser in the bunch. This little lady rocks -- hard -- and she doesn't start to slow down until 21 songs in. The best is sort of like Elvis' early RCA sides, only better, mixed with some wildness that makes one wonder if Sun Records wouldn't have been a better home for her. As it happens, Martin is a good enough singer that even the slow ballads like "Cry Guitar" and "One More Year to Go" come off well -- she had a rich, strong, slightly throaty voice that would have allowed her to make it in country music, or even pop (check out the Duke Ellington-authored "Squeeze Me") as easily as rock & roll, if that was what she wanted. What's more, she could write songs as well, and that was pretty rare for female performers of the time; her originals here compare pretty favorably with standards like "Ooby Dooby." "Blues Keep Calling" is a hot number in any discography. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	05/12/1994
Label:	Bear Family Records
UPC:	4000127154064

Tracks

1. Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll
2. Will You, Willyum
3. Love and Kisses
4. My Boy Elvis
5. Cracker Jack
6. Bang Bang
7. Ooby Dooby
8. Barefoot Baby
9. Good Love
10. Little Bit
11. Two Long Years
12. All Right, Baby
13. Billy Boy, My Billy Boy
14. Let's Elope Baby
15. Love Me, Love
16. Love Me to Pieces
17. William
18. Here Today and Gone Tomorrow
19. Teen Street
20. Hard Times Ahead
21. Cry Guitar
22. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
23. One More Year to Go
24. Blues Keep Calling
25. Please Be My Love
26. I Don't Hurt Anymore
27. Half Loved
28. My Confession
29. I'll Never Be Free
30. Love Me, Love

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Janis Martin   Primary Artist,Vocals
Shorty Long   Guest Artist,Piano
Floyd Cramer   Guest Artist,Piano
Chet Atkins   Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Buddy Harman   Drums
Dave Rich   Guitar (Rhythm)
Grady Martin   Bass,Guitar (Rhythm)
Norris "Bunny" Shawker   Drums
Al Chernet   Guitar
George Barnes   Guitar
Charles Randolph Grean   Bass
Bob Moore   Bass

Technical Credits

Glenn Tilbrook   Composer
Adam Komorowski   Photography
George David Weiss   Composer
Dale Fitzsimmons   Composer
Bob Jones   Digital Mastering
Clarence Williams   Composer
Alan Penner   Composer
Bob Allen   Liner Notes,Liner Notes
Stanley   Composer
Sonny Bono   Composer
Steve Sholes   Producer
Sonny Curtis   Composer
Bob Davie   Composer
Bob Wills   Composer
Boudleaux Bryant   Composer
Chet Atkins   Leader,Producer
Chris Difford   Composer
Duke Ellington   Composer
Jack Rollins   Composer
Bennie Benjamin   Composer
Fats Waller   Composer
Charles Randolph Grean   Leader,Composer
Gary Taylor   Composer
Don Robertson   Composer
Wayde Lee Moore   Composer
Janis Martin   Composer
Lee Gaines   Composer
Dick Glasser   Composer
Dick Penner   Composer
Heather Lewis   Composer
Jon Broven   Photography
Bob Moore   Composer
Wade Moore   Composer
Diethold Leu   Photography
Carl Stutz   Composer
Hans Peter Zdrenka   Photography
Claude de Metruis   Composer
Sherman   Composer
Ray Stanley   Composer
Melvin Endsley   Composer
J. Stone   Composer
Hugh Ashley   Composer
Mark Harris   Composer