Description
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into earth’s orbit, the satellite’s ascendancy officially commencing the Space Age.
Naturally, rock and rollers inclined toward social commentary offered their own musical spin
on the interplanetary action, as did singers from other genres—country, R&B, pop, surf, and
a number of styles in between. They’re all represented on this galactic Bear Family compilation, from rockabillies Joe Montgomery, Carl Mann, and Jerry Engler to R&B stalwarts Danny Overbea, Paul Perryman, Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley, and velvet-voiced Jesse Belvin.
Songs about satellites sail skyward, interspersed with high-flying instrumentals by Jimmie Haskell, percussionist Bobby Christian, and the mysterious Comrade X (Dorsey Burnette was involved).
Vocal groups have their say via Vernon Green and The Medallions, The Equadors, and The 3 Honeydrops, while Young John Watson’s 1954 instrumental masterpiece Space Guitar and mind-boggling wordless workouts by country guitar genius Jimmy Bryant and steel guitar wizard Speedy West are genuinely otherworldly. Take a wild ride into the stratosphere!
Various – Memorial Series – Sputnik! – The Launch of the Space Race (CD) CD 1
01 Men Into Space Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra
02 There Goes Sputnik The Teen-Clefs
03 Planetary Run Joe Montgomery
04 Sputniks And Mutniks Ray Anderson & The Home Folks
05 Stratosphere Boogie Jimmy Bryant with Speedy West
06 Space Age Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley & His Crew
07 Gonna Build A Rocket Galen Denny
08 My Satellite Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders
09 Satellite No. 2 Carl Mann
10 Satellite Fever – Asiatic Flu Paul Perryman
11 Rockin’ Satellite The 3 Honeydrops
12 Sputnik Dance The Equadors
13 Space Time Danny Overbea
14 Sputnik (Satellite Girl) Jerry Engler & The Four Ekkos
15 The Sputnik Story Bill Thomas
16 Rocket Ship Vernon Green & The Medallions
17 Theme From Spacenik Comrade X
18 Weightless Blues Jimmy Haskell & His Orchestra
19 Count Down – Flight Into Orbit Bobby Christian & His Orchestra
20 Rocking To Telstar Cees & His Skyliners
21 Space Guitar Young John Watson
22 Space Man In Orbit Speedy West
23 Rocket Race Charlie Ryan
24 Astrosonic Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra
25 Journey To The Stars The Nocturnes
26 Sputnik Los Loud Jets
27 Static The Velvetones
28 Shooting Stars Dick Jacobs & His Orchestra
29 Up There In Orbit Earl Bostic
GENRE: R&B/Rockabilly/Instrumental
BARCODE: 4000127176943