Additional informationPersonnel includes: Ray Smith (vocals); Stanley Walker, Dean Perkins, Brad Suggs, Billy Riley, Hank Garland, Grady Martin, Chet Atkins (guitar); Stan Kesler (steel guitar, bass); Boots Randolph (tenor saxophone); Bill Justis (trumpet); Charlie Rich, Hargus "Pig" Robbins, Floyd Cramer, Ray Stevens (piano); James Webb, Cliff Acred, Lightnin' Chance (bass); Gary Diamond, Jimmy Van Eaton, Buddy Harman (drums); Jordanaires, Anita Kerr Singers, Bud Logan, Confederates (background vocals). Recorded at 706 Union, Memphis, Tennessee between 1958 and 1959; RCA Studio, Nashville, Tennessee between 1959 and 1960; Owen Bradley Studio, Nashville, Tennessee in 1961 and 1963; Sun Studio, Nashville, Tennessee in 1961. Includes liner notes by Adam Komorowski. Digitally remastered by Peter Rynston at Charly Studios, London, England. Shake Around collects 21 of Smith's Sun recordings and two sides of a single on Veejay. His hit "Rockin' Little Angel" on Judd, a label run by Sam Phillips' brother, isn't included, but several revered rockabilly tracks are present ("Shake Around," "Willing and Ready"). Smith vacillated between teen-oriented pop and Elvis-influenced rock & roll and was sometimes artistically successful with both. Many Charlie Rich compositions are featured, as are a handful of recordings by Ray Rockin' Smyth & the Rockin' Rockers, who may or may not be Ray Smith. Anyone hungry for vintage Sun recordings will enjoy at least some of this package, as will rockabilly collectors. ~ Greg Adams
Number of discs1