Booklet includes list of tracks and points of interest.
- “One More Shot At Loving You” – There is an old maxim which says, “All things get better with age.” Well, that certainly works for Carl Perkins’ songwriting skills. While the early classics are just that, “classic,” this 1996 composition also fits in that category. Stan and I are honored to be standing side by side in Patrick McGuire Recording singing our hearts out for Carl Perkins. It’s simply “One More Shot at Loving Carl.”
- “Can’t Stop, Got A Rock In My Shoe” – Burning the midnight oil in search of the perfect material to pay tribute to the Godfather of Rockabilly is challenging at the best. But, finding a jewel in the sand is exhilarating. Billy Burnette comes from great writing stock, and his get-down-funky-blues song about a rock in his shoe was an extraordinary find. Carl Perkins – “Shoe” – “Got A Rock in My Shoe” – Get it? Well if you don’t get it, you will when you turn this track up and melt down with the rhythm. It’s Carl Perkins sweet!
- “Put Your Cat Clothes On” – How and why Sam Phillips didn’t hear this January 1957 recording as a super hit for Carl Perkins is beyond me. Especially when it’s clearly one of Carl’s best Rockabilly performances enhanced by the killer-super-session-piano-stomper, Jerry Lee Lewis. Stan and I have dug deep to give it the performance it deserves, and the “Blue” band has really done their stuff with supercharged excellence. Get ready to rock for Carl, and by the way, “Put your cat clothes on ‘cause tonight we’re gonna really rock it right.”
- “Rock And Roll Rhythm” – When the next generation flourishes in the shadow of its father, the progeny replicates the originator. Or in lay terms, Stan Perkins inherited regal talent. Listen closely to “Rock and Roll Rhythm” and you’ll see exactly what I am talking about. This is Carl’s son at his best, and that ain’t far from the original. I love this song, and I loved performing it with Carl Stanley Perkins.
- “All Mama’s Children” – Oh, how I’d loved to have been in the same room as these two rockers, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, when they were writing “All Mama’s Children” in 1956. That had to be one super-fun experience. They were best friends, and one can only imagine how the seed for this classic was germinated and which of these two giants was the “germinator.” What we know is what we hear, and that’s a blast! I know one thing for sure, Stan and I are two of mama’s children and we’re gonna roll, gonna rock, gonna bop ‘til we pop, yeah, all mama’s children are gonna rock!
- “Precious Memories” – Carl Perkins is on record as saying that he loved Southern Gospel and it greatly influenced all of his music. “Precious Memories” and “I’ll Fly Away” were two of Carl’s most favorite gospel songs of all time. So, here we go moving emotionally back to those old cotton fields where it first started for a six-year-old Carl, and we’re gonna humbly pay tribute to Carl’s Precious Memories.
- “Gone, Gone, Gone” – Elvis was still at Sun in the summer of ’55 when Carl put pencil to paper and wrote “Gone, Gone, Gone.” Sam had Carl’s Rockabilly spirit chained down because of Elvis and only allowed him to record “Hillbilly Country” songs. Carl sneaked this through with “Let the Jukebox Keep on Playing,” and now it’s recognized as a true Rockabilly classic. Stan and I suggest you let the box just keep on playing,and you’ll see why we had to include this in Carl’s special tribute.
- “You The Mama Of My Song” – How often would the opportunity present itself to perform with the sons of two regal giants of Rockabilly? Well, God blessed me greatly and allowed it to happen on this track. Ronnie Self, the rockin’ wild man of Rockabilly wrote this one-of-a-kind classic for Carl Perkins, and Carl jumped all over it. So here we are — Roman Self, son of Ronnie; Carl Stanley Perkins, son of Carl; and this old Cricket ripping through “You the Mama” just for fun and in tribute to these two amazing Rockabilly legends. Enjoy!
- “E.P. Express” – Speaking of fun. How much fun did Carl have writing a song made up of a patchwork of Elvis Presley hit record titles? Carl once said in the beginning, when he and Elvis were touring those high school sock hops around Memphis and upper Mississippi, that he studied Elvis very, very closely trying to find fault with him. He quickly says he found none and goes on with a long speech on how talented Presley really is. Here’s Carl’s fun tribute to Elvis Presley hits and our tribute to Carl and the Jordanaires for such a great recording.
- “You Can Do No Wrong” – This Carl Perkins song is truly an understatement. Carl, your son Stan and I want to go on musical record emphatically singing loudly that YOU CAN DO NO WRONG!
- “Rockabilly Fever” – This is undoubtedly the main theme for our tribute to the Rockabilly Legends, and indeed it must have come roaring out of Memphis like a hurricane or a Texas tornado when Carl wrote this amazing rocker. Everything about this song is pure perfection, and “Yes, they called it Rockabilly long before they called it Rock and Roll!”
- “On My Knees” – Carl Stanley Perkins was tearfully watching the early morning network television news report of his father’s funeral from the previous day, when God gently placed His hand upon him and gave Stan the lyric and melody of “On My Knees.” This is undoubtedly one of the most precious gifts one could receive, and we give thanks for it.
BONUS TRACKS:
- “Blue Suede Shoes” – Carl Perkins Live – You are about to experience intimate “musical” excellence as you have never heard it before. This is a rare live performance by Carl with just his little gut string guitar. He explains the situation well, and you will thank him for dropping by to share it with you.
- “Mr. Bill” – Carl Perkins Live – Carl Perkins loved Bill Monroe and was heavily influenced by him throughout his career. In this rare, never-before-heard live performance, Carl pays tribute to his hero and explains how blessed we are to have Rockabilly. P.S. We will never forget how greatly blessed we are to have had Carl Perkins.
