Additional information
Recorded between 1956 and March 1962. Personnel: Brenda Lee (vocals); Dorothy Ann Dillard, Neal Matthews, Jr., William Guilford Wright, Jr., Hugh Gordon Stoker, Ray C. Walker, Louis Dean Nunley, Millie Kirkham (vocals); Grady Martin (guitar, electric guitar); Herschel Hewarth, Edward O'Conner, Ray Edenton (guitar); Hank Garland, Al Caiola (electric guitar); Don Helms, Buddy Emmons (steel guitar); Howard Carpenter (violin, viola); Lillian Hunt, Ovid Collins, Lillian Vannhunt, Verna Richardson, Solie Fott, George Binkley III, Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower (violin); Byron Bach (cello); Charlie McCoy (harmonica); Homer Randolph, Sam "The Man" Taylor (saxophone); William K. McElhiney, Carl Garvin (trumpet); Gene A. Mullins (trombone); Floyd Cramer, Marvin H. Hughes, Andrew Ackers, Owen Bradley (piano); Nicholas Tagg (organ); Harold Bradley (electric bass); Douglas Kirkham, John W. Greubel, Jimmy Crawford , Farris Coursey (drums). Audio Mixer: Paul Elmore. Liner Note Author: Paul Kingsbury. Recording information: Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville, TN (07/30/1956-03/08/1962); Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, TN (07/30/1956-03/08/1962); Pythian Temple, New York, NY (07/30/1956-03/08/1962). Illustrator: R.A. Andreas. Photographer: R.A. Andreas. In the late '50s, rock & roll was growing desperate for fresh blood. Elvis was in the army, Little Richard had returned to the church, and both Jerry Lee and Chuck Berry had fallen from grace, replaced by such banal pop stars as Frankie Avalon and Paul Anka. One voice, however, rose above the dross to provide the world with a much-needed adrenaline infusion. That voice belonged to Little Miss Dynamite, the diminutive Brenda Lee. For much of the early '60s, Lee peppered the charts with a mix of high-octane rockers and epic ballads, all masterfully produced by Owen Bradley (best known for his work with Patsy Cline). Bear Family's four-disc LITTLE MISS DYNAMITE collects every Lee studio recording from this period (1957-1962). The size and thoroughness of this collection is aimed primarily at hardcore fans, and such fans will not be disappointed by this set. The music, from the 18 A-side hits to the B-sides and album tracks to unreleased throwaways, is consistently excellent, as is Bear Family's always-impeccable mastering and packaging. As an added bonus, the set comes with an 84-page hardcover book crammed with rare photos.
