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Personnel includes: Janis Martin (vocals, guitar); Thomas Grady Martin (guitar, bass); George Barnes, Al Chernet, Tony Mottola, Danny Peri, Hank Garland, Jimmy Atkins, Dave Rich, Chet Atkins (guitar); George Berg (tenor saxophone); Andy Ackers, Joe Harnell, Floyd Cramer, Shorty Long (piano); Boyce Hawkins (organ); Sam Bruno, Arnold Fishkin, Bob Moore, Charles Grean (bass); Bunny Shawker, Murray M. "Buddy" Harman (drums); Jala Divigard, Jim Farmer, Bettye McCormick, Melvin Little Ryan, Jerry Duane, Marge Murphy, Dot Evans, Lew Anderson, Bob Miller (background vocals). The Jordanaires: Neal Matthews, Jr., Hoyt H. Hawkins, Raymond C. Walker, Hugh Gordon Stoker. Producers: Steve Sholes, Jeff Kluger, Chet Atkins. Recorded at RCA Victor Studios and Owen Bradley Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee; RCA Victor Studio 1 and RCA Victor Studio 3, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Bob Allen. Digitally remastered by Bob Jones. The only female rocker of the 1950s to blow Wanda Jackson out of the water, Janis Martin earned her moniker as "the female Elvis." The truth in that claim can be heard on this excellent compilation of her complete works, all of which were recorded between 1956 and 1960. Personnel: Janis Martin (vocals); George Barnes, Al Chernet (guitar); Chet Atkins (electric guitar); Floyd Cramer, Shorty Long (piano); Norris "Bunny" Shawker, Buddy Harman (drums). Liner Note Authors: Bob Allen; Bob Allen. Photographers: Hans Peter Zdrenka; Diethold Leu; Jon Broven; Adam Komorowski. 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
