Jackson, Wanda
There's A Party Goin' On
The first female singer of the early rock and roll era, Wanda was encouraged to try rock and roll by Elvis Presley himself. It was 1955 when Wanda met Elvis during the 'Ozark Jubilee,' a country tour through the south. She didn't think she had the voice for it, but he disagreed. He even recommended some songs for her. At first she was reluctant, but she signed a recording contract with Capitol and decided to give it a try. During the next few years, Wanda produced numerous examples of raw, prototypical rock & roll. The most distinctive aspect was her voice. She developed a wild, growling sound that at times sounds possessed or strangely alien, capable of going from sweet innocence to hellcat at the push of a button. Originally released in 1959 during the 'Queen of Rockabilly's' prime at Capitol Records, There's A Party Goin' On features a solid collection of songs in tune with the title track as well as covers of a handful of early rock hits such as 'Tweedlee Dee' and 'Kansas City.' The set is highlighted by the staggering guitar playing of Roy Clark as exemplified on the standout cut 'Hard Headed Woman. Reissued on 180 gram LP with download card and 2 bonus tracks.