JOHNNY BURNETTE AND THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TRIO
SHATTERED DREAMS - THE RISE AND FALL OF THE JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO

Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette, and guitarist Paul Burlison recorded some of the wildest, most primitive rockabilly sides of the 1950's. Cut from the same cloth as fellow Memphians Elivs Presley, Scotty Moore, and Bill Black. They blended raw-edged folk, blues, and country to forge rockabilly music of the most passionate variety. On guitar, Burlison - a white guy who once worked behind the curtain for bluesman Howling wolf - played with simple, liberating fury. His fuzz-tone lead breaks - sometimes credited to studio ace Grady Martin - screamed off the records as Johnny yelped like a sex-starved prisoner through "The Train Kept A-Rollin'," "Tear It Up," "Rock Billy Boogie," "Honey Hush," and "Please Don't Leave Me."

Their best work for Coral happily resides on this well-annotated two-disc set that collects rarely heard alternate takes, a live Alan Freed show appearance, and an ultra-rare early single. Better still, the bonus DVD houses the only know surviving footage of the group on national television.

Musically, the Rock 'N' Roll Trio were wilder than Presley and The Blue Moon boys, but never displayed one iota of their musical depth. They could rock the blues, but not much else at this juncture. ndeed, such pop contrivances of "Shattered Dreams" and "I Love You So" pale when compared to their delightfully thuggish remakes of Big Joe Turner's "Honey Hush," Sticks McGee's "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee," and Fats Domino's "Please Don't Leave Me."

Further, the inclusion of their 1955 Von waxings of "You're Undecided" and "Go Mule," tends to disprove the claim that they knew how to rock before the King led the way. This in no way diminishes their musical achievements. For while Elivs, Scotty & Bill defined rockabilly, the Burnettes and Burlison were virtually creating punk rock.

Eventually, the group disabanded and both Burnettes enjoyed national solo chart success singing straighter versions of pop and country. Most rockabilly fans wince when they hear Johnny's recordings of "You're Sixteen" and "Dreamin'." Doubtless, these hardcore enthusiasts will enjoy viewing the DVD that contains the Rock 'N' Roll Trio's appearance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.

Sponsored by Geritol - which is no longer available in its alcohol-laced liquid form - the Amateur Hour was a hold-over from radio. A talent contest that genuinely relied on mailed votes from the audience, it featured singers, dancer, comedians, impressionists, novelty acts and occasional rock 'n' rollers. The episode seen here was a contest finale and the Trio's third and final appearance.

The acts presented are remarkably entertaining from a nostalgic point of view. A barefoot young woman does an eccentric dance as she pantomimes "Two to Tango." A harpist plucks his instrument with a seemingly inappropriate swing beat. Best of all, a one-legged tap-dancer on crutches steals the show. Seen in this eclectic company, the Rock 'N' Roll Trio lacked polish.

Greasy and cute, Johnny was surprisingly short and, as was common in early TV, Dorsey's bass playing is inaudible. Speaking for the group, Burlison quips that he and Elivs worked at Crown Electric together and, "His hair was a little too long." Then the Trio launches into a raving - albeit grooveless - rendition of Presley's "Hound Dog." The girls scream and the applause is strong, but the Trio does not emerge triumphant.

Ironically, the names of the Amateur Hour winners have been lost to history By contrast, reissues of the Rock 'N' roll Trio's recordings continually inspires new generations of roots rockers. Stuffed with hard-charging cathartic rockabilly, this excellent compilation, provides historical context while managing to sound better in these time than when the music was first created. - Ken Burke