Eddie Cochran: Guitar Picker  Castle Music CMXBX1452

“What a stellar release... a perfect addition to the EMI 4CD set... this 2CD digipack from Castle is nigh perfect. Over the decades we have been most fortunate to benefit from the dogged and dedicated research by Rockstar's Tony Barrett and this set compiled by the Duke of Rockstar himself and Sam Szczepanski is a stunning tribute to the young geetar slinger from Albert Lea.

The marvellous packaging itself is reason enough for purchasing, the cover artwork has that great colour outdoor shot of the be-denimed Gretsch god and the title is most apt.

It's almost a best of Rockstar (yes, we could all pick slightly different tracks but the playing order is great) there are 50 tracks, 48 musical and two interviews with a hidden bonus live cut of 'C'mon Everybody' from Boy Meets Girls at the end. The photos/label shots etc are really well chosen and this large digi double CD size gives better justice to one of the most photogenic of them all rather than those cramped single CD booklets which make one pine for London/Liberty/Rockstar LPs.

The musical content shows all the different aspects of the multi talented Californian 'Citizen Gretsch', session man, country and proto rockabilly duo, studio experimenter, instrumentalist, fame seeking teenager, established million seller, consummate live performer, wonderful TV star and articulate interviewee. All in great sound quality or historically interesting enough to warrant inclusion.

The waters in the Cochran well will run dry eventually but Tony B. has given us one hell of a rocket ride along the way. The icing on the cake has to be the lavishly and luxuriously illustrated 34 page booklet annotated in superlative style by the ever reliable Stu Colman, absolutely spot on, informative and educational to read.

Thanks to all concerned with this project on behalf of Cochran fans across the world, I hope it garners the sales it deserves. I've probably worn out my copy from endless repeat play. Stuff yer downloads - a package like this is always most welcome, the reissue of the year, any year, sod the Brit Awards this really is somethin' else.”

Phil Davies, www.eddiecochran.info

“Elvis may have been the ultimate voice of rock'n'roll but Eddie Cochran wrote some of the most iconic songs. Guitar Picker charts his career from hillbilly origins as one half of the Cochran Brothers through to his first solo rocker, 'Skinny Jim', for Crest Records, while taking in other artists' recordings on which he played guitar, up until he signed with Liberty for his hit-making period. In addition, there's an excerpt from a 1957 interview plus several recordings from British radio and TV programmes such as Saturday Club and Boy Meets Girls.”
three starsRecord Collector

Far from being the usual hits package, this well-executed two-disc set - complete with 30-page booklet pulls together rare recordings from Eddie's time in the Cochran Brothers alongside session work, radio and live recordings.
HMV Choice

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