Sonny Burgess (Rounder, 1996)

Rockabilly pioneer Sonny Burgess barely sounds like a week has gone by since he stepped into Sun Records in 1956 and recorded such rockabilly classics as "Red-Headed Woman" and "We Wanna Boogie." And he certainly doesn't sound like it was 40 (!) years ago.

This is a terrific album and one of the very finest new albums you'll hear by an original fifties rockabilly artist in 1996. It's so good, in fact, that it seems unfair to just pick out a few songs as highlights. Bruce Springsteen contributes a previously unreleased song, "Tiger Rose," which suits Burgess' style perfectly, as do Dave Alvin's contribution, the honky-tonk "Six Nights a Week" and Radney Foster's "You Tear Me Up."

The production by ex-Springsteen bassist Garry Tallent (who also contributes acoustic guitar and a little bass) is crystal clear but never attempts to tame the power that only a top-notch rockabilly band can put across. Roy Huskey's standup bass comes through as loud and clear as does Burgess' own lead guitar work. Put the chairs on the table, roll up the rugs, and start dancin' - you need this album!