This two-disc set contains 47 tracks of vintage early rock & roll from the vaults of Ron Dalton's Viking Records, New Zealand's largest independent label. A lot of the cuts are covers of American hits, and may suffer somewhat in comparison to the originals, but nothing here is embarrassing, and at times, as in Dinah Lee's version of Ricky Nelson's "I'm Walkin'" (which grafts the song over the top of a speeded-up rhythm track based on
the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand"), things get pretty interesting. There are several R&B/surf instrumentals here as well, including guitar wiz Peter Posa's wonderful and kinetic "The White Rabbit." Judge Waynes' sneering vocal on "Little Miss Rhythm & Blues" makes it another highlight. Fans of early rock & roll will find a lot to like on these two discs, and these tracks serve to remind listeners that rock & roll became a global phenomenon almost right from the start. ~ Steve Leggett