The catalog numbers of the discs 1-9 are BCD 16438-1 IL - BCD 16438-9 IL.
Johnny Burnette was at the heart of rock 'n' roll music for almost ten years, and had a leading role in most of the changes that overtook the music from the dawn of rockabilly to the British Invasion. Now his music from those incredible years is complete for the first time!
Johnny Bumette was one of the very few Memphis rockabillies actually born in Memphis. Many rank his 1956 and 1957 Rock 'n' Roll Trio recordings as the finest in all of rockabilly. The explosiveness and youthful energy truly heralded a new era in music, and the Trio's impact is felt to this day. But there was much more to Johnny Burnette, and it's all here on 9 CDs.
Here is his very first record from 1955 as well as all of the Rock 'n' Roll Trio recordings complete with alternate takes, and all of Johnny's Hollywood recordings, plus one hundred rare or unissued demos.
Johnny and his brother Dorsey began their west coast career writing songs for Ricky Nelson (Believe What You Say, It's Late, etc.). Johnny recorded for Nelson's label, Imperial, in 1958, then switched to Freedom/Liberty Records later that year. During his four years on Liberty, he scored several worldwide smash hits that defined the early Sixties, including Dreamin', You're Sixteen, Little Boy Sad, and Big Big World. All the issued and previously unissued Liberty recordings are here, complete for the first time.
After leaving Liberty in 1962, he recorded for Chancellor (seven unissued Chancellor recordings are included here), Reprise, and then Capitol. The Capitol sessions are complete at last, too. Finally, Johnny recorded for his own label, Sahara/Magic Lamp, before dying tragically in a boating accident in 1964.
In addition to all of the session recordings, this exclusive boxed set includes three CDs of demos that Johnny recorded with Eddie Cochran, his brother Dorsey, and others. It also includes his instrumental recordings for Infinity and Gothic, as well as Dorsey's rockabilly classic Bertha Lou (featuring Johnny on guitar and background vocals).
