The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy is a studio album by American recording artist Wanda Jackson. It was released in 1997 via Elap Music and contained eleven tracks of material. The album was a collection of Rockabilly recordings, most of which were new to Jackson's catalog. The disc was the second Jackson recorded with rock group The Alligators. It was released exclusively for the European market.
| The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
| Studio | Pek Farm Studio | |||
| Genre | Rockabilly[1] | |||
| Label | Elap | |||
| Producer | Morten Kjeldsen | |||
| Wanda Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background, content and release
editWith a series of songs beginning in the 1950s, Wanda Jackson became among the first women to have commercial success in Country and Rockabilly music. Her most popular singles included "Let's Have a Party", "Right or Wrong" and "The Box It Came In". She left secular music in the 1970s and recorded a series of gospel albums before returning to rock in the 1980s. She was sought out by European fans and promoters and continued a steady fan base overseas.[2][3] In 1994, she met Danish rock band The Alligators and released an album with them in 1995.[4] The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy would be her second collaboration with The Alligators. On the album's release, the band was not given dual credit.[1]
Jackson recorded the project alongside Alligators member Morten Kjeldsen serving as producer. The group served as her backing band on the album, similar to her previous release with the group.[1][4] The album was recorded at the Pek Farm Studio located in Ormslev, Denmark. A total of 11 Rockabilly numbers were chosen for the album, which included a re-recording of Jackson's 1958 single "Fujiyama Mama".[5] She also re-recorded "Rip It Up", which originally appeared on her 1964 studio album Two Sides of Wanda.[6] Jackson also cut "Rockabilly Fever" again, which first appeared on her 1984 album of the same name.[7] Remaining songs were new to Jackson's catalog, including a cover of Tanya Tucker's "Walking Shoes" and Jann Browne's "You Ain't Down Home". The album was released in 1997 on the Elap Music label. It was issued as a compact disc only for the European market.[1]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rock 'a' Billy Fever" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Rip It Up" | 2:34 |
| 3. | "Walking Shoes" | 2:34 |
| 4. | "Find Out What's Happening" | 3:05 |
| 5. | "Rockin' Little Angel" | 2:36 |
| 6. | "Honey, Love Will" | 2:50 |
| 7. | "Did I Tell You?" | 2:24 |
| 8. | "A Blue Guitar" | 2:08 |
| 9. | "Fujiyama Mama" | 2:14 |
| 10. | "You Ain't Down Home" | 3:45 |
| 11. | "One Night" | 2:40 |
Personnel
editAll credits are adapted from the liner notes of The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy.[1]
Musical personnel
The Alligators (see below)
- Olle Ballund – Background vocals, drums
- Jens Dan – Acoustic guitar, background vocals, bass
- Morten Kjeldsen – Background vocals, guitar
- Wanda Jackson – Lead vocals
- Niels Mathiasen – Tenor saxophone
- Stan Urban – Accordion, piano
Technical personnel
- Morten Kjeldsen – Mixing, producer
- Jørn Sørensen – Engineering, mixing
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 1997 | Compact disc | Elap Music | [1] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Jackson, Wanda (1997). "The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Elap Music. 41645-CD.
- ^ Wolff, Kurt. "Wanda Jackson: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- ^ Bomar, Scott; Jackson, Wanda (2017). Every night is Saturday night : a country girl's journey to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. United States: BMG. pp. 281–283. ISBN 9781947026070.
- ^ a b Jackson, Wanda (1995). "Let's Have a Party (CD Liner Notes and Album Information)". Elap Music/Success Records. 16239-CD.
- ^ Jackson, Wanda (December 1957). ""Fujiyama Mama"/"No Wedding Bells for Me" (7" vinyl single)". Capitol Records. F3843.
- ^ Jackson, Wanda (March 1964). "Two Sides of Wanda (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Capitol Records. T-2030.
- ^ Jackson, Wanda (1984). "Rockabilly Fever (LP Liner Notes and Album Information)". Tab Records. TAB-LP-8404.