Band(s) : (Various Artists)

Album title : Rock 'N Roll Is In My Soul

Label : Wolverine

Distributor : Sonic Rendezvous

Release date : 21/03/2008

Release : 2-CD Compilation

Hum...you know something? I hàte this kind of releases, where the title and cover artwork will make you believe that the music within the CD must be of a certain type. Then, when the unaware (and possibly uninitated) possible music fan interested into acquiring a compilation full of music from the Psychobilly and/or Rockabilly genre...as suggested by title and artwork, you know...checks to see what's on the CD from the back cover of the album, he'll find out there's a "bonus" disc (hooray!) including a Pop-Punk section (with 8 bands) as well as separate sections for Ska (3 bands), HC/ Crossover (another 6 bands) and finally one for Neo-Swing/ Rockabilly (6 bands).

But the truth of the matter is that this is "merely" a label compilation, so even disc one has bands from the previously named genres mixed onto disc one! Nothing wrong with that, I only hope that the retail version of the album will include a sticker explicitly informing the possible buyer that this is indeed a label compilation...with tracks by some of the bands which are either rare ( Francine 's "She Bop" , Johnny Rocket 's "Who's Your Daddy" , and The Booze Brothers ' "Casual Irony" ), previously unavailable in Europe ( Big John Bates ' "Mystiki" , Gutter Demons ' "Psych-O-Rama" , The Dino Martinis ' "Madrugada" , Benuts ' "Chop Off" , Attaque 77 's "Ejercito de Salvacion" , and The Ripmen 's "Crawfish" ), and previously unreleased ( Turbonegra 's "Denim Demon" , Mr. Bubble B. 's "Ain't Too Old For Rock 'n' Roll" , Sarah Blackwood 's "Trainwreck" , The Bullocks ' "She Is Dead" , The Clerks ' "Skatris" , Helldriver 's "Herz" , The Popzillas ' "We're Through" , and Sic Hanna & The Creepy Formula 's "Burn In Hell" ...with only a few acts ( The Spookshow , Ahead To The Sea , Thee Exit Wound , Out Of Luck , Muff , The Heroines , The Buckshots , and Across The Border ) on that first disc bringing songs that could already be found on (one of) their regular European releases. Of course, all 23 tracks on the "bonus" disc do come off normal releases as well...

...but the musical landscape promoted by this label is slightly broader than suggested by the sections indicated on that second disk. Add acoustic singer-songwriter stuff ( Sarah Blackwood and Sic Hanna ), Folk Punk ( Ahead To The Sea , Square The Circle on disc 2) on top of the already mentioned Neo-Swing, Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Ska Punk, melodic (Pop) Punk Rock, more Rock oriented Punk...and you'll get a more acurate of the rather diverse Rock field the label deals in. The booklet brings an introductory explanation written by one Tom Tonk (the text being in German, and me having to work my way through several ideas of how to get this review down – plus a work-load which you simply wouln't believe – have prevented me from reading that bit of the booklet), liner notes for each song on the two album (which I díd read), and a complete list of all releases by Wolverine and the afiliated Frankie Boy Records (that's 138 pieces for the first, including this compilation, and 12 for the second!) since the label started out back in 1992!

End conclusion: in spite of my harsh opening words, the uninitiated music fan into exploring Rockabilly/ Psychobilly will still find a seazable portion of bands into that specific genre, so (s)he won't need to feel ripped that much after all! Anyways, you have now been warned, so don't come complaining. As far as compilation albums go, I can only say the way this one's brought (with all them rare or unreleased tracks) at least makes it worthy for those among us who dó have albums by some of these artists, to by the compilation after all as well. You know, just to hàve those otherwize unattainable songs!

Compilation, so don't expect a rating (but a high appreciation factor nevertheless)!

Tony.