VA - Louisiana Rockers (1994)

Twenty-four songs from the vaults of Goldband Records in Lake Charles, LA, most from the late '50s and early '60s. Hardly anyone from outside Louisiana will recognize any of these performers; in fact, most people from within the state borders won't either. With an unpolished feel (both in fidelity and performance) that can border on garage sloppiness, this stuff doesn't compare to the Louisiana records of the same era recorded by the Imperial, Specialty, or Minit labels. It's more an illustration of the grass-roots expression of vintage Louisiana rock/R&B, as reflected in the wide range of (usually derivative) approaches. There are Little Richard clones, swamp pop, sub-New Orleans rhythm and blues, and straight rock & roll with equal measures of White and Black influences. There's nothing that announces itself as a hit-that-never-was. But if you want to hear something truly daffy, check out Ray Gerdsen's "Bye Bye Baby," which is as close as it gets to Dixieland garage rock.