VA - Teen Beat - 30 Great Rockin' Instrumentals (1993)

Packed with the great sounds of the '50s and '60s, Teen Beat features many classic instrumentals from the rock 'n' roll era as well as a handful of tunes that failed to attract attention the first time around. Among the classics are the sleazy raunch of Lonnie Mack's Memphis and Link Wray's Rumble, the novelty sound of Dave 'Baby' Cortez with his No. 1 hit The Happy Organ, The Champs with the Hispanic rock of Tequila, B Bumble & The Stingers with the Tchaikovsky-via-Kim-Fowley frenzy of Nut Rocker and a number that encapsulates the instrumental sound of the era to perfection - Sandy Nelson's Teen Beat. Among the rarities is an alternate take of Spunky by Johnnie Jenkins (the young Otis Redding sang in his band and Johnnie later cut a fine album for Atco called Ton Ton Macoute with various members of the Allman Brothers Band).

30 instrumentals from the late '50s and early '60s, the era when instrumental rock was at its peak. Most of these were hits, though a few of them didn't make the Top 20, and some didn't even make the Top 100. Hence the selections are often more obscure than what you'll find on Rhino's Rock Instrumentals series. The lesser-known ones, though a boon to collectors, simply aren't as good or imaginative. It's a serviceable supplement, though, if you're looking for more of the style, and the best cuts are certainly dynamite.