On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into earth’s orbit, the satellite’s ascendancy officially commencing the Space Age. Naturally, rock and rollers inclined toward social commentary offered their own musical spin on the interplanetary action, as did singers from other genres—country, R&B, pop, surf, and a number of styles in between. They’re all represented on this galactic Bear Family compilation, from rockabillies Joe Montgomery, Carl Mann, and Jerry Engler to R&B stalwarts Danny Overbea, Paul Perryman, Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley, and velvet-voiced Jesse Belvin. Songs about satellites sail skyward, interspersed with high-flying instrumentals by Jimmie Haskell, percussionist Bobby Christian, and the mysterious Comrade X ( Dorsey Burnette was involved). Vocal groups have their say via Vernon Green and The Medallions , The Equadors, and The 3 Honeydrops, while Young John Watson ’s 1954 instrumental masterpiece Space Guitar and mind-boggling wordless workouts by country guitar genius Jimmy Bryant and steel guitar wizard Speedy West are genuinely otherworldly. Take a wild ride into the stratosphere!
01 Men Into Space / Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra 02 There Goes Sputnik / The Teen-Clefs 03 Planetary Run / Joe Montgomery 04 Sputniks And Mutniks / Ray Anderson & The Home Folks 05 Stratosphere Boogie / Jimmy Bryant with Speedy West 06 Space Age Frank (Dual Trumpet) / Motley & His Crew 07 Gonna Build A Rocket / Galen Denny 08 My Satellite / Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders 09 Satellite No. 2 / Carl Mann / 10 Satellite Fever - Asiatic Flu / Paul Perryman 11 Rockin' Satellite / The 3 Honeydrops 12 Sputnik Dance / The Equadors 13 Space Time / Danny Overbea 14 Sputnik (Satellite Girl) / Jerry Engler & The Four Ekkos 15 The Sputnik Story / Bill Thomas 16 Rocket Ship / Vernon Green & The Medallions 17 Theme From Spacenik Comrade X 18 Weightless Blues / Jimmy Haskell & His Orchestra 19 Count Down - Flight Into Orbit / Bobby Christian & His Orchestra 20 Rocking To Telstar / Cees & His Skyliners 21 Space Guitar / Young John Watson 22 Space Man In Orbit / Speedy West 23 Rocket Race / Charlie Ryan 24 Astrosonic / Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra 25 Journey To The Stars / The Nocturnes 26 Sputnik / Los Loud Jets 27 Static / The Velvetones 28 Shooting Stars / Dick Jacobs & His Orchestra 29 Up There In Orbit Earl Bostic
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into earth’s orbit, the satellite’s ascendancy officially commencing the Space Age. Naturally, rock and rollers inclined toward social commentary offered their own musical spin on the interplanetary action, as did singers from other genres—country, R&B, pop, surf, and a number of styles in between. They’re all represented on this galactic Bear Family compilation, from rockabillies Joe Montgomery, Carl Mann, and Jerry Engler to R&B stalwarts Danny Overbea, Paul Perryman, Frank (Dual Trumpet) Motley, and velvet-voiced Jesse Belvin. Songs about satellites sail skyward, interspersed with high-flying instrumentals by Jimmie Haskell, percussionist Bobby Christian, and the mysterious Comrade X ( Dorsey Burnette was involved). Vocal groups have their say via Vernon Green and The Medallions , The Equadors, and The 3 Honeydrops, while Young John Watson ’s 1954 instrumental masterpiece Space Guitar and mind-boggling wordless workouts by country guitar genius Jimmy Bryant and steel guitar wizard Speedy West are genuinely otherworldly. Take a wild ride into the stratosphere!
01 Men Into Space / Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra 02 There Goes Sputnik / The Teen-Clefs 03 Planetary Run / Joe Montgomery 04 Sputniks And Mutniks / Ray Anderson & The Home Folks 05 Stratosphere Boogie / Jimmy Bryant with Speedy West 06 Space Age Frank (Dual Trumpet) / Motley & His Crew 07 Gonna Build A Rocket / Galen Denny 08 My Satellite / Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders 09 Satellite No. 2 / Carl Mann / 10 Satellite Fever - Asiatic Flu / Paul Perryman 11 Rockin' Satellite / The 3 Honeydrops 12 Sputnik Dance / The Equadors 13 Space Time / Danny Overbea 14 Sputnik (Satellite Girl) / Jerry Engler & The Four Ekkos 15 The Sputnik Story / Bill Thomas 16 Rocket Ship / Vernon Green & The Medallions 17 Theme From Spacenik Comrade X 18 Weightless Blues / Jimmy Haskell & His Orchestra 19 Count Down - Flight Into Orbit / Bobby Christian & His Orchestra 20 Rocking To Telstar / Cees & His Skyliners 21 Space Guitar / Young John Watson 22 Space Man In Orbit / Speedy West 23 Rocket Race / Charlie Ryan 24 Astrosonic / Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra 25 Journey To The Stars / The Nocturnes 26 Sputnik / Los Loud Jets 27 Static / The Velvetones 28 Shooting Stars / Dick Jacobs & His Orchestra 29 Up There In Orbit Earl Bostic