VA - Keb Darge and Cut Chemist Present Lost and Found - Rockabilly and Jump Blues (2007)

It would be easy to understand rockabilly fans raising an eyebrow when the beat-obsessed blokes at BBE put together a rock & roll compilation. Surprisingly though, Lost and Found: Rockabilly and Jump Blues resurrects a host of long-lost '50s jump tunes, with precious little overlap with music that already appears on CD. The two curators, Keb Darge and Cut Chemist (each takes one disc), provide copious notes on nearly every title, displaying a knowledge of the form that is formidable (especially in Darge's case). And, of course, the music isn't bad either. Much like Bear Family's series of That'll Flat Git It! compilations, there's a certain delight in hearing these second- or third-tier R&B or rockabilly artists, many of which featured plenty of energy and talent but simply not enough distribution (or luck) to make a lasting impression. Highlights come from the biggest artists present, including "Feel So Good" by Little Junior's Blue Flames, "Too Much Monkey Business" by Chuck Berry, and "Rock Billy Boogie" by Dorsey Burnette.