1 vinyl 10”LP with 12-page booklet, bonus CD with additional recordings, 12 tracks (LP), 28 tracks (CD). Total playing time 28 min. (LP), 70 min. (CD)

Bear Family Records® presents a 10” vinyl LP with the greatest recordings by one of the most exciting country and rockabilly artists ever: Marvin Rainwater.
The career of this extraordinary musician, who seemingly effortlessly combined country and rockabilly elements to create his very own style, began in 1955.
In the wake of the European rockabilly revival beginning in the late 1970s, Marvin Rainwater enjoyed a much-acclaimed comeback on festival stages worldwide.
This album gives us his very best recordings, and the bonus CD holds more treasures for us, classics alongside rather lesser-known numbers.
Enthralling liner notes by Roland Heinrich Rumtreiber and a deliberately sparse technical mastering treatment of these historic recordings round off the concept – expect first-class songwriting, a first-class performance and … something completely different.

Marvin Rainwater was one of the most exciting performers in country music and a revered hero of the European rockabilly revival of the late 70s and early 80s. Restless covered Mr. Blues, and The Blue Cats recorded Hot and Cold; Whole Lotta Woman was a regular on rockabilly radio shows and at record hops.

Marvin Rainwater was his own man, with his own voice, and highly versatile. His incredible vocal range offered a bottom-end baritone for sincere songs, a snarling menace in a rockabilly arrangement, or hit the high-registers to serve as an ersatz-Hank and out-yodel the best of them. Rainwater delivered his songs with heart and soul.

This compilation offers some hot rockabilly, hillbilly bop, and Rainwater’s very own brand of mid-tempo story songs that bridge the gap between pop, country, and rock and roll.

Among Rainwater musts, like I Dig You Baby, Hot and Cold, and Mr. Blues, the 10″ comes up with lesser compiled material like the mountain music inspired Hard Luck Blues or the big-city-main-stream-r&b-ballroom smash Dance Me Daddy, iced with typical Rainwater pop-coating.

This 10″ Bear Family Records® vinyl release further underlines his versatility via hillbilly pop a la Baby, Baby Don’t Go that would have served the Everly Brothers well and sounds like it could have been produced by Lee Hazlewood.

The authentic Rainwater sound is presented in full boom by (There’s Always) A Need for Love, My Brand of Blues, and Love Me Baby (Like There’s No Tomorrow). Marvin also tips his hat to Johnny Cash with It Wasn’t Enough.

The bonus CD fleshes out all aspects mentioned above and excels with the inclusion of rare stuff like the 1956 Ozark Jubilee radio recording of Mr. Blues, two gems recorded with Link Wray and his Wraymen for Warwick, and a must-spin for every rockabilly party – Marvin’s version of Gamblin’ Man (Roving Gambler).

During a time when record companies patterned every upcoming artist after Hank Williams, Marvin Rainwater stood out. He was different – some thought him to be odd. His uniqueness might have been an obstacle back in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

But, for today’s listener, Marvin Rainwater is something to discover and cherish. He ranks among the best of the immediate post-Hank performers. You are in for top songwriting, top delivery, and something completely different.