The Merrill Moore Collection 1952-58

Merrill Moore was a western swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader whose style was a considerable influence on the development of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll during the 1950s, most notably as a precursor of artists like Jerry Lee Lewis. With his band The Saddle Rhythm Boys, he made his name as a club entertainer on the west coast, leading to a contract with Capitol in 1952, scoring a major US hit in 1953 with “The House Of Blue Lights”. He recorded a string of fine singles through the mid-50s, his style presaging the changing musical landscape of the times, as the rock ‘n’ roll explosion took hold, before becoming a session musician and radio entertainer, performing regularly with Tennessee Ernie Ford. In the late ‘60s, his music was brought to the fore by enthusiasts in the UK, and two albums were released on the Ember label, followed by a UK tour in 1969, as a result of which he recorded a new album there. This collection comprises just about all his recordings for Capitol during the 1950s, and it makes for a highly entertaining peek into a particular niche of pop during one of the key eras of its development.