• Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 1 (1983)
• Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 2 (1983)
• Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 3 (1983)
• Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 4 (1983)
• Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 5 (1984)

Note: This essential five-volume, vinyl-only Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock series is devoted to late '50s to early '60s Minnesota rockers. Almost entirely sourced from the 45s of a Minneapolis collector, most of these LPs can still be obtained from one or two catalogs sources (most notably, Norton) and can occasionally be found used at the record collectors shows for around $15. While some songs have since appeared on CD comps since issued on this series, most have not. In the usual White Label fashion, liner notes are pretty much nonexistent, and what is there is sketchy and often inaccurate. Still, the material is superb. Note: It was announced in 2003 that White Label has ceased production of vinyl LPs. Chances of these appearing on CD are unknown.

Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 1
(White Label, 1983) [LP] Netherlands

Tom Scott -- Record Hop
Don & Jer & The Screamers -- I Dig
Jack & The Knights -- Rock The Blues Away
Ronnie Ray & The Playboys -- Mean Mama Blues
Ronnie Ray & The Playboys -- The Vulture
Jim Thaxter & The Travelers -- Sally-Jo
Jim Thaxter & The Travelers -- Cyclon

Hal Fritz & The Playboys -- Three Bad Habits
Hal Fritz & The Playboys -- Goin' Out On You
Ron Thompson & The Broughams -- Switchblade
The Orbits -- Queen Bee
The Harmony Twins -- Barnyard Rock And Roll
Eddie Randall & The Downbeats -- Downbeat Rock
Chuck Carson -- Moonlight Rock

(Pictured above: Jim Thaxter & The Travelers [including pre-Trashmen Tony Andreason, Steve Wahrer and Dal Winslow]. That's Thaxter in the white suit.)

 

Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 2
(White Label,1983) [LP] Netherlands

Terry Lee & The Poorboys -- My Little Sue
The Poorboys -- Driftin'
The Houle Brothers -- Dream Night
Myron Lee & The Caddies -- Homicide
The Galaxies -- Watch Your Step
The Sonics -- Minus One, Blast Off
The Vilados -- Wild Party
Myron Lee & The Caddies -- Mary's Swingin' Lamb

The String Kings -- Bloodshot
The String Kings -- The Bash
Bob & Denny (The Dennis Brothers) -- Hush, Hush Little Baby
Andy Walsh -- Guitar Boogie
Myron Lee & The Caddies -- Aw, C'mon Baby
The Sonics -- Marlene
The Thundermen -- Flyin' High

(Pictured above: Myron Lee & The Caddies of Sioux Falls, SD. Myron is on the right.)

 

Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 3
(White Label, 1983) [LP] Netherlands

The Stinton Brothers -- Diggin' That Rock & Roll
D.J. & The Cats -- The Lightning Strikes
The Inn-Truders -- What's Up Doug?
Harvey Urness -- Never Been Blue
Danny & The Galaxies -- If You Want To Be My Baby
The Galaxies -- Ad Lib
The Blue Kats -- Oh Yeah
The Corvairs -- Volcano

Evans Carroll & The Tempos -- Come Back Baby
Jim Eddy -- Livin' Doll
Les Tucker -- Wrong Kinda Lovin'
Sue Arlington & The Arlisles with Carson's Rangers -- The Flip
The Torrells -- Lost Love
The Jades -- Blue Black Hair
The Jades -- Surfin' Crow

 

Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 4
(White Label, 1983) [LP] Netherlands

Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Baby Baby
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Basher No.5 (instro)
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Hey Mama
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Good Rockin' Tonight
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Coming Up
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Guitar Man
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Bye Bye Johnny

Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Three Little Pigs
Eddie Barkdall & The Corvets -- Scramble (instro)
Eddie Barkdall & The Corvets -- Wailin' Wailin' Party
The Reveliers -- Revel Rock (instro)
Jr. Buchwitz & The Reveliers -- I Still Love Her
Wally Shoop & The Zombies -- Memphis
Mike Waggoner & The Bops -- Work With Me Annie

(Pictured above: Mike Waggoner & The Bops. Tony Andreason and Dal Winslow of the Trashmen have frequently been quoted as saying that this was their favorite local band.)

 

Minnesota Rock-A-Billy Rock, Vol. 5
(White Label, 1984) [LP] Netherlands

Robbie Robbins -- Hurry
The Glenrays -- Easy Rhythm
Deviny James -- That's Alright Mama
Augie Garcia -- Ivy League Baby
Augie Garcia -- Be My Guest
Augie Garcia -- Hi Yo Silver
Augie Garcia -- Going To Chicago
The Jades -- Little Marlene
Ben Leonard & The Furys -- Little Girl

The Del Ricos -- Buggin' The Boogie (instro)
The Del Ricos -- Voodoo (instro)
The Flames -- Rockin' The Blues (instro)
The Flames -- Arabian Caravan (instro)
The Glenrays -- Haunted By Repetition (instro)
The Treasures -- Minor Chaos (instro)
The 5 Spots -- Black Rock (instro)
The 5 Spots -- Mr. Fortune (instro)
Ben Leonard & The Furys -- Congo Bongo (instro)
Steve Rowe & The Furys -- Minor Chaos (instro)

(Pictured above: Augie Garcia -- the Godfather of Minnesota Rock -- wearing his trademark Bermuda shorts)

As always, your additions or corrections are welcome.