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!

FEATURES:

• CD Digipak with 36 page booklet, 29 tracks. Total playing time approx. 75 min.
• In the 1950s, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a fierce race to successfully launch a satellite into space.
• The Soviet Union fired up its Sputnik satellite on Oct. 4, 1957, winning the race and heating up the battle for space supremacy.
• Bear Family Records® presents U.S. musicians and singers from a variety of genres who took this topic and recorded a variety of songs, all dealing with the space age.
• R'n'R with Joe Montgomery and Carl Mann, R&B with Danny Overbea, Frank Motley and Jesse Belvin, a.o., plus instrumentals, percussionists, vocal groups and guitarists such as Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, Jimmy Bryant and Speedy West.
• Extensive liner notes by music expert and historian Bill Dahl in the illustrated and detailed booklet.
• Carefully restored recordings, primarily from the 1950s and 1960s.
• Look forward to a wild ride through the stratosphere!

BEAR FAMILY MEMORIAL SERIES: SPUTNIK / VARIOUS