Never To Be Forgotten

One of the better posthumous Eddie Cochran releases of the 1960s, Never to Be Forgotten was filled with strong tracks, the presence of which only served to heighten the tragedy behind his loss -- he had more than just hit singles to offer. There are, of course, the priceless hard rock & roll numbers, including a surprisingly raw yet virtuistic "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Long Tall Sally," which are both guitar showcases second to none; the infectious and powerful "Nervous Breakdown" and "Twenty Flight Rock"; the Elvis Presley-style "Sweetie Pie"; the loud and slashing "Milk Cow Blues," which, if it had been released in Cochran's own time, would have appalled most parents and driven the "White Citizens Councils" of some Southern counties to foaming at the mouth (but maybe also would've earned Cochran a handshake from Muddy Waters); and the edgy "Boll Weevil Song," which walks a tightrope between rockabilly and country-pop without ever slipping off. And the ballads, including the soulful "Little Angel" and "Love Again," which show off what Cochran himself thought was his weak link as a talent, his voice, to surprising advantage. ~ Bruce Eder|