Homer & Jethro – Assault the Rock ‘N’ Roll Era

Country singers and writers (Hank Williams among them) felt that having Homer Haynes and Jethro Burns parody or “butcher” their songs was a true badge of honor. Adding rock to their satirical focus at RCA in the ’50s, they combined their wit, effervescent harmonies and superb musicianship with the best studio players to create hilarious, authentic-sounding lampoons such as “Hart Brake Motel”, “At The Flop”, and even “She Loves You”. What’s puzzling is the odd, catch-all nature of this 31-song collection, which inexplicably adds some of their terrific country parodies of “I’m Movin’ On”, “Jambalaya”, “Oh Lonesome Me” and “The Ballad Of New Orleans” — material worth showcasing in a separate collection, not merely appended to this one. During 22 years with RCA, Homer & Jethro recorded a multitude of other fine satires, live albums and stunning instrumental albums. Bear Family could — and should — revisit that material as well.