Hits from Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Bill Justis, Sleepy LaBeef, Warren Smith, Tommy Blake, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Carl Mann, Billy Lee Riley, and Ray Smith. CD

Although the initial release of this music was a cheap attempt to cash in on the tragic fame of the late James Dean, this 1956 session was also one of the nicest big band dates to come out of the Pacific Jazz catalog of the 1950s! Chet Baker and Bud Shank are the featured soloists of the set – and the group's conducted by Johnny Mandel and Bill Holman, both excellent arrangers with a strong feel for soundtrack-oriented material of this sort. Tommy Sands sings vocals on a version of "Let Me Be Loved", which is the only standard on the set – as the rest of the tracks are originals by the great Leith Stevens. The band's filled with other west coasters that you'll recognize – and titles include "The Movie Star", "Jimmy's Theme", "The Search", "Lost Love", and "Rebel At Work". CD

A doo wop Christmas party, but one that doesn't mind moving past the usual run of bigger groups from the 50s – as the set also brings together some pop and harmony work in other styles too – so that the package goes way past some of the over-collected doo wop hits from groups like The Drifters! The set features 30 tracks in all, and while the harmonies rule the scene, the real charms lie in the choice of material – as there's a cool blend here of unusual tunes and reworked Holiday hits – definitely keeping things fresh, especially if you look for unusual Christmas tunes! Titles include "Santa Santa" by The Rocky Fellers, "Christmas Time For Everybody But Me" by The Midnighters, "My First Christmas Without You" by The Eligibles, "Silver Bells" by The Four Aces, "White Christmas" by The Precisions, "Stompin Around The Christmas Tree" by The Stompers, "Merry Christmas One & All" by The Rhythm Kings, "A Very Special Birthday" by The Cashmeres, "Christmas In The Congo" by The Marquees, "Rockin Santa Claus" by The Martels, "Winter Wonderland" by The Ames Brothers, "I'll Stay Home" by The Creators, "A Merry Christmas" by The Unknowns, "Jingle Bell Twist USA" by Johnny Mendell, "Early Christmas" by The Classic Four, and "Santa Twist" by Tommy Regan. CD