Who doesn't dream of sun-drenched beaches, swaying palm trees, the sea glistening blue in the sunlight, and a romantic sunset? Well, to give those dreams a boost, Bear Family Records takes you to the Aloha State of Hawaii and its hula culture.
The quintessential rhythm & blues vocal group from the fifties and early sixties, The Drifters, are sure to whet your appetite with ‘My Islands In The Sun’.
The 33 tracks embrace the most diverse roots genres. Country artist Hank Snow presents a rocking, country-infused number in ‘Hula Rock’. And here, too, the lap steel guitar is not to be missed. Hank manages to mix the emerging rock ‘n’ roll with his love for the Hawaiian sound in a sublime way. Jimmy Newman repeats this a little later with ‘Bop-A-Hula’. For a dose of romance, you can then turn to Marty Robbins and his ‘Moonland’. Another delightful rocker comes along with ‘Let’s Go To Hawaii’ by The Revieras; pay special attention to the wonderful garage-rocking organ.
The Platters are synonymous with high-quality harmonies. That is no different here in the swinging ‘Hula Hop’. Another legend is Mr. White Christmas, Bing Crosby. He delivers a sweet-sounding ‘Blue Hawaii’. In 1958, Skeets Mc Donald recorded ‘Hawaiian Sea Breeze’. On guitar, you hear none other than Joe Maphis. Rocker from the very beginning, Bill Haley, delivers ‘Me Rock-A-Hula’, together with his inseparable Comets in his familiar style.
Someone who delivers a cool, rocking ‘Hula Bop’ is Smokey Joe Baugh, who has a nice, gritty edge to his voice.
Elmore James was a master of the slide guitar. He employs it here for the instrumental ‘Hawaiian Boogie No.1’, after which a jungle drum sets ‘Hawaiian War Chant’ by The Playboys on track. Jon & The Nightriders present another nice instrumental, surf-linked piece with ‘Rumble At Waikiki’.
Fans of The Grateful Dead will likely know Bill Browning. After all, their favorite band recorded Browning’s ‘Dark Hollow’. Incidentally, the song was also recorded by a number of other artists. Bill is present here rocking with ‘Hula-Rock’.
You get more country-influenced Hawaiian music from Jim Blakley in ‘Island Paradise’. In addition to vocals, Jim also plays the steel guitar. With Chet Atkins as producer and Grady Martin as guitarist, Hank Locklin recorded the rocking ‘Blue Grass Skirt’, which is infused with Hawaii.
Carl Mann scored an immense hit with his rockabilly version of ‘Mona Lisa’, and ‘Island Of Love’ also falls within that genre.
Randy Star provided Elvis with a number of song demos that he thought might be suitable tracks for Presley. He did the same with the song ‘Polynesian Paradise’, which could have been the title of Presley’s next film in 1966. However, the title of that film became ‘Paradise, Hawaiian Style’. Star once again had Jerry Keller record ‘Polynesian Paradise’ as well as ‘Datin’’. The first song didn’t make it into the film, but you can find it on this compilation, and for ‘Datin’’, you can turn to the soundtrack of ‘Paradise, Hawaiian Style’, where Elvis sings the song in a duet with Donna Butterworth.
Eartha Kitt was an actress, singer, and TV personality. Her most famous song is the somewhat mischievous ‘Santa Baby’. She is featured here with ‘Honolulu Rock And Roll’, a great, swinging rock-and-roll song. Chuck Berry could rock like the best. In the instrumental ‘Blues For Hawaiians’, he takes things a bit easier. Delightfully bluesy!
The German Paul Kuhn provides the humorous touch with ‘There Is No Beer On Hawaii’, a translation of his schlager ‘Es Gibt Kein Bier Auf Hawaii’.
We say goodbye in style with ‘Aloha Oe (Hawaiian Farewell Song)’ by Webley Edwards and Al Kealoha Perry.
‘Destination Hawaii’ is more than a collection of brilliant tracks. The songs sharpen your wanderlust, your craving for adventure, your enjoyment of the tropical South Seas atmosphere, the hula parties, and breathtaking romantic sunsets.
Well, you no longer need to travel for any of this, because with this compilation, the ultimate vacation paradise creates unforgettable memories right in your own home.

It is widely known that Ike Turner had a nose for discovering talent. Long before he became world-famous with Tina, Ike was already no stranger to the world of rhythm & blues. Countless artists were given the opportunity through Ike to make themselves heard musically by the outside world and to establish themselves. In addition, with his band The Kings Of Rhythm, he supported the recordings of many of his discoveries.
One of those discoveries was Billy Gayles, whom he also accompanied with his band. Gayles should not be underestimated. Although he did not always receive the attention he deserved—unjustly, by the way—he helped lay the foundation for rock and roll. This is abundantly evident from the 12 recordings written by Ike that Bear Family Records brought together on this album.
Gayles was born on October 19, 1931, in Sikeston, Missouri, and passed away on April 8, 1993. As a teenager, he became captivated by blues and jazz, and learned to play the drums. In that capacity, he played alongside greats such as Robert Nighthawk and Earl Hooker. In 1954, Gayles debuted with ‘Night Howler’, written by Ike Turner, which he recorded for Flair Records. Additionally, you get the songs that Billy released from 1956 onwards for Federal Records, still accompanied by Ike Turner’s King Of Rhythm. By that time, Billy had already joined The Kings Of Rhythm as a singer.
Opener ‘Just One More Time’ immediately indicates that Gayles and Ike Turner are more than a perfect match. Billy’s powerful vocal work benefits from Ike’s renownedly strong guitar playing. Guitar playing that is repeatedly characterized by the use of the whammy bar, which was revolutionary for that period. Ike creatively kicks off ‘Do Right Baby’, after which Billy, with his formidable and immensely powerful voice, sends the song to immense heights. If you are not yet convinced of Gayles’ powerful voice, just listen to the bluesy ‘I’m Hurting’, which bursts with intensity and dynamics. You can also feast on Ike’s guitar in the intro to ‘Willie King Peg Leg Woman’.
The first side of this album closes with the compelling, soulful ‘If I Never Had Known You’, delivered emotionally and heartbreakingly by Gayles, who once again pulls out all the stops vocally. He does the same in ‘I’m Tore Up’, which opens the second side.
And pay special attention to ‘Take Your Fine Frame Home’, which leans very close to rock and roll. Simply brilliant! With ‘Dreaming Of You’, the second side of this album also features a more than excellent soul song.
The album concludes with Gayles’ debut ‘Night Howler’.
Billy Gayles can certainly be regarded as one of the pioneers of rock and roll. After all, all tracks are situated in the period when rhythm & blues evolved into the new genre of rock 'n' roll. His powerful voice capable of handling a wide range, his empathy with the song, and Ike's high-quality compositions make this album a bullseye.
This tribute to Billy Gailes, released on 10-inch vinyl, is therefore a must-have for lovers of steaming rhythm & blues as well as impressive rock 'n' roll. A compliment certainly also goes to the downright fantastic, lively sound, which gives no indication whatsoever that these tracks were recorded in the middle of the last century. True to tradition, you receive a beautifully produced 10-page booklet.
Because this album is being released in a limited edition of only 500 copies worldwide, acting fast is more important than ever. After all, let's be honest, would you want to miss out on this superb album?

A long way to the top, finally reached!  Stone-cold certainty recommended!

Passion and raw emotion in the vocals are the key elements of the band. Compositions with a twist makes it gorgeous.

Energetic bluesrock with an emotional acoustic ending. Convincingly!