Album Review: Various — Always Memphis Rock and Roll
For me, the Black & Wyatt Records label is a trademark of quality. Since its launch in 2018, the Memphis label has sought to bring interesting and outside-the-box music to the wider public. And it’s been quite successful on that score: I’ve covered a number of Black & Wyatt releases here on Musoscribe, including titles from Jack Oblivian, Turnstyles, Your Academy, Snowglobe, Heathens and more.
It seems like as good a time as any for the label to pause a beat and take a victory lap. And that’s pretty much what Always Memphis Rock and Roll is: a 14-track collection of songs from some of those artists, and others besides. Recorded in 1956(!), the amazing “Steady Girl” from The Heathens is the standout cut here – and the one with the most compelling back story – but it’s a fun comp from start to finish. The song list aims to chronicle Black & Wyatt’s first few years in operation, and this set of (non-chronologically sequenced) tunes succeeds on that level, drawing from B&W’s first nine releases. It’s also a fun listen, and – for anyone who might need it – a tidy window into understanding what the label is all about. And hey: it’s on vinyl.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.