Wolfman Jack Presents 15 Of The Best 45's (Volume Two)
View on Discogs
Album Summary
Wolfman Jack Presents 15 Of The Best 45's (Volume Two) is a compilation release issued on Fairway Records in the United States, riding the wave of nostalgia that the legendary Wolfman Jack — born Robert Weston Smith — stirred up in the hearts of American listeners throughout the 1970s. Best known for his gravelly howl and irresistible on-air charisma that had already made him a household name through his border radio broadcasts and his unforgettable appearance in George Lucas's American Graffiti, Wolfman Jack lent his larger-than-life persona to this collection of golden era pop and R&B sides, curating sixteen tracks that captured the infectious spirit of the early rock and roll and doo-wop era. Released on the Fairway Records label, the album arrived as a lovingly assembled treasury of the 45 rpm singles that had defined a generation, with Wolfman's seal of approval serving as both a stamp of authenticity and a warm invitation to relive the glory days of the American jukebox.
Reception
- Detailed chart performance data for this specific Fairway Records release is not reliably documented in the historical record.
- As a budget-friendly nostalgia compilation, the album was likely embraced by fans of Wolfman Jack's radio personality rather than pursued by mainstream music critics of the era.
- The release capitalized on the broader 1970s oldies revival that Wolfman Jack had helped fuel, suggesting a receptive audience already primed for this kind of curated trip down memory lane.
Significance
- The album stands as a cultural artifact of the 1970s oldies revival, with Wolfman Jack's curatorial voice connecting a new generation of listeners to the doo-wop, early R&B, and rock and roll sounds of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- The tracklist — ranging from Betty Everett's 'It's In His Kiss' and Gene Chandler's 'Duke Of Earl' to Maurice Williams's 'Stay' and The Isley Brothers' 'Twist & Shout' — reflects a broad sweep of the era's most beloved 45 rpm singles, underscoring the importance of the jukebox single as the primary currency of popular music before the album era took hold.
- Wolfman Jack's name on the cover transformed what might otherwise have been a generic budget compilation into a branded listening experience, reflecting how radio DJs of his stature had become genuine cultural tastemakers whose personal endorsement carried real weight with record-buying audiences.
Samples
- Duke Of Earl — the Gene Chandler original has been sampled across numerous hip-hop and R&B productions over the decades, making it one of the more recognizable touchstones from the doo-wop era in sample culture.
- Twist & Shout — the Isley Brothers' raw and electrifying recording has been revisited and sampled by artists across multiple genres, cementing its place as one of the most enduring vocal performances in early rock and roll.
- Harlem Shuffle — the Bob & Earl classic has been sampled and interpolated by hip-hop artists drawn to its swinging groove and call-and-response energy.
Tracklist
-
A1 It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song) —
2:10
-
A2 You're No Good —
2:19
-
A3 Raindrops —
2:50
-
A4 Duke Of Earl —
2:14
-
A5 Eddie My Love —
3:10
-
A6 Goodnite My Love —
3:02
-
A7 Stay —
1:35
-
A8 Western Movies —
2:20
-
B1 Once In Awhile —
2:19
-
B2 Hey Joe —
2:47
-
B3 Harlem Shuffle —
2:30
-
B4 Suspicion —
2:25
-
B5 Goodnite Sweetheart Goodnite —
2:40
-
B6 Twist & Shout —
2:24
-
B7 In Crowd —
1:57
-
B8 Step By Step —
2:22
Artist Details
Based on the metadata, this American artist brought raw Rhythm & Blues energy to Fairway Records, carving out a soulful niche in the U.S. music scene with a style that spoke straight to the heart. The Wolfman Jack name carried a certain mystique, conjuring images of late-night grooves and the kind of deep, soulful sounds that made believers out of skeptics.