Frank Virtue & The Virtues - Guitar Boogie Shuffle & Other Guitar Greats 1955-1962

Cat. no: JASCD1114
Format: CD
Barcode: 604988111422
Release Date: 11 Mar 2022
Genre: Rock 'N' Roll

Guitar Boogie Shuffle & Other Guitar Greats 1955-1962

Originally a childhood prodigy violinist, Philadelphia-born Frank Virtue took up guitar and double bass as a teenager, in the mid-1940s his musical roots were based on the sound and style of the immediate pre-WWII Big Bands, and his earliest line-ups of The Virtues, who were formed initially as The Virtuoso Trio, reflected these influences. But by the mid-1950s they'd expanded to a quintet and were playing Big Beat and embryonic R&R, vying for popularity with local heroes Bill Haley & The Comets. In 1959 they registered a hit with "Guitar Boogie Shuffle", a revival of Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith's 1940s hit, which made the U.S. Top 10 and sold a couple of million copies. 

This compilation is built upon the subsequent 'Guitar Boogie Shuffle' LP, also issued in 1959, plus assorted 45rpms issued between 1955-62, credited variously to The Virtues, Frank Virtuoso, Frank Virtuoso & His Men Of Virtue, and Jimmy Vespe (i.e. the band's lead guitarist).

Tracks: Ooh Ya Gotta / Good Bye Mambo / Rollin' An' A Rockin' / Jimmy's Shuffle / Go Joe Go / Toodle-Oo Kangaroo / Hop Skip Jump Mambo / Rattle My Bones - Frank Virtuoso / Mambo Rock - Frank Virtuoso / I Ain't Go nna Do It No More - Frank Virtuoso / Let's Have A Party - Frank Virtuoso / My Constant Love - Frank Virtuoso & His Men Of Virtue / I'm Going Home- Frank Virtuoso & His Men Of Virtue / I Think You're Lying - Jimmy Vespe / Guitar Boogie Shuffle / Guitar In Orbit / Flippin' In' / Shufflin' Along / Pickin' The Stroll / Virtue's Boogie Woogie (Pine Tops Boogie) / Pony Walk / Highland Guitar / Happy Guitar / Guitar Boogie Twist / Guitar Shimmy / Marching Guitars / Tel-Star Guitar / Jersey Bounce