His Best, Vol. 1

Strictly focusing on his single tracks in a chronological manner, this first of two volumes in 's Chess 50th Anniversary collection hits all the high spots of 's career up to 1958. It also serves as the first compilation to really showcase his development as a songwriter over the first three years of his massive crossover success, including the seldom-anthologized (perhaps the darkest and most demonic ditty he ever recorded) juxtaposed against his car songs ( ), his calculated and carefully crafted instant classics for the 1950s teenage market ( ), and his celebrations of the music itself ( ). There's a ton of great music here (with a second companion volume to complete the picture), and for a big chunk of what makes perhaps 's original triple-threat package (singer, songwriter, and guitar hero), there's much here to tip the scales in its favor to recommend this volume as a first-time purchase. ~ Cub Koda