As Bear Family Records® proves with two CD compilations, even rockers and rock 'n' rollers weren't always cruising at high speed.

Loads of tough guys and gals could be romantic, mourn their lost love and recorded delightful ballads.

This first edition with 32 tracks cites unknown soft rockers such as Gene Dunlap or Tooter Boatman - but most of the songs are provided by the greats of the genre, i.e. Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Patsy Cline, Ritchie Valens and many more.

As always, we have put a lot of time into re-mastering the old recordings to deliver the best possible sound quality.

The Chicago-based expert on these subjects, Bill Dahl, has written in-depth biographies in the 36-page booklet that also features discographical information, illustrations and rare pictures.

The hallowed architects of rockabilly and rock and roll didn’t always stoke their tempos at 100 miles an hour. They knew when to slow it down, to make a song connect with slow dancers as they testified to either eternal romantic devotion or broken hearts. The 32 selections comprising this compilation raise goosebumps instead of leaving listeners breathless, yet subtly packing just as mean a wallop as those red-hot houserockers. A few of its artists may be new to some listeners - Gene Dunlap and his Jokers, Lonnie Dee, Tooter Boatman and The Chaparrals - but it mostly features giants of their era, emoting passionately over easy grooves just right for dancing closer than close. 

Elvis and his immortal Anyway You Want Me (That’s How I Will Be), Jack Scott’s smash My True Love, Ricky Nelson’s heartbroken Poor Little Fool, Patsy Cline’s breakthrough hit Walkin’ After Midnight, and scintillating gems by Marty Robbins, Ronnie Hawkins, Ritchie Valens, Rudy Grayzell, Ronnie Self, Sanford Clark, Marvin Rainwater, and Chicago’s Ral Donner make this collection heavenly for rock and roll fans who want to take a temporary breather from their beloved non-stop piledrivers. 

01. What Do You Want - Gene Dunlap and The Jokers
02. I Can See It In Your Eyes - Sonny James
03. A Thousand Guitars - Tracy Pendarvis and The Swampers
04. Lonely - Tommy LaBeff
05. Can't Help It - Tommy Hill
06. I Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Ronnie Self
07. Someone Like You - Ronnie Hawkins
08. I Think Of You - Rudy Grayzell
09. A Cheat - Sanford Clark
10. My True Love - Jack Scott
11. Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline
12. Trying To Get To You - Weldon Rogers
13. Since I Lost You - Warner Mack
14. We Belong Together - Ritchie Valens
15. Crying Good Bye - Ric Cartey
16. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
17. Breeze - Vernon Taylor
18. Sleep Walk - Santo and Johnny
19. The Grave - Tony Casanova
20. More And More (I Love You) - Tooter Boatman
21. My Girl - Robin Luke
22    Anyway You Want Me (That's How It Will Be) - Elvis Presley
23    Most Of All - The Prowlers with Les Vogt
24    Come Back Baby - Mac Curtis
25    Turn Back The Clock - Ral Donner
26    Tragedy - Thomas Wayne with The DeLons
27    Bitter Tears - Rodney Scott
28    I'll Take Tomorrow (Today) - Ray Vernon
29    You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Marty Robbins
30    Cold North Wind - Lonnie Dee
31    Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You) - Marvin Rainwater
32    Sure To Fall - Carl Perkins