Biography of Wanda Jackson

Fact: Wanda Jackson was the greatest female rockabilly singer of the late '50s and early '60s. Starting out as a Decca country singer in 1954, Oklahoma-born Wanda began her rock & roll career with Capitol in 1956 at age 18. Her trademark growl on the raveup "Fujiyama Mama" sounds like she gargled with nitroglycerine: explosive stuff. The Rhino compilation is evenly divided into Wanda's rocking sides, nine tracks cut between 1956-1960, with the remaining nine songs representing some of her best country output of 1958-1970. (For more of Wanda's rockabilly sides, seek out either the French Capitol Only Rock & Roll double-album set or the British Charly double album, Let's Have a Party.) ~ Dennis MacDonald