Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Back in CR56 Rebecca Hulcoop reviewed Wanda's 'The World Didn't Give It To Me: 20 Inspirational Classics' and reluctantly had to point out they were nothing of the sort. Wanda was one of those mainstream artists who, when she went gospel, seemed to lose most of her critical faculties recording in a dreary, slushy country gospel vein. This lovingly compiled set from her "secular" era is something else though. Wanda was, to my ears, the greatest female rock 'n' roll singer of the '60s and whether it's her frantic 1958 million seller "Let's Have A Party" or her incendiary "Fujiyama Mama", the 30 tracks here include some of the most exciting, hard riding rockabilly ever recorded. It's a shame that the current wave of US interest came a little late for this now veteran country gal. I'd love to have heard this yodelling, hollering bundle of dynamite sing some rockabilly gospel!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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