The Everly Brothers Hey Doll Baby 180g LP

"The biggest influence on John and me was The Everly Brothers. To this day, I just think they're the greatest." - Paul McCartney

Phil and Don Everly were unparalleled rock and roll trailblazers and country rock pioneers. Their timeless harmonies made them one of the first superstar acts in music history and profoundly impacted generations of artists to follow. The Everly Brothers' hits from the late-1950s helped lay the very foundation for rock and roll itself, and the albums they made with Warner Bros. Records in the 1960s revealed the depth of their talents as both songwriters and singers.

The Everly Brothers were seminal to many of the masters of rock and pop music in one way, shape, or form, owing to their country roots, Bo Diddley influence, their original take on singing, songwriting, and formidable musicianship. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Gram Parsons, Tom Petty, and Linda Ronstadt have credited their profound influence as a North Star. And their influence continues to be evident through each passing decade as more modern artists such as Pearl Jam, Cat Power, and Angel Olsen distill their inspiration. The duo's timeless songs and vocal arrangements have been covered by a legendary stable of artists including everyone from Ray Charles, The Who, and Reba McEntire. With a sense of notable homage and devotion from powerhouse duos such as Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss as well.

Hey Doll Baby is a newly remastered, 17-track compilation that collects some of the lesser-known buried treasures in the Everly Brothers' rich catalog, with songs assembled by Adria Petty, Tom Petty's daughter, who worked closely with both Everly families on the project, with help from Phil's widow, Patti, and son, Jason. Hey Doll Baby holds the bittersweet distinction of being the final project Don worked on.

Petty says she became a fan of The Everly Brothers through her father. "The Everly Brothers held a special place in his heart because they were the rock 'n' roll trailblazers he related to the most. Self-made and determined like him. From the time I was around five years old, he passed on his passion for their music and story to me."

Hey Doll Baby explores The Everly Brothers' legacy, ironically, by avoiding their greatest hits. Petty explains: "This compilation was curated with an eye towards celebrating the deeper rockabilly tracks and some great covers, with a small emphasis on hits. Whether you are new to The Everly Brothers or are among the diehard fans, this is sequenced for a great vinyl "side 1/side 2" listening experience. Put this record on and get transported to another time and place. It will leave you feeling better."

Hey Doll Baby delivers on that promise with the swinging rockabilly of "Baby What You Want Me to Do" and the pure pop bliss of "Made to Love," along with choice covers of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" and Chuck Berry's "Maybellene." The collection features four of the Everly's original Cadence recordings including the title track and the Top 10 hits "('Til) I Kissed You" (#4), "When Will I Be Loved" (#7), and "Devoted to You" (#10). The set also includes the #1 smash "Cathy's Clown," which was the Everly Brothers' first Warner Bros. single in 1960 and the best-selling song of their career.

Adria Petty, the daughter of the late Tom Petty, is the person to thank for this lovely little compilation that highlights some lesser-known tunes from roots-rock duo the Everly Brothers. As she writes in the liner notes, the Everlys were a shared obsession between she and her dad - making this as much of a tribute to Tom Petty as it is for Don Everly who passed away last year at the age of 84. The song selection is top notch, hitting only a few tunes that were in heavy rotation on oldies radio ('Cathy's Clown,' 'When Will I Be Loved') and filling it out with some choice rockabilly jams, covers ('I Walk The Line,' 'Maybellene') and some heartrending ballads.