| features in: Album Chart of 1964 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s |
Having been heavily identified with the rockabilly scene in the preceding years, “Two Sides of Wanda” would prove to be the last time she’d prominently record in the genre for some 20 years. This was a good decision both artistically and commercially. The rock and rollers here sound a bit uninspiring; although not too bad it really does sound like a case of Rockabilly by numbers. On side 1 she tackles: “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Goin’ On” (Big Maybelle, 1955); “Honey Don’t” (Carl Perkins, 1955); “Yakety Yak” (The Coasters, 1958); “Searchin’” (The Coasters, 1957); “Candy Man” (Roy Orbison, 1961) and “Rip It Up” (Little Richard, 1956). Side 2, steeped in a raw-brand of Nashville country pop, is instantly more preferable – her honky-swing reading of Jimmy Work’s “Making Believe” is noticeably more genuine by both singer and group. This is followed by a beautiful rendition of Wynn Stewart’s “Keeper of the Key”. Again, it seems obvious that this is more like home territory. Wanda delivers another great vocal in an unusual pop-rhumba version of Hank Williams’ “Cold Cold Heart”. For once, I seem to be in line with popular opinion with my feeling that the country side is the stronger one here; the album earned Jackson her first Grammy nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Go Wanda…
The Jukebox Rebel
10–Aug–2015
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:45]  Wanda Jackson - Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Goin’ On (Dave Williams, Roy Hall) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A2 | [02:16]  Wanda Jackson - Honey Don’t (Carl Perkins) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A3 | [02:11]  Wanda Jackson - Yakety Yak (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| A4 | [02:49]  Wanda Jackson - Searchin’ (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) Country |
| A5 | [02:35]  Wanda Jackson - Candy Man (Fred Neil, Beverly Ross) Country |
| A6 | [02:13]  Wanda Jackson - Rip It Up (John Marascalco, Robert Blackwell) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly |
| B1 | [02:31]  Wanda Jackson - Making Believe [album version ’64] (Jimmy Work) Country |
| B2 | [03:24]  Wanda Jackson - The Keeper Of The Key (Beverly Stewart) Country |
| B3 | [02:54]  Wanda Jackson - Don’t Let Me Cross Over (Penny Jay) Country |
| B4 | [02:36]  Wanda Jackson - Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams) Pop Ballad |
| B5 | [03:39]  Wanda Jackson - Don’t Worry (Marty Robbins) Country |
| B6 | [02:21] Wanda Jackson - Please Help Me I’m Falling (Hal Blair, Don Robertson) Country |
