About This Item
Originally a childhood prodigy violinist, Philadelphia-born FRANK VIRTUE took up guitar and double bass as a teenager, in the mid-1940s. His musical roots were based on the sound and style of the immediate pre-WWII Big Bands, and his earliest line-ups of THE VIRTUES, who were formed initially as THE VIRTUOSO TRIO, reflected these influences. But by the mid-1950s they'd expanded to a quintet and were playing Big Beat and embryonic R&R, vying for popularity with local heroes Bill Haley & The Comets. In 1959 they registered a hit with InchGuitar Boogie ShuffleInch, a revival of Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith's 1940s hit, which made the U. S. Top 10 and sold a couple of million copies. This compilation is built upon the subsequent Guitar Boogie Shuffle LP, also issued in 1959, plus assorted 45rpms issued between 1955-62, credited variously to The Virtues, Frank Virtuoso, Frank Virtuoso & His Men Of Virtue, and Jimmy Vespe (i. e. The band's lead guitarist). Album Tracks 1. Ooh Ya Gotta 2. Good Bye Mambo 3. Rollin' An' a Rockin' 4. Jimmy's Shuffle 5. Go Joe Go 6. Toodle-Oo Kangaroo 7. Hop Skip Jump Mambo 8. Rattle My Bones - Frank Virtuoso 9. Mambo Rock - Frank Virtuoso 10. I Ain't Gonna Do It No More - Frank Virtuoso 11. Let's Have a Party - Frank Virtuoso 12. My Constant Love - Frank Virtuoso & His Men of Virtue 13. I'm Going Home- Frank Virtuoso & His Men of Virtue 14. I Think You're Lying - Jimmy Vespe 15. Guitar Boogie Shuffle 16. Guitar in Orbit 17. Flippin' In' 18. Shufflin' Along 19. Pickin' the Stroll 20. Virtue's Boogie Woogie (Pine Tops Boogie) 21. Pony Walk 22. Highland Guitar 23. Happy Guitar 24. Guitar Boogie Twist 25. Guitar Shimmy 26. Marching Guitars 27. Tel-Star Guitar 28. Jersey Bounce
