Originally released in 1958 by the budget-priced label, collected a dozen sides cut for and between 1951 and 1958. ( were owned by the who also ran , which explains how one of the true prestige artists of the ended up on such a notoriously cheap-o label.) As was often the case with 's product, used a single hit tune (in this case a Top Ten chart entry in 1954) to help sell a package of lesser-known material, but thankfully the label also picked some great tunes that hardly sound like filler, even if they didn't make the charts. The material on is dominated by muscular, horn-driven performances with 's interjections of single-note riffs and powerful string bends punctuating the arrangements, and 's songwriting was already stellar, with demonstrating his way with a melody and a lyrical conceit. While 's recordings gained a greater depth and emotional force as he moved into the '60s, his takes were the work of a man who already had an enviable command of his instrument and a real gift as a vocalist and songwriter, and though he would get better with time, demonstrates he was already near the top of his class. ~ Mark Deming