Jimmy Evans- The Joint's Really Jumpin

Arkansas was the heartland of rockabilly, it was a state that produced the likes of Ronnie Hawkins, Mack Self, Conway Twitty, the list goes on. It's music history is fascinating, not only did it have one of the hottest live music circuits going around there were a number of small labels located in the state, such as Razorback Records. Rockabilly began to fade as a popular style in the late 50's but some of those early pioneers continued to record, some transitioned to a more country style, others added a harder rhythm and blues edge, it makes for fascinating listening.

One such artist was Marianna, Arkansas native Jimmy Evans who was known more as a session player, he had played at Sun with Jerry Lee Lewis, he had been on the road with Conway Twitty, Billy Lee Riley and the great Ronnie Hawkins. He plays on some of the Hawk's early rockabilly classics like Mary Lou and Forty Days. After leaving the Hawks in 1960 Jimmy returned south and cut records for a lot of local labels, Sun, Rebel Ace and Erwin. In 1962 he recorded The Joint's Really Jumpin, which is a classic barnstorming rocker, very much in the mould of Jerry Lee Lewis. It has that similar piano pounding sound pioneered by the Louisiana legend, it starts off sounding a little like Danny and The Junior's At The Hop. The song was issued on the Caveman Record label which was located in Wolf Lake Illinois according to the sleeve. Not sure where the record was recorded my guess would be at Sun studios possibly with the legendary Jimmy Ray Paulman on guitar, another Hawkins alumni.