Submitted by original EvO:R Member, Jimmie Vestal
"The other EvO:R Jimmy"

1. That’s All Right Mama (1954) - Elvis Presley
His first rockabilly song inspired me, many years later, to record a song based on a poem written by my grandmother. My 1998 recording of “That’s All Right” had a different melody and different lyrics. It became a 7” 45 RPM vinyl record pressed in three different colors on my Sand and Palms label.

It was on a CD sold at CD Baby and also became a music video. Today you can hear it in thousands of restaurants, bars, clubs, taverns, and AMF bowling centers on their TouchTunes, Rock-Ola, and Rowe- AMI digital jukeboxes.

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2. Susie Q – Dale Hawkins (1957), Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)
I liked the James Burton style guitar picking and the beat of this song. It influenced me to write my song, “What’s Cookin’ (2009), which is also a music video. I use Dale’s last name in my video character, Marshal Rowdy Hawkins.

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3. Peggy Sue (1957) - Buddy Holly
I was fascinated by his Fender rhythm guitar strumming and the rolling drums. My songs, “Stampede” (1968), “Love To Stay” (1991), and “Racing Round The Track (1996), were inspired by Buddy Holly.

4. Walk, Don’t Run (1960) - The Ventures
Loved the sound of their electric Fender Stratocaster guitar with the vibrato bar. I sent my Gibson Les Paul Special guitar out to have one installed on it.

5. Hello Mary Lou (1961) – Rick Nelson
I like the cowbell intro to this song. Christopher Walken might say that it needed MORE cowbell! My favorite part of this song is when James Burton comes in with his amazing Fender Telecaster chicken picking guitar lick. I never reached his expert level of guitar playing, yet he has influenced many of the lead guitar breaks in my songs.

6. Wooly Bully (1965) – Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs
This recording inspired me to record my song, “Wooly Bully Again”. It was originally recorded in 1966 with my band, The Soul Brothers, and was pressed on 7” 33 1/3 RPM vinyl records with 5 other songs. A new version of it was recorded in 2007, a country line dance version (2009), and a video. It is also on the digital jukeboxes mentioned above.

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7. Shotgun (1965) – Junior Walker And The All Stars
I thought it was very unusual to hear a song that stayed mostly in the same chord throughout the entire song. Another one like this was “I Need Your Loving” (1962) recorded by Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford. This inspired me to compose my own songs using this technique. These were “Fishin’ Wire Eddy” (1992), “Who Dat?” (1992), “Clubbin’ In Myrtle Beach” (2003), “Gums” (2006), “My Pal, Wild Bill, Needs $70 Grand” (2006), “Big Beautiful Women Know How To Strut Their Stuff” (2007), “Spread The Wealth” (2008), and What’s Cookin’? (2009).

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8. Polk Salad Annie (1969) – Tony Joe White
One of the early “swamp music” songs with a James Burton style of guitar picking. It has that slower beat that I love, similar to “Susie Q”.

9. Green Onions (1962) – Booker T and the MGs
I always loved the beat of this instrumental, the Hammond B-3 organ, and the lead guitar part.

10. Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing (1997) – Chris Isaak
Here is that “swamp music” rockabilly style that I enjoy. This song, along with “Susie Q”, and “Polk Salad Annie” were the songs that influenced my song, “What’s Cookin’? (2009).

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