1. Wham Bam Jam
2. Wiggle Waddle Woman
3. Up Jumped The Devil
4. Rock The Blues Tonight
5. Little Mixed Up
6. Crazy Shoes
7. Mule Train
8. Sick And Tired
9. Snake Man
10. Monkey Beat City
11. Down In Mexico
12. This Is The Night
13. I Tried To Be Fair
14. Hillbilly Blues
15. Bad Case Of A Broken Heart
16. Fool About You
17. Rockin' Dog
18. Come Back Uncle John
19. Running Wild
20. V-8 Ford Boogie
21. Party Time
22. Roadhouse Rock
23. Ghost Riders
Ronnie Dawson proved that Rock 'n' Roll has no expiry date. After returning to the spotlight during the Rockabilly revival, "The Blonde Bomber" recorded a string of outstanding albums that captured all the energy and swagger of his classic recordings while sounding completely fresh. Monkey Beat brings together every track from the Monkey Beat and Still A Lot Of Rhythm albums, making it one of the finest introductions to Dawson's later career.
Across twenty-three tracks, Dawson tears through Rockabilly, Rock 'n' Roll and Rhythm & Blues with effortless confidence. Highlights include Wham Bam Jam, Monkey Beat City, Rockin' Dog, Roadhouse Rock, V-8 Ford Boogie and a spirited interpretation of Ghost Riders. His distinctive guitar playing and unmistakable vocals give every performance the personality that made him a favourite with audiences around the world.
Listening to these two albums together, what stands out isn't nostalgia but consistency. Ronnie Dawson never softened his approach or settled into comfortable routine. He still sang with conviction, played with bite and attacked every song as though he had something to prove. That's what makes this collection so satisfying from beginning to end.
Combining two superb albums on one CD, Monkey Beat offers outstanding value and showcases why Ronnie Dawson became one of the most respected figures of the international Rockabilly revival.
