Personnel includes: Wanda Jackson (vocals); Joe Maphis, Buck Owens, Vernon Sandusky (guitar); Ralph Mooney (pedal steel guitar); Merrill Moore, Big Al Downing (piano).

Producer: Ken Nelson.

Compilation producer: John Johnson.

Includes liner notes by Rich Kienzle.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Taken from the years 1956-61, the 20 tracks on this well-annotated budget compilation serve as an excellent introduction to this incendiary and highly influential artist. A true Nashville pioneer, Wanda Jackson was a crossover giant long before the term came into vogue, combining the heartbreaking country classicism of Patsy Cline with the sexy, devil-may-care menace of Elvis--the latter most notably on the rip-snorting "Let's Have A Party" and the otherworldly "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad."

Blessed with talent, extraordinary good looks and a broad musical palate, Jackson embraced country, pop ballads, rock & roll and rockabilly with equal flair and conviction. Unfortunately, such an eclectic stance didn't score many points with music biz bigwigs in those days, and radio programmers never knew quite what to make of her. Discouraged by the situation, Jackson turned her focus strictly to country, but this quintessential rockabilly kitten had effectively been de-clawed and was never again to regain the amazing artistic edginess to which this simply stunning set serves as testament.