***1/2 Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps

THE SCREAMING END: THE BEST OF GENE VINCENT & HIS BLUE CAPS

(Razor & Tie)

Back in 1956, when Gladys Presley first heard the panting, hormone-drenched "Be-Bop-a-Lula," she congratulated son Elvis on his new hit -- except it was by Gene Vincent. Inspired by a Little Lulu comic book, it was only the third rockabilly song to crack the top 10. Its leering flip side, "Woman Love," even netted Gene an obscenity conviction in his home state of Virginia. Lean and mean, his hits spanned just 18 months as their dark frenzy embodied rock's break from bland Eisenhower-era pop.

Born Vincent Eugene Craddock in the swamps of Virginia's Tidewater, black-leathered Gene (1935-'71) and Wanda Jackson were Capitol Records' main jumps on the rockabilly bandwagon. Forty years later, these 20 tracks still "Race with the Devil." Regardless of the beatnik lingo in "Bop Street," with its cats and kittens in green blue jeans and crazy shoes, here's redneck rock at its feisty birth. No frills. The homeboy Blue Caps' snappy guitar, bass, and drums are all we need as jitterbuggin' Gene shouts, "Jump, man, jump!"

-- Bruce Sylvester