Originally a childhood prodigy violinist, Philadelphia-born FRANK VIRTUE took up guitar and double bass as a teenager, in the mid-1940s. His musical roots were based on the sound and style of the immediate pre-WWII Big Bands, and his earliest line-ups of THE VIRTUES, who were formed initially as THE VIRTUOSO TRIO,?reflected these influences. But by the mid-1950s they'd expanded to a quintet and were playing Big Beat and embryonic R&R, vying for popularity with local heroes Bill Haley & The Comets. In 1959 they registered a hit with "Guitar Boogie Shuffle", a revival of Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith's 1940s hit, which made the U. S. Top 10 and sold a couple of million copies. This compilation is built upon the subsequent Guitar Boogie Shuffle LP, also issued in 1959, plus assorted 45rpms issued between 1955-62, credited variously to The Virtues, Frank Virtuoso, Frank Virtuoso & His Men Of Virtue, and Jimmy Vespe (i. e. The band's lead guitarist).

Tracklist:

Ooh Ya Gotta
Good Bye Mambo
Rollin' An' a Rockin'
Jimmy's Shuffle
Go Joe Go
Toodle-Oo Kangaroo
Hop Skip Jump Mambo
Rattle My Bones - Frank Virtuoso
Mambo Rock - Frank Virtuoso
I Ain't Gonna Do It No More - Frank Virtuoso
Let's Have a Party - Frank Virtuoso
My Constant Love - Frank Virtuoso ; His Men of Virtue
I'm Going Home- Frank Virtuoso ; His Men of Virtue
I Think You're Lying - Jimmy Vespe
Guitar Boogie Shuffle
Guitar in Orbit
Flippin' In'
Shufflin' Along
Pickin' the Stroll
Virtue's Boogie Woogie (Pine Tops Boogie)
Pony Walk
Highland Guitar
Happy Guitar
Guitar Boogie Twist
Guitar Shimmy
Marching Guitars
Tel-Star Guitar
Jersey Bounce

UPC: 604988111422
Label: Jasmine Records
Release Date: 2.18.22
Format: CD

Frank Virtue & The Virtues - Guitar Boogie Shuffle & Other Guitar Greats 55-62 (CD)