Eddie Cochran

Because he was worshiped in England, where he died in a car crash, this hot-picking Hollywood rockabilly was overrated in a pop world that had never heard of Charlie Feathers. But after punk, Brits forgot him, and soon his legend was reduced to "Summertime Blues" and "Somethin' Else," so that these 20 two-minute songs comprise his first decent U.S. CD. I always found his catalog thin, but boy-pop puts it in perspective; it would be rich to hear some teen tycoon singing, "I want my own Coupe de Ville/Make my dad pay the bill." The essence of nominally rebellious male adolescence and as such, more redolent than Charlie Feathers. (Grade: A-)