Wicked Wicked Woman
Ray Liberto only cut a few singles but what a groove. The side that most know on this single is "Wicked, Wicked Woman" which is a great little rocker. In fact it's very similar to Jimmy Dee and his single "You're Late Miss Kate" which was a bit prior to this December 1958 release. While most consider him a Texan that is one of the state's best rockabilly artists on TNT Records, I want you to consider him for something else.
Listen to this song and if you'll also note that somehow Ray has also invented the loping beat that would become the basis for ska music in Jamaica a few years later. There are pitiful few examples of this beat appearing in music outside of the Caribbean in the '50s and perhaps San Antonio was one of the places it first germinated, and died.
"Calling Margie" is a weird flipside with a musical riff going on while Ray has a one-sided conversation with his girlfriend on the phone! On this side you'll really start wondering if Ray is a white guy or a black guy! I don't know the answer. He's sounds white on the topside, but this flip sounds like he's black.