"White Lightning"/"Who Shot Sam"

I love George Jones, but I especially love these two tracks (which really sound almost exactly the same). Does anyone have any recommendations for similar sounding tracks from this era(not just by Jones, but anyone)? It's kind of half rock 'n' roll, half country, but not exactly in a rockabilly way.

"The Race is On", "Why, Baby, Why"

I like this comp of mostly obscure country/rock and roll stuff, seems like it's along the lines of the tunes you mention:

http://goodrockinarchives.blogspot.com/2011/01/country-hicks-volume1-bark-log-1-cd.html

whybabywhy is great.
some of charlie feather's later stuff would probably scratch this itch.
also, "trucker" music like dave dudley and such...

Buck Owens

definitely Charley Feathers (Peepin Eyes maybe?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB5d_KgIcXA&feature=related

Maddox Brothers and Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzdJ048Bm4s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgGZCTHKLUw

cool to hear that "no help wanted".
only version i knew was by "the canadian sweethearts", it's a cleaner, more modern recording with a woman on the vocals. real rockin' li'l number, always thought it was an original....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLhMcmNe8ww

this may be more rockabilly than you're looking for, but it's a good example of a honky-tonker going rock in the mid '50s (and not really catching on in the pop charts, aside from his minor hit "I Ain't Never"). for some reason he released this single under the pseudonym Shady Wall.

i've been singing "Why Baby Why" around the house a lot lately. the one big chronological George Jones comp I have (Essential: The Spirit of Country) starts with a nice little run of these songs.

(x-post) "No Help Wanted" was by The Carlisles, and I've recommended this Jumpin' Bill Carlisle comp elsewhere. Love it:

http://www.cdmarket.eu/images/products/20100623/29283_medium.jpg

cool, thanks. getting deeper and deeper. will check out mr. carlisle.

some of patsy cline's upbeat numbers, though kind of slick, fit the bill here.
come to think of it tammy, loreta and dolly all have tunes that work here...

You have to hear the original "White Lightning":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NMklxiE6xw

I wish The Big Bopper had done more stuff like this.

^^^ I've heard this before and always assumed it was a cover of Jones. I learn something new every day.

some early charlie rich on sun records.

lotsa sun records stuff, actually. jerry lee lewis, for example.

wanda jackson, "hot dog that made him mad."

Yeah, Wanda recorded a version of Who Shot Sam. Lotsa Sun Records stuff otm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFCCgwHEDyI&playnext=1&list=PL30C4C45AE9F0076C