Second instalment in the new CD series for jivers, boppers and strollers of the rockin’ scene, ‘Bop-A-Rama: King Of The Ducktail Cats’ brings another thirty tracks guaranteed to keep those feet moving. The first segment of the second volume is a tougher proposition in the sense that many of the tracks focus on the rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll numbers including the likes of Buddy Holly (‘I’m Gonna Love You Too’), Sonny Fisher (‘Hey Mama’), T. Texas Taylor (‘Shake ‘Em Up Rock’), Larry Nolen & His Bandits (‘King Of The Ducktail Cats’) to name but a few. With things heating up considerably, there’s room for a little reflection with various strands of country seeping into the mix and beginning with Rudy Hanson (‘Saturday Jump’), and then curiously finding room for Bill Monroe’s ‘Lonesome Truck Driver’s Blues’, before gaining considerable momentum with more rockin’ delights from Buddy Burke to Sonny Cole & His Rhythm Roamers and appropriate offering ‘I Dreamed I Was Elvis’. Add to the list two artists from the current rockin’ scene and any listener, not to mention any person who enjoys to bop, jive and stroll, cannot fail to be impressed with the collection that is ‘Bop-A-Rama: King Of The Ducktail Cats’.

A new series arrives on the Atomicat imprint that focuses on the dance styles of jive, bop and stroll. With the first volume titled, ‘Jive-A-Rama: It’s Rock And Roll’ the songs come thick and fast and begin in some style via Arthur Lee May and The Crowns and ‘Do The Bop’, and concludes in equally fine style with The Starjays ‘Turn Down The Lights’. What’s interesting about this new CD set, which is scheduled for five releases, is that each volume includes artists from the 50s and early 60s, but also two songs from bands writing and recording in the present. Rather than give the game away, it’s up to the listener to untangle which two bands are the fresher sounding because once the 30 sides of jive, bop and stroll gets underway it’s not an easy answer to arrive at, especially for those less familiar with the rockin’ scene and therefore full credit for the authenticity of the modern bands involved. With some great names included and further interesting twists of artists and tracks chosen (i.e. Del Shannon’s version of ‘Runaround Sue’ rather opting for more obvious take by Dion), Jive-A-Rama: It’s Rock And Roll’ makes for an exciting compilation (listen to Curtis Lee’s ‘I Never Knew What Love Could Do’ for definitive proof) that will keep any dancer moving into the early hours.

A hot-rockin’ new series finds its way on to Atomicat by the name of ‘Indian Bred’. The first volume of songs features various artists with a Native American heritage performing numbers that either reflect such native links or songs reflective of the period i.e. Wild West or quite simply rock ‘n’ roll’s meal ticket of songs of love and heartbreak. Housed in a foldout digipack and with concise liner notes by DJ Mark Armstrong (Germany) of every artist featured, ‘Indian Bred – Fire In The Teepee’ is aesthetically appealing as well as informative, but does it cut the mustard sonically? Well, the immediate answer is yes, yes it does, and boy does this album deliver! From the big sound of Bill Haley & His Comets ‘Ten Little Indians’ fuelling the launch of this compilation and then proceeded by such rockin’ delights as ‘You Break Me Up’ (Ben Hewitt), wild, wild ‘Chonnie-On-Chon’ via James Brown and bristling rock ‘n’ roll of cover artist Eddie Clearwater ‘I Was Gone’, there’s much to be said of this album and it’s all positive. From its merging of predominantly rock ‘n’ roll with shades of rhythm and blues and expertly delivered by Art Neville and sublime ‘Zing Zing’ for example, to featuring country/honky-tonk troubadour Hank Williams with ‘Baby, We’re Really In Love’, proves a clever strategy as the track list functions with ease and offers great variety. There’s even room to show off here, and good reason when featuring the “ahead of its time” and fantastically oddball ‘Boo Hoo’ by Marvin Rainwater and even the King himself Elvis Presley closing out this session with ‘How Do You Think I Feel’. Quite simply, ‘Indian Bred: Fire In The Teepee’ is a red-hot long player, skilfully compiled and, if anything, a perfect introduction to some of the artists of the 50s rockin’ scene.

Mapped out as a series of four CDs covering female artists from the 50s and early 60s, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kittens Vol. 1 – Friction Heat’ focuses on traditional rhythm and blues and rock ‘n’ roll. With twenty-five tracks featuring the likes of Etta James, Ella Mae Morse, Janis Martin, Patti Page et al, the first volume in this new series gets off to a flyer with Big Maybelle providing the hairdryer treatment via ‘Rock House’. There’s further quality in store with already mentioned Ella Mae Morse who provides an utterly convincing performance with the anxious emotions of excellent ’40 Cups Of Coffee’ complete with big band accompaniment. More greatness follows with rock ‘n’ roll offering ‘Let’s Elope Baby’ from Janis Martin, and rhythm and blues of Annisteen Allen’s ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’. The Ray Charles classic ‘I Got A Woman’ is given a slightly different spin by Jo Stafford by renaming it to ‘I Got A Sweetie’ that runs like a well-oiled machine, which is hardly surprising given the singer’s background as a trained opera singer. Normal rockin’ service resumes with the rickety blues of ‘Shot Gun Boogie’ that’s a real delight, especially the rawness of Rosemary Clooney’s voice. In fact, there’s only a few occasions where the compilation falls short and namely the saccharine-sweet vocals of Rosie & Retta during ‘The Hoot-Owl Melody’ and then irksome duo ‘It’s Been Said’ (Nellie Lutcher) and ‘Dance Everybody, Dance’ by Betty Madigan. Otherwise, all is well when it comes to a female front of rock ‘n’ roll and ‘Friction Heat’.

Proudly waving the flag for Rhythm Bomb is Czech Republic outfit Twisted Rod. A three-piece setup consisting of guitar, bass and drums, Twisted Rod not only write most of their own material via the pen of Filip Nesvadba but have a habit of producing the goods every time there’s a new album release. New offering ‘One In A Million’ is further testament of the qualities at the centre of this band; a thirteen-track album teaming with red-hot rockers such as addictive ‘She’s A Hurricane’, brawling rhythms of ‘Wait A Minute Honey’ and ‘Rainy Days’. In fact, most of this long player is full of attitude (‘I Wanna Bop’) but also knows when to let go and enjoy the good times (‘The Place Was Jumpin’) as well as providing some light relief during the album’s title track. If you need further convincing of the qualities laid bare, then ‘Pretty Baby’ should tick all the boxes as it’s a song that proudly projects its emotions and convinces greatly. Twisted Rod has certainly done it again and produced a whirlwind of rockin’ rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll with current album ‘One In A Million’.

Even baddies get the blues. Latest compilation from the stable that is Atomicat is ‘Satan’s Holiday: The Devil’s Jukebox’. With the meanest dude of them all spinning a playlist of rockin’ delights, you can expect to hear a few of the usual suspects and lesser known artists committing their wares to wax. There are many welcome choices made with Gene Vincent’s ‘Race With The Devil’ or Al Jones ‘Mad, Mad World’. The less obvious choices prove inspired decisions as well, with The Zanies ‘Mad Scientist’ revealing influences of rhythm and blues and horror movies straight from the 50s. Other instances reveal more serious turns such as the frantic rock ‘n’ roll of Myron Lee, in addition to The Caddies ‘Homicide’. Raising it a few notches higher on the wild scale is rhythm and blues rocker ‘Wail Baby Wail’ by Tommy Louis with Marshall and the Versatiles. The definition of scintillating rock ‘n’ roll continues via The Rhythm Rockets and ‘My Shadow’, and then throws up a well-known artist, Chuck Berry, but with less obvious track ‘Downbound Train’, which makes for an interesting diversion. There’s room to breathe via Ella Mae Morse and the big band accompaniment that is ‘Rip Van Winkle’, whereas “Scat Man” Crothers excellent take on ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’ adds variation. This is one jukebox that will keep minds and hearts warm during the winter months with its diverse range of artists and piping hot tracks.