Last in the pecking order, but by no means less inferior to its two predecessors, the current trilogy of albums with nothing but dancing on their minds features final volume (for now) ‘Bop-A-Rama’. Wrapped inside a trifold digipak are the contents containing tracks to please any boppers out there whether it’s rockabilly, rhythm and blues or rock ‘n’ roll, there’s plenty here to maintain any rhythm. Mark Armstrong has provided an admiral job in stitching the tracks together and making a coherent whole, and with superb design coming from the creative hands of Henrique San, this album, like its partners, are true works of joy! Unravelling those contents, the first “fire in the hole” comes from Dale Hawkins and, appropriately, ‘Tornado’. From this gust of wind comes another in ‘Rhythm In My Bones’ by Danny Diamonds and The Rubies, who quite frankly sounds like a man living on the edge given the jittery nature of his vocals. Tommy Cassel maintains the driving rhythm and sounds like a true cool kat during rockabilly number ‘Go Ahead On’, and then followed with Al Reed and The Blue Notes picking up the baton and sustaining the energy with a blast of rock ‘n’ roll ‘I Love Her So’. The tempo takes a different turn with examples of country bop from Ben Hall and The Circle 4 Ramblers ‘Blue Days – Black Nights’, and some bluegrass from Flatt & Scruggs with ‘Six White Horses’. The inclusion of some not so familiar in these parts as the curious name badge that is Lucky Plank with primitive rockabilly ‘Hey Hey Baby’, and a true ramshackle delight in ‘Rock The Blues Away’ by Jack and The Knights. Add to the list of bands two more recent faces in much missed Carolina and Her Rhythm Rockets and, providing the last track of the album, Frantic Rockers, then you have another consistently good album of boppers that will keep the feet moving until the next volume.

Final addition to what has been a highly riveting series of albums loaded with many rough ‘n’ ready tunes, as well as more of a steadier tempo from the (so-called) wrong end of town. Five albums in total then, and with the previous volume being absolutely worth its weight in gold, the anticipation has been high in the FLW office. Getting off to a more than satisfactory start, the new album kickstarts the engine and allows for all hell to break loose via three scorchers and beginning with Carl Phillips’ ‘Wigwam Willie’, The Rock-A-Teens ‘Doggone It Baby’, and a little less known ditty here via Morty Marker and The Impalas ‘Tear Down The House’. Keen therefore to investigate further, the rest of the contents of ‘Rock And Roll Floozy 5′ does not disappoint, with the environment remaining familiar and represented in equally raucous fashion. What remains highly appealing are the number of musicians featured who rarely turn up on other similar compilation albums and again, it’s not simply aiming for the obscure artist and track here for the sake of it because the quality is extremely high. Look no further than excellent rockin’ tracks from Kenny Owen and appropriately fitting song title for this album series ‘I Got The Bug’, to Jack Bailey & The Naturals ‘Oh What Love Is’, The White Caps ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Saddles’, Wally Lewis ‘Lover Boy’, and Joey Du’ Ambra and His Mellow D’s ‘Come Back A-Little Baby’. It’s nearly endless and a collector’s treasure trove so to speak. Add to the album’s track list alternate versions of ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ from Gary Criss, and The Chavis Brothers ‘Slippin’ An Slidin”, and you are left with an outstanding collection of rockin’ songs.  Of course, tempos vary and bearing in mind these albums have the bop, jive and stroll crowds in mind, so there’s something for everyone. If these sounds are a true representation of the wrong end of town, then all hail a taxi right now and ask to be taken to destination ‘Rock And Roll Floozy’ because there’s no other place to be, given that the music is this good!

Cutting something of a mysterious figure from his base in El Paso, Texas, is the man responsible for the music making up the third album in the series ‘Rock And Roll Floozy’. With no real details to go from, the compiler known as Marcus Juárez quietly goes about his business with some added assistance from DeeJay Mark Armstrong (Atomicat) to help bring these albums to life. Packed full of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll delights, and likely to be heard blaring from the local bar from a seedier end of town, these rock ‘n’ rollers feature many names and tracks less heard of when it comes to other albums of a similar build. Yes, much to enthuse over therefore, and boy do these tracks rock in the styles of jive, bop and stroll. For immediate satisfaction, then Billy Barnette and The Searchers with ‘Stomp, Shake And Twist’ is the kind of track to not only get this party started, but also provide the very definition of the wild rockin’ sounds that captures all three categories of bop, jive and stroll in one single track. It’s an electrifying start and one that continues to roll along similar lines with Jerry Fuller ‘I’ve Found A New Love’, The Coachmen ‘Merrianne’, and John & Jackie with ‘Raging Sea’. Other notable tracks include Link Wray and The Wraymen with additional vocals during ‘Mary Ann’, to a terrific performance from Jackie Cannon during ‘Proof Of Your Love’ for simply sounding nonchalant throughout. Further rockin’ nuggets chosen for their curious values as well come from Ronnie Summers ‘Lonesome Road’ with traces of Roy Orbison in his voice, to Chuck Howard sounding like a man devoid of any luck as ‘Out Of Gas’ suggests. With Bob Miller providing an excellent impression of Jerry Lee Lewis with ‘Great Balls Of Fire’, then really, what more could you demand of such a collection as ‘Rock And Roll Floozy 3’ because it delivers one great GREASY racket of rockin’ goodness (i.e. badness).

Time flies so quickly, especially when you’re having fun. Such a thought applies to the series ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ because it seems only a few weeks ago that the first “commandment” was released by Atomicat when, in reality, it was much longer. That is the beauty of such album series, especially when the compiler (Mark Armstrong in this instance) gets it right because the music to date has been exhilarating and, on multiple occasions, informative given the lesser-known artists featuring. So, with time flying fast therefore, and considering the current destination finds the listener at “Commandment 8”, the theme given to this latest album is not such an enjoyable subject if you happen to be the victim of such a dastardly act. Yes, folks the notion or actual act of cheating or, to be more precise, “adultery” is at the centre of current album ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’. Fear not because as with previous volumes, the blend of rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and traditional rhythm and blues pep up the spirits no matter how dour those words become concerning any love that has turned sour. Step forward then Charles Glass with Orchestra and dramatically titled ‘Screamin’ And Dyin’ (And Rollin’ On The Floor)’; a song packed with a passionate punch lyrically whereby it takes no prisoners, and musically given its equally punchy rhythm. That said, there’s the briefest suggestion that life shouldn’t be taken too seriously with the vocals nearly breaking into a full-blown cackle on one occasion, and later still the realisation that the protagonist’s whiskey reserved for that nightcap has nearly gone! Sweet revenge no doubt executed with Charles Glass and Company packing up their rhythm and blues and exiting out the door to seek happier times. Oh, and the rest of the contents of this album? Well, after the essay that could have been written on ‘Screamin’ And Dyin’…’, suffice to say that rest of the contents live up to this sublime opener and therefore maintaining the grade A status of this series. Enough said.

Launching a second volume or wave if you prefer in the ‘Jive-A-Rama’, ‘Bop-A-Rama’ and ‘Stroll-A-Rama’ series on Atomicat Records mixes many well-known musicians with a few less familiar. The choice of tracks stacking up for the first in the second series of ‘Jive -A- Rama Volume 2’ features such artists, but it also contains songs less compiled for similar types of “themed” compilations. Therefore, when it comes to Gene Vincent, selected here for example, do not expect a ‘Bluejean Bop’ rather a ‘Flea Brain’ which fits the bill perfectly for its associations with swing and rock ‘n’ roll and teeing it up nicely for that soon-to-be jive at the nearest dancehall. Thrown into the album pot fit for jiving is a blend of rhythm and blues, harmonious vocal groups and rock ‘n’ roll, and when combined the result is Brook Benton and ‘I Wanna Do Everything For You’, which just happens to be the opening track of ‘Jive-A-Rama Volume 2’. However, such genres are stretched a bit to include other competitors with the inclusion (and excellent choice) of rockabilly track ‘Quick Sand Love’ from Macy (Skip) Skipper with a definite whiff of Jerry Lee Lewis attached. The latter artist also appears with equally enthralling ‘Lewis Boogie’. Fine rhythm and blues can be heard via Chuck Willis and ‘Take It Like A Man’ and ditto Patti Jerome complete with gifted voice during ‘No Mama – No Papa’. The Jewels bring the vocal harmonies, not to mention lively rhythm to ‘Pearlie Mae’, which sounds like classic 50s movie soundtrack material and one of the definite highlights of many. With much to choose from, and enough material to keep the dancefloor occupied, ‘Jive-A-Rama Volume 2’ is a worthy addition to its predecessor, but also as an album in its own right, such is the strength of material selected.

After the positive response to the first album ‘Rock And Roll Floozy’, there was only ever one decision to make, and that was to issue another album full of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll goodness. From his base in El Paso, Texas, Marcus Juarez is the man responsible for compiling this latest album. Adhering to Atomicat’s “all killer, no filler” or, in this instance, “all hit, no filler”, the album ‘Rock And Roll Floozy 2’ follows in its predecessor’s footsteps by including lesser-known names with celebrated artists. The rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll featured is best suited to the styles of jive, stroll, and bop, and all tracks are equally comfortable whether blaring from the speakers at the local dancehall or from any listener’s music system at home. Heading back to a 50s heyday, ‘Rock And Roll Floozy 2’ certainly features more of the lesser known in comparison with other compilations of a similar ilk. For example, it’s not often you see a track list with Jerry Jaye, Mark Anthony, The Brothers, Buddy Shaw, The Sportsmen and with Roy Orbison being the only inclusion of an established name considering his success on an international scale. Even the track selected featuring Roy Orbison (‘Chicken Hearted’) is less obvious and rather unique in its approach for the time in which it was recorded because it’s almost an instrumental with plenty of saxophone and, when introduced, the lyrics are simple yet highly effective. From this position, expect plenty of rockin’ strollin’, boppin’ delights with intriguing rockabilly by way of Phoenix, Arizona, and Mark Anthony with ‘Wolf Call’, to also fascinating in song and title ‘Pididdle (The Car With One Light)’ performed by Buzz Clifford, not forgetting the inclusion of oddball ditty ‘The Day I Died’ from Scott Garrett.  Link Davis with ‘Sixteen Chicks’ preceding Joe Clay’s version is every bit as good and more to the point both versions differ, which is always more interesting. The Carlos Brothers ‘Come On, Let’s Dance’ is a harmonious delight and perfect for strollin’.  Oh, what an album! For those looking for rockabilly/rock ‘n’ roll without the usual assortment of names, then buy, borrow or beg a copy of ‘Rock And Roll Floozy 2’ because you will not be disappointed.