Third instalment in the thriving series on Atomicat is ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ with its theme, this time, rather interestingly and topical right now, the all-important job. Becoming self-sufficient indicates the transition from partying teenager and first tentative steps into adulthood when life becomes a chore once the parents’ funds dry up, and the realisation that the only way to finance a more enjoyable future is “Become Self-Sufficient”. Leading the charge for this brand-new album is Little Richard, and nice choice of song considering it’s an earlier recording of his with ‘Get Rich Quick’. It should be noted that the songs compiled by Dee Jay Mark Armstrong reflect not only the necessities to earn a living, but also the hardships faced when finances become a problem as depicted by the rhythm and blues of The Du-Droppers ‘Dead Broke’ or The Blue Diamonds ‘No Money’. Of course, there’s pleasure to be gained earning a dollar and reflected by rockabilly numbers ‘Big Money’ from Paul Davis and the all-important purchase of a car during the 50s with Hoyt Stevens and The Tennessee Ramblers ’55 Chevy’. With a few obscure gems added to this track list with edgy rock ‘n’ roll of Tom and The Craftsmen ‘The Work Song’, before taking the less secure route to acquiring funds with gambling involved during ‘Crap Shootin’ Sinner’ and its vocalist, ‘Cile Turner’, providing quite possibly the performance of her life as she weaves an engaging story of sin on a Saturday night. Quite simply, it’s top marks all round for ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment Three’ for its excellent selection of rhythm and blues and choice cuts of rockabilly, and for providing a fully rounded explanation of why becoming self-sufficient is the only way to go if you want to avoid some of the hardships detailed here.

A compilation series that garnered a favourable reception from numerous corners of the rockin’ scene makes its entrance, once more, for a fifth time. Latest in the ‘Rock ‘N Roll Kittens’ CD series is given the title ‘Forbidden Fruit’ and therefore being open to suggestion on numerous levels. Living up to such a notion is opening track ‘Long Tall Sally’ with its lyrics often the cause of much debate and given the female treatment here via Barbara Greene. Despite this version not living up to Little Richard’s version, Greene certainly provides much passion and added differences where the lead guitar is often the focus rather than the piano. From such a solid beginning, the songs continue in similar fashion with, again, strong vocals from Kay Adams (‘All Around The World’) and Janice Harper (‘Come On Home, All’s Forgiven’). It’s this positive feel that shapes volume five of ‘Rock ‘N Roll Kittens’ into a memorable affair, where the nimble rhythm of Carol Hughes’ ‘Pick Another Baby’ and full of spark ‘Cotton Pickin’ Kisses’, supplied by Lorry Raine, truly grab your attention. Given such focus, it can be suggested that the driving force at the heart of this album is often the vocal performances of many of its songs, with Kay Brown (‘Oop Shoop’), Roberta Sherwood (‘Love Is A Breakin’ Out’), Joan Hager ‘Will You Willyum, and less conventional yet still compelling vocals of Bette Anne Steele during ‘Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean)’, the women certainly deliver during this compilation. With the title track being a dexterous musical number, and the inclusion of Little Richard’s ‘Slippin’ & Slidin’ sung by Barbara Greene once more and, again, providing a different interpretation, there is much to enthuse over when it comes to the fifth chapter, ‘Forbidden Fruit’, in the freshly revived album series ‘Rock ‘N Roll Kittens’.

Likely contender for longest album title in the world ever, ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment Two’ by Atomicat arrives swiftly after the positive reception volume one received. With thirty tracks to its name, volume two of this brand-new series is already shaping up to be something of a winner. Included this time around are a few well-known numbers and a few surprises and not so well-known tracks. One track Elvis made famous begins this compilation, but this time it is the turn of Frankie Lymon who offers a rockin’ rendition of ‘Jailhouse Rock’. From such wild beginnings the heat only increases with Jeff Daniels in superb form with energized ‘Switch Blade Sam’, and Blackie Starks’ vocal performance on its own enough to entice any passers-by during the “still running” feel of  ‘Running Wild’. Common sense prevails when it comes to ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment Two’ because you cannot really have an album concerned with law-abiding citizens and those hellbent on breaking any boundaries they may encounter without including The Crickets’ ‘I Fought The Law’ or, from the other side of the fence, ‘Police Department Blues’ by Andy Griffith. In fact, this collection has pretty much got the lot with instrumentals as Duane Eddy and ‘Peter Gunn’; rock ‘n’ roll via excellent ‘Till The Law Says Stop’ and Johnny Faire; female-vocal group The Bobbettes adding that “pop” touch to this rockin’ compilation, before rolling with the rockin’ and hillbilly-inspired ‘Jail Break’. All in all, a thoroughly absorbing set of songs that will provide hours of listening pleasure as ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment Two’ more than matches volume one in this series.

Extra long title that is the latest series to be launched by Atomicat Records and goes by the name of ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment One – Defy The Devil’s Music: Dig That Rock ‘N’ Roll’. Naturally, with ten albums scheduled and the tracks selected to feature plenty of searing rock ‘n’ roll, ‘Commandment One’ sets off on such a journey, but with plenty of variety as suggested by the track list. By offering a less obvious choice to begin with as demonstrated by the up-tempo doo-wop ‘Dance Girl Dance’ supplied by Norman Fox and The Rob Roys, and a few rockin’ rhythm and blues numbers such as ‘Rock My Baby’ by Doles Dickens with vocals by Joe Gregory and, likewise, Bill Pinkney and The Turks’ ‘After The Hop’, the entire album makes for engaging listening and right until its finale of German rendition of ‘The End’ (Jeder Tag Geht Zu Ende) from Earl Grant. With such engaging twists in this collection, it only continues along such lines where, despite familiar names, the tracks selected offer more than the standard compilation. So expect to hear Carl Mann and The Kool Kats ‘Gonna Rock And Roll Tonight’, Gene Ray ‘Rock And Roll Fever’, Dick Seaton and The Mad Lads ‘Juke Box Rock’, Jesus Ramirez ‘Rock and Roll’, Willie Egan ‘Rock & Roll Fever’, and Neil Sedaka ‘You Gotta Learn Your Rhythm And Blues’ because the likes of Eddie, Elvis and Johnny are barred from the premises, not that such customary choices would be an unwelcome sight more that ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘N’ Roll: Commandment One’ sticks to its own path and, therefore, offers a refreshing alternative for doing so.

Second in the relatively new series ‘Hillbilly And Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ featuring another twenty-eight tracks to whet any listener’s appetite for such western rhythms and early connections to what became known as rockabilly. Volume 2, with its subheading ‘Looking For The Green’, begins via classy offering from Eddy Arnold ‘Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young’ that possesses a fingerpickin’ and foot-tapping rhythm and clear, crisp vocals making it the perfect start. Rightly so, the album doesn’t forget to live up to the “Rustic Bop” of its title as exemplified by the likes of ‘My Baby Done Gone Away’ with genuine raw vocals of Al Ferrier and His Boppin’ Billies, and clearly from the countryside (and new to these ears) Tommy Elliot and The Line Riders’ ‘Sold Out Doc’. With so many great tales, not to mention engaging tunes, the second volume in this series equals the first with its familiar names, and less familiar additions, where examples can be gleaned from Johnny Cash cover song ‘There You Go’ admirably conducted by Foreman Slim; weepie ‘Lonesome Long Gone Railroad Blues’ from Harrison Crump, to a determined Don Gibson and tight rhythm that blends a touch of sweetness as its wraps itself around the forceful words of its song. More greatness comes by way of Ken Marvin and ‘Ah Huh Honey’ where the music almost speaks for this song given its detail, and where you can hear the early steps towards rockabilly with its phrasing. The list rolls on when trying to explain just how good this compilation is because it’s a winning formula with its attention to detail and slight variations in styles without tripping over the boundary of its genre and making ‘Hillbilly And Rustic Rockabilly Bop Volume 2 Looking For The Green’ a sure-fire hit.

As a final parting of the ways is imminent between Britain and the EU, Rhythm Bomb Records issues a brand-new compilation featuring a selection of its bands and tracks where associations with this upheaval have no direct correlations to anything political and therefore selected on a criteria of emotions only. Expect to find, therefore, songs involving anger and frustration, given the tussle between Brussels and the UK, and expressed appropriately in name and title only via such tracks from Swedish rocker Fireball Steven as ‘Thunder And Lightning’ taken from his recent and critically lauded LP. With plenty of references to decision making, the always reliable Twisted Rod spin a “had enough” yarn of a life going nowhere set to a gritty rockabilly rhythm. Furthering the tension is A. J. & the Rockin’ Trio’s equally rockin’ ‘Done Me Wrong’, and The Hoodoo Tones emotionally raw ‘Who Thinks About Me’, which happens to be the closing number on recent and magnificent album ‘Still On The Run’. ‘Farewell Britain: A Rockin’ Farewell To Britain’ is not confined to rockabilly because the listener will experience a blend of old-time blues, expertly delivered by Black Patti (‘Nagging Blues’), and then given further variations involving traditional blues and rhythm and blues with hints of fresh additions by way of Bonita & The Blues Shacks’ ‘Hottest Wings In Town’; The Jelly Roll Men (‘Come Back Home To Me’) and Cat Lee King & His Cocks’ ‘You’re The Greatest’. Deep in reflection is Little Victor where lies of a relationship plummet ‘So Blue’ to the darkest depths yet remains one of the most compelling tracks available on this album. Ending on a positive note and sounding far from twee because this is a slice of hot rockin’ blues is Sara Lee and ‘Love Is Good’. It might be farewell, but the music and its strong ties between Britain and Europe will certainly live on as demonstrated by this collection of songs.