Hot on the heels of the Jack White-produced ‘The Party Ain’t Over’, Wanda Jackson continues her renaissance with new album ‘Unfinished Business’. This time it’s Justin Townes Earle on production duties; even contributing vocally on the quite superb ‘Am I Even A Memory?’ With ‘Unfinished Business’ being a more subtle affair than the aforementioned White project, it would seem that Jackson still has much to offer, and long may it continue, as this resurgence in creativity and recognition is much welcomed.
Album Reviews
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Eddie Cochran Plus Singin’ To My Baby
Eddie Cochran
Hoodoo
The Hoodoo Records imprint conjures up some more magic with the double whammy that is ‘Eddie Cochran’ and ‘Singin’ To My Baby’. With a 16-page booklet providing detailed information coupled with several rare photos, both albums not only provide a healthy dose of Cochran’s well-known numbers (‘C’mon Everybody’, ‘Summertime Blues’, ‘Mean When I’m Mad, ‘Completely Sweet’’) but the bonus material also throws up some wonderful delights such as ‘Twenty-Flight Rock’ and ‘Boll Weevil Song’. Outside of Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran was definitely one of the pioneers of rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll music as these two albums provide an introduction and timely reminder of the genius at work.
Classic Rockabilly
Various Artists
Proper
‘Classic Rockabilly’ is the king of rockabilly box sets by a considerable distance. Packed with some 100 plus songs that appear to reveal something new on repeat listens due to the density on offer here, Proper Records has clearly done their homework as the usual suspects of Presley, Burnette, Perkins, Vincent, Orbison et el are present and accompanied by the lesser-known Justin Tubb, Earl Epps and Vern Pullens. However, it is not just the jaw-droppingly good music on offer here, but the equally compelling comprehensive notes detailing each and every artist and clearly setting this compilation apart from the chasing pack. Viva Proper Records!
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Jack Rabbit Slim
Western Star
In a recent interview, Bob Butfoy of Jack Rabbit Slim disclosed that the title of the band’s new album had no bearing on the decision-making process of two of its recently departed members but more in conjunction with the rockabilly scene the band continually find themselves lumped in with. In an attempt to move away from said scene, ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ reveals itself as something of two components, with one half still rooted in a rockabilly/rock ‘n’ roll rhythm whilst the other taking on more diverse sounds such as the indie sounding ‘Thinkin’ Of Leavin’. It is the latter component that will no doubt win over new fans whereas the more traditional leanings of ‘Rock n Roll Shipwreck’ and ‘Come Back Baby’ will help to retain the purists.
Wild Streak Vol. 2
Various Artists
Vee-Tone
Hot on the heels of Volume One, the encyclopaedia of 50s music-related knowledge that is Mark Lamarr compiles another set of frantic rock ‘n’ roll for Vee-Tone Records. There is much to be found here and in particular Rocky Holman’s truly eccentric ‘Wild Boy’ that will leave you grinning long after its conclusion. The equally manic ‘Drummer Boy Rock’, replete with backing hollers and drumrolls, from Gene Watson & The Rockets’ maintains the flow and appropriately followed by the guitar-ringing ‘Six Long Weeks’ and the hip-swinging moves of Hank LeGaults’ ‘I Knew’. Only the more formulaic ‘High School Caesar’ slightly takes the edge off of proceedings to an otherwise enthralling compilation.
Kat Men
Kat Men
Foot Tapping Records
With a balance of original compositions and cover versions, The Kat Men’s much sought after debut album is reissued on Foot Tapping Records with several added additions. As mentioned elsewhere, and kicking-off proceedings, ‘Domino’ sets the benchmark in the rockin’ stakes with its raw guitar assault and pulsating rhythmic beats providing serious competition for Roy Orbison’s original composition. With no time to come up for air, ‘Dark Haired Woman’ and ‘A Heartache I Can’t Bare’ continue in similar fashion, providing convincing evidence that Darrel Higham should really pen more of his own material because these songs, along with the gripping ‘That Sounds Like Fun’, stand up on their own merits.
Dead Man’s Shoes
The Lucky Bullets
Grappa
As far as rockabilly revival bands go, The Lucky Bullets are actually worth the attention. Spanning not just rockabilly music but blending Western-style influences with added Mexican flavour, ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ is littered with an assortment of hapless figures and chancers compellingly told by the charismatic Tank Harvey. Whether it’s the guitar twang and bubbling under the surface brass of title song ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, evoking images of deserted towns and rolling tumbleweeds, to the leading bass tempo of love-struck ‘Bosses Daughter’ or the Johnny Cash inspired ‘Heavy Load’ , The Lucky Bullets possess a deft touch when it comes to songwriting. Defining moments, however, are left to the darkly comic film noir that is ‘Mrs B. Have’ and still essential ‘Fire Below’.
Eight Classic Albums Plus Bonus Singles
Elvis Presley
Real Gone
Free of any pretence, Real Gone has put together a mammoth box set covering eight classic albums of Elvis Presley spanning from 1956 – 1960 with additional singles included for good measure over four CDs. With minor gripes being a lack of any detailed information regarding the recording sessions during these years or about the man himself let alone a series of photographs to give the listener some inclination of the King’s inner sanctum, the sound quality and of course the rockin’ tracks more than compensate for any such grievances.
The Complete 50s Masters
Elvis Presley
Sony
A nicely packaged and comprehensive examination of Elvis Presley’s Sun Records phase which takes the listener into the RCA sessions until the latter end of the 1950s. The compact set consists of five CDs and a reasonably detailed booklet detailing all of the recording sessions with added extras. If you are a fan of early period Elvis, then ‘The Complete ‘50s Masters’ is definitely a wise acquisition even if the songs contained within are more than familiar to even the most hardened Presley aficionados.
Great Rockabilly Vol. 6
Various Artists
Smith & Co
Still going strong, the ‘Great Rockabilly’ series has now reached Volume 6 and there is still plenty to offer here from not only the usual suspects of Cochran, Burnette, Vincent et al but also some lesser-known cuts from the likes of Bobby Lollar, Leon and Carlos, Red Sovine, and John Hampton. Pick of the bunch however, is the wild and frantic ‘Love Me’ by The Phantom, which predates the raw intensity of punk music by some considerable years.
Look To The Sky
James Iha
The End
Ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha finally dusts down the guitar to return with only his second solo offering after his debut back in 1998. That is not to say that Iha has not been a busy man during the intervening years due to various sound projects but it’s ‘Look To The Sky’ which really puts him back on the musical map. In fact, initial first impressions suggest that Iha has hardly been away, as guitars jangle and images of long-gone hazy summer days are projected (‘Summer Days’). Despite residing in a comfort zone of sorts, this does not diminish the qualities of ‘Look To The Sky’, as the sizable gap between first base and second has been long enough to give this sophomore release the gloss of a debut.
Field Music Play
Field Music
Memphis Industries
The bandwagon of followers has steadily been gathering pace for the works of Field Music and it is not difficult to understand why. Spilling forth a selection of covers taking in the Pet Shop Boys, Roxy Music, Syd Barrett to name but a few, brothers Peter and David Brewis not only maintain a level of respect to the original compositions but add their own deft touches making this limited release something to savour.