Welcome to a newsletter packed with Bluegrass, Rockabilly, UK Rock n Roll and an LP pulling together the genres that make up the sort of music we love. We have super new items and a few things that seemed to have never got the newsletter love that they deserve. Dive in and remember if you click the links you can hear these tunes. Enjoy.
The Truffle Valley Boys – Sing And Play Authentic Blue Grass
The title says it all (although they could have added Brilliantly at the end.) I really should just stop there, but you know I won’t. A few years back the word authentic got hijacked on the Rockabilly scene and became a term used to attack bands that did not fit in with some people’s idea of what Rockabilly should be. To not be “authentic” was to be dammed. But unfortunately, some of the “authentic” bands were all style and no soul, technically great but lacking emotion. I am not a musical technician but every note and every harmony sounds absolutely technically right but swirling through is a fervour and happiness that is amazing. This second element is the magic in music that bypasses the ears and brain and shortcuts straight to the heart. This really is what music is all about, an undeniable feeling. If you have never liked Blue Grass maybe you have just not heard the right band. Maybe these boys are the right band.
It is hard to believe when listening to the album that it was recorded last year in Italy, the home country of this band. The first album sold out very quickly and I am sure the same will happen with this one as well so don’t delay.
The Truffle Valley Boys – You’ll Never Find Another
The Hill Brothers – Call Of Your Land + 3 – Spare Time
So, now you have heard my lecture on the term authentic let’s turn to another new release that could have my version of the label applied. The Hill Brothers play authentic Rockabilly, and like the Truffle Valley Boys, they are great musicians whose love for the style leaps out of the speakers. On this EP we get two self-penned tracks and two covers. The first track would not be out of place on a Corn Fed LP (If you do not know what that means… search our site) and the second has the wonderful high lonesome sound that so many people are looking for. The band then tread on very dangerous ground by covering two tracks as recorded by Charlie Feathers (or God as he is known around here.). They do not slavishly copy but use the originals as a foundation to build their own versions which stand for themselves. It is a difficult trick but they more than pull it off.
The Hill Brothers – sampler
Snakes In The Boots – Red Ants In My Pants / Wild Wild Lover – Spare Time
Sticking with Spare Time but slightly changing the sound we have Snakes in the Boots. This is Rockabilly that leans towards the Rock rather than the Billy. The original top side uses a classic riff and thumping slap bass to underpin great vocals as the whole song bops along at mid-tempo speed. I can see this one being a mass bop sing-along hit. The flip cover of the Benny Joy killer is a flat-out rocker wringing every bit of wildness out of the tune without falling into chaos. Like I say above covering classics can be dangerous but when it is pulled off it can be a triumph.
Snakes In The Boots – Red Ants In My Pants / Wild Wild Lover
Walt Cochran / Ked Killen – Sitting On Top Of The World / Crying Blues – TM
Listening to the new releases above put me in mind of this great 45 issued a few years back that seems to have missed out on the newsletter treatment. Regular readers may be waiting for my Rock n Roll before Rock n Roll tangent and here it comes, sort of. I can’t really claim Crying Blues as real Rock n Roll but for a record from 1953 it is very close to Rockabilly and is reminiscent of the Tony and Jackie Lamie killer Wore to a Frazzle. Issued on Rich R Tone a label revered for issues from The Stanley Brothers, Clinch Mountain Boys and others this is real true Appalachian music that fed into Blue Grass. For the flip side we jump ahead ten years and another out of time track even more shot through with Rockabilly style but still infused with the high lonesome sound. Walt Cochran was a country singer with quite a few 45s and all are pretty good but his is off the scale Rockabilly. It is amazing it has remained pretty much unknown until appearing on a Greasy LP. As I say this 45 was issued a few years back and it is nearly sold out with the manufacturers. You need to jump on this one quick.
I’m Sittin’ On Top Of The World
Cryin’ Blues
Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues – 40th Anniversary Special – Stag-O-Lee Dbl 2 LP
Another record from a while ago that undeservedly missed out on a newsletter shout-out. Gaz is a music collector, musician and, most importantly for this album a club promoter and DJ. He has presented his ‘Rockin Blues Club’ in London’s Soho every Thursday night (bar Covid closure) since July 1980. That is once a week for nearly 44 years. That is staggering. For all these years he has kept the dance floors and alcoves shaking with Rhythm and Blues, Rock n Roll, Gospel and Jamaican RnB and early Ska. His taste changes, like everyone’s, over time but he brings the crowd with him as he explores these genres. He plays the well-known alongside the obscure meaning the old-time know-it-alls are as happy as the youngsters who are hearing it all for the first time. This album is a fine representation of the club; it too pleases the old hand and the newcomer. I also hope it will expand many people’s listening habit because much as each of us may have our own particular favourites there is nothing like having someone with a wonderful ear select the best from other genres as an introduction.
Dave Bartholomew – Can’t Take It No More
The Pilgrim Travelers – Hold On
Mighty Good Boy Meets Girls – Atomicat 3 CD Set
British Rock n Roll, I know some people think that is an oxymoron but I think we can be proud of a few great rockers that we produced. We can also be proud of taking Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran to our collective heart as the US turned to Bobby this that and the other. All of this is represented in this set of three CDs which collects all the available audio from Jack Good’s TV show Boy Meets Girl. It showcased British talent and touring US stars, in particular Eddie and Gene. This is the first time some of this audio has been heard since its broadcast and the sound quality on this is greatly improved on that that has been previously reissued. We get four complete shows and some snippets recorded by home tapers. The package is augmented by a 64-page booklet which gives all the info you can desire about this TV show. Enough history what about the music? Well for a lot of us Gene and Eddie will be what we buy this and the tracks are great as they will of course be from these two greats. It is super to hear Johnny Cash and Ronnie Hawkins too. Billy Fury is for us the standout UK rocker with Joe Brown really helping things along on guitar, Marty Wilde also rocks along. It is real interesting to hear the rest of the UK talent, not meaning to dam with faint praise but hearing the best of the best then the rest, well they are the rest. However, that is a matter of taste.
Eddie Cochran – HallelujahI I Love Her So
Gene Vincent – Bluejean Bop / Five Days / Say Mama
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