Howdy music lovers!
Well, a double-decker from the Luxton bus garage pulled up in front of the shop this week and unloaded a delivery of the brand new “That British Sound Volume 18” CD. This got me thinking about British Rock n Roll. Being a loyal old Ted I admit to a soft spot for some of the terrible pop music that was foisted on the British public as Rock n Roll from 1954 (yep, that was when Rock Island Line came out) onwards. But amongst the dross shine some gems, so let’s mine some of those diamonds today.
That British Sound VOL 18
The revered compiler, Blakey, seems surprised that he is still finding good-enough quality tracks to keep the series going but he really is. This CD kicks off with a great selection of four original UK rockers, it goes on with some real rev’d up covers with Talking About You and Rockin’ Red Wing. It has, of course, some fine instro’s and in One More Once an early Jamaican R&B style jiver. It includes that rarity; a comedy record that is worthy of repeated listening in Rocker-By-Mod. I have to agree with Blakey, he really is matching the top quality of the series so far.
That British Sound VOL 18
Brand New Cadilac / Right Behind You Baby – Vince Taylor – Parlaphone
OK I could try and be obscure but let’s just admit it Brand New Cadillac is a contender for best rocker ever not just best of British. The menacing riff and throbbing bassline coupled with the unrelentingly aggressive vocal make Cadillac unique. On this reissue 45, you also get Vince’s take on the Ray Smith Sun classic.
Brand New Cadilac
Right Behind You Baby
The Pirates – Castin’ My Spell / My Babe – HMV
I have heard Johnny Kidd was supposed to record this with his backing band but he got caught in traffic so Johnny Spence stepped up. Probably not true but why spoil a good story? A rocked-up cover of the Johnny Otis number from a band that many cite as the greatest gigging UK band of the early 1960s. Not just another version of My Babe on the flip. The whole band is really cookin’ but Mick Green is creating a new Rock ‘n’ Roll guitar style there right before your ears.
Castin’ My Spell
My Babe
Nicky James / Tommy Scott – My Colour Is Blue / Baby I’m In Love – Pye
The Nicky James track is propelled along by driving deep down drums as the vocals float across the top with the guitar chopping out the centre. Even the girlie chorus works on this one, and that is rarer than a funny comedy song. You may never have heard of Tommy Scott but you will recognise the voice. Soon after recording this he changed his name to Tom Jones and the rest is pantie-dodging history. This recording is a lot more than a historical oddity though the voice raises this way above the usual UK imitates the US rock n roll standard and the band match the quality all the way.
Nicky James – My Colour Is Blue
Tommy Scott – Baby I’m In Love
Fingers Lee – Midnight Race / The Storm – Impact
Jumping ahead a few years we get the beloved of old Teds Freddie Finger Lee in 1967. This is Freddie the One Eyed Boogie Boy before he was a Jerry Lee Lewis inspired nut. The Storm is what would now be called a blues bopper, simple guitar and drums moving things along as the vocals and harmonica weave around each other creating a Deep South feeling. Midnight Race mixes hard rockin’ freak beat with Chuck Berry motivatin’ style car worship.
Midnight Race
The Storm
Don Lang / Johnny Milton – Wicked Woman / A Girl Named Sue – Decca
Amongst those pop records sold to the British public early on as Rock ‘n’ Roll the name Don Lang is on a few. Here we have him in 1962 sounding like he spent the intervening years gargling rocks to be able to record a stomping screamer like this. Fantastic. The flip from two years later is an insistent guitar-driven beat rocker with a super riff that has nothing to do with Johnny Cash.
Johnny Milton – A Girl Named Sue
Don Lang – Wicked Woman
Subscribe for the latest news of the recent additions to our stock. Get the heads-up on great music delivered to your inbox.
