The Rockabilly Chronicle

Tommy Johnson - Complete recorded works 1928-1929
Document Records

Tommy Johnson - the rockabilly chronicle Tommy Johnson – 1928 – 1929 Document Records – DOCD-5001Cool drink of water blues – Big road blues – Bye-bye blues – Maggie Campbell blues – Canned heat blues – Lonesome home blues (take 1) – Lonesome home blues (take 2) – Big fat mama blues – I wonder to myself – Slidin` del...

Brian Setzer - The Devil Always Collects
Surfdog Records

Brian Setzer - the rockabilly chronicle Guitar wizard, King of Rockabilly, Mister Gretsch, all those names apply to Brian Setzer who took the scene by storm with the Stray Cats.

The Brits Are Rocking - vol. 10 - Cliff Richard
Bear Family Records

The Brits Are Rocking - the rockabilly chronicle The Brits are Rocking a Bear Family series of CD dedicated to the British Rock'n'Rollers of the ’50s and 60s.

the Lost Souls - Erazer Head

Lost Souls (the) - the rockabilly chronicle Lost Souls: British Psychobilly band formed by Mark Broome (double bass), Neal Hattersley (guitar) and Ian Lydell (drums).

Billy Fury – Wondrous Place

Bear Family Records – BCD17583
Gonna Type A Letter – Baby How I Cried – Comin‘ Up In The World – Wondrous Place – Don‘t Leave Me This Way – Colette – Keep Away – Running Around – Bumble Bee – Nothin‘ Shakin‘ (But The Leaves On A Tree) – My Advice – Don‘t Say It‘s Over – Unchain My Heart – Sticks And Stones – Twist Kid – Push Push – Baby Come On – What Did I Do – If I Lose You – One Kiss – Play It Cool – Sweet Little Little Sixteen – Don‘t Knock Upon My Door – That‘s Love – Don‘t Jump – Tell Me How Do You Feel – Talkin‘ In My Sleep – I‘d Never Find Another You – I‘m Moving On – It‘s You I Need – Phone Call – Turn My Back On You – Alright, Goodbye – You‘re Having The Last Dance With Me

After Tommy Steele, the second volume of this series is deservedly dedicated to Ronald Wycherley, better known as Billy Fury. I personally hold “the Sound of Fury” as one of the best pieces of Rockabilly ever recorded. Billy Fury had it all, the look, the voice, and above all, he could write his own songs (and he was good at that!). This 34-song collection focuses on Fury’s most upbeat material and avoids the hits and the well-known songs like “Halfway to Paradise” or “Maybe Tomorrow” (which is a good thing if you ask me.)
To compose a varied compilation, Bear Family chose to present the songs randomly, but for this review, we’ll take them chronologically in the order of the recording sessions.
“Gonna Type Me a Letter” was originally the b-side of Maybe Tomorrow. It’s a solid rocker, though the typewriter gimmick can be slightly annoying.
Asked about his influences, Fury answered, “I was most of all an Eddie Cochran fan. I was an Elvis Presley fan second, and then I liked Dion.” If you can, without a doubt, hear some of the latter two throughout this collection, “Don’t Knock Upon My Door” is pure Cochran.
“Colette” was obviously written with the Everly Brothers in mind. “On Baby How I Cried,” a plaintive ballad, his voice channels the best of Gene Vincent while the Vernon Girls enhance the performance with their backing vocals. “Turn My Back On You,” recorded during the same session, is a pure Rockabilly masterpiece and will appear on “The Sound of Fury.” Eight out of ten songs of that essential album are included here. From the Buddy Holly tinged “My Advice” to the bluesy “Phone Call,” those songs are worth the price of that compilation alone. They also benefit from the superb guitar work of Joe Brown. For the anecdote, Andy White, the session drummer, is best remembered for having replaced Ringo Star during the recording of “Love Me Do” (and he also married Lyn Cornell one of the Vernon Girls.) Also, since the art of the slap bass was yet to be discovered in Albion, two basses were used: one electric bass to play the notes and an acoustic to record the slap.
In June 1960, Billy Fury cut his masterpiece, Wondrous Place, an eerie ballad with sparse backing, sounding like a mix between Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Crawfish.” Even more provocative, listen to that breath just before he drops ‘Wondrous Place.’ Bear Family made an excellent choice by including the first version rather than over-arranged one recorded in 1963.
By comparison, “Push Push” with its semi Calypso beat seems pale while “You’re having the Last Dance With Me” adds nothing to the glory of Fury.
Penned by Gene Pitney, “Talkin’ In My Sleep” brings a little more blues, and “Comin’ Up In The World” offers a superb contrast between the singer’s voice and the screaming sax.
Backed by a Duane Eddy sounding twangy guitar and an ethereal female vocal at the right moment, “Don’t Jump” is a splendid melodramatic tune. “I’d Never Find Another You” is another highlight thanks to Billy, of course, but also to the arranger who kept it simple despite the presence of strings. Just compare to Paul Anka’s version to see how a poor arrangement can waste a good song. From the same session comes “If I Lose You,” a soulful ballad that shows the other side of Fury’s voice, the rough one.
The next pair of songs, both written by Norie Paramor, are far less successful. On “Play It Cool,” the mix between strings and Rock’n’Roll doesn’t work very well, whereas “the Twist Kid” proves that even Fury couldn’t turn lead to gold.
The Presley-esque “Running Around” finds him in better form with a song more suited to his voice. “One Kiss” sees him returning to his idol Eddie Cochran, in a laid back jazzy manner.
“On Keep Away” and “What Did I Do,” the singer is backed by the Tornadoes of “Telstar” fame. The former shows the inspiration of Elvis’ “Stuck On You.”
After a session without the Tornadoes to record Laverne Baker’s “Bumble Bee,” the band returns to record the live-in-the-studio album “We Want Billy.” Five songs are lifted from that album (Sweet Little Sixteen, Baby Come On, Sticks and Stones, Unchain My Heart, and I’m Moving On.) The singer is wild and more rhythm ‘n’ blues than ever, and the Tornadoes are excellent throughout.
“Tell Me How do You Feel,” recorded in 1963, continues with the rhythm ‘n’ blues vein with organ, sax, and a trumpet solo.
The compilation ends with “Nothing Shaking (But The Leaves On The Tree)” on which one can hear some Mersey echoes.
As usual with Bear Family, it comes with a thick 40-page booklet containing photos, informative liner notes, record covers, and detailed sessions. Highly recommended.

More Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Country music, Garage reviews at http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/

The Radium Cats – Pink Hearse

Raucous Records Rauc 013T [1991]
Pink Hearse / Teenage Werewolf – Haunted By Your Love

The Radium Cats, the Scottish Psychobillies with the crazy quiffs, released this three-song 12“ in 1991 on Raucous Records.
Brothers Lee and Paul Paterson are still respectively on double bass and guitar, but Mark Carr has replaced Johnny Maben on drums. Maben later joined the Kaisers. Lee takes the lead vocals on Pink Hearse and Haunted By Your Love, while Paul sings Teenage Werewolf.
Pink Hearse is wildly rocking, with a Gene Vincent feel to it. If the melody is somewhat traditional, the song is highlighted by a hot guitar solo in a superb Gallup meets Setzer vein. Teenage Werewolf is not the Cramps tune (all songs are originals) and sounds more like a slow from the Fifties, although it has a slight gothic and weird mood (well, it’s a werewolf-themed tune, what did you expect?). The last track, Haunted By Your Love, is a slow-paced threatening tune, sounding like the missing link between the Cramps and the early Guana Batz.

More Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Country music, Garage reviews at http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/

Tex Rubinowitz – Bad Boy
Ripsaw Records 212
Bad Boy / Feelin’ Right Tonight

Tex Rubinowitz recorded this excellent single in 1979 with Billy Hancock and Bob Swenson on guitars, Bryan Smith on double bass, and Jeff Lodsun on drums.
On side A, he covers a song penned and sung by Marty Wilde in 1959. While the original version sounds rather inoffensive, Rubinowitz’s cover is quite unhealthy, full of anguish with tortured vocals. Sprinkle the whole performance with a superb honky-tonk styled guitar, and you have one hell of a song that sounds like a mix between Charlie Feathers and the Cramps.
B-side is a raw rockabilly track featuring two blistering guitar solos and a smoking vocal performance. The song proved to be popular on Ripsaw, later recorded by Martha Hull in 1981 (Ripsaw 217) backed by Tex Rubinowitz and his band, the Bad Boys, then in 2010 by Marti Brom (Ripsaw 223) with a version that has come full circle with Billy Hancock and Bryan Smith playing on it.

More Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Country music, Garage reviews at http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/

Shotgun Shack - Ain't No reason

Shotgun Shack "Ain't No Reason" (1990) Performing on Hamilton, Ontario television show "Showdown"Danny Bartley: guitar, vocalsNeil Bartley: drumsRonnie Hayward: bassfrom Jenny Blackbird`s video l...

This week's addition to the Rockabilly Chronicle:
The Meteors - Undead, Unfriendly and Unstoppable
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/meteors/
Southern Culture On the Skids - s/t
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/southern-culture-on-the-skids/
The Same Old Shoes - Gonna Go Bop
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/same-old-shoes/
Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers - Lazy Day
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/slim-sandy/
Diamond Daddio's - Vauxhall A Go-Go
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/diamond-daddios/

Diamond Daddio’s - the rockabilly chronicle Diamond Daddio’s are a hot Rockabilly and Rock'n'roll band formed by drummer Dave “Diamond” Prince and Zac Zdravkovic.

This week's addition to the Rockabilly Chronicle:
Maibell and the Misfires – Fire
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/maibell-and-the-misfires/
Johnny Loda Trio - Godforsaken Land
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/johnny-loda-trio/
Don Cavalli - Cryland
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/doncavalli/
Bruce Humphries and the Rockabilly Rebels – Live It Up!
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/bruce-humphries-and-the-rockabilly-rebels/
Christine and Her Rockers – Ain’t No Need
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/christine-and-her-rockers/
Ronnie And The Jitters – Roll Over
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/ronnie-and-the-jitters/

Check out our review of Bruce Humphries and the Rockabilly Rebels latest album.

Bruce Humphries and the Rockabilly Rebels - the rockabilly chronicle Bruce Humphries and the Rockabilly Rebels hail from Milwaukee that plays hi-octane rock'n'roll, rockabilly, honky-tonk, surf…

The Speedos

The Radium Cats

Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys on tour!

35 years and counting! Next week we kick off the first leg of our Coral Anniversary tour! Here are the August dates of a run that will eventually take us into the holidays. Come join Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys along the way if you can! And if you can't come out, you can help us *tremendously* by sharing this poster or by passing it on to someone along this route. It has become extremely difficult for bands to stay afloat on the road these days and we could sure use that helping hand more than ever. Thank you, with love, Big Sandy xo
(📸: Bernard Serrano)

The Nervous Fellas

The Nervous Fellas - Real Gone Lover The Nervous Fellas - Real gone lover(C) & (P) Nervous RecordsBartholemew/Robichaux - EMU United PartnershipGBAAQ9015601

Big Sandy and the Fly Rite Trio

Ria and the Hi-Binders

Ria and the Hi-Binders - the rockabilly chronicle Ria and the Hi-Binde, a Finish band featuring Ria Korhola (vocals), Timo Kalijärvi (guit.); Jussi Huhtakangas (steel); Jani Ahtiainen (dr.) and Lasse Sirkko (b.).

The Tigermen

The Bad Dooleys

The Nitros
John O'Malley, Rich Taylor, Gaz Day

Buddy Lee - Let's Rock Tonight
Buddy Dughi
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/buddy-lee/

Buddy Lee - the rockabilly chronicle Buddy Lee, alias of Buddy Dughi, Rockabilly singer and guitarist of the Hot Rod Trio (with his wife Suzy Q and Pete Bonny), the Rockits…

Brand new Brian Setzer album to be released in September.
https://youtu.be/XssJazX2JRc?si=73v-G2NPpcW5DD-a

Brian Setzer - Girl On The Billboard (Official Music Video) Brian Setzer's new album, 'The Devil Always Collects' is available Sept. 15th!https://orcd.co/tdacTickets & Info: briansetzer.com/tour-datesCreative sparks a...

The Nevrotix have a new and excellent album out on Crazy Love Records.
Read our review here
http://www.the-rockabilly-chronicle.com/nevrotix-the/

Nevrotix (the) - the rockabilly chronicle The Nevrotix are a Psychobilly band formed by Axel Wennerlund (guitars, vocals) Cecil Kriisin (drums) and Henrik Hellberg Lizama (double bass)

The Quakes -New album
https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=DWMET2A33QDL4
We are going to record a new album!
It has been ten years since the last full album release. Under normal circumstances, we would have been playing shows to raise money for this. Due to the pandemic and the fact that we do not have a drummer, this has not been possible.
We started working on the new songs about a year and a half ago.

How can we make an album without a drummer? Wes and I both play drums and we will use a variety of session guys who we have used in the past that we like.

We are asking that you donate $20 (anything helps).
By donating twenty dollars, you will get a download code when the album comes out. It will be sent to the email you provide with your donation.

We are trying to raise $10,000 to cover the recording and all costs associated with making the album. We will release the new album on vinyl at some point (when we get back to playing live shows) but initially it will be a digital only release with a small run of special CD’s.

Paypal campaigns only last 30 days so if we do not reach our goal, we will start another one for the remainder.

Thank you for your support! Paul Roman/Wes Hinshaw- The Quakes
Photo-© pitpony photography

Don't miss Djordje's debut music video premiere today!

DJORDJE's Debut Music Video Premiere - the rockabilly chronicle Today, on March 25th we celebrate Johnny Burnette’s 89th birthday and the release of a music video by DJORDJE. It’s not a surprise that the music video for the song HURTLESS has been released on this day, since it features hypnotizing Grady Martin/Bob Moore groove that made a staple in Johnny Bu...

“It's alive! It's aliiiive!!!!”
Jumpin' from 6 to 6 #3, featuring The Rockats, High Noon, Josie Kreuzer, Colbert Hamilton, a look at the Dutch Psychobilly scene, the Coffin Nails, Shaun Young, Sean Mencher, famous Psychobilly producer Paul ‘Doc’ Stewart, Red Hot'n'Blue (part 2) and tons of reviews is now available.
How to order?
From the USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Canada
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From France
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From the UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Germany
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Spain
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From the Netherlands
https://www.amazon.nl/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Italy
https://www.amazon.it/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Poland
https://www.amazon.pl/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Japan
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Australia
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
From Sweden
https://www.amazon.se/dp/B0BW38D9WQ/
Note: in some locations, it may take a day or two for the link to be active.

JUMPIN' FROM 6 to 6 #3: Digging and dishing the platters that matter! Jumpin' from 6 to 6 is a Rockabilly and Psychobilly fanzine. Issue 3 features the second part of our Rockats. Also in this issue we conclude our Red Hot'n'Blue story. It also features interviews with Psychobilly producer Paul Stewart and an in-depth article about High Noon. Articles about Josie K...

The Dry Tortugas have a couple of songs available on the streaming platforms. Read the review and listen to them.

The Dry Tortugas - the rockabilly chronicle The Dry Tortugas are a German Rockabilly/Psychobilly band formed by ex-members of the Roughnecks and Lota Red.

MENTAL SHAKEDOWN: excellent neo-rockabilly and psychobilly with a bit of garage and trash!

Mental Shakedown - the rockabilly chronicle Mental Shakedown are a German Neo-Rockabilly/Psychobilly (with elements of Garage) trio, led by Axel Gieseking.

Review of Billy and the Sideburnzz's debut EP on KEiL-Records

Billy and the Sideburnzz - the rockabilly chronicle Billy and the Sideburnzz are a German Rockabilly trio with influences from Neo-Rockabilly. So far they have one single on Keil records.