Vintage Rock 'n' Roll & Lifestyle, Rockabilly, Western Swing, Hillbilly Bop, Current Rockin' Bands With That 50's Feel.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Get On The Right Track...
With Volker Houghton
Great music needs
information such as the singer, label, release date and record label to go
along with it. I am surprised how many D.J.’s just assume that the listener
knows what they are listening to! I have been into the rock ‘n’ roll scene for over
thirty years, but I am not so smug that I think I know it all. The truth is I
don’t, and I like to ask for more information, but there seems to be an
expectation that you either know, or if not you keep your ignorance to
yourself, so when I do ask and the looks of disdain I sometimes get are amazing…
With ‘Get on the
Right Track’ (GOTRT), hosted by Volker Houghton, I have no worries about being
left in the dark about the records he plays. His enthusiasm shines through when
he waxes lyrical about why he likes the music. He has stories too, about where
and when he first heard the songs, where he was, and what he was doing at the
time.
The show airs via SG1
Radio Stevenage (www.sg1radio.co.uk) on
Sunday nights from 7pm-9pm, and you can also download past shows via the
podcast link (http://www.sg1radio.co.uk/series/get-on-the-right-track/).
You can also hear GOTRT on Rockabilly Radio!
The shows kick off
with the excellent ‘Three to Get Ready’. Basically, it is the last three songs
you listen to before you head out of the door for a night of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Anyone can send in their choices, even the great Joe Clay and Art Adams have
been involved! Now that’s a great recommendation from a pair of living legends.
Volker also plays and reviews new releases from current rockin’ bands, as well as
offering the latest information on ‘Bear Family’ boxsets. Volker knows his
stuff, and if he does not he will tell you that the song is new to him, and
give you the information he has found out about the tune to boot. GOTRT is a
mixed bag of great vintage rock ‘n’ roll music including rare tracks and alternative
takes but he does not forget the classics either. I think the show is a fresh
breath of air on a scene that has, let’s not forget, been going on for over
sixty years. For me, the icing on the cake with a scene focused essentially on
the past is the fact that I am still discovering new music…
Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Ian Samwell
Ian Samwell & Cliff Richard with an unknown cat in a rather cool shirt, Butlins holiday camp 1958.
'Schoolboy Crush' was going to be Cliff Richard and the Drifters first release on Columbia records in 1958. Thankfully Ian Samwell came on board and saved the day by writing 'Move It' and 'Schoolboy Crush' was demoted to the B-side. I only wish they did it to 'Livin' Doll' but unfortunately by that time in Cliff's career Ian was no longer part of the set-up.
Ian Samwell 1937-2003 more info here
DYNAMITE
HIGH CLASS BABY
MY FEET HIT THE GROUND
NEVER MIND
MEAN STREAK
MOVE IT
FEELIN' FINE
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Supersonic Girl
The look, the sound and the originality.
Now available through iTunes & Amazon stores
After seeing their on-line videos, and eventually catching
them live at the Rockabilly Rave 2014, we finally get a C.D. release from this
excellent band. Tallinn, Estonia seems an unlikely place to find such a fine
sounding (and
looking) rock
'n' roll/rockabilly band.
'Supersonic
Girl' was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Lightning Recorders Studio in
Berlin by Axel Praefcke and Ike Stoye. Both being Rhythm Bomb recording
artists, and more than capable musicians, they were the chosen outfit to record
Maryann and the Tri-Tones original demo recordings (see the link at bottom of this post for sound files).
From
the first track, 'Honey Babe', the band sets out its stall as to what to expect
from the rest of the C.D., and in Maryann and the Tri-Tones case it is full-on
rockabilly. There are eight rockers, one stroller 'If I Could I Would' (my favourite, and my ring-tone!), and one haunting ballad 'Queen of the Desert', all
penned by Maryann Lants and lead guitarist Artur Skrõpnik ('Honey
Babe' was co-written with Yuri Zhukov).
I could wax lyrical about this C.D. until the cows come home, but I think I'll leave the in-depth reviews to wiser souls such as Andrew Smith - check out his review here. I also suggest you watch the promo video that was produced by the band. They are in the process of getting the C.D. available for a digital download, and are negotiating deals with on-line record and C.D. stores, so keep em' peeled. You can obtain a copy sooner by contacting the band via their Facebook Page.
I could wax lyrical about this C.D. until the cows come home, but I think I'll leave the in-depth reviews to wiser souls such as Andrew Smith - check out his review here. I also suggest you watch the promo video that was produced by the band. They are in the process of getting the C.D. available for a digital download, and are negotiating deals with on-line record and C.D. stores, so keep em' peeled. You can obtain a copy sooner by contacting the band via their Facebook Page.
The settled line up of Tri-Tones
Maryann
(Vocal, Rhythm Guitar)
Artur Skrõpnik (Lead Guitar)
Peeter Karo (Drums)
Mari Laube (Upright Bass)
Artur Skrõpnik (Lead Guitar)
Peeter Karo (Drums)
Mari Laube (Upright Bass)