LOQUILLO & NU NILES - CÓDIGO ROCKER

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

1. Eres un Rocker   2. El tren de la costa   3. Quiero un camión   4. Channel, cocaina y Dom Perignon   5. Tatuados   6. Piratas   7. El crujir de tus rodillas   8. Vaqueros del espacio   9. Luché contra la ley   10. Billy La Rocca   11. La rubia de Hitch   12. Soy una cámara   13. En cualquier momento   14. Political Incorrectness

Warner Music Spain / 2564614813

Probably this record is going to remain in the Spanish market, not going further... But who knows, with the Nu Niles on board. Anyway, we're going for a short review.

Loquillo started his career some 30 years ago and after his first couple of records, Rockabilly has been out of his target, focussed on plain Rock, Swing, Jazz, Pop... Now, after all this time and being a big star in the Spanish music business, he has felt the need to jump back to his roots. We'll see if it's just to say hello or to stay. In any case: welcome (back).

Fourteen songs, all sung in Spanish, and not all of them in Rockabilly or Rock'n'Roll style (don't get wrong). The highlights, in my very own oppinion, are "Eres un Rocker" and "Piratas" (nice Doo Wop, with The Velvet Candles adding up the harmonies), with "Quiero un camión", "Tatuados" and "Vaqueros del espacio" close behind.

Not a bad record at all, but not a "chef-d'oeuvre" neither.

For those who don't know Loquillo, probably you'll need to get used to his "hard, rough" voice... but in the meantime Nu Niles are there and that's a sure win.

WYNN STEWART - COME ON / SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

SIDE A = Come On   SIDE B = Slowly But Surely

Sleazy Records / SR85

Another 7" in the great Sleazy Records' Original Rockin' Series. This time, the chosen artist is Wynn Stewart, an influential singer in 50's Hillbilly made in the West Coast of the USA or, to be more precise, of the Bakersfield Sound. Wynn Stewart, even though he developed his career in California, was born in Missouri... but if you want to know more about his biography, the sleeve notes, by Carlos A. del Bosque, are really informative.

Side A is for "Come On", a Rockabilly recorded in 1958. It is an alternative take of the one chosen to be published in that same year on the Jackpot label. A good Rockabilly song in the style of what was being done at the end of the 50's.

"Slowly But Surely", the song on side B, was recorded a couple of years before and was published on the Capitol label. It is a Hillbilly song in which fiddle takes the lead. In this song it is important to read the list of musicians, where we will find, along with Wynn Stewart, names such as Joe Maphis (guitar), Skeets McDonald (bass) or Eddie Cochran himself (guitar, of course). Top names, no doubt.

A good 45, yes indeed, of one of the most influential names of the music that was being done in the Golden State during the 50's.

It has to be said: thank you Sleazy Records for the wonderful Original Rockin' Series.

JD McPHERSON - LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

1. Let The Good Times Roll   2. Bossy   3. It's All Over But The Shouting   4. Bridgebuilder   5. It Shook Me Up   6. Head Over Heels   7. Shy Boy   8. You Must Have Met Little Caroline?   9. Precious   10. Mother Of Lies   11. Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American

Rounder Records / 0888072369542

Five years for a new JD McPherson record. Five years since that 2010 tremendous hit that was "Signs & Signifiers". Five years to have this brand new "Let The Good Times Roll".

It's true that just a few months ago we got a limited edition single on Vee-Jay Records (reviewed by yours truly a couple of weeks ago) but it was not enough for us, the fans. We needed more: a complete album.

And here it is, at last.

Welcome.

Before listening to it, I feared JD wasn't able to reach the high quality level of his previous LP, as I believe "Signs & Signifiers" is one of the best records in those 15 years of 21st Century... There is no reason for that fear: "Let The Good Times Roll" is a top record. I don't know if it's as good as the former, maybe it's too soon to say it... But it's a very good record indeed. For sure.

To have top musicians has of course a lot of importance in having such a good work. And the band behind JD McPherson did a wonderful work in these eleven songs. If I'm not wrong, just JD himself (guitar) and the great Jimmy Sutton (slap-bass and electric bass) remain from the previous record, but the level of the rest of musicians has to be higlighted as well. Note that when I've mentioned Jimmy Sutton I've written down that he plays slap-bass and electric bass... and that's because in some of the songs he takes the electric bass. Nothing wrong in it: just a little bit "curious" as we're used to see him with the big ol' slap-bass.

The record starts full-throttle with "Let The Good Times Roll": a song that in a world of musical justice and good taste would be a hit for its own rights. From that point on, we may have preference for different songs. It depends on each one, of course, but I would like to highlight "Bossy", "It's All Over But The Shouting", "Shook Me Up", the relaxing "Precious" and "Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American", dedicated to the memory of that great Rock'n'Roller that was Nick Curran. I've highlighted half of the songs!... Please believe me: it's a very good record.

About style, it can be said that the Oklahoma singer remains true to his own way of Rocking: an almost hypnotic rhythm which is made of a blend of Rhythm'n'Blues, Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly that gave him such a big success with his previous record. We already found that hypnotic rhythm in "Signs & Signifiers" (do you remember "North Side Gal" for instance?) and we get it in this new album as well: listen to "Let The Good Times Roll" or "Precious" and you'll see what I mean.

Besides all that musical goodness, there is also a beautiful artwork for the booklet, with full-marks specially for the cover: "Weapons Ans Physiognomy Of The Grizzly Bear" is the title of the 19th Century painting.

Time to finish this review, ladies and gentlemen. Let me just insist one more time in saying that this is a very, very good record and that you'll do yourself a favour if you run to your favourite record shop and buy it.

Come on, let the good times roll!

Wonderful artwork for this record.