HUELYN DUVALL - ORIGINAL SINGLES COLLECTION

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

1. Comin' Or Goin'   2. Teen Queen   3. Hum-Dinger   4. You Knock Me Out   5. Little Boy Blue   6. Three Months To Kill   7. Friday Night On A Dollar Bill   8. Juliet   9. It's No Wonder   10. Across The Aisle   11. Beautiful Dreamer   12. Tear Stained Letters   13. Pucker Paint   14. Boom Boom Baby

CAB / CAB56009

As the title assures, all the singles released of the Texan singer (born in the city of Garner, Texas, on August 18, 1939) in the 50's and early 60's is what we get in this limited edition CD. And when I write limited edition, I really mean it: 100 units have been announced... So I believe it's going to be really hard to find a copy yet.

Five singles in Challenge, one in Starfire and one in Twinkle were released of Huelyn Duvall between 1957 and 1960 and all that is included in the CD. Pure Rockabilly ("Juliet"), some Rock'n'Roll ("Boom Boom Baby") and a couple of slow songs ("Little Boy Blue", which by the way charted in the Billboard back in 1958). A perfect way to do justice to one of those Rockers who didn't have his share of success back in the day. The time has passed by and now Huelyn Duvall is an appreciated singer for the Rockabilly fans. And one who still stepping on the stages all around the USA and Europe to give us good Rockabilly shows.

The songs come in the CD in the order in which they were released, so starting with "Comin' Or Goin'" from 1957 in Challenge and ending with "Boom Boom Baby" from 1960 back in Challenge. It seems to me the best way to do it. As a matter of fact, the only info we get in the booklet is the label, the reference number and the release year of each song. Some may say it is scarce info, but I think it is enough in those times in which we can get as much info as we will need through the internet, for instance on his own website, where we found a short biography, name of musicians playing in his recordings (Grady Martin, Floyd Cramer or The Jordanaires to name just a few) and so on.

From the fourteen songs, my own favourites are "Teen Queen", "Three Months To Kill", "Friday Night On A Dollar Bill", "Juliet" and "Pucker Paint"... Well, nothing new, I believe. Good, old, Rockabilly.

For sure a good job from CAB: it is a pleasure to have all Huelyn Duvall's classic recordings in one CD and in chronological order.

JUNIOR MARVEL & HIS DUO-DENALS - BERTHA LOU - JUST KEEP ON GOIN' (single)

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

SIDE A = Bertha Lou   SIDE B = Just Keep On Goin'

CAB / CAB7003

Two shots of pure Rockabilly is what we get in this single from the Spanish CAB label.

Junior Marvel is a well known artist in the European Rockabilly scene and, by the way, one of my favourites and he has recorded a very good record indeed after a while of silence (at least, talking about new releases).

Side A is for a frenetic rendition of "Bertha Lou" that sets everything on fire from the very first note. The song, written by John Marascalco, had its original recording back in 1957 by Clint Miller, being released on the ABC-Paramount label. That same year, Johnny Faire recorded it for the Surf label and later on there were more covers by other artists, even changing the title... but it is a different story. Junior Marvel has given a good deal of new power to "Bertha Lou", going as said before to a frenetic rhythm that fits wonderfully the song, maybe closer to the Faire version than to the Miller original.

"Just Keep On Goin'" is on the flip side, being less wild than the top side and quite close to the "demo" that Johnny Burnette recorded in 1959, but it is not a note by note copy. Not at all. Junior Marvel has enough "savoir-faire" to do a cover keeping the main line of the original and adding at the same time his own way of Rockin'. And I've said that it is less wild... but it has enough energy to make you move. Good, old Rockabilly, I mean.

By the way, the record has been released in three different colours: black, green or red vinyl and, for the news I have received, red is now the best seller, with green close behind. My choice, call me "old-school", has been black.

Just a few lines more to warmly recommend you this 45: contact with CAB records (for instance through their Facebook) and get it. It is up to you to decide if you prefer red, green or black vinyl. If you like Rockabilly, you're going to enjoy it for sure.

BIG BOPPER - CRAZY BLUES / WHITE LIGHTNING (single)

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

SIDE A = Crazy Blues   SIDE B = White Lightning

Sleazy Records /SR83

JP Richardson, AKA Big Bopper, entered in the History of Rock'n'Roll as one of the victims of the plane that crashed in the night of February 2nd to February 3rd 1959, with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens also in the passage. The day the music died, it's been said.

But Big Bopper must be also remembered for his contribution to Rock'n'Roll as DJ, composer and singer. As a DJ, he was highly appreciated for his work on KTRM in Texas. As a composer, his is for instance "Running Bear", a success recorded by Johnny Preston. As a singer, he had a terrific success with "Chantilly Lace", also written by himself.

And the two songs of this new release in the Original Rockin' Series by Sleazy Records come also from JP Richardson's pen. Both of them, by the way, recorded at the Gold Star Studio in Houston, Texas.

"Crazy Blues" has been chosen for side A and it's a good Stroll recorded during the summer of 1957 in which good guitar work, probably by Hal Harris, has to be highlighted.

B side is for "White Lightning", recorded in October 1958, a good Rock'n'Roll with good sax by Link Davis and that was also recorded with success by the great Country singer George Jones.

As in previous releases in this Original Rockin' Series, the record sleeve comes with beautiful artwork by Juan Fresneda and great, informative sleeve notes, this time by DeeJay Francho.

A good record and a perfect way to do justice to an all-round artist.

NICO DUPORTAL AND HIS RHYTHM DUDES - GUITAR PLAYER

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

1. When I'm Gone   2. Lost In The Game   3. Polish Woman   4. Oh Baby   5. Can't Afford To Lose Her   6. She Knows How   7. Real Good Lovin' Tonight   8. Big Mary's   9. Guitar Player   10. Oh Oh   11. Josh & Slim   12. Much Later   13. Polish Woman (bonus track)

Rhythm Bomb Records / RBR 5800

Ladies and gentlemen, from France, Nico Duportal And His Rhythm Dudes!!!

Brand new CD from the French band. A band that I believe is the best one playing Rhythm'n'Blues in Europe for sure. Nico Duportal is a true guitar ace (I've seen him even compared to T-Bone Walker at least in a couple of places) and is the owner of a voice that fits the style wonderfully. And the same can be said about His Rhythm Dudes: from Thibaut Chopin, who plays the slapbass, to Pascal Mucci at the drums, not forgetting sax players Alex Bartein (baritone) and Arnaud Desprez (tenor) and the piano man Olivier "Red" Cantrelle.

Thirteen songs have been included in the CD, being the last one an alternative take of "Polish Woman" as a bonus track (not much difference from the take chosen for the third cut of the record), and from the opening drum roll in "When I'm Gone" to the last note of that alternative take of "Polish Woman" what we get is top quality Rhythm'n'Blues.

Seven of the songs have been written by Nico Duportal or band members, being the other five covers (yes, that makes twelve, but remember that there is a repeated song) from which is really hard to highlight one out of the rest, as all of them keep top level. High quality Rhythm'n'Blues. Anyway, my favourites are "When I'm Gone", first song of the record; "Lost In The Game", a song made to keep the dance-floor packed and that has good piano; "Can't Afford To Lose Her", composed by slapbass player Thibaut Chopin and in which he plays harmonica brilliantly; "Real Good Lovin' Tonight", another one to keep everybody at the dancefloor and that offers a good work of the brass section; the instro "Josh & Slim"... Well, I can go on and highlight all of them as all of them deserve their share of applause.

It's said: a very good Rhythm'n'Blues record indeed. And when I write Rhythm'n'Blues I mean pure, true, real, old school Rhythm'n'Blues, and not that modern "thing" that some media want to make us believe is Rhythm'n'Blues.

I can't but recommend this terrific record. Really, do yourself a favour and buy it.

JERRY LEE LEWIS: HIS OWN STORY - RICK BRAGG

Puedes leer la versión en español de este blog en

elrockandrollyyo.blogspot.com

Ed. Canongate Books

"I've had an interestin' life" he says, "haven't I?" Those are words that Jerry Lee Lewis says to Rick Bragg, author of this biography, and that we read almost at the end of the book. And yes indeed: his is being a very interesting life and probably those words are the best way to summarize Jerry Lee Lewis' life. If in addition to a very interesting life you find someone who is able to put it on paper keeping all the interest in the narration... the better it become. I believe that Rick Bragg, in this the first authorized biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, has done a very good job.

The beginning of the book is a very good and complete description of the times and society Jerry Lee "found" at his birth. A lot of description, yes, but brilliant, easy to read and very useful to understand a lot of facts that we will learn along the pages of the book.

So long is the introduction and the writing about the years previous to fame and stardom, that we have already read around a quarter of the biography when Jerry Lee Lewis arrives to Sun Records and his path meets the one of Sam Phillips. From that point on we get a non ending flow of stories and anecdotes that the "Killer" himself has explained to Rick Bragg along a series of meetings. About some of the stories we can have some doubts for the accuracy, but we must understand that everything in the book is mostly based on Jerry Lee's memory or on his point of view. I don't find that wrong at all as I believe that it is something that most biographies share and there are always moments when legend goes ahead of facts... and time goes by and it can make to remember the past in a certain way. Come on, it's his story, so let's let him tell it his way.

Through Jerry Lee Lewis' memory, and then along the pages of the book, walk in a line lots of very familiar names for us, Rock'n'Roll lovers. Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips, of course are there, but also Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Kenny Lovelace, Moon Mullican or Fats Domino, to name just a few. Of course, his own family also has a very important share in the story: his mother and father, for sure, also his sister Linda Gail Lewis, his cousin Jimmy Swaggart, his several wives and so on.

Rock'n'Roll, Country, family, friends, love, success, scandal, joy, sorrow... All that and much more is what we get through the pages of the biography of the man who almos replaced Elvis as the King of Rock'n'Roll...

I've just missed an official discography at the end of the book but, to be fair, we all know that it is something we can find easily in the Internet. By the way, you may find useful to have access to the Internet while reading, as You Tube can be of help when reading about TV appearances and live shows.

I bought the e-book version as it was quite difficult to find "paper" editions at some point (it seems it was out of stock), but it is again available in hardback, paperback and digital format.

A very interesting book that I warmly recommend.