RONNIE HAWKINS AND THE HAWKS - SOUTHERN LOVE / HEY BOBA LOU

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SIDE A = Southern Love   SIDE B = Hey Boba Lou

Sleazy Records / SR84

Sleazy Records goes on keeping more than happy those of us who have a love for the good old Rock'n'Roll of the pioneers... The "Original Rockin' Series" are here to make it clear that it is true and it is in that collection where this Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks' single is included.

Hawkins is an unusual case in Rock'n'Roll History because, even though he was born in the USA (in Arkansas to be more precise), most of his hits have been in Canada... But the most important facts of his biography are very well explained by Carlos A. del Bosque on the sleeve notes, so better read them for more info.

About the music, "Southern Love" is on side A, a song penned by Chuck Wills that Hawkins recorded for the Roulette label and that was released at the end of 1959 in Hawkins' third single for the label. It is a mid-tempo song with a sound that is quite characteristic of the late 50's and early 60's, with an organ having an important rol all along the lenght of the song.

Side B is for "Hey Boba Lou", recorded at the same session than "Southern Love" but released a year later, in 1960, in Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks' second LP for Roulette. It is a song with a lot in common, both in rhythm and style, with the one on side A, but now it is the chorus that get higher importance, even though the organ is always there, giving that early 60's feel to the song.

Regarding the artwork, a very good job once again by Juan Fresneda, as is previous records in this series.

Maybe it is not the best reference released in the "Original Rockin' Series", but it has its appeal for sure and those with a preference for the early 60's Rock'n'Roll will enjoy it a whole lot.

LOS CORINGAS - LOS CORINGAS

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SIDE A = 1. El Leon   2. Ruby Baby

SIDE B = 1. Baby Night   2. One Way Ticket

Sleazy Records / SR101

This is the first record by Los Coringas, a Rockabilly band from Zaragoza (Spain), and it has been released by Sleazy Records. First record, yes, but they all come from well known bands in the Spanish Rockin' scene, such as Los Dynamos (Cuti Vericad), The Knuckle Band (Pepe Zambrana) or Los Twangs (Sam Tejero).

On the Side A of this EP we get "El Leon", a song first recorded by Los Iracundos from Uruguay in the early 60's. A song that will make you dance. Also on Side A is "Ruby Baby", a good version in Spanish (adapted by Los Coringas themselves) of a well known song of The Drifters fame.

Side B is for "Baby Night", another song that will make you dance, first recorded by Italian band Torcuato e i Quattro, even though Los Coringas do a version of the cover that Los Rocking Boys recorded in Spanish. The second song of this side is the only one sung in English: "One Way Ticket", a cover of Neil Sedaka's hit.

A very good EP, yes indeed with a sound and style that reminisces those of the Spanish Rockin' pioneers of the early 60's and that has been recorded with just acoustic instruments.

Looking forward for more from Los Coringas.

ROCK & ROLL'S HIDDEN GIANT - CHARLIE GRACIE WITH JOHN A. JACKSON (BIOGRAPHY)

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Alfred Music

The subtitle of this book is "The Story of Rock Pioneer Charlie Gracie" and that is what we get reading it: the story of his life, told by himself with the assistance of writer John A. Jackson.

I have found it a very interesting and sincere book where Mr. Gracie tells us about his origins, his childhood, his beginning in the music business, his arrival to stardom, his successful England tours, his fall, his comeback to public recognition in the 70's thanks to the called Rock'n'Roll Revival and his return to the "hit-parades". It has seemed to me a sincere story because he accepts and assumes his own mistakes both in his private and professional life.

In addition to the story of Charlie Gracie's life, we get also details that allow us to know more of the years when Rock'n'Roll was born.

Brief, a good book to learn more about the arrival of Rock'n'Roll and, above all, about Charlie Gracie's life: the life of a true fighter, of a true Rock'n'Roll pioneer.

By the way, at the end of the book we get a complete recording discography and a useful alphabetical order index for future reference.

Highly interesting book that has to be highly recommended.