TENNESSEE - 30 Y TENNESSEE

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CD 1 = 1. A Marilyn   2. Crazy Little Mama   3. Runaway   4. Baila conmigo   5. Un poco de tu amor   6. ¿Dónde estabas?   7. Alone   8. ¡Qué triste es el primer adiós!   9. Raquel   10. Poesía en movimiento   11. Un adolescente enamorado   12. Ángela   13. Tu imagen de Rocker   14. Quiero que vengas a mí (a capella)   15. Penas (grabada en 1985)

CD 2 = 1. Hoy estoy pensando en ti   2. La puerta verde   3. Ten cuidado con mi chica   4. Mil palabras de amor   5. Potpurrí con sabor a 50   6. Tu mal humor   7. Tonto por ti   8. Rama Lama Ding Dong   9. No encuentro palabras   10. Te vi correr   11. Siempre lucharé por tu amor   12. Una noche en Malibú   13. Por un minuto de esta noche   14. Llueve en mi corazón   15. Tú debes decidir   16. No puedes pararme   17. Aquel primer beso   18. Un, dos, tres, sexy   19. Dame tu amistad   20. Sueños   21. Quiero acción   22. Paso a paso   23. Bajo la lluvia gris

WARNER MUSIC SPAIN - DRO / EW851

In September 2015 I reviewed the live record ("Luz de Gas") that Tennessee had released, a pioneer band of Doo Wop in Spain. Now is the time to review this double CD, released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their first record.

For CD 1, they have re-recorded some of the songs of that first record, such as "A Marilyn" ("Put the Blame On Me"), "Crazy Little Mama" or "Un quinceañero enamorado" ("A Teenager In Love"); along with other songs they used to sing in their live shows back then, such as "Runaway" or "Tu imagen de Rocker"; plus one song that has been included as it was recorded in 1985: "Penas" ("Heartaches").

From my point of view, they have achieved a very difficult thing with those re-recordings: to upgrade the sound quality by improving their voices and they musical skills through the time, but without loosing an inch of the feeling, of the freshness, of the original recordings.

Regarding CD 2, it is "just" a compilation of the A sides of their 23 singles released between 1985 and 1993. A collection of songs that any Spanish Rock'n'roll fan will probably know... and all those fans will find themselves singing along from the very first song.

A good way to celebrate such an important event: not many bands can say that they are still rocking together 30 years after their first record and still sounding so good.

Congratulations and thanks, Tennessee, for those 30 years and please keep on Doo Woping for a lot more.

FUEGO ETERNO (HELLFIRE) - NICK TOSCHES (BIOGRAPHY)

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Contraeditorial

Around 34 years since it was first published in English arrives to the bookstores the Spanish edition of "Hellfire" ("Fuego Eterno" in its Spanish version), the legendary biography written by Nick Tosches about Jerry Lee Lewis' life (well, his life until the early 80's, of course).

It is a book that has been available since so long in English that I find pointless to make a long review in English about the Spanish edition... So then, just a few more words to say that, as you probably already know, it is considered as one of the best, if not just the best, biography written about a Rock'n'Roll star, easy and funny to read. And the Spanish translation I do believe that keeps all these virtues.

Thumbs up for the Spanish edition of "Hellfire"... even such a long time after its English original version was published.

RIC & THE DUKES - DON'T FIGHT (EP)

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SIDE A = 1. Dirty Mouth   2. Don't Fight

SIDE B = 3. Just Can't Wait   4. My Own Mistake

Sleazy Records / SR-51

Brand new release by Sleazy Records even if, funnily enough, it has catalogue number SR-51 while other 7" released by the label more or less at the same time are above the "100th"... Nothing of much importance, anyway.

Ric & The Dukes are a Rockabilly band formed in the South of Spain by Ángel Arlandi (vocals and rhythm guitar), Carlos Jiménez (lead guitar), Antonio Smiley (upright bass) and Pedri Miranda (drums). What these guys offer us in this record is just that: Rockabilly in a beautiful 50's style.

On side A, with "Dirty Mouth" and "Don't fight" they put the strength more on the "Rock" half of Rockabilly; while on the B side, with "Just Can't Wait" and "My Own Mistake", it is the "Billy" half of the word which gets a little bit more of importance (being much more evident on "My Own Mistake") but never forgetting the "Rock".

All four songs, by the way, have been penned (or co-penned) by band members and are sung in English.

A good record.

THE TACOMAS - TOP HITS (EP)

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CARA A = 1. Hole In My Heart   2. If You Think I'm Wrong

CARA B = 3. Let's Talk About Love   4. One More Time

Sleazy Records / SR102

Funny title for this EP from The Tacomas released by Sleazy Records, "Top Hits", when it is... their first record released! But even if it is the first record for The Tacomas, we have to take into account that the members of this band have long CV's and have played (or still are playing) in well known bands for the Spanish Rockabilly fans.

Regarding the four songs included in this EP, three of them have been written by "Chuco" (lead guitar & vocals) and one by Rafael García (rhythm guitar & vocals), all of them sung in English and all of them in a good, old, 50's style Rockabilly. No covers here. By the way, Santiago Sacristán (bass) and Javier Sarmentero (drums) complete the line-up. Had I to highlight one song, probably I would pick "Hole In My Heart"... or maybe "Let's Talk About Love".

If you like 50's style Rockabilly, I believe you're going to like this record.