THE DEL PRINCE - SONGS WE LOVE

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1. You Are   2. Bluffin   3. I'm Not Good Enough For You   4. Sweet Thing   5. Your Initials   6. I Believe   7. Lucky Girl   8. Rags To Riches   9. Forever   10. Don't Be A Fool   11. Glistening Lights   12. Let's Fall In Love   13. Learning About Love   14. I'm Gonna Try My Wings   15. I'd Be Satisfied   16. Baby Baby   17. If You Love Me

Soul Food Records / SFR:#001

There are records that you love from the very beginning. Here you have one of them, just released. Why? Well, I don't know how to explain it in a clear way. Maybe it's because it's a record of "pure" vocal Rock'n'Roll, or Doo Wop, with just the five voices of the members of The Del Prince plus an acoustic guitar in some songs. Maybe it's because the selection of songs seems brilliant to me: covers, for sure, but far away from the most repeated ones. Maybe it's because The Del Prince give to these covers their very own style and make them their own songs. Maybe it's because those five voices sound great together, as a real team... I can go on writing reasons, but with the ones already given I think you can get my point. Wonderful record.

I'm not at all a Doo Wop expert, eventhough it's a style in Rock'n'Roll that has always got my attention and interest, specially when the bands sing "a capella", a way of doing it that I find risky and just for the braves. Just like The Del Prince have done this CD: only their voices and the help of an acoustic guitar in some songs, as said before. Probably it was this way how it sounded like in the street corners in some cities in the United States back in the golden era of the style, when some pals gathered together to sing along under a streetlight... Who knows! But this record allows your imagination to fly.

Of the 17 songs included, none of them is above the rest in quality: all of them are great and well sung, so preferences will be in personal feelings or will depend on the moment. Anyway, since I first played the record, "Sweet Thing", I Believe" and "Rags to Riches" are the cuts that more often have made me press the "repeat" button on the remote control.

I'm not going to expand myself much more on this review: it's a wonderful record. Simply ask to The Del Prince, for instance through their e-mail (thedelprincedoowopp@gmail.com), how to get it and you'll see. Much more than warmly recommended: a must have.

The Del Prince, back in 2013, during

their show at the Ubangi Stomp Festival

in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain.

THE SAME OLD SHOES - REAL GONE SESSIONS

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1. Real Gone Baby   2. Can't Get Enough   3. That's A Ball   4. Sittin' On My Hands   5. It Would Be A Doggone Lie   6. Get A Knife   7. Shake'em Up Baby   8. Really Don't   9. Bottle To The Baby   10. Old Bee Tree   11. Everybody's Rockin' But Me   12. Guitar Bound   13. Juke Box Johnnie   14. Beautiful Baby

El Toro Records / ETCD6091

From Forli, Italy, here we have The Same Old Shoes and this CD, just released by El Toro Records, in which they deliver great old-school Rockabilly, 1950's style, along its 36 minutes and a few seconds.

Fourteen songs have been included, with a fifty-fifty share between songs penned by Dario Magnani (singer and rhythm guitar of the band) and well selected covers. All 14 songs seem very good to me and are well played. If I have to choose one among their own compositions, my pick would be "Can't Get Enough", with "That's A Ball" probably close behind. Regarding the covers, Lattie Moore's "Juke Box Johnnie" would be the one.

A record made to dance, with most songs' rhythm going from midtempo to uptempo, leaving very little room for "slows". This record is for party, not for relax, if you see what I mean.

A very good record from these Italian guys and a very good job from El Toro Records, discovering us such a great Rockabilly band. Warmly recommended.

LOS REBELDES - A FLOR DE PIEL

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1. En cuerpo y alma   2. Chuck Berry   3. De presión   4. María querida   5. El loco de la autopista   6. La gloria del hombre   7. Corazón de Rock & Roll   8. Siete lunas de miel   9. Dos horas más   10. Marie, Marie   11. Con su blanca palidez   12. Marihuna Boogie   13. Quiero ser una estrella   14. Un hombre puede llorar

Martin Music / MM0013

Brand new record from Los Rebeldes. Maybe they are not a well known band worldwide, but they were pioneers in the Spanish Rockabilly Revival and the band has been Rockin' and Rollin' since the late 1970's, with around 20 records released... More than that, they still are a top Rock'n'Roll act in Spain, Mexico and so on. Well, when I say Los Rebeldes, I mean Carlos Segarra: their charismatic singer, guitar ace and the only original member remaining.

Anyway, lets go for this record. At first sight I had a kind of scary feeling when I learnt it was all acoustic and there were even an accordion and one of those percussion boxes instead of a drum kit... But as soon as I began listening to the CD I felt reassured. No problem: Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly are there from the beginning to the end and it is a very good record. A great record, as a matter of fact, in my own opinion. Absolutely.

What we get is a good mixture of rockers (8) and and slow songs (6), alternating new songs, re-recordings of old hits from the band and some covers.

On the uptempo ones, we have "En cuerpo y alma"; "Chuck Berry", a tribute to one of Carlos Segarra's heros; "De presión", a wonderful mix of Doo Wop and Rockabilly; "El loco de la autopista", one of the band's most classic songs; "Corazón de Rock&Roll", another top quality classic of Los Rebeldes; "Marie, Marie", a cover of the The Blasters' hit and the only one not sung in Spanish in this CD; "Marihuna" Boogie"; and "Quiero ser una estrella", again an auto-cover of one of their early hits.

Regarding the slows (well, more or less slow) there is "María querida"; "La gloria del hombre", amazing song with beautiful lyrics; "Siete lunas de miel"; "Dos horas más", another of their most known songs that they have re-recorded, giving to it a kind of a Country feel for this CD, and, I have to say it, one of my favourite songs from Los Rebeldes; "Con su blanca palidez", a marvelous, stunning, cover of Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" (believe it or not); and "Un hombre puede llorar".

Ladies and gentlemen: a great disc with Mr. Carlos Segarra sounding really good. I love this CD, yes indeed, and I'm playing it once and again.

Los Rebeldes are still Rockin' and well. Good news.