BIG BOPPER - CRAZY BLUES / WHITE LIGHTNING (single)

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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

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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

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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.

BARBARA CLIFFORD - INTRODUCING BARBARA CLIFFORD

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1. Hitting On Nothing   2. Axe To Grind   3. I'm A Little Mixed Up   4. Hold On Baby   5. Kiss Me   6. Good Morning Little School Boy   7. Cry To Me   8. Lonely   9. Start At The Bottom   10. Hey There Little Boy   11. Birthday   12. Shaking All Over   13. Hot Damn   14. Party Girl   15. Nikki Kay

Blue Lake Records / BLR-CD 26

Yes, it is a CD from 2013, so it can't be said that it's "new"... But I want to bring it here because I've enjoyed it a lot.

For some reason, this Chicago born singer has remained unnoticed to me, even though she is not "just arrived" to the roots music scene, being part of The Honeybees for instance... But during this year's Ubangi Stomp Festival (great one, by the way) held once more in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain, I had the good luck of being at Barbara Clifford's show. Lucky me. And at the end of the show I needed to buy her CD (and to have it signed, by the way). What a voice!

The songs of "Introducing" are true to what I listened to and saw during the show: a beautiful voice singing different styles: from Rock'n'Roll ("Hot Damn") to Soul ("Hitting On Nothing"); from Rhythm'n'Blues ("Good Morning Little School Boy") to somewhere close to Rockabilly ("Start At The Bottom") and everywhere in between, even though is in Rhythm'n'Blues where I find Barbara Clifford more confortable. From 50's to 60's and back.

Fifteen songs were chosen for this album, with some written by Barbara herself, others written by Ken Mottet for her and a handful of well chosen covers.

Among the songs written by Barbara Clifford, I feel the need of highlighting the slow "Kiss Me", but the rest are not bad at all. "Birthday" or "Nikki Kay" (inspired by the great Nick Curran) are good examples.

From the songs written for her, "Axe To Grind" is one of the best, with a beat that will have you tapping your feet from the very first bars. The rocker "Hot Damn" or "Lonely" have to be highlighted as well.

Going to the covers, standing ovation, please, to the wonderful adaptation of "Shaking All Over", from Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, with "Good Morning Little School Boy" (Larry Williams) close in second place.

About the band, thumbs up for the boys: a very good job in all the wide range of styles included in the CD. Well, you can expect it when you learn that they are experienced musicians with Juan Rodriguez (AKA John Guster) as the leader of the band. By the way, good guitar player and, more that that, the big boss man at Blue Lake Records, the label publishing the record.

As said before, a very good album that may like to a wide open range of listeners for the different styles found, always in Roots Music, always Rock'n'Roll friendly, with a magnificient singer with an incredible voice.

Highly recommended. Really. I love it.

Barbara Clifford, with John Guster (guitar),

during the 9th edition of the

Ubangi Stomp Festival (April, 2015).

LOQUILLO & NU NILES - CÓDIGO ROCKER

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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

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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

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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.