RED ROMBO - RED ROMBO

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1. Going Through These Days   2. Don't Make Me Wait   3 Too Late To Cry   4. Love Tips   5. Muddy Ground   6. Niño Rock Theme

Sleazy Records / MA1389-2015

Right from Málaga, in the South of Spain, we get Red Rombo, a band leaded by bassist Lere and this is their presentation CD, for which they have got the help of top names in the Spanish Rockin' scene, such as Mario Cobo (guitar), or Dani Nel·lo (sax in "Don't Make Me Wait").

Above all, I have to say that I've found it to be a good record that I've enjoyed quite a lot, but please note that if you're looking for a straight Rockabilly CD from start to finish, this is not the case.

"Going Through These Days", "Don't Make Me Wait" and "Love Tips" can be easily filed under "Rock'n'Roll"; there is no doubt for it and I do believe that all of us will agree on that point. By the way, "Going Through These Days" is for me the best song of the whole disc.

Regarding the other songs included, "Too Late To Cry" has a Caribbean feel... or maybe that beat comes from Tropical shores... or maybe Hawaiian... or a little bit of them all... who knows! Anyway, a good song with bongos providing the beat and the highlight of the voice of María Esteban (also in the rest of the songs, by the way). "Muddy Ground" is pretty close to Jazz and, finally, "Niño Rock Theme" is an instro Rock'n'Roll in which, if I can trust my ears, Lere has swifted the slapbass used in all the other songs for an electric bass, doing a good work in any case.

It's said: I've liked this CD but please bear in mind that it's not just Rockabilly or Rock'n'Roll what you're going to get in it.

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.

FERNANDO LAVADO - UNA NOCHE CON MIS HÉROES

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1. Historia de los Rockers   2. Long Long Some Blues   3. Boom Boom   4. As Long As I Have You   5. Glad All Over   6. Rip It Up   7. Donna   8. My Way   9. Anna (Go With Him)   10. The Wanderer   11. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree   12. Blue Christmas   13. As Long As I Have You (versión piano)

Autoeditado / Sin nº de referencia

For those of you who don't know Fernando Lavado, just note that he has been playing Rockabilly since the mid 80's (even before) leading the Spanish band Gatos Locos... So he is not at all a newcomer, but one of the most important names in Spanish Rockabilly story for sure. As simple as that.

With that in mind, I bought the CD even though I don't usually like records that have just covers. At least, I thought, they are not the usual covers that everybody plays.

And when I played the CD... Oh, boy! I found that it was a good record! Fernando Lavado, with the help of a selection of good musicians (some of the from the band Desguace Café), has made his very own covers of some Rock'n'Roll classics. I mean, in his very own style, not trying to copy the originals. That's a clever decision, I believe.

And with that personal style, Fernando Lavado offers outstanding versions of slow songs such as "Donna", "Blue Christmas" or "As Long As I Have You" (I do firmly believe that Fernando Lavado is one of the best singers when singing "rockaballads"). But, more than that, he also delivers good covers of the Rocking songs and "Glad All Over", "My Way" or "The Wanderer" sound also great, as does a very good version of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree".

By the way, of the 13 cuts included, just "Historia de los Rockers" ("Story Of The Rockers") is sung in Spanish, being all the others in English.

So, this is a covers record, yes sir, but I've enjoyed it a lot. Good work.

THE DRAGTONES - THE DEVIL INSIDE

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CARA A = The Devil Inside   CARA B = Scream

Sleazy Records / SR100

For their 100th reference, regarding 7", the Spanih label Sleazy Records has decided to release a record by The Dragtones in stunning golden vinyl. Really beautiful (and the picture above doesn't make it justice).

Regarding the musical side, what really matters, the side A is for "The Devil inside", a song penned by singer Luis Arriaga and guitar player Mike Barbwire; while a wild cover in Spanish of "Scream" (of Ralph Nielsen And The Chancellors fame), goes on side B. Both songs have a quite similar wild sound and rhythm, full of energy, maybe much in the "garage" side of Rock'n'Roll.

Congratulations to Sleazy Records for their 100th 7" reference... and keep on with the good work!!!

ROCKER. LA GENERACIÓN DE LAS HOGERAS - MARCO ANTONIO LÓPEZ

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66 rpm Edicions

Before going further, please note that the book is written in Spanish, as you probably may noticed by reading the title.

Once this is clear, it is an interesting book, I have to say, this kind of biography written by Marco Antonio López, who has been the drummer in Rockin' bands such as Nu-Niles, The Lazy Jumpers or The Quasars to name just a few. In this book he reminisces about the years when he and his mates discovered the Rock'n'Roll at the end of the 80's and beginning of the 90's. But the story doesn't end there and there are frequent jumps forward and backwards, from those years to the "near present" and back again, giving a quite good dynamism to the narration.

It's good to find books like this one.