May 2016 - Page 2 of 2 - the rockabilly chronicle

Little Rachel

Published on 16 May 201616 May 2016

Albums/Contemporary artists/IJKL/Reviews

Little Rachel - When A Blue Note Turns Red Hot

Little Rachel – ‘Cause I feel good!

Self released (2005)
Ooh, He’s Fine – Back to Kansas City – I’m What You Need – Spiderwoman Blues – Uh Uh Baby – His Words Don’t Say As Much As His Eyes – Scorched – Is My Baby Happy Now? – Don’t Jump (Rock the Boat) – I Am Your Destiny – Tough Lover – If You Were Mine – I Wanna Boogie – Your Baby’s My Baby Now
Ooh, she’s fine ! Rockabilly girl Rachel, known formerly of the Casey Sisters decided to go rhythm’n’ blues. And man, she was right! This album is a killer. You’ve got here all the ingredients to make a good mixture : fine and accomplished musicians Tjarko (Tinstars, Ronnie Dawson), Beau Sample (Cave Catt Sammy), Damien Llanes (Nick Curran, Deke Dickerson), Matt Farrell (Nick Curran); a producer who knows his job (Billy Horton) and most of all a little girl with a powerful voice. Half of the songs here has been written by Rachel herself and four has been penned by ex Tail labelmate, the swedish Eva Eastwood. And this 11 compositions can stand proudly near the covers. Rachel’s voice is really impressive, she can scream, she can shout or she can sing a soulful ballad (Spiderwoman Blues or Is my baby Happy now, two of my faves), but the voice is always on top. The musicians fit perfectly the mood of each songs, playing subtle guitar licks or juicy saxophones depending the tune. Comparisons are not always fair, but if you’re looking for a female counterpart to Nick Curran, don’t go any further, she sings it perfectly, Little Rachel is «What you need».

Little Rachel – There’s A New Miss Rhythm In Town

El Toro R&B 203 – (2006)
Bartender Baby – Hey, Big Boy – It’s Always A Blonde – Broken – Bull Ridin’ Mamma – Get On The Right Track – Give Up Honey – I May Be Trouble – Keep on Movin’ – New Miss Rhythm in Town – Pannic Attack – Please Quit Me Baby – Take This Love and Bury It – Talk To Me – Bonus Track by The Lazy Jumpers Mr.Advice
The little girl with the big voice is back and she’s going to teach you what rhythm’n’blues really is She went to Barcelona, Spain to record and found the perfect match to her astounding voice: The Lazy Jumpers. They get along so fine it seems they were made to be together like butter and bread, Abbott and Costello or Lady Day and Prez. On one side you have a girl with a voice as good and powerful as Big Mama Thornton, Wynona Carr or Ruth Brown. On the other side The Lazy Jumpers (who believe me are not lazy at all). Mario Cobo delivers some fine licks in the vein of Johnny “Guitar” Watson , or Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown while Blas Picon and Ivan Kovacevic provide the perfect rhythm section, tight and swinging in the same time.
Eight tracks are from the pen of Little Rachel, two by Eva Eastwood (who was already present on her debut album) and the Lazy Jumpers wrote the rest (including a song from one of their own album). The music ranges from groovy Rhythm’n’Blues (Bartender Baby; Hey, Big Boy; Please Quit Me Baby) some with juicy saxes and piano to straight blues (I May Be Trouble) which sees drummer Blas Picon taking some mean harmonica solo. And in between you have some pre-rock’n’roll that fits Rachel’s voice so well (Panic Attack), a Chuck Berry-esque rocker (Give-Up Honey), a boogie (Bull Ridin’ Mama) and a Fever inspired song (Take This Love And Bury It) full of soul and seduction. A couple of tunes have a more modern sound (well, everything is relative) and you could easily imagine “Broken” sung by Candy Kane and “Keep On Movin’” by Little Charlie And The Nightcats.
There’s a lot more I could rave about (Get On The Right Track is a killer!) but it’s better to let you some surprises. In 2006 Ruth Brown has left the building, it sure is sad and we’ll always cherish her music but in 2007 we can say : “There’s a new Miss Rhythm In Town”.

Little Rachel – When A Blue Note Turns Red Hot

Goofin GRCD 6157 – (2009)
Mama Was Right Again – Go Bully Some Other Gal – My Favorite Dream – O La Violencia – Just Right Man – Emotions – Born to Cry – This Lonesome Night – I Don’t Miss You At All – It’s Not Me – Every Road Leads Back Home – My Mojo Don’t Work No Mo’ – Little Man – You Could Have Fooled Me – You Ain’t So Such A Much
Little Rachel’s previous album left breathless and full of admiration. So you can imagine how excited I was when I heard the news of her collaboration with The Hogs of Rhythm (known to be the band associated with Dr Snout and featuring members of Finland’s top rockabilly band The Barnshakers).
In the same time I had a little apprehension: would she be able to match the high quality of There’s A New Miss Rhythm In Town? My doubts vanished after just a few bars of the opening song.
“Mama Was Right Again” is a fantastic 60’s soul number (Eat your heart out Amy !) with a strong bass line. Nine of the fifteen were written by Rachel (and she’s better and better at doing this), two by Shane Kiel (Two Timin’ Three), one by Rachel Decker (The Honeybees) and the remaining three are covers by Dion, Mel tillis and Blanche Thomas.
The album is the perfect balance between 60’s influenced soul/Rhythm’n’Blues, 40’s and 50’s jivers, pre-rock’n’roll, a great Chuck Berry rocker (I Don’t Miss You At All), strong ballads and even a jazzy bossa nova. The band is tight and perfect as you can imagine with musicians from this calibre, and of course you have this voice, this wonderful, this rich, this bewitching voice…
A word has to be said about Jyrki Häyrinen’s production and mixing work. He sure has his part to this success.
Enough of my talking, the disc speaks for itself, go and buy a copy and you’ll understand what I try to tell you.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Lazy Jumpers

Published on 16 May 2016

Albums/Contemporary artists/IJKL/Reviews

The Lazy Jumpers – Comin’ On Like Gangbusters

El Toro R&B 204
No Way To Get Along – Ain’t Gonna Fall in Love Again – Cry Baby Boogie – Don’t That Hurt – My Dream of You – Living in my Car – Hand Shake Blues – Mr. Advice – Hold Me Tight – I’ve Got My Own – Girls – Cobo’s Hop – Pannic Attack (Little Rachel & The Lazy Jumpers)
Purist will find that surprising but the facts are here : one of the best blues band currently in activity doesn’t come from Chicago or Los Angeles, but from Spain. Not only the Lazy Jumpers are amazing and skilled musicians but they are equally good as songwriters. This album is loaded with 13 original tracks. Supported by a tight rhythm section, Mario Cobo on guitar and the deep growling voice and wild harmonica of Blas Picon take us to a journey through American blues. Straight ahead blues, Bo Diddley beat tune, piano led boogie woogie, Chicago blues, wild rocker, swingin’ instrumental and of course west coast blues you’ll find all that (and more, “Girls” even recalls the early Blasters with Lee Allen) on this platter. But this is just the mould on which the Lazy Jumpers have built their songs with their own sound. The tunes never sound like museum pieces, their references (Joe Turner, Little Walter, T-Bone Walker…) may be in the 40’s and the 50’s, they never are a burden and the band always sounds fresh. They share the same musical spirit with bands like Little Charlie And The Nightcats or Nick Curran. Now, stop beating around the bush, I love this album and the best compliment I could do about is once you’ve stopped listening to “Comin’ On Like Gangbusters”, you’ll just want to catch The Lazy Jumpers on stage. As a bonus, there’s a tune from Little Rachel’s “There’s A New Miss Rhythm In Town” on which The Lazy Jumpers play and shine.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Sprague Brothers

Published on 16 May 2016

Albums/Contemporary artists/Reviews/S

The Sprague Brothers – Best Of The Essbee Cds Volume 1

ElToro ETCD7010
Penetration – Hippy Hippy Shake – Rock Rock – Surefire – New Reason to Cry – You Only Live Twice – I’ll Be True – Green Arrow – I’ll Do It Every Time – Drum Boogie – Rock’n’roll – I Feel A Brand New Heartache – My Tender Heart – Praying Mantis – Since I Don’t Have You – No One Wants My Love – Nesman Studios – Tall Tall Trees – Sunset in Tokyo – Just over a Girl
The Sprague Brothers recording carreer didn’t stop with the end of their contract with Hightone. They released a bunch of records on their own Essbee label. This compilation gathers the best of this now hard-to-find albums. As usual with the Sprague Brothers, one can expect fine songwriting and beautiful arrangements. Rock’n’roll is a term that everybody seems to use nowadays, but this is the best word to describe their music. A mix of surf (Penetration, Green Arrow), early Beatles (“I’ll Be True” and its intro taken from Beatles’ “Devil In Her Heart” would make Sir Paul jealous), and the usual Everly/Holly/Fuller influenced stuff. You’ll find some rockabilly (Johnny Power’s “Rock Rock”) too, and “My Tender Heart” sees the bros go bluegrass. Frank and Chris play all the instruments, except on one tune where they are backed by Deke Dickerson and Shorty Poole, and the skills of each of them is simply amazing. Of course Chris is a good drummer (if you don’t believe me listen to “Drum Boogie” a Gene Krupa meets Bill Haley song) but he can play steel, upright bass, sing fine harmonies and on “Just Over A Girl” he gives us a great piece of eefing. Frank Lee Sprague is even more impressive as it seems that no instrument has secret for him : surf guitar, bluegrass mandolin, Jerry Lee Lewis boogie piano… You name it, he plays it. Add extensive liner notes and you’ll have another must-have from El Toro.

The Sprague Brothers – Best Of The Essbee Cds Volume 2

ElToro ETCD7011
Angelyne – Alll Night Long – Down The Line – Gotta Get You Near Me Blues – Never Knew – One Wheel Draggin’ – Pickin’ Peppers – Sea Cruise – Just Give Me a Chance – Diamond Head – Mopar Junk – Wailin – Beep Beep – She Won’t Stay For Long – I Found Someone New Today – So How Come – If You’ll Be Mine – Goldfinger – All By Myself – Goodbye My Love
Second volume of the reissue of this records released in small quantities namely “Three” (which was originally due to be released on Hightone), “Covers”, “Instrumental Party” and “Rockabilly’). This set focuses more on the talent of brother Chris (aka Sugarballs) featuring many of his own compositions and lead vocals. The element are the same you can find on volume one with straight ahead rockers (Angelyne, Beep Beep), a bit of Bobby Fuller type of song (All Night Long) and some rockabilly too with two Buddy Holly covers from his earlier period. Beatles/Merseybeat influenced songs are here too, both electric (If You’ll Be Mine, I Found Someone New Today the later one featuring great harmonies) or acoustic like The Searcher’s “Goodbye My Love” which sounds like an outtake from the Norwegian Wood sessions. They also perform a set of instrumental ranging from the western jazz of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant (Pickin’ Peppers) to the Ventures’ Diamond Head. Another James Bond theme is played after You Only Live Twice on Volume 1, this time it’s Gold finger. As you can see, as usual with The Sprague you’ll find plenty of styles. El Toro did a really good job with this reissues allowing us to have access to this recordings. Hope someone will do the same with their early 90’s live albums like “Live At Frank’s Place” and “Live In The Van With The Sprague Brothers”.

The Sprague Brothers – Changing The World One Chick At A Time

Wichita Falls Records WFR 339
Rockabilly Twist – Wormwood – Keep On Loving Me – I’ve Got It Made – She’s In The $ Now – I Want To Be Her Man – Little Star – Better Believe – You’re Scarce – She Took My Spittin’ Cup – Wichita Falls Rag – I’m Settin’ Jake – She Brought Back My Spittin’ Cup – No One Cares – Highway 15 -. Harlem Ska (bonus track) – American Music (bonus track) – Girl Can’t Hep It (bonus track)
Listening to a Sprague Brothers album is always like a good journey into American music. You find as usual some Everly Brothers type of tunes (Chris and Frank really know how to harmonize and put together some melodies that stick into your head) and some Bobby Fuller (“Wormwood”) so this is no surprise to find on the guest list Randy Fuller and Edan Everly. “Little Star” is a beautiful ballad in a Texas style (think Buddy Holly), Spanish guitar and superb string arrangement. Rockabilly is also very well represented with “You’re Scarce” and “I’m Settin Jake”, two songs that could come straight from the vault of Sun records. Talking about rockabilly, “Rockabilly Twist” is exactly what the title means with at the end, you have to hear closely, a citation of Surfin’ Bird / Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow. “Wichita Fall Rag” is a stunning western swing instrumental with Jeremy Wakefield on steel, Deke Dickerson on rhythm guitar and Shorty Poole on bass. They really should record more in that style. They provide another instrumental with the short “Highway 15” but this time more in a Ventures style. “She Took My Spittin Cup” and “She Brought Back My Spittin Cup” are, it’s no surprise with titles like that, on the hillbilly side. You also have plenty of bonus tracks The Blasters’ American Music on which Frank replicates riffs by Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee, The Ventures and Buddy Holly (it’s also great fun to hear a harmonica solo reminiscent of the Beatles on a song called “American Music”), the classic “Harlem Nocturne” turned into a ska and “The Girl Cant Help It”. But wait, there are more hidden bonus, but sorry folks, you’ll have to buy the cd to discover them.

The Sprague Brothers – The Savage Sprague Brothers

Wichita Falls Records WFR 334
Betty’s Got A Hot Rod – Once Again I’m Fallin’ – She’s An Adulteress – It Doesn’t Hurt Anymore -This You Did – Charlene – Everything I Have Is Yours -In Your Heart -The Invisible Man – Two Hands In My Pockets – Nothing Matters But You – USA
This album subtitled «early recordings from the vault» contains material recorded in the 90’s with Frank and Carl playing all instruments. As I said before, comparisons aren’t always fair. You see, saying that someone sounds like (put the name of the legend of your choice here), could reflect a lack of personality from the artist. But who could say that the Sprague don’t have no personality? Surely not me. So if you don’t know the brothers yet, I would say that they are the perfect mix of Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Fuller with a good dose of early Beatles (when they were still playing live). As Frank Lee Sprague once said «Influenced by none, inspired by many» and the fact are here you can cite every artists you want, the sound is 100% Sprague Brothers. They could be good musicians and singers but they’re more, Frank is one hell of a songwriter. From the beautiful semi accoustic «Charlene» to «Once again I’m fallin’» and its haunting harmonies without forgetting the rockin’ side of the brothers with «Two Hands In My Pockets» and «USA» with lyrics similar in the meaning to Blasters’s «American Music».
If you’ve already bought their Hightone releases you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve never heard them and you want to know how to write «pop songs» (before this word becomes pejorative), give this album a try.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis