Fury Records – FEP706 [1995] My Bad Ways – Rock Pretty Mama / Tantalizin Baby – Blues Stop Knocking
The Cheezie Bitz were Mouse (Red Hot’n’Blue) on vocals, steel and rhythm guitar, Pascal Guimbard (Red Hot’n’Blue, Sprites) on lead guitar, Mo Kabir (Sugar Ray’s Flying Fortress, Kid Rocker) on double bass, and Les Curtis (Bob & the Bearcats) on drums. The band was only gathered to have some fun in the studio during one afternoon and never attended to gig. The session took place in August 1994 and resulted in six tracks: four are included on this EP, the remaining two (I Don’t Wanna Go To Iraq – an “updated” version of John Lee Hooker’s I Don’t Wanna Go To Vietnam– and I Met An Angel Yesterday) later appeared on the compilation album The Unreleased Recordings 1989-1994. The EP opens with My Bad Ways, which is by far the best cut of the four. It’s a great country rocker penned by Mouse and Graeme Grant (Demented Are Go). Guimbard is literally on fire on the solo, and Mouse seems to have plenty of fun playing his steel guitar. Next is a cover of Billy Adams’ Rock Pretty Mama. It’s a good rendition, although a bit thin on the production, especially compared to the original, but don’t forget that this is more of a jam than a proper recording. Tantalizin Baby is very good, featuring a powerful rockin’ blues guitar solo. An excellent version of Blues Stop Knocking wraps up this nice little single.
Mouse Zinn – The Embassy Recordings
Foot Tapping Records – FT172 [2017] Time Is Going By – That’s The Way – In Thoughts Of You – Searchin’ – Bar Hoppin’ Baby – Shush Don’t Tell ‘Em – Jealous Guy – Folkstone Skies – I’ve Waited So Long – Mooshataino – One Thing I Ain’t Got – Don’t Need No Star In Heaven
Is it still necessary to introduce Mouse? Well for the youngest: Mouse Zinn is the man behind Red Hot’n’Blue, the Space Cadets and Switchblade. As you can see his name alone is enough to stir interest of any decent Rockabilly fan. And if I tell you that he recorded this album with none others than Darrel Higham on guitar, David Doel on double bass and Gordon Doel on drums (both from the extraordinary Doel Brothers) I can feel the excitment in your ears and in your feet. Having said that, I could almost stop my review here… but I’m a professional and I’m going to tell you a little bit more. While Vigilante Man, his previous solo album, covered many different styles, this one focuses on what Mouse Zinn does best: Rock’n’roll and Rockabilly. Three songs are penned by the singer, including the excellent Shush Don’t Tell Em that has a slight Gene Vincent feel to it. Higham contributed the desperate rocker That’s the Way and Gordon and Dave Doel added three more originals. The remaining five songs are covers from the catalogs of Whitey Gallagher, Joe Fury, Jimmy Driftwood, Eddie Cochran (a rockin’ version of I’ve waited So Long) and… John Lennon (which is not that surprising after all, considering that Mouse and Switchblade already covered the Fab Four.) The problem is Mouse’s voice. It has lost all its breadth, power, and finesse. The singer often finds himself on the edge of pitch. The difference is even more striking when he has the bad idea to cover songs he recorded twenty years earlier with Red Hot ‘n’ Blue (One Thing I Ain’t Got). Since the repertoire is excellent and the musicians are top-notch, the result remains pleasant, but more often than not, we find ourselves imagining the same album but sung by the Mouse who recorded Jumpin’ Around or Ain’t Gonna Stop.
