Red Davis & the Typhoons
Self-released [1989]
Mean Ol’ Train / Chicken & Hawk / Shout Sister Shout
Red Davis & the Typhoons was a Finnish band formed by Jukka Pesonen on vocals, Jussi Huhtakangas (Ballroomers, Hal Peters, Barnashakers) on guitar, Mika Liikari (Barnshakers) on double bass, and Pete Hakonen (Ballroomers and founder of Goofin Records) on drums. The band recorded three solid tracks of traditional (or “authentic,” as some would say) rockabilly.
“Mean Ol Train” is the most rustic of the three. As one might expect from such a title, it features a brushed drum part and a catchy guitar riff, ending with a slow-motion melodic flourish. Much wilder is “Chicken & Hawk,” reminiscent of Johnny Burnette and the Rock’n’Roll Trio, on which Huhtakangas plays a guitar part similar to Grady Martin’s on “Train Kept A Rollin’.” With “Shout Sister Shout,” Red Davis and the Typhoon do as Elvis did with “That’s All Right,” covering an Arthur Crudup song and transforming it into a rockabilly tune. The excellent double bass sound on this track is particularly noteworthy.
While not exactly revolutionary, it’s a pleasant, catchy, and very well-played single.
