The Rhythm Wheel Combo – Rollin Down The Line
Spinning Records Company – SRLP-8423 [1984]
Ruth Started Rockin – Where The Rio De Rosa Flows – Am I Blue – I Need You So – End Of The Road – All Nite Long – Down The Line – I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You – Rhythm Wheel Blues – Sittin’ On The Top Of The World – In My Dreams – Is It Ever Gonna Happen
The Rhythm Wheel Combo formed sometimes around 1982. The original lineup included Tomi Tiainen on vocals and guitar, Matti ‘Masa’ Saloranta on drums, Jarmo ‘Patti’ Hirvonen on bass guitar, and Mitja Tuurala (Big Pete’s Bolt) on piano.
The following year, Eino Rastas, who had been playing in Rock Rastas since the mid-1970s, joined the band on guitar.
In 1984, the lineup changed when Saloranta switched from drums to bass, leaving the drum stool to Antero Ryynänen (formerly of Rock Rastas). This lineup recorded three tracks (Baby Please (C’mon Home), Keep It A Secret, and Shirley Lee) for the compilation album Finnish Rock and Roll (Spinning SRLP 8412), alongside Mystery Train, Jam Rock Band, Rocket 88, and the Fortunes.
Then, the band then released this beautiful LP in October 1984
Far from drawing inspiration from popular groups of the time, whether from the Teddy Boy scene (Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers, Matchbox) or Neo-Rockabilly (Stray Cats, Polecats), the Rhythm Wheel Combo opted for a traditional sound blending the Cochran and Vincent-esque inflections of Tiainen, the Rockabilly guitar of Rastas, the Jerry Lee Lewis-style piano of Turrala, all underpinned by an unrelenting rhythm section. What is also impressive is the maturity displayed by the quintet.
After the Rhythm Wheel Combo disbanded, Eino Rastas joined Hal Peters to form Hal Peters Trio.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
