El Toro Records [2023]
Gonna Go Bop / Stella Got A Fella
The Same Old Shoes, from Italy, released this single to announce their soon-to-be-released new album.
The A side is a self-penned tune. It is a good rocking’ and bopping’ tune, nothing too exceptional nor very original, but very good nonetheless. More interesting is their cover of The Fireflies’ Stella Got A Fella, which finds them playing with a fuller sound and including some early 60’s influences.
El Toro Records ET15163 [2023]
Fire / Hey You
The latest single by Maibel and the Misfire is a total success. It offers two very different and complementary tracks.
Fire is a very rhythmic Rockabilly, which sounds like a modern version of Gene Vincent (the guitar is reminiscent of Cruisin at times)—there is no need to say that the band is particularly hot on this one and takes no prisoners.
Side B is even better. It is a stroller built on a Jazz progression with rich chords and perfectly supported by the brushed snare drum. Maibell’s voice has more room to express itself, and the guitar is superb from start to finish.
Available here.
El Toro ETCD6042
You’re Gonna Miss Him – Do The Stomp – In My Heart – Misery And Heartache – Sweet Love – So Far Away – Without You – Why Do I Love You? – Maybe Just A Little – This Ain’t Going Nowhere – My Kinda Man – Why Oh Why? – Ride Along – Never Been In Love Like This
This quartet comes from Finland and features very well known name on the scene that have played with Mr Breathless, Hi-Fly Rangers, Hayden Thompson Paul Roman, Jussi Syren…
They play fifties rockabilly mixed with a very modern approach with 80’s influences in between which mean that they aren’t afraid to add a good dose of pop ala Smiths in their music. The result is a slap bass driven melodic album (entirely self penned by the band) that sounds very radio friendly and it could easily find its way to the top of the charts like Imelda May did. I must say that it is too polished and lacks a bit of excitement for me. And sometime the rockabilly roots can only be traced by the presence of the doublebass, the other elements being very (and for my own taste too much) poppy.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
El Toro ET15.138
Just Like a Dog (Barking Up the Wrong Tree) – My Man Called Me / Stop A-Hoppin’ On Me – I Smell a Rat
Big Mama Thornton, and her incredible voice, need no introduction (so I hope). This EP gathers four tracks. On side A, you’ll find the rocking Just Like A Dog (this lady has something with the dogs) and the mellower My Man. The flip opens with the Rumba-tinged Rhythm’n’Blues of Stop A-Hoppin’ On Me and ends with the jungle beat of I Smell A Rat. All songs were recorded with Johnny Otis Orchestra except for Stop-A-Hoppin, which features Burt Kendricks & His Orchestra.
El Toro ET-15.140 –
Aw! Shucks Baby -You Shocked Me / Come On, Come On, Come On (With The Charms) – Miss You So
By no means tiny, Tiny Topsy (real name Otha Lee Moore ) had strong lung power and a voice that could peel off the wallpaper. This Ep gathers her first single from 1957 and two A-sides from her second and fourth singles. Aw Shucks is powerful and features a Ray Felder tenor saxophone solo. You Shocked Me is less exciting and a bit too repetitive.
Things get better with Come On, Come On, Come On, which features the Charms on backing vocals. Miss You So has a solid drive on a slow boogie beat led by the guitar.
El Toro ET15039
My Man – Ay La Bah / Tell Me, Tell Me – Big Rock Inn
Dolly Cooper first recorded for Savoy, then moved to Modern and Dot. The songs from the side A were recorded for Modern and those from the side B for Dot.
My Man is a superb proto Rock’n’Roll that could have been a Bill Haley tune (or vice-versa). Her backing band is Maxwell Davis and Orchestra who also accompanied Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Etta James or Young Jessie. Ay La Bah is more anecdotical, but it features some fine doo-wop backing vocals and a brief but stunning guitar solo.
Tell Me, Tell Me is wild tune with another super guitar part. Same goes for Big Rock Inn which is even wilder, on which the singer gives it all.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
Bullseye – BE 149 [2021]
A Full Time Job – I Gotta Know – I’ll Get Along Somehow – Get With it – Hell Ride Boogie – I’m Getting Wrong – South / Loss – Sure Fire Kisses – Somebody’s Gonna Take Your Place – Serenade In G – Let’s Settle Down – The Side Of Town
Friends, if you dig Hillbilly, Honky-Tonk, Country-Boogie and Western swing, stop all your activities; I have something special for you: Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo’s latest album. This five-piece band is one of the best things to happen to true country lovers in ages. They come from Italy, but they nailed that sound so perfectly that you wouldn’t believe it.
Rockin’ Bonnie sings lead on most of the tracks. The main quality of her voice is something that, surprisingly, you don’t often find: simplicity. She doesn’t try to sound mean or hide behind mannerisms. She simply sings with her heart in a joyful way. How refreshing!
Max sings lead on Bob Wills’ Get With It and Loss, a self-penned track written with George Jones’ The Race Is On in mind. He also shares some duets with Bonnie and most of all, plays a mighty hot guitar and trades licks with Matt, the band’s secret weapon, who plays fiddle, steel, banjo and mandolin. Bobby and Manuel bring the swing and the drive.
The set comprises covers (Eddie Arnold, Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Merle Travis, Goldie Hill…) and originals.
Now, roll back the rug and dance to the sweet sound of Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo!
Available here.
El Toro [2016]
Loud and Proud – There AIn’t Better Time – Once More – Don’t Worry
This excellent ep opens with the band’s own Loud and Proud. It’s a solid western swing tune with duet vocals between Bonnie and lead guitarist Max Zampini in the great Bob Wills tradition with steel, fiddle, lead guitar. Next Is a cover of Tibby Edwards sung by Zampini and features – like the other two songs of B-side – a piano.
Once More is another original that already sounds like a classic hillbilly. Last but not least is a superb slice of hillbilly boogie with Red Sovine’s Don’t Worry
Fred “Virgil” Turgis