Messages : 24711 Date d'inscription : 22/04/2010 Age : 58 Localisation : Loire Atlantique Emploi/loisirs : Graphisme, Musique 50's & More...
Sujet: JACK RABBIT SLIM Dim 22 Aoû 2010 - 1:16
Sin-Uendo, Jack Rabbit Slim Western Star WSRC 012
Now here's an album I've been looking forward to for a long time. Knowing most of the bandmembers, and being a fan of their earlier bands like Bob & The Bear Cats, The Flytes, Rockin' Rockin' 88, Rusti Steel & The Tin Tax, and also having heard the demo CD the band sent me last year, I knew before hand that this was gonna be one heck of a rockin' album. Boy, was I ever right...
The album starts with a quote from the fabulous movie "Pulp Fiction" (1994) where Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) & Vincent Vega (John Travolta) arrive at Jack Rabbit Slim's, the 50's style lounge with all the rock & movie stars (Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Marilyn Monroe, Mamie van Doren). "What the fuck is this place?", well now you know where the band's name came from. The excerpt is followed by a fast paced hick-up rockabilly song titled "The Touch". I promise you, you won't be able to sit still anymore, the song rocks from start to end. It's an original song written by Bob Butfoy, in fact Bob wrote 11 of the 14 tracks on this album.
Next is "Cherry Pie", Tom Hayes is going nuts on his 6 strings. Tom has been a long time friend of mine and he's certainly one of the best rockabilly guitarists today. This song raised all the hairs in my neck, and it's only the second track! Track 3, with Steve Holbrook on piano, is titled "Day & A Dollar Late". Great lyrics, fabulous rockabilly song.
On to a revved up version "Power of my Love", a song Elvis recorded in 1969 with Ed Kollis on harmonica. On the Jack Rabbit Slim rendition, the harmonica is played by guest musician Andy Stradling. Bluesy rockabilly with a hard thumping bass. Nick Linton-Smith can really handle his doghouse, plucking the strings like a wild man on "Shake-A-Billy Baby".
A spooky change in rhythm on the stormy song "Gypsy Curse" and back to basic rockabilly on "Bad Girls". The album sure has a lot of variety in music, all being either rock or roll, or both! And let me tell you, Jack Rabbit Slim is "Doin' All Right" on Eddie Cash's song too. "Voodoo Slide" sounds like Johnny Burnette on steroids, great sliding with a bit of distortion by master Tom. "Gas Tanks & Bellies" are two things that have to be filled on time, cewl lyrics on this uptempo rockabilly country song. On "Long Time Dead" the band is challenging the Johnny Burnette Trio one more time, and getting away with it mighty good, followed by some more revved up country on "Hard Luck Story" with Paul Saunders hitting the skins hard. These guys can really play it all, try on the Collin' Kids' "Whistle bait" for size, oowee!
The album closes with yet another Bob Butfoy orginal rockabilly stomper "Tonight". What a joy, not one flaw on this entire platter, rocking you hard all the way. Recorded at Alan Wilson's Western Star Studios, this really is what rock 'n' roll is all about: sending shivers down your spine for 32 minutes straight, and leaving you still shaking an hour later! The album launch party is scheduled on October 8th, 2005, at The Ace Cafe London.
Jack Rabbit Slim BIO: CLICK HERE
Jack Rabbit Slim are (L2R): Tom Hayes - Lead Guitar Paul Saunders - Drums Nick Linton-Smith - Double Bass Bob Butfoy - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Bob Butfoy kicked off rockin' with The Back Seat Jivers, he is also the former front man and founder of Bob & The Bearcats. Bob has played with and for some of the best artists around, including Chuck Berry! Bob also wrote some of the Bearcats's floor filling songs such as "Queen of the Curves", "Hold On Tight", "My Girl" and "Nashville to Memphis". Bob's hair may be greying but the hips are still swaying! The Bearcats played at many top festivals both in the U.K. & Europe, some of which saw Bob team up with Tom Hayes for the 1st time after Darrel had left for the West End. Tom Hayes also replaced Ashley Kingman in Rockin' Rocket 88. He now teams up again with Bob for some wild, untamed rockin'!
Tom got his first guitar on holiday in Spain at the age of 9 but didn't take much interest in the instrument until about the age of 15. The first rock 'n' roll band he had anything to do with were "The Houseshakers" formed in 1978 with Alan and Keith Mumbray who went on to form "Red Hot" and "Lucas and The Dynamos", but he soon decided that crepes and drapes were not for him and put together his first rockabilly band "The Sonics" in 1980, gigging successfully under an ever changing line up until 1985 when he and Andy were invited to join "The Roanoke Rhythm Combo". In 1986 the offer of work came from Rockin' Rocket 88. This band produced the 1988 6-track E.P. "Goin' to Chicago" which features two songs written by Tom, who finally left the band in November of that year when Ashley Kingman of "Red Hot and Blue" stepped in to fill the void. In November 1992 the call to come out and play again was heard from Les Cork and Nick Linton-Smith of "The Rockets".
This band included three former members of "Rockin' Rocket 88" and Kev Clark, ex of "The Playboys", on drums. Further European work followed with "Solid Smoke", backing "Sun Records" star Narvel Felts and Big Al Downing in early 1999. After a brief break from music Nick & Tom went on to form "The Flytes" with Andy Knowler and John Edwards in 2001. This combo produced the popular CD "Step This Way" on their own "Swamp Bop Records" label. 2003 saw a "Rockin' Rocket 88" reunion with Nick, a new album by the band "Living This Way" and a return to the Hemsby stage.
Nick Linton-Smith is the gentleman of bass players, Nick's experience is second to none! He's played all over the UK & Europe, all the top festivals & with the top original artistes of the 50's! Nick first started out playing the bass in 1983 with "Satan's Rejects". Nick and Chris went on to form the nucleus of "Rockin' Rocket 88" along with Leroy Bradley, Steve Matthews and Nicks brother Matt on Fiddle. Nick did some travelling around the world, upon his return to the U.K.
Nick deputised with The Playboys which led on to the forming of "The Rockets" in 1991 with Tom, Matt, Chris, Les Cork and Kev Clark; whilst also assisting "Jump Cat Jump" on their tour of the States and producing a number of recordings including the 10" disc "Tune in/Turn Up" and the C.D."Hot Rockin". A short break from music was followed by the formation of a "Johnny Cash" tribute band "The Fulsom Four" until July 1999 when "The Flytes" were formed.
Paul Saunders was inspired to buy his first drum kit at the age of 14 after listening to "Haley's Comets". The first band he played for was "The Off Beats!" along side Darrell Higham and Steve (Nobby) Clark, before joining Rusti Steel & The Tin Tax in the early 90's. He toured many UK and European festivals with the band and backed acts such as "Sleepy La Beef" and "Terry Noland" to name but a few. He also recorded 2 albums with the band "Cotton Pickin'" and "Railroadin' Rhythm". From there "The Rhythm Aces" were formed featuring Paul Cosby from "The Tin Tax". Paul also stood in for "The Bearcats" on one occasion. The rest of Paul's career is a blur of beer, beer and more beer before returning to the drums for "Jack Rabbit Slim".
Sujet: JACK RABBIT SLIM 
Dim 22 Aoû 2010 - 1:16
