OK – I guess you think I’ve really gone nuts – that isolation has done me in. Maybe.
But Cliff, before he became a sugary-sweet pop, mainstream Christian boy – was probably Britain’s greatest Rock ‘n’ Roller. His first album and first few singles were dynamite.
If he had died then we’d be in awe of how good he was (instead of thinking of him as wet).
Take a listen to this:
(unfortunately that first album is not on youtube – it’s been removed). this is Cliff as you might not have heard him.
A Rock ‘n’ Roller from the Sun alumni. Carl was the original writer and performer of Blue Suede Shoes and a great Rockabilly star. If it hadn’t been for a car crash he could have been as big as Elvis! A good guitarist too.
I thought that I would delve back into the age of Rock ‘n’ Roll for those sublime harmonies that come straight out of Country.
Somehow the Evs could be soppy and sweet without losing it. They always cheer me up.
So some good old Rock ‘n’ Roll from the Everly Brothers today!!
I thought I’d dive back into the 50s for a wee bit of Rockabilly. Dale Hawkins seemed to fit the bill!
He was a bit of a one-hit-wonder – but what a hit that was. He created a unique sound for that time. Suzie Q is a classic!
Here we go with Dale:
I thought I’d delve back to Sun Records in the 1950s and get an infectious dose of Rockabilly to liven up my spirits.
This is where Elvis started and this is who he was sharing the studio with – Billy Lee Riley!
Take it away Billy!! You hep-cat you! Let’s Rock!!
When I was ten I was introduced to Buddy Holly by an older friend. He sold me all his Buddy Holly singles. It hooked me on Rock ‘n’ Roll. From the age of ten, I was a Rocker.
My next major discovery was Little Richard. I was besotted. Then my mate Hat had this Eddie Cochran album – The Memorial Album. I was knocked out by Something Else, Summertime Blues and Come On Everybody. I just loved that guitar sound!!
Screaming Jay was famous for developing his act as a Wild Man. He used to leap out of a coffin with big headdresses and skulls, sticks and feathers, bones and paint. The first person to do such a thing.
His other claim to fame was to have produced the first version of I’ll Put A Spell On You. His version was reputed to have sold a million copies but didn’t make the charts and wasn’t played on radio because it was considered too primitive and vulgar! Incredible for the mid-fifties.
My sort of man!
So today I’ll play some Screamin’ Jay!!
I’m heading back to the fifties and a bit of leather-clad Rock ‘n’ Roll. Gene Vincent along with the Blue Caps was one of the originals. He was wild. His antics on tour were renowned but it was the same sad story of alcohol gaining the upper hand.
Whenever I think of Gene these days I always think of Ian Dury’s Sweet Gene Vincent – he really captured him in a piece of poetry.
I love that early Gene Vincent and will be playing it this afternoon – real loud!!
Bo Diddley used to busk on the corner in McComb. One day a car drew up, a guy leaned out and said ‘Jump in, man. I’m gonna make you a star.’
Bo Diddley was a genius – a macho, struttin’ bluesman who took that shuffle beat and made it his own. He was instrumental in Rock ‘n’ Roll and every R&B band from the UK British Boom played Bo Diddley songs – From the Stones and Yardbirds to the Animals and Prettythings.
Bo Diddley rules.
I met him in 1981 when he played in Hull. We went backstage to get albums signed and I had my picture taken with him. What a moment. He was a very friendly guy.
So when we did our Blues Trail in Mississippi and Lousianna I had to visit McComb and stand on that corner where Bo Diddley had played!
Quite a thrill.
This was a bit of a last minute choice. My back was hurting and I thought I needed something with a bit of zing to raise my mood!
Larry Williams should have been a megastar. He’s as good as any of the other Rockers with a string of great rockin’ songs – Slow Down, Dizzy Miss Lizzie, Bony Mononie, Bad Boy, She Said Yeah and Short Fat Fannie.
He came out of New Orleans and was always in the shadow of Little Richard. It didn’t help that Larry became a bit of a gun totin’ gangster. He was pimping and selling drugs – a career that ended up with him being shot in the head (reported as suicide but open to debate).
Today I’m going to play my Larry Williams real loud!!