THE HOT ROCKS21/07/2008
Quite surprising for many American fans of country and rockabilly to find them counterpart in France but more strange it’s to find also good 50’s rockin’ bands who can handle Hot Rocks and Boppin’ Billies.
THE HOT ROCKS – “ROCKABILLY SAUCE” MADE IN FRANCEQuite surprising for many American fans of country and rockabilly to find them counterpart in France but more strange it’s to find also good 50’s rockin’ bands who can handle Hot Rocks and Boppin’ Billies. From the “Rock and Roll Gang” in the 70’s to Jerry Dixie in the 80’s, there were a lot of good bands that supplied backing on stage for American performers or tried them hands to tiny European records labels. Through the years and with the coming of original recordings/performers in Europe, a lot of young French bands tried to emulate the sound of The Burnette Brothers or Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps. For years, most of these bands played covers of “all time rock’n’roll” songs not being able to challenge on stage that classic stuff with them own compositions. But times are changing and many European bands/singers are now able to bring on stage them own songs and to have them cut on records labels like “Goofin’” and “Tail” (Sweden) or “El Toro” (Spain). There’s two new labels coming from France who offer some opportunities to the local scene and you can’t miss them. First it’s “Crazy Time Music” (www.crazytimesmusic.com) with the great Al Willis and The New Swingsters CD “Got some rockin’ to do” who bring 8 new songs with covers of Mac Wiseman or Marty Robbins songs. We hope that first try could be a winner for that tiny label located in the southern part of France. Second label to look for is “Sfax” records (sfaxrock@club-internet.fr) that produced in 2006 The Hot Rocks “Rockabilly Sauce” CD. That three guys band had a long career backing American performers like Marvin Rainwater or Charlie Gracie in France. They will be the backing band for Texas rockabilly master Gene Summers on Autun (France) in October 2008. Them guitarist Alexis Mazzoleni also shared stage with James Burton and Scotty Moore, both guitar living legends. They also backed on stage or in studio French performers like Ricky Norton or Jerry Dixie. The band got review on “Jamboree” (Italia), “Boppin’ Around” (Netherland), Rock’n’Roll Musikmagazin (Deutchland) or Rockabilly Magazine (Japan) and they are currently touring in Columbia bringing them Rockabilly Sauce to Carthagene, Medelin, Bogota or Cali. But let get back to that spicy record who mix original compositions with vintage 50’s songs. Alexis Mazzoleni (vcl/gtr) share the composer credits and the vocal work with Francis Gomez (vcl/bs fiddle) while Red Denis took care of the shouts and drums kit. All those songs were recorded in 2005 and 2006 but sound like being done 50 years ago.
That record open on them own composition “Boogie Woogie All The Night” who bop fine followed by a great rendition of “All By Myself” done in the pure Johnny Burnette R’n’R Trio style. The guitar work of Alexis is real close to the Grady Martin original and here you’re back on Nashville’s studio B just like in 1956. “Somebody’s Fool” is the first song sang by Alexis and that one could have find its place on any 50’s records produced on “Starday” or “D”. Great slap bass and strong vocal. Next song, “Love Me”, is a pure wonder. First recorded in 1955, for “Chess”, by Jimmy Lee Fautheree and Wayne Walker that song is one of the wildest pre-rockabilly recordings ever cut. Believe me that’s not easy to handle Jimmy Lee’s Telecaster licks and here you can’t cheat with the listener. A great vocal duet and a highlight in that CD. “Bop Bop Baby Bop” is a medium paced rocker followed by “Get Out Of This House” a real tongue in cheek attempt. Quite a challenge for those French cats! Next song will bring us back in Memphis with the classic Junior Thompson’s “Mama’s Little Baby” originally on “Meteor”. Superb work with amazing sound and great guitar work. That song is followed by four original songs and among them “Geronimo’s Rock” is the winner. That song could pack the hardwood floor with his tom-tom Indian beat just like does “Geronimo Stomp” (Barry Darvell) or “Cherokee Boogie” (Moon Mullican). Next cover is “Baby Won’t You Come Out Tonight” first cut by Buddy Holly in 1956. Not easy for Alexis to handle Buddy’s vocal gimmicks, guitar picking and to find again that very special Norman Petty’s studio echo sound. The bass and drums work fit perfectly on that cut. Nice to find here “East Of Mississippi”, a little know song recorded by Eddie Fontaine for “Decca” in 1957, and “Big Date”, a Tommy Sands’s original. The CD end on “Rockabilly Fever”, an Alexis’s composition, and close with Billy Lee Riley’s all-time classic “Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll”. Not easy to duplicate the wild “Sun” sound of the Little Green Men as cut in December 1956. Billy’s band was one of the wildest then and that’s quite a challenge to try to match with those aliens. Let me know after listening that CD than those Mars invaders can fly back and let “The Hot Rock” handle the Rock & Roll beat on earth! They would do that right with them French accent and Rockabilly sauce.
You can have that record at sfaxrock@club-internet.fr and contact them at the.hot.rocks@free.fr or check them web site at http://the.hot.rocks.free.fr
Dominique “Imperial” ANGLARES
www.soundofthefifties.org
Sujet: THE HOT ROCKS – “ROCKABILLY SAUCE” MADE IN FRANCE