Virgil

The Jaguars

The Jaguars - Rock With the Jaguars

The Jaguars – Rock With the Jaguars

Koko Mojo Records – KM-EP-113
The Jaguars – Rock It Davy Rock It – The Jaguars – The City Zoo (Baby Baby Baby) / The Jaguars with Patty Ross – The Big Bear – Chavez and Chaney – Picadilly Rose

The Jaguars - Rock With the Jaguars

The Jaguars were a vocal group consisting of Herman Chaney (lead), Valeric Poliuto (tenor), Manuel Chavez (baritone) and Charles Middleton (bass). Before being the Jaguars, they went under the name of The Shadows and after that, The Miracles. One of their particularity was to be one of the first interracial bands featuring Hispanic, Afro-American and white (from Italian origins) members.
They performed doo-wop with a strong Rhythm’n’blues feel. Both Rock It, Davy, Rock It and The City Zoo are solid and enjoyable tunes. The band also provided backing vocals for Patty Ross (daughter of big-band trumpeter Bob Ross) on The Big Bear. Finally, in 1959, Chavez and Chaney recorded under the name of Frankie & Johnny for Sabrina and by 1960, under the name Chavez & Chaney (though later reissued as Frankie & Johnny by Liberty). Piccadilly Rose is from that session and is a solid twangy rocker.

Fred “Virgil“ Turgis

Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo

rockin' bonnie

Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo – Keepin’ The Reins Slack

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

Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo

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.

Rockin’ Bonnie Western Bound Combo  – Loud and Proud

El Toro [2016]
Loud and Proud – There AIn’t Better Time – Once More – Don’t Worry

Rockin’Bonnie Western Bound Combo
Rockin’Bonnie Western Bound Combo

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

Ella Johnson

Ella Johnson - Bring It Home!

Ella Johnson – Bring It Home!

El Toro ET15141
What a Day! – No More Love / They Don’t Want me to Rock No More – Bring It Home to Me

Ella Johnson - Bring It Home!

The great Ella Johnson, who recorded with her brother Buddy falls right on that blurry line between Rhythm’n’Blues and Jazz with a dose of Rock’n’Roll. The singer possesses a beautiful voice, very clean yet expressive. The tight arrangements remind those of the Big Band era, and there’s plenty of room for soloists to express themselves (superb rocking sax part on They Don’t Want Me to Rock No More). You’ll love this EP if you dig Dinah Washington and Ella Mae Morse.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches – S/T

KIX 4 U Records – KIX 4 U 3353 [1990]
I’ve Got No Time – Running Wild – Bad – Is This Love – Heartbeat – New Parts – What You Want Is What You Get – True Love/Divine – The Boogie Man – Let’s Go – Sex Craze – Cadillac Lies – Here I Go Again – Square

Sons Of The Yompin’ Cockroaches

Sons of the Yompin’ Cockroaches was formed by Ronald Van Oudheusden on bass, Franklin Bergman on drums and Ronnie “Roteb” Huisman on guitar. The group played with an electric bass, giving them a much more compact sound (also more in tune than most other groups) and a more solid base.
Even if their only album contains a good dose of Psychobilly, superbly crafted moreover, the group exceeds the strict limits of the genre. Thus, alongside tracks capable of competing with the best tracks of the genre (True Love/Divine; or the melodic Running Wild), we can hear influences ranging from Garage (Here I Go Again)to Hillbilly (New Parts) and even a Pogues-sounding tune with accordion (Square). Others, like Cadillac Lies, sound more traditional rock with an 80s touch.
The songs are all original compositions and are very neat. The production is very well done, and the group knows its business. We can only regret that this first attempt remained without follow-up.

The Dry Tortugas

The Dry Tortugas

Up & down – Unbothered – Slidin’

The Dry Tortugas

The Dry Tortugas are a relatively young band formed during the pandemic. But if the band is young, the musicians are seasoned veterans. Tom the singer used to sing in the Roughnecks, and Felix (drums) and Marc (guitar) were in Lota Red. The younger element is Robin, Tom’s son, on bass.
The band plays Neo-rockabilly with heavy inspiration from the 80s and the early 90s though more modern ingredients crept in here and there.
Up and Down is an up-tempo number, very danceable. Unbothered is quite melodic and has a slight western feel to it. Sliding is heavier and leans toward Psychobilly (and by Psychobilly, I mean that distorted and mean offspring of Rockabilly, not the heavy-metal-influenced stuff). As you can see, these guys cover a wide range of genres. Tom’s voice is perfect and brings a touch of softness even on the wildest stuff, while the rest of the band does a solid job backing him. I hope to hear them on long-distance soon.

The Dry Tortugas on facebook.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Teen Queens

The Teen Queens – Sovereigns of the jukeBox

Koko Mojo Records – KM-EP 115
Let’s Kiss – Just Goofed / Baby Mine – Zig Zag

The Teen Queens - Sovereigns of the jukeBox

The Teen Queens were from Los Angeles and were formed by Betty and Rose Collins. Their brother, who co-wrote their songs, was none other than Aaron Collins of the Cadets and the Jacks. The two sisters had a hit with Eddie My Love when they were still teenagers (respectively 16 and 14) but failed to find success again, and by their majority, they were almost forgotten and considered has-beens. In 1968, Rose died of an overdose, followed three years later by her sister.
Nevertheless, even if success eluded them, they managed to record some good tunes that KokoMojo assembled for this neat EP. The result is four rhythm’n’blues/teen rockers sung in harmonies by the two sisters. Maxwell Davis’ arrangements are pretty good. One will note the hot sax solo on Zig Zag and a scorching guitar part on Let’s Kiss.

Available here.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

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