Virgil

Janis Martin

Janis Martin – The Blanco Session

Cow Island Music – CIM020
As Long As I’m Movin – Wham Bam Jam – Long White Cadillac – Wild One – It’ll Be Me – Sweet Dreams – Find Out What’s Happening – I Believe What You Say – Roll Around Rockin’ – Oh Lonesome Me – Walks Softly On This Heart Of Mine

janis martin

After years of hard labor, Rosie Flores finally managed to take Janis Martin back to a recording studio to cut new material. Martin and Flores already recorded together when Flores invited her to sing two songs on her Rockabilly Filly album. Thus, in just two days in April 2007, she found herself at Dennis Challman’s Rancho Relaxo studio in Blanco, Texas, with a cast of stellar musicians from Austin. These included Dave Biller (Biller & Wakefield, Wayne Hancock, Dale Watson), Sarah Brown (The Memphis Rockabilly Band), T Bonta (Horton Brothers, Cornel Hurd Band, and many more), Beau Sample (Cave Catt Sammy), Jonathan Doyle (Four Charms). Together, they recorded eleven tracks co-produced by Bobby Trimble. This album could have been – or should have been – Martin’s comeback album; sadly, the singer succumbed to cancer at age 67 shortly after the sessions.
Anyone lucky enough to see Martin on stage in the years preceding her passing can attest that she had aged wonderfully. Those recent recordings had nothing to envy to her 50s sides. In that she is comparable to Ronnie Dawson. Her voice had gained a deeper tone. The recorded material covered various styles, from blues to country, rhythm’n’blues to rock’n’roll, with plenty of rockabilly in between.The passing of such a great artist was an incomparable loss, but courtesy of the tireless effort of Miss Flores, we have this album, which is the best way to remember her, doing what she did best among musicians who loved her.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Scum Boys

Scum Boys – Vamp Attack

Rumble Records – RUMBCD008 [1991]
Coming Home – Natives Of Europe – Torro – Mystery Train – Scum Boys – Rock’N’Roll Vagabonds – Tattoo – Get A Sense – Vamp Attack – Menhir’s Rock – Josephina – Hoppela

scum Boys

The Scum Boys were a Franco-German group formed in the second half of the 1980s. The original lineup consisted of Markus Sansa on guitar and vocals, Marc Dirringer on double bass, and Peter Ziegenhorm on drums. They released their first 45 rpm record in 1988. The lineup changed with Damien Heitz becoming the new drummer and Frank Ziegenhorm joining on rhythm guitar. This quartet recorded “Vamp Attack” for Rumble Records in February and March 1991.
Even though “Vamp Attack” is an enjoyable album with some great moments, it sometimes struggles to impress thoroughly. The band delivers a solid dose of classic Psychobilly, from the relatively mellow “Tattoo” to the wild “Vamp Attack.” What stands out is the band’s inclination to push boundaries by incorporating songs with changing rhythms and a developed melodic aspect. The band’s best work emerges when they break free from traditional constraints. An example of this is “Mystery Train,” an original composition by the band (and not the Elvis-popularized Junior Parker cover) with a syncopated rhythm that flirts with New Wave. Additionally, The Scum Boys offer excellent instrumentals that complement the collection, such as the Spanish-tinged “Torro.”
Unfortunately, despite these qualities, the result is only partially satisfactory. The group lacks a producer, and the overall sound is somewhat weak and not always well-balanced. Furthermore, an outside perspective could have guided them, particularly in advising them to shorten certain songs that drag on, lessening their impact.

The Radioactive Kid

Francine

Francine – Shake My Bones

My Way WAY 1203 [1989]
Shake My Bones – Sweet Lovin / Little Girl of Mine – Alley of Sorrow

francine

Francine was formed in 1987 with Pete Salomaa on bass, Mika Jokinen on vocals and guitar, and Esa Nurminen on drums. The name of this Finnish band was inspired by the song “Francine” by ZZ Top. After recording a demo, Tude Usvalla joined the band on drums in 1989. Jari Paksuben completed the lineup when he joined Francine on rhythm guitar, and Mika switched from electric to double bass.

The band quickly gained recognition and was offered a contract by My Way Records. This led to the recording of their debut EP, which was released in the fall of 1989.

The title track is a fantastic Neo-Rockabilly song reminiscent of Stray Cats and Polecats with modern touches similar to Long Tall Texans. “Sweet Lovin’” is a softer, more melodic, and almost acoustic track with a swinging rhythm and a jazzy touch. “Little Girl Of Mine” may be less original, but the punchy double bass and jerky rhythm will please fans of the genre. The EP concludes with “Alley Of Sorrow,” a superb Jazzy Rockabilly track that can be likened to “The Best Way To Jive” by the Wild Ones and “The Midnight Special” by the Nitros.

Official website.

Fred ”Virgil” Turgis

Dixons (the)

The Dixons – Still Your Fool

Cow Island Music CIM010 [2008]
Please Don’t Stop Loving Me – Come And Get It – Still Your Fool – Lonesome Side Of Me – Broken Hearted, Lovesick And Blue – Talk Of The Town – Just Say You’ll Be Mine – Thanks A Lot – I’ve Got A New Heartache – Baby Please Don’t Go – Barely Hangin’ On

the dixons

It’s a little bit surprising to find a Honky Tonk / Bakersfield band coming from Brooklyn. Still, The Dixons ((Paul Greenhaw on drums, Joey Covington on bass, Fiddle, Luke Cissell on fiddle and piano, Chris Hartway on lead guitar, Gerald Menke on pedal steel guitar, and Jeff Mowrer on lead vocals and acoustic guitar) prove that a good country record has nothing to do with geography. This quintet gathered all the elements you’re right to expect from such a record: tons of pedal steel, good vocals, twangy telecaster, guest fiddle, and solid songwriting with tales of loves gone by and broken hearts. Lead singer Jeffrey Mowrer wrote eight of the eleven tracks here, the remaining three being from the catalog of Ray Price (I’ve Got A New Heartache), Ernest Tubb (Thanks A Lot), and Eric Kinsey and his Tip Top Daddies (Just Say You’ll Be Mine).
While drawing influence from past masters such as Buck Owens, Ray Price, George Jones, and Harlan Howard, The Dixons are not simply a retro band. They infuse their music with a fresh and contemporary sound, much like The Derailers, The Wagoneers, and Dwight Yoakam did before them.

Available on Spotify.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Javes (the)

the Javes

Javes (the) – Beat Crazy

Remmi Demmi RD24 203295 [2024]
Right Now – Nero Rising – Somebody Answer – Home No More – Guardian Angel (From Hell) – Sixteen Tons – Soldier In The Night – Where Danger Lives – T.V. Quarrel – 77 Sunset Strip – Stranger Than Paradise – Jivin’ With My Baby

the Javes Beat Crazy

After almost four decades since their excellent and noteworthy first EP, TV Quarrel, the Javes are making a triumphant return.

At first glance, we might fear seeing a group reunite after so many years, even if they have stayed active in the Rock’n’Roll scene, notably with 45 RPM. Fans are torn between the joy of reuniting with old friends and the apprehension of seeing if they have aged well and not become old dorks (just kidding…).

The doubts vanish with Right Now, the first track of this highly successful album. The sound is impactful, and the carefully crafted production excellently showcases the musicians’ work. Throughout the eight new tracks, they maintain this high level of quality. The Javes chose a brief and cohesive album that eliminates any unnecessary or filler material.
Since their debut EP, the sound has become more intense, and the guitars are more aggressive. Also, the structures evolved into more complex things and melodies. The lively Neo-Rockabilly of the mid-1980s has been replaced by a darker, sometimes menacing modern Rockabilly, as evidenced by their outstanding and highly original cover of 16 Tons. At no point does the trio attempt to make us believe that we are in 1985. While their music is influenced and even codified, The Javes aim to create music for their time. In this aspect, they can be compared to recent albums by Brian Setzer (Gotta Have The Rumble or The Devil Always Collects) or Restless, one of the group’s influences at the time. Like Setzer and Restless, the German group achieves its goal by avoiding the trap of nostalgia.

When certain groups in the rock ‘n’ roll scene seem stuck in traditional ways, it would be a shame to overlook this album. The Javes, with their innovative approach, have given the genre a new twist, keeping it relevant and lively for our times. But that’s not all – this disc offers the best of both worlds. Torsten and his two bandmates had the excellent idea of including four bonus TV Quarrel tracks.

The Javes’ homepage

Javes (the) – TV Quarrel

Razzle Dazzle Records – RAZ 811101 [1985]
TV Quarrel – 77 Sunset Strip – Stranger than Paradise – Jivin’ with my baby

Javes tv quarrel

The Javes were a German trio formed by Torsten Langner on guitar and vocals, Jürgen Berger on double bass and Oliver Hartmann on drums. They released this ep with four original songs in late 1985 / early 1986.

The title track is pure neo-rockabilly in the style of Restless’ first album. Very good guitar, solid double bass and drums and screams. Both 77 Sunset Strip and Stranger than Paradise border on early Psychobilly. If you want to pursue the comparison with Restless, let’s say those two tracks would be more at their place on Do You Feel rather than Why Don’t You Just Rock. Despite what I can say, don’t believe this guys were copycats, it’s just to give you an idea of the sound.

The last track is Jivin’ With My Baby which has a superb jazz feel to it with brushed snare drum and appropriate jazz chords.

Maybe the production is a bit thin at place and a fuller sound would have been better (especially when you know that they recorded some démos for Northwood later that year with Boz Boorer.) But that’s just one minor flaw (so minor you can’t even call it a flaw.)

Both Jurgen and Torsten later joined 45rpm.

Javes

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Sandy and the Wild Wombats

Sandy and the Wild Wombats – The Girl Can’t Help It

Jazztank – TANK 15102 [2015]
The Train Kept A-Rollin’ – Wild One (Real One Child) – Casting My Spell – The Girl Can’t Help It – Have Love Will Travel – Sleepwalk – Drivin’ My Life Away – Riot In Cell Block #9 – Please Don’t Touch – Hoy Hoy – Got A Lot o’livia’ to Do – The Ballroom Blitz

Sandy and the Wild Wombats

Sandy and the Wild Wombats are a German combo led by Sandy, a young girl with a sandpaper voice reminiscent of Wanda Jackson and Kick ’em Jenny. The Wild Wombats consists of Mark Twang on guitar, Marvell Storm on double bass, and Matty Stroke on drums.
This album features only covers, but the band’s renditions of those songs are pretty personal. Although I typically prefer bands that perform their original songs, it’s not a major issue in this case.
Additionally, Sandy and the Wild Wombats benefit from a strong rhythm section and an exceptional guitar player who has developed a unique style blending 1950s guitarists with influences from 1960s bands like the Sonics and the Pirates (and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s also a fan of Paul Fenech). When combined, this mix is quite explosive.
The set mostly features wild rockabilly, but it also includes slower songs, a country-tinged number, and rockabilly renditions of glam rock, offering something for everyone.

The album was later reissued on vinyl by Bear Family with an extra track, an excellent cover of the Guana Batz‘s Electra Glide In Blue.

Fred ”Virgil” Turgis

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