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mac records

Bellhops (the)

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Bellhops (the) – A Nickel and a Dime

the Bellhops

MAC 133 [1991]
A Nickel and a Dime / Let’s Rock

Released in 1991, this is the debut single of the Bellhops. At the time of the recording, the band consisted of Frank Marquez on vocals and rhythm guitar (later known as Junior Marvel), Jeroen van Gasteren on bass, Marco Blonk on drums and guitarist exceptional Emilio Garcia.
A Nickle and a Time is a middle-paced blues number, with a superb Rockabilly touch added by the guitar. Conversely, Let’s Rock, which Garcia sings, is a frantic Rockabilly that takes no prisoners.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

bellhops

Junior Marvel

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Messin' around with Junior Marvel
Messin’ around with Junior Marvel

Junior Marvel – Messin’ Around With…

El Toro Records – ETCD 4090
Mess Around – Love My Baby – I’m Coming Home – Please Don’t Leave Me – All The Time -You Got A Heart Like A Rock – That’s The Stuff You Gotta Watch – This Is The Night – Marijuana Boogie – Cruisin’ – Right Now – Tiger Man – Blue Moon
Now going under the sole name of Junior Marvel the artist also known on his ID card as Frank Marques delivers a fine blend of Elvis influenced Rockabilly and Rock’n’Roll.
“Mess Around” sounds like an unissued take of the King circa 1956. Love My Baby owes more to Hayden Thompson than Junior parker and has a nod to “Mystery Train” with Junior yelling “All Aboard !”. The arrangement on Fats Domino’s Please Don’t Leave Me is quite close to the Johnny Burnette Trio’s alternate take with the growls but they add their own touch with one verse sung in Spanish and original guitar work. “All The Time” is probably one of my fave (if you’re interested to know), a true rockabilly tune which equals the best of Rip Carson and guitarist Roger Corneille adding some tasty Chuck Berry licks. “The Stuff You Gotta Watch” slows the pace a bit with a fine jazzy arrangement. Entirely sung in Spanish, Marijuana Boogie makes you regret he doesn’t do more in that style. As he doesn’t write much original stuff it could had more personality on some songs (This Is The Night). Cruisin’ sounds like a tribute to both Gene Vincent and Danny Gatton (remember his version with Robert Gordon on The Humbler?). Written by Marvel/Marquez the wild “Right Now” sounds like it could have been written 50 years ago. Classic stuff with good slap bass solo. The album ends with two songs associated to Elvis. “Tigerman” is played in a “Blue Moon Boys” formation which is unusual and good and “Blue Moon” ends the whole thing in beauty with just Frank and his guitar and the second verse sung in Spanish.
Maybe I’d have enjoyed more original material but there’s no reason to be a killjoy this is a more than enjoyable album.

Junior Marvel and his Hi-Flyers – Lies, Lies, Lies

MAC 138
Lies, Lies, Lies / Go Man Go
Previously known as the singer of the Bellhops, Frank Marquez carried on as Junior Marvel and His Flyer. The Hi-Flyers were Nils Becker on lead guitar, Maiko Firefeet on drums, Mr Mactenfield on double bass and JJ Slyk on rhythm guitar. There’s no date on the cover, but I think that it came out around 1996.
Side A is on the rural / Sun records side of the Rockabilly with excellent guitar work behind Junior Marvel’s superb and period-perfect voice, tremolos, and hiccups. The flip, penned by Slyk, is more vigorous, and one can hear the influence of Gene Vincent.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Jive Cats

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The Jive Cats – My Lovin’ Baby

MAC 107 [1977]
My Lovin’ Baby / Big Guy

I don’t know much about this Dutch band.The Jive Cats were two girls who sung in harmony. Both songs are penned by Norbert Balicki, aka Burt Allis. Maybe he also played some instruments on it, but I couldn’t find more info.
Anyway, this single is genuinely unique. It’s female Rockabilly at its finest. It’s short (the total time of both sides doesn’t exceed 2’20”) and goes straight to the point, though they never rush, and they manage to have two hot guitar solos on each side. The sound is raw and mainly acoustic, with just a light electric guitar.

the Jive Cats
The Jive Cats

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Streetbuckets (the)

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streetbuckets
streetbuckets

The Streetbuckets – Rollin’ Boppin’ Ballin’

Mac Records – MAC 130 [1989]
Rollin’ Boppin’ Ballin’ / City Slicker Blues

The Streebuckets were a Dutch Rockabilly quartet. They were Peter Dekker on vocals and slap bass, Simone on vocals and drums, Roel on acoustic guitar and William on lead and steel guitar.
They released two singles for the Belgian label Mac Records. The first one features an excellent and danceable piece of rural bop on side A. The flip is in the same vein and features a steel guitar. Both songs are from the pen of Dekker. The sound is mainly acoustic, with powerful slap bass, spare drums and just a light electric guitar. The nasal vocals – not dissimilar to Jeff Spencer of the Memphis Rockabilly Band – add a touch of authenticity.

The Streetbuckets – Liz Taylor

Mac Records – MAC 137
Liz Taylor – Honky Tonkin

The Streetbuckers returned with a second single in the same vein as the first and once again featuring two originals. Liz Taylor is an ode to the great actress and could be described as rural neo-rockabilly. The B-side kicks off with powerful slap bass. It’s more rustic and authentic and sees Simone, the drummer, taking the lead vocals.
Peter Dekker later joined the King Size Trio.

streetbuckets

Fred ”Virgil” Turgis

Belvederes (the)

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The Belvederes ‎– Come To Me Sweetheart

Mac Records ‎– M-127 [1987]
Come To Me Sweetheart / A Little Romance

I don’t know much about the Belvederes. I suppose they come from Germany and consist of two boys and two girls. Both songs are credited to Edgar Kemsies, so I guess he must have been one of the band members. To my knowledge, this single is the only legacy of the band, reaching a grand total of three minutes and thirty-four seconds. The Belvederes mixed Rock’n’roll and doo-wop for a result in the style of the Jets, the Keytones or Crazy Legs. Both sides are very pleasant but way too short and one can only regret they never released any other recordings.

Marvenells (the)

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marvenells

The Marvenells ‎– Hip Hop Baby

Mac Records ‎– 134 [1996]
Hip Hop Baby / All Day, All Night
Another German Rockabilly band. The Marvenells were Bernhard Ballweg on vocals and guitar, Thilo Pieper (Firebugs) on vocals and guitar, Ralf Becker on upright bass, and Michael Larisch on drums.
A side is a swingin’ Rockabilly with a hot double bass solo. All Day All Nite is more rural bop with nice vocal harmonies and nice pickin’ too.