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 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