Bill Crittenden and the Sweet Georgia Boys - Hard Luck Baby
Foot Tapping Records FT081
Track listing: RUNNIN' AROUND / HARD LUCK BABY / FOR THE HEART / I'M READY / JUST PLAIN LONESOME / LATCH ON / CRYIN' IN THE RAIN / LONELY HIGHWAY / MIDNIGHT SHIFT / YOU DONT KNOW / ALL I WANNA DO / HARD LUCK BABY #2 / A DAY IN THE LIFE OF COOL CAT CHUCK.
What a great release this is. Bill Crittenden of the Kingcats has teamed up with two of the hottest musicians on the UK scene for an album of rockabilly with more melody than thrash. Carlos & the Bandidos guitarist Malcolm Chapman is on fire throughout the album, with tasty licks that compliment the songs and Crittenden’s sweet vocals. Mick Wigfall who has graced Darrel Higham and Paul Ansell albums among others provides the bass and produced the album at his Sweet Georgia Brown studios – hence the bands name.
As I said, their sound is from the melodic end of the rockabilly spectrum, sort of like Go Cat Go or the afore-mentioned Paul Ansell. Looking at the line-up you would assume that a three-piece without drums would be playing nothing but slappin’ rockabilly circa 1955, but that’s not the case, they produce a full, well rounded sound.
The set is split between six originals and seven covers. Best of the originals are All I Wanna Do, Lonely Highway and the two versions of the title track Hard Luck Baby.
The covers are all strong with the early Cochran related numbers, I’m Ready and Latch On being spot on replicas with Chapman playing some nice Eddie guitar. Crittenden gives a superb vocal performance on the Bellfuries’ Just Plain Lonesome. Elvis 70’s number For The Heart is an inspired choice, changed from the King’s big ballad into a hopped up slap bass rocker. My two favourites though are the Billy Fury numbers, with You Don’t Know being a heartfelt tribute to the Sound of Fury ballad. The other, Runnin’ Around, the CD’s opener, is the best thing on the album. It’s a great choice and wonderfully performed. It’s up there with Porky’s One More Star in the Billy Fury tribute stakes. A great way to start a great album. I’d love to see them live.
Foot Tapping Records FT081
Track listing: RUNNIN' AROUND / HARD LUCK BABY / FOR THE HEART / I'M READY / JUST PLAIN LONESOME / LATCH ON / CRYIN' IN THE RAIN / LONELY HIGHWAY / MIDNIGHT SHIFT / YOU DONT KNOW / ALL I WANNA DO / HARD LUCK BABY #2 / A DAY IN THE LIFE OF COOL CAT CHUCK.
What a great release this is. Bill Crittenden of the Kingcats has teamed up with two of the hottest musicians on the UK scene for an album of rockabilly with more melody than thrash. Carlos & the Bandidos guitarist Malcolm Chapman is on fire throughout the album, with tasty licks that compliment the songs and Crittenden’s sweet vocals. Mick Wigfall who has graced Darrel Higham and Paul Ansell albums among others provides the bass and produced the album at his Sweet Georgia Brown studios – hence the bands name.
As I said, their sound is from the melodic end of the rockabilly spectrum, sort of like Go Cat Go or the afore-mentioned Paul Ansell. Looking at the line-up you would assume that a three-piece without drums would be playing nothing but slappin’ rockabilly circa 1955, but that’s not the case, they produce a full, well rounded sound.
The set is split between six originals and seven covers. Best of the originals are All I Wanna Do, Lonely Highway and the two versions of the title track Hard Luck Baby.
The covers are all strong with the early Cochran related numbers, I’m Ready and Latch On being spot on replicas with Chapman playing some nice Eddie guitar. Crittenden gives a superb vocal performance on the Bellfuries’ Just Plain Lonesome. Elvis 70’s number For The Heart is an inspired choice, changed from the King’s big ballad into a hopped up slap bass rocker. My two favourites though are the Billy Fury numbers, with You Don’t Know being a heartfelt tribute to the Sound of Fury ballad. The other, Runnin’ Around, the CD’s opener, is the best thing on the album. It’s a great choice and wonderfully performed. It’s up there with Porky’s One More Star in the Billy Fury tribute stakes. A great way to start a great album. I’d love to see them live.
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