Rebel Ted Rock - Teddyboy Express

Rebel Ted Rock - Teddyboy Express
Rebel Ted Records 2008 - TEDCD103

Track list: Rebel Ted Rock, Southbound Train, Gonna Be A Star, Oakie Boogie, The Gambler, Teddy Boy Rock'n'Roll, (Wait All Week Long Till It's) Friday Night Blues, Juke Joint Johnny, Wild Side Of Life, Bonie Moronie, Mean Rockin' Bopper, Rain, Rollin' Through The Night, Tongue Tied Jill

I don’t know a lot about Rebel Ted Rock, but I do know that I like them, with their unadulterated teddy boy sound. From what I can gather they are from Germany, whether that be Darmstadt, Hessen or Frankfurt. They consist of Michael Frick on guitar and vocals, Bojan Lutz on bass and Uwe Jung on drums, having come out of two German Ted bands, Rawhide and the Crusaders.

The trio are now a big name on the European circuit and this release can only enhance their reputation. Their sound is dynamic and they have real 70’s teddy boy sound along the lines of Crazy Cavan and the Wild Angels.

The album blasts into live with rebel Ted Rock, a battle cry that must bring the house down at their live shows. Their original songs all have the sound and the lyrics to encapsulate the life of a teddy boy, with it’s images of rockin’ all night.

Their covers are varied and for the most part work well. They give a nod to Cavan with a fine version of Gonna Be A Star and sound really good on Oakie Boogie which gathered a new lease of life during the rockabilly revival of the 70’s. The transformation of Wild Side of Life works really well, but Charlie Feathers’ Rain is let down by the vocals, which sound strained for the only time on the album.

A cracking album that will have teds old and new boppin’ in the streets. The title track in particular is hypnotic and I’ve found myself singing it for weeks now – always with a sneer and an Elvisy hick-up. Strange, but you’ll know what I mean when you hear it.