Boptown Rock - Yann O’Fender
Available on digital platforms, CD & Vinyl from Yann O’Fender via Facebook page & at gigs.
Released 01/11/2024.
Record Label- Yann O’Fender
Recorded- At home in Yann’s own studio.
Reviewed by Terry Mead 22 /01/2025.
Yann Gourmelon aka Yann O’Fender from France latest album ‘Boptown Rock’ contains 14 written original self-penned tracks with help on a few from his wife Kylie Marie Gourmelon. Special guest on 2 tracks playing saxophone is Jens Runesson from Sweden known as the bass player in The Black Knights. The genre is predominately European Teddy Boy Rock n Roll with a touch of Rockabilly & British Rock n Roll thrown in.
Musicians playing on album:
Yann O’Fender- Vocals, Guitars, drums & bass.
Saxophone – Jens Runesson tracks 1 &14.
Track by track Review.
Boptown Rock- So, kicking off with the title track which magnitudes the driving beat of the European Rockin’ scene featuring Jens Runesson on saxophone with a couple of mellow sounding breaks midway. Yann tells us through the lyrics about going to the ‘Boptown Rock’ with energetic bopping fortitude leaving you wanting more awesome opener.
You Done Me Wrong-Slower mid-tempo track which I feel has a Gene Vincent influence running through it perfect jiver and some neat guitar breaks.
Rock My Blues Away-Acoustic intro before breaking into a ripper with a pounding drumbeat, another fine tune with cool sounding vocals.
Untame My Heart-Love the guitar riff on this one with corresponding echo which produces a deep sounding production with tantalising lyrics.
Cuttin' the Rug – Cavan influence portraited on this one, high octane pulsing beat with a 1970s style rockin’ tune.
March-on, Mariann! -Live crowd sound intro & end to this instrumental adapted with traits of the ‘British Grenadiers” done Rock n Roll style with the early 60s British instrumental influence.
Bye Bye Mr Cool- A heartfelt tribute to the coolest guy on the rockin’ scene Cavan Grogan with Yann reflecting on Cavan style vocals backed by a Rhythm Rockers beat. It’s a masterpiece that will be played time again at live gigs showing that the legend will always be remembered.
Dodgem Saturday Night-Crowd intro at the fairground leads us into a prolific story about reliving the fairground on a Saturday night with a catchy beat.
Wonders of Love- Another driving paced number that jumps right out at you with some cool sounding vocals from Yann.
I've Never-Lively tune that reminisces on true love and promises, some neat guitar work and flowing lyrics.
Bop Fight-That’s what the title says, and everyone is bopping till they drop the lyrics tell us, hard driving song portrayed in the beat and side clicking on the drums.
Summer Dreams Summer Nights- Acoustic intro to this laid-back tune describing those dreamy summer nights. Its soothing and somewhat characteristic to the early 60s sound.
Long Weary Road-Back to the European beat with the Cavan influence again running through and some high-pitched whistling for good measure.
Time for Goodbyes- Jens Runesson is back on sax for this the last tune on the album and it’s certainly a high-class number to end with, plenty of energy that has been significant throughout the tracks
So, to Summarise a well composed album with plenty of variants in the tracks, Yann’s many influences have played a part here some more than others which come across in both the music and vocals. Highly recommended for the Teddy Boy rockin’ scene and newcomers to the music.
Links to Social Media :
Track List:
1.Boptown Rock
2.You Done Me Wrong
3.Rock My Blues Away
4.Untame My Heart
5.Cuttin' the Rug
6.March-on, Marianne !
7.Bye Bye Mr Cool
8.Dodgem Saturday Night
9.Wonders of Love
10.I've Never
11.Bop Fight
12.Summer Dreams Summer Nights
13.Long Weary Road
14.Time for Goodbyes
Band Bio ( in Yann’s own words)
Born and raised into a rockin’ family, it is fair to say that Yann O’Fender was brought up on Rock n roll music.
From the age of 6, he asked his parents to be taken to gigs. His parents played with bands, organised events and would travel through France, England and Germany to attend gigs. Those years shaped Yann’s tastes and influences, his big love being that good ol’ teddy boy rock n roll. At 8, he decided to learn the drums, then at 15, he learned bass and couple of years later, the guitar. He joined his parents’ band Long Black Jackets at 15 on bass, and later on, became their drummer up to this day.
At 19, Yann moved to England and joined the band Furious as their drummer. He played with the band for couple of years and recorded with them on their first album. He contributed with 3 of his own songs “Carry on”, “For You (my angel)” and “We are the Teds”.
In 2010, Yann decided to focus on his writing, and formed his own band playing guitar and singing, highly influenced by Crazy Cavan, Flying Saucers, Whirlwind, Riot Rockers, Black Knights and C.S.A.. It was the start of CorrupTed. The aim was to bring many songs from European Ted bands to England. After moving back to France, CorrupTed had a line-up change and have toured most of Europe, including backing many other artists of the revival era. One of Yann’s highlights was to tour Japan backed by the Crazy Teds.
As a musician, Yann has played for many other artists, whether on drums, guitar or bass : Sandy Ford, Lou Cifer and the hellions, Riot Rockers, Stingrays, Andy Williams .....and backed with his band artists such as Cliff Edmonds, Johnny Red, Rip Masters, Levi Dexter, Steve Riot ....
Yann has recorded a few albums through the years, 3 of them being solo works with a lot of self-penned songs, the last one “Ted Cool” under the name Yann O’Fender met many great reviews and contains only original tracks. If we should describe his music, it is a mix of Teddy Boy Rock n roll, a drop of 50s Rockabilly/ rock n roll, and a bit of British Rock n roll.
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