Boss Black Instrumentals Vol 1. “Rinky Dink” & Vol 2. “Zeen Beat”
- johnaalex
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
Title: Kojo Mojo Presents Boss Black Instrumentals Vol 1. “Rinky Dink” & Vol 2. “Zeen Beat”
Band: Various artists
Released: 2025
Serials: KM-CD-105/ KM-CD-106
Label: Koko Mojo Records (Broken Silence)
Genre: 1950s Rhythm ‘n’ Blues and Blues
Produced by: Various
Mastering: The Studio That Time Forgot, El Paso, Texas
Artwork: Retrograph/Sven Uhrmann
Reviewed by: A. D. Stranik
So, ladles and jelly-spoons, we’re not doing the track-by-track thing on this occasion, as there is a lot to get through, and only the terminally masochistic among you (and there are always a few) would be willing to subject themselves to such a marathon. I mean, who’s got the time, right?
So, let’s dispense with the entire gymnasium and concentrate on the heavy hitters…
In the blue corner, we have "Rinky Dink" leading with impressive uppercuts such as Ike Turner, Little Walter, and Elmore James. Lightning-jabs of fat guitars, raw harps, and raucous saxes are all delivered with Marciano-scale sass and swagger.
Biff!
And in the red corner we have the appropriately named “Zeen Beat”, bringing body-blows aplenty with the likes of Earl Palmer, Memphis Slim and The Upsetters (not to be confused with Bob Marley’s outfit from outta Kingston, Jamaica, y’noh!). Maybe it’s a little early to tell, but I detect a little more ‘Sugar Ray Robinson’ style sophistication with this particular onslaught.
Pow!
It’s a tough tournament with spills, thrills and trombone trills! But in the end, let’s have the two title tracks from each album battle it out for the final verdict…
Cootie Williams’ “Rinky Dink” (track 16) could almost be an alternative take for Gene Vincent’s ‘Wildcat’ backing track. Swinging saxes with some New Orleans trumpets fluttering over proceedings. It’s a pleaser, but I have to say, there are bigger guns in the “Rinky Dink” arsenal.
So for me – with its wall of jungle drums, cranked-up Buddy Holly guitar and sheer unusualness –Gene Redd and the Globe Trotters’ “Zeen Beat” (track 22) is the audacious standout track from either album.
So, folks, the decision has to go to… “Zeen Beat” on points!
Summary
Now… instrumentals usually fall into three categories: you’ve got your carefully crafted, ear-catching melodies (see the Shadows, any number of Surf-scorchers, soundtracks, etc.) designed to inveigle their way into your cerebral hard drive, never to be deleted. Then there’s your jam sessions with a signature riff and a general agreement as to where all the musicians are expected to end up, and, finally, the ‘we couldn’t be asked to write any lyrics, but here’s the backing track’ category.
Luckily, none from this veritable torrent of fifty-two tracks falls into the latter group, with most falling into the second. For the most part, these tunes fall comfortably into the big band category; most employ an inevitable 12-bar blues structure; some go off-piste and into almost Be-Bop jazz territory, but ALL of them rock like a biblical stoning – very much in keeping with Koko Mojo’s ‘killer no filler’ philosophy.
You wanna get your party started? Look no further. The heavyweight one-two combination of “Rinky Dink” and “Zeen Beat” will fulfil all your dancefloor desires.
Track listing - Vol 1. “Rinky Dink”
1 Malibu - Bob Reed and His Band
2 Flying Saucer - Little Walter
3 Scatty Cat - Bobby Bunny and The Jackrabbits
4 Cockroach Run - Lafayette Thomas
5 Boogie Beat - Levi Seabury
6 Wild Fire - Piano Red
7 2 Point 8 - Red Prysock
8 Johnnys Houseparty Part 1- Johnny Heartsman
9 Johnnys Houseparty Part 2 - Johnny Heartsman
10 Strollin' With Nolen - Jimmy Nolen
11 Destination Mars - Frosty and The Diamonds
12 Elmore's Contribution to Jazz - Elmore James
13 Rock-A-Bucket - Ike Turner
14 Country Boogie - Preston Love
15 Mr. Bumps - Edgar Blanchard
16 Rinky Dink - Cootie Williams
17 Side-Track - Googie René
18 Seaweed - Freddie Mitchell
19 Big Boys Bounce - Big Boy Groves
20 The Big Wheel - Clifton Chenier
21 Lester's Stomp - Lazy Lester
22 7:11 - Gone All Stars
23 The Midnight Creeper Part 1 - The Johnny Otis Orchestra
24 Shuckin’ - Joe Houston
25 Get Up and Go - Al Smith
26 Walkin’ With Mr. Lee - Lee Allen
Track listing - Vol 2. “Zeen Beat”
1 Wiggle Tail Parts 1 & 2 – Googie René
2 Cool And Crazy – Nick and The Jaguars
3 Ho Ho – Icky Renrut
4 Jam up Twist – Tommy Ridgley
5 Drum Village Part 1 – Earl Palmer
6 Drum Village Part 2 – Earl Palmer
7 Slim's Thing – Memphis Slim
8 Big Guitar – Irving Ashby
9 Knocked Out – The Gondoliers
10 Rock Alley Lefty Bates
11 Wolf Call – Earl Washington
12 Harmonica Rock – Little Boyd
13 Geechi – Jesse Price
14 Pacoima Stomp – The Carter Brothers
15 Midnight Jump – Walter J. Westbrook
16 The Strip – The Upsetters
17 Hot Cross Buns – Paul Gayten
18 The Big Push – Cal Green
19 Leaps and Bounds – Bill Doggett
20 Let It Roll Part 1 – Cliff Davis and the Turbo-Jets
21 Let It Roll Part 2 – Cliff Davis and the Turbo-Jets
22 Zeen Beat – Gene Redd
23 Frisco – Louis Brooks
24 Steppin' Out Memphis Slim
25 Tadpole Wiggle – The Stone Crushers
26 Flippin' – René Hall
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