Memphis Lee and the Creepers.
Gonna Do It My Way
released February 2024
Released, California Zephyr Records
Very koool stylish album cover with black background and colourful big lettering in a block Vegas font. MEMPHIS LEE in yellow, red, blue and white writing and underlining it, the CREEPER in bold red font, then the track list in front of you to catch your eye. Creeping in there next to the writing is a large bust image of the man himself, Memphis Lee, and underneath in a row the bust of each band member (get to those creepers in a bit), all this with added retro looking blocks around it. the back of it has the same catchy lettering with the track list down the side and next to images of the recording studio with a little write up about 'em,
inside sleeve ...now real kool, the image I’d say for the record company, a locomotive with its suave passengers an records around the corners, alongside an snazzy Vegas looking glitzy lee and creepers done in wavey writing lit up and stars in red and white...looking as good as it sounds.
so it was released about 6 months ago and with a 45 record from the album has just been released on FTM Records by Mark Phillips. Great tunes from there
The studio that recorded most of the album was at Retro Rose Studios produced by Lee Bramwell ...well done Memphis and Pat Rayford, the sax man!!!
now to the band,
The two songs Gonna DO IT My Way and Man She's a Rocker was recorded in Alan Mayers Home Studio and mixed and mastered by Lee Bramwell and Alan, come to him in a bit to! The two tracks are written by Warren Earl a friend of theirs from Australia. And these are the 45 Release Picks. The album was recorded on analogue tape to give it the real deal treatment. gota keep it real Rockin the authentic way.
now, to the kool crazy rockin Band members
Lee Bramwell -Rhythm Guitar/ Lead vox
Mark Morganbangin - Drums
Alan Mayers - Slap(in) that Bass
Rob Davies, Lead Guitar
Julian Tucker and Pat Rayford - Sax
Charlie Wilson - piano (tickling the ivory’s )
wow white a line up, give em some space on that stage...
Now to the toons,
1 Gonna do it my way (Warren Earl, Bramwell)
The title track kickin us off with a strong jiver, intro guitars, get the Chuck Berry feelin immediately, good rhythm drum beat and joining piano and having the great instrument play off to each other on bridge in the breaks and backin subtle sax, with their over paced breaks and a little drum roll fade out.
2 Midnight Flyer (White-Mosley)
Nice stroller to get started, drum steady with little bridges an pacing bass bringing on calm vox, with harmonizing, nice chilled sax breaks an tinkling piano, and gradual phase out,
3, She’s My Lovin Baby,(Evan John)
joining another great jiver or stroller, sure to get you goin. steady drum pattern, little break of Rollin drums and cymbals, backin sax and very jumpin piano tinkling, guitar bridges and real kool drum cymbals fade out.
4, Miami,(Clifton)
hallo again stepin up sax to drum , lets stroll ...all the way to Miami on this catchy track with vox an harmony carrying each other , such a great sax and guitar together and the vox smooth
5,Just Because,(Robbin/Shelton)
Sax openin to this superb jiver , the classic rendition of a brill classic of the king amongst others, sure to get you up n spinnin, fab drum beat carrying a section deep bass line backed with the easy piano and guitar blending in... what an cover!!! drum sax endin it
6 Small Town Girl (Davis)
come on cats lets have another stroll keep ya goin , drum sax opener straight to the vox makin a direct sound on his steady goin tune, couple of sax breaks and more jumpin vox at the end, not such a small time sound.
7 Man she’s a Rocker (Earle)
so, here’s a semi Haley, Bloater feelin start, great jive beat an wild sax breaks with crazy drum sections rollin em on, with real honky tonkin ivory ticklin. she sure is a rocker.
8, Hot Rod Queen ( Earl)
Now here we go, a more rockabilly bopper track good ole original sound drum and bass and wailin guitar. complete with boppin breaks and gallup ish guitar responses and licks, and piano break to match, this WILL have you BOPPIN, ... DEFINATLY QUEEN OF THE HOT ROD... with really rockabilly vox
9, Thorn In My Side (Davies)
Staggered start Reddy to stroll on again responsive play off with the drums, thumpin back bass and piano carryin line, very direct vox and classic sax break, and finish strong vox.... no thorns in there apart from the 1 in the shape vox
10, Ellie May (Mayors)
Yeah, let’s get Jivin again, good strong snare cymbal rhythm, quick sax movement, heavy bass line, with great guitar drivin it home, and then a sharp cut off. Don’t see or hear that much in today’s bands.
11, Somewhere Down the Line (Taylor)
Got a Ray Charles kinda feel. stroller workin together with bass line steppin along backin piano. strong vox and a echo slightness guitar givin this a bluesy rockabilly feel with its drum pulsing.
12, fool about you (Williams)
And so to the end of this great rockin mix with another classic covers not covered as much either. You get slow boppin, jivin or strollin on this album givin you a classic rockabilly feel together with all the bands tradition of snare with slappin bass ,raw sax an guitar howlin....NO FOOLS HERE.
Summery
so kats n kitten, well what can we say, a brilliany mix of r'n'b , rockabilly, rockin blues , slight swing feel an more. a lot of essence of chuck berry and a hint of Charlie Feathers plus Gene an Eddie, a good piece to have in the colletion and keep as a timeless sound a play over again,covering the moods of rockin, Another great band to be played anywhere by most DJs an Radio stations. I know i will be playin it...
Vince Rocker Eavie (DJ Rockin Wolf www.rockabillyradio.net )
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