Rockabilly Queen
Linda Gail Lewis, Slip Jim Phantom Danny B Harvey
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Reviewed 10th January 2025 by Vince rocker wolf Eavis
Label: Cleopatra/Goldenlane
What a rockin good way to start the year, with this absolute banger from 3 of the greatest bloodline names in the rockabilly world, from original pioneering names, to the cream of the revival of rockabilly and onwards, you are in for a treat, ...Happy New Year...as said in the title section of artists, you are made, a trio that needs no introduction at all...so well renowned, ...but for the work of it and proof, in case you thought you mis read it...
we have the super band...
Linda Gail Lewis !! form Louisiana, now residing in Austin Texas, a big hit maker, fantastic singer, the piano pounding sister of the killer Jerry lee Lewis !!!,
from Brooklyn NY... the head KAT, from many a fantastic band including head cat, kat men,stray cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom !! and on the guitar another super talent from Texas, with many of bands and hit records behind him, and no stranger to the other members here Danny B Harvey!! also to keep that special sound then been produced and mixed by , you guessed it. DANNY B HARVEY. also accompanying on these tracks are Anne Marie Lewis on backin vocals, Luca Chiappara(7,10,11,12) and Djordje stijepvic (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9) track 3 also performing, Olivie Super on keyboard and Patrick Kojar.
Teaming up together and getting on to cleopatra records for getting this released from being recorded at Meta calf studios, Austin Texas and a few tunes at SUN STUDIOS MEMPHIS !!! (the sun Studio tracks will be indicated with asterisk /star *)
This is sure to be a knockout thriller... or if you will.... a KILLER!!!
so kats lets rock into this wonder gem with a track-by-track review.
1- Funnel Of Love - a classic well great rockin hit done by several bands over time a Wanda classic, with its own voodoo blues rockabilly feel, always great for attention grabbing, and here it just that but with more added oopmph, nice echo a catchy opening on drum to the wail of guitar , a distinct sound and character harmonized backing, brilliant effects on instruments grabbing effective vocal and tickling piano
2 Baby please don’t go, - a later hit by 'them' again another stonker of a hit by several over time, with its own catchy guitar and pulsing beat.... now taken on with its added magic touch, immerse yourself in their own effects, pitches and deep wild rhythm, haunting vivid vocals, direct power drums with brilliant hat and snare cymbals.
3- Fridays child - A fantastic record, a full on slows blues hit paced drums and delayed guitar, the varied sound range of vocal and some backin on the title section, tinkling away drum with deep heavy bass back a real deep emotional feel utter chilled rested back stand against the wooden pillar with your shades and your drink living that ultra blues feelin....
4 The Train Kept a Rollin - we all know Johnny Burnette power billy bopper, now and a blues edge and backin vocal ., and you get this electrifying bopper jiver to take you way, the driving drums and electrifying vocals and guitar rhythm, ponding Lewis piano and thrown in rebel yell.
5 Flipsville - we got a mix of the Wanda Jackson with Vince Taylor brand new caddy, deep bluesish rockabilly sharp edged rhythm , thumping drive of drums tickling Rollin pounding piano and wailing guitar riff feel like you’re on midnight hot rod racing to Fipsville
6- I Knew you Were Leaving - Written by L,G Lewis for her brother Jerry. now for a country blues deeper feeling of slower rhythm guitar with excellent fills, smoother emotional vocals, calm drums and fabulous cymbal end line.
7- Digging My Way Out of Hell (*)- back to traditional country rockabilly and the roots of Lewis, Perkins and cash. Picks up pace to a hill billy rockabilly glider, rolling piano with rockin paced drums, and rockin rhythm guitar classic bopper jiver feel . i think you may be redeemed from hell...although we are meant to be the devil’s music(?).
8- Eeny Meeny Miny Moe – Yet another not so known classic hit. now with a real rockabilly feel, fantastic jiver , rockabilly hits of boogie woogie and country , up-tempo piano , solid drum beat, ripping guitar solos. Into a collect slower ending.
9 - Bang Bang - oh here we go, a Fab U Lous rendition on Janis’s Martins crunching bopper, a fast paced bright up-tempo rockin bopper , mixer of high and lower pitch meeting together , Lindas own touch of boogie woogie, unusual for this number and the famous snare shots have their own identity,
10- Seven Long Years (*)- Now time for a calm but bright stroller with that country boogie, put on your Stetson and boots, Great guitar intro with a steady drum pattern, all very steady, the vocals are used on different dynamic levels and texture, from high pitch, loud down to a quieter. blending into instrument breaks and harmonizing.
11- Don’t Give Me No Lip (*)- a Lewis trademark piano intro, steady rocker, plenty of boogie piano and rhythm guitar leading to a short effective solo, and a ongoing drive from the drummer with a few snare and cymbal fills, vocals working with the piano,
12 - Boogie Woogie Throwdown (*) - so then kats, as the lady says , let’s throw it down, brilliant up-tempo beat. this is a rockabilly, piano pumping drum pounding whole lotta of rockin rhythm. Early Lewis style, very effective traditional guitar rhythm and riffs. get you dancing shoes for this floor ripper.
Summary
wow! ,well, what can we say....whole lotta greatness of rockin this town, with a triumphant line up , we are lucky, and thank you to them for making this album, it has all the elements of pure rockin rockabilly blues and country nostalgia , originality and revival, what would you expect in all reality....yea nothing less!!
get your copy while you can and keep hold of it, true musicians and true human kindness with this group as well, and to any collector this has also been released in deluxe cd edition with extras and even mor than this, it’s a limited collector vinyl pink pressing, each cover done as a real rockabilly cartoon art sketch with Linda on stage with audience and in side profile art sketch of each member...a real rockin gem !! alot to be played by myself and others and expect to hear in any and every rockabilly country and blues venue
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