Madhouse
FRAGILE LIKE A BOMB
WRECKIN’ BONES
+++
The members of Madhouse have all
played an important part in the
rock’n’roll and punk scenes in
Northern Ireland over the years, so
although this is effectively a debut
album it is delivered by some
well-seasoned musicians. While the
title track, Won’t Dance With Uncle
Sam and others offer a full-on
psychobilly assault, there are also
swaggering rockers like Messiah Of
The East and Dancing With Stupid
that refuse to be rushed. Covers of
These Boots Were Made For Walking
and Devil Gate Drive also make a
welcome appearance. CB
Bill Carter
COOL TOM CAT
BEAR FAMILY
+++
Twelve tracks from the Arkansas
rocker appear on this new 10", and
the enclosed bonus CD adds another
dozen belters. While Carter travelled
a twisted musical path over the
years, from country to gospel and all
roads in between, this collection
curates his rowdiest moments from
1954-61. A 12-page booklet delivers
much more detail on his solo career
and time as a member of The
Carolina Drifters. The country
influence features prominently, but
the title track and Baby Brother rock
furiously. Don’t be fooled by the hat,
Bill was one rockin’ cat! CBRamblin’ Ellie &
The Bashtones
FIND ANOTHER FOOL
EL TORO
+++
The tone of this album is so similar
to the lushly produced major studio
rock’n’roll of the late 50s and early
60s that we scoured the cover to
determine if this was a reissue or
a new release. The period detail of
Ramblin’ Ellie’s sound is stunningly
authentic on this long-player, which
presents 12 songs of lost love and
romance. With smooth doo-wop
backing vocals alongside Simone
Simonsson’s sweet and powerful
style, it contains enough rockin’
twang to appeal to the broken-
hearted teenager in us all. CB
Sam Cooke
KEEP MOVIN’ ON
ABKCO
++++
Making its debut on vinyl, this 180g
2LP set is a fine reissue of the 2001
23-track compilation that traces
Cooke’s development during the
final year of his life. After wresting
creative control from his record
label, the soul legend began
pushing the boundaries of his
sound, including the New Orleans
excursion Basin Street Blues, the
forceful Shake (later covered by Otis
Redding to fine effect) and poignant
The Riddle Song, where Cooke
processed the grief of losing his
infant son Vincent. An emotive and
wide-ranging selection. SHJackie Wilson
& Count Basie
MANUFACTURERS OF SOUL
DEMON
++++
A terrific simpatico match-up that
found Wilson teaming up with Basie
for jazzy reboots of contemporary
R&B and soul hits, this reissue of
the Brunswick original plays to
both of their strengths. Basie’s
arrangements add swing and
nuance to these covers and Wilson
is on belting form, from rollicking
takes on Stevie Wonder’s Uptight
and I Was Made To Love Her to Otis
Redding’s Respect. There’s also a
version of Bobbie Gentry’s Ode To
Billy Joe that equals the heart-
rending original. Steve HarnellTeddy And The Tigers
ROCK-A-BILLY REBEL
BLUELIGHT
+++
Bluelight follow their 2020 release of
Teddy And The Tigers’ debut album
with this equally well-packaged 10"
release, again appearing in a
gatefold sleeve with an additional
copy of their 7" Tribute To Buddy
Holly EP enclosed. This is the third
album from the Finnish rockin’
legends and it sees the band pursue
a heavier direction after spending
some time in London witnessing the
Ted revival at close quarters in 1978.
Clad in leather, the band abandoned
their teen idol image and delivered
14 all-out rockabilly blasts that still
pack a punch today. CBThe Earls Of Satan
TAKE ME DOWN TO HELL
TRASH WAX
++++
The Earls Of Satan are a titantic
two-man tag-team who play all the
instruments on these 12 original
tracks. It’s a big sound laid down on
both splatter and black vinyl. Their
trademark is a blend of psych,
psychobilly and sleazy frat rock,
packed with rockin’ bass, reverb-
soaked guitar and the occasional
swirl of organ. Highlighting specific
tracks is fairly redundant here as the
variety on offer is astounding, but
it’s safe to say that if you have
a taste for biker movies, go-go
dancers and gritty rock’n’roll you
won’t be disappointed. CBEva Eastwood
CANDY
DARROW ENTERTAINMENT
+++
Candy is the latest album in a long
career from Swedish singer-
songwriter Eva Eastwood, and
although previous releases have
tried to package her as some kind of
50s pop idol, her black-clad image
on this LP cover gives a far better
idea of what to expect – Eva’s
raunchy rock’n’roll vocals up in front
of a very tight band. The title track is
a powerful opener that leads to a
barrage of foot-stomping originals
that sometimes detour into country,
western swing and gospel. From
start to finish, it’s a relatively quick
ride but never a boring one. CBVinyl LP Reviews