Various Artists – The Gene Vincent Connection – CD

Band: Various Artists

Label: Bear Family Records

Format: CD

Description

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Gene Vincent’s death
1‐CD Digipak with 36‐page booklet, 36 tracks. Total playing time c. 78 min.

Gene Vincent’s stage show, especially with the Blue Caps, was extremely energetic and simply sensational. While the band swept across the stage, Gene (handicapped in the leg by an accident) was “tied” to the microphone stand. His cat‐like movements around the mic stand and a song with just that title made him the ‘Cat Man’. This was further solidified when Gene began performing in black leather in 1960, copied from the British Vince Taylor, who is also represented here. Gene’s European presence through numerous tours explains why huge numbers of combos in Europe covered Gene Vincent’s music.

Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula
Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula remains Gene Vincent’s biggest hit, a rock’n’roll classic to be heard here in several different versions. Moreover, Vincent did record this song several times throughout his career. But Gene Vincent is much more than just ‘Mr. Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula’! This compilation proves this with original versions of songs Gene recorded later, such as Woman Love by Jimmy Johnson, Hadda Brooks’ Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back, or Milt Trenier’s I’m Gonna Catch Me A Rat. Gene Vincent himself has been covered extensively. We’ve compiled the most interesting versions here, including a rare live recording by Wee Willie Harris from Portuguese television in 1959 ‐ first time on CD. Also very nice are the two Steve Drexel recordings related to the movie ‘Hot Rod Gang’, starring Drexel and Gene Vincent.

Gene Vincent’s career is highlighted from the beginning (The Voices Race With The Devil) to 1961 (The Spotnicks I’m Going Home). The 36‐page color booklet includes the background story written by Bill Dahl, and lavish illustrations.
Gene lives!

Track listing:
01 Race With The Devil ‐ The Voices
02 Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula ‐ Max K. Lipscomb
03 Woman Love ‐ Jimmy Johnson
04 Up A Lazy River ‐ Bobby Darin
05 Peg O’ My Heart ‐ Jerry Vale
06 Bluejean Bop ‐ Rock‐Ragge & His Four Comets
07 Jump Back Honey, Jump Back ‐ Hadda Brooks
08 Blues Stay Away From Me ‐ Kay Starr
09 Who Slapped John ‐ Rock‐Ragge & His Four Comets
10 Double Talkin’ Baby ‐ Bobby Milano
11 Red Blue Jeans And A Ponytail ‐ Freddy Franks
12 Five Days, Five Days ‐ Vince Eager
13 Lotta Lovin’ ‐ Dean Hagopian & The Regals
14 Rollin’ Danny (Acetate) ‐ Max K. Lipscomb
15 Dance To The Bop ‐ Steve Drexel & The Cut‐Ups
16 Somebody Help Me ‐ Tommy & The Tom Toms
17 I Got A Baby ‐ Jack Roubik & The T‐J’s
18 Baby Blue ‐ Steve Drexel & The Cut‐Ups
19 Should I Ever Love Again ‐ Rusty Draper
20 Git It ‐ Terry Dean & The Rebels
21 Teenage Partner ‐ The Super‐Phonics
22 Five Feet Of Lovin’ ‐ Freddy Robinson
23 Rocky Road Blues ‐ Vince Taylor & The Playboys
24 Say Mama (live) ‐ Wee Willie Harris
25 Maybelline ‐ Johnny Rebb & His Rebels
26 High Blood Pressure ‐ Huey ‘Piano’ Smith & The Clowns
27 Anna Annabelle ‐ Les Chats Sauvages avec Dick Rivers
28 Pretty Little Pearly ‐ Terry Dene
29 Petite Sheila (She She Little Sheila) ‐ Les Chaussettes Noires
30 Big Fat Rock & Roll ‐ Gene Princeton (Gene Rambo)
31 Right Here On Earth ‐ Johnny Rebb & His Rebels
32 Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula ‐ Junior Shank & The Jesters
33 Gonna Catch Me A Rat ‐ Milton Trenier
34 It’s Been Nice ‐ Marty Wilde
35 Be‐Bop‐A‐Lula ‐ Les Chaussettes Noires
36 I’m Going Home (To See my Baby) ‐ The Spotnicks

GENRE: Rock N Roll/Rockabilly
BARCODE: 5397102176203