‘I Thoroughly enjoyed just about everything here’ by Blues & Rhythm

Norfolk, Virginia-born Vincent Eugene Craddock should need no introduction for the majority of readers – as Gene Vincent he recorded ‘Be Bop A Lula’ in 1956 and plenty of other rock’n’roll material for Capitol Records, though Gene has been redefined more as a rockabilly performer these days. This three CD set contains his first recordings, from ‘Race With The Devil’ onwards, meaning that not only are the well-known hits like ‘Bluejean Bop’ and ‘Dance To The Bop’ present, alongside frantic rockers such as ‘Gomma Back Up Baby’, ‘Jump Back, Honey, Jump Back’, ‘Hol Me, Hug Me, Rock Me’ and the collection closer, ‘Rocky Road Blues’, but also his interpretations of standards such as ‘Up A Lazy River’ and ‘Peg O’ My Heart’, witch do (incredibly) at least keep some elements of rockabilly. He also has a bluesy touch – try ‘Jumps Giggles And Shouts’ for an unlikely sounding example, the Bo Diddley influenced ‘Cat Man’, or ‘Pretty Pretty Baby’, and there is a Fats Domino influence descenible on his versions of ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’ and ‘By The Light Of The Silver Moon’. ‘I Love You’ and ‘Little Lover’ are successful attemps at a Buddy Holly flavoured approach. In general though, Gene’s vocal are often very similar to those of Elvis and there is a live version of ‘Hound Dog’ from August 1957 to underline the comparison ; ditto the presence of The Jordanaires on some tracks. Cliff Gallup plays excellent guitar on nearly every song on wich he appears – listen to him tear it up on ‘Cruisin’ – as later does Johnny Meeks. Eddie Cochran even turns up as a backing vocalist on some of the last titles here. All these sides predate Gene’s move the britain. As a callow youth, I do recall seeing him on television in the 60s ‘, when he seemed to be the quintessential rocker – but although I was only familiar with some of these numbers, I Thoroughly enjoyed just about everything here. Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM