Richard Hawley

Cracking record. There's quite a few songs that i'd loved to have witnessed being recorded on the day - 'BlueJean Bop's' one of them - and 'Cat Man'.

The thing that never ceases to amaze me is that they recorded live as a band at such a quiet volume - the drums on 'Cat Man' + 'Race With The Devil' are played with fucking brushes! - they were all playing to the level of Gene's voice + Brushes. No overdubs, no nothing. Yet they got that super intense feeling. I don't think many could get that same vibe these days. An album like 'Bluejean Bop' cut in a matter of days. Absolutely amazing - or is it a sad fact that the way folks worked back then was at a higher level of accomplishment than most of the shite peddled around now? They just went in and blam! Next song - blam! etc....

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http://www.myspace.com/stevebillybuckley

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Grady martin was in for those sessions apparently he heard Cliff gallup play and just went to the pub......according to legend

cat man is way ahead of its time a one chord/riff tune that fits around what the vocal does wirth the loud and quiet parts,its actually like an old John Lee Hooker blues in a way and sort of like a detective theme tune as well if you get what i mean?

new book out too

"Just a short note to tell you about a new book covering Gene Vincent short life in cartoon. The 70 page book is just out and is a great tribute to the "Screaming End" who left us in October 1971. The book is in French but can be easily understood by english readers. You can find it on Amazon or Virgin web sites. I promise you they don't give me any money for this plug. I just bought my copy for 13.50 Euros. The book cover Gene's whole life from childhood to his sad passing. If, like me, you miss Sweet Gene Vincent ... This book is for you!" - Dominique "Imperial" ANGLARES (France)

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now,then!

also Cliff Gallup has a myspace page?


http://www.myspace.com/cliffgallup1

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now,then!

What always amazes me about Cliff is that there are so few photos of him. I think that I've seen maybe 5 at most. Dickie Harrell (Blue Caps original drummer for the uninitiated) told me that Cliff played weekly right up until his death. It astounds me that you don't see more photos of him from his later years OR his brief time with Gene. Surely more than 1 or 2 group shots were shot in '56, right? Anyway.....I suppose it adds even more mystery.

RH, I was speaking to another Cliff fan last night. Blonde character who plays a bit of guitar hisself. Anyway, he is GREATLY looking forward to pints with you in London & Manchester.

I find it amazing that no film of Gene Vincent with Cliff exists - they went out on a U.S tour off the back of 'Be Bop A Lula' and did T.V shows - i've seen photos of the contracts. They even came to Europe - played in Paris.

Yet nothing survives. Well i'm sure it does somewhere, but has been lost. I have a feeling that because so much of this happened before the rose-tinted 1960's - Beatles, Zeppelin, Hendrix etc...then it's not given the time of day. I'm sure film of Cliff exists somewhere - Gene's first record was a huge smash in the U.S - but it's from the '50's and it's just not deemed as important or financially lucrative enough to warrant a search. Just a theory.

I've actually got a live recording of Gene with Cliff Gallup from a U.S radio show - they do 'Be Bop A Lula' and a ramshackle version of 'Hound Dog' - it's recorded very dry - no reverb and no slap back echo.

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Hey Sir,
The Gallup-ed Blue Caps played Paris?! I had no idea. I can't imagine Cliff getting on a plane for a gig.

I've heard that 'Hound Dog' recording. Why did so many great rockers from the 50s have to perform that song on U.S. TV? I saw an TERRIBLE clip of Johnny Burnette & the Rock and Roll Trio doing that song a few weeks ago. Neither the Trio or the Blue Caps were connected to that song, yet they both got saddled into playing it. Must have been the TV producers' request.

Gene & the Bluecaps played one date at the Paris Olympia.

I've seen the Burnette clip - his records sounded so good because he was using the Nashville 'A' team (Grady Martin, Buddy Harman and Bob Moore) on them - live, it was with Burlison and Dorsey Burnette and it sounds pretty nasty. It's good that Grady et al... are getting more credit these days - until his death a few years ago, Burlison was taking credit for Grady's guitar work. A bit cheeky really.......


I'm planning on getting an original '55/'56 Gretsch Duo Jet this year. I don't really get the chance to play rockabilly these days, but I just can't shake off the impact Cliff had on me.

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Yeah, I'm familiar with the Martin/Burlison situation. One listen to that Burnette clip we're talking about makes it clear that Paul didnae play on the classic Trio tracks. That Hound Dog take is sloppier that the floor of a Memphis hamburger joint.

Just had a search - I can't find any reference to the 1956 Paris gig! - I had (and lost) the book 'the day the world turned blue' by Britt Haggarty and i'm almost certain that it was mentioned......?

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Twang is, as Twang does.

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[quote="Sir-Twangalot"] - I had (and lost) the book 'the day the world turned blue' by Britt Haggarty quote]


This sounds a really interesting book........................got to find it Sir-Twangalot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Tommy for that info on 'ROSE OF LOVE'........................I cannot stop listening to it...............kind of haunting me!!

Had a poke through my book mountain and can't find that at the minute but will report back in the next couple of days.

Re-reading The Day The World Turned Blue and no Paris 56 gig. A brainstorm - they're allowed

I always thought it odd for them to do a one off in Paris and not come to England or wherever. I can't think how I came to believing that - I know Gene played at the Paris Olympia but I must have misinterpreted something along the line......


Thanks for the info anyway - I think I lent my copy to someone about 15 years ago. I'll try and get hold of it again.

_________________
Twang is, as Twang does.

http://www.myspace.com/stevebillybuckley

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Quality place to start for the Gene tracks - I'm off there now cheers.

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