Reviews September 2025
BIG BLACK CHEVROLET & CREPES N DRAPES
‘CHEVROLET’
(Trophy)
A nine-track 10” red vinyl release on Western Star’s ‘Trophy’ reissue imprint. This features seven tracks by Big Black Chevrolet and two by Crepes ‘N’ Drapes both of whom featured some of the same members fronted by Paul Chappell and are of the ‘Teddy Boy Rock n Roll’ branch of the rock n roll scene popular in the 1970’s and early 1980’s from whence these tracks are taken. Big Black Chevrolet were formed from the ashes of Crepes N Drapes and taken from the title of one of the latter’s tracks here. As if often to the case, though it’s all down to personal taste, the more experienced a band get, the grit is polished away, ‘Bogie Bop Dame’ and ‘Big Black Chevrolet’ really are urgent dangerous and unique sounding slabs of rock n roll. Set alongside the other seven tracks, while those would fill any Teddy Boy dancefloor, those are the standouts, maybe why they are put on last, the way you often think a support band is great until you hear the headliners, though these are still nice cracking tracks on an album any fan of the Teddy Boy rock n roll genre should be snapping up.
Simon Nott
NIKI SULLIVAN
‘YOU BETTER GET A MOVE ON!’
(Bear Family)
Niki Sullivan, unless you are an avid Buddy Holly fan you may be wondering ‘who?’ This 12 track 10” vinyl limited edition of 500 copies puts things straight. Niki was a founding member of the original Crickets, he’s the tall skinny bespectacled one that’s not Buddy Holly, he’ on the classics, ‘Oh Boy’ ‘Not Fade Away’ ‘Rave On’ etc, he’s not on ‘Peggy Sue’ because he had another important job on that recording, buy the LP and read the sleeve notes to find out what. This album contains, almost, all the solo recorded work of Niki from 1958 and 1959 mostly previously unheard anywhere and the ultra rare 1965 released as Soul Inc leaving listeners in no doubt as to the creative rock n roll talent Niki Sullivan was, influential too, not just with his work with The Crickets but also his promo picture pose copied by Elvis Costello for his 1977 album ‘My Aim Is True’ though to my eyes copied by Niki from Chuck Berry’s appearance on ‘Rock Rock Rock’, trivia and musically a magnificent tribute to an unsung hero of rock n roll.
Simon Nott
VARIOUS ARTISTS
‘STOP MUCKIN’ ABOUT!’
(Trophy)
This is another 10” vinyl album taken with material taken from the Joe Meek ‘Tea Chest Tapes’ of which such a wealth of music is being unearthed. The 10 tracks contained here are firmly in the novelty vein so popular at the time. They are an interesting social documents, the artists are certainly having fun with Joe Meek seemingly happy to keep the tape running recording material that would have been impossible to get airplay for back in the staid old 1960’s. No surprise then that tracks like Geoff Goddard’s ‘Should I Go Or Stay’ is being released for the first time here, demo versions have been circulating previously but evidently the project got as far as a full band recording issued here. The title track where an amorous Dave Adams is getting frustrated as his advances are rejected is an alternative version while Alan Klein’s brace of contributions are hilarious which come with some excellent sleeve note delivered anecdotes. There are some real rarities contained in the grooves of this vinyl another invaluable piece in the jigsaw of the career that was Joe Meek’s.
Simon Nott
JENNY DON’T & THE SPURS
‘LIVE AT THE JENNY’
(Jenny Lind)
Recorded on 23rd February 2025 at the Jenny Lind in Hastings this is Portland Oregon’s Jenny Don’t & The Spurs recorded live in all their glory at what is becoming a legendary venue, not least because of these live recordings, this being the third in the series of ‘Live At The Jenny’ albums. Whilst aesthetically looking like a country band they are of the rocking variety with twang, thump and attitude a plenty, a combination that sounded like it went down well with those in attendance. There are 13 tracks here, all uptempo stomp with Western swagger and in the case of songs like ‘Three Or Four Nights’ rockabilly bounce, their studio albums are drenched in guitar echo which is replicated here, evidently a band that revel in their live performances which based on the evidence based here has been honed to perfection, this is a live album that’s an excellent addition to their discography and your collection.
Simon Nott.
ELVIS PRESLEY
‘DOWN IN THE ALLEY’
(Memphis Recording Service)
This is a recording of the first night show at the Las Vegas Hilton on 19th August 1974, there are 21 tracks including interaction with the crowd and band introductions. According to the excellent sleeve notes this set list was a bit of an experiment and one that wasn’t to be repeated so what we have here is a unique recording. Listening 51 years on it’s hard to hear why some of these tracks apparently didn’t go down well with an audience so latterly ditched from the set. This was the only time Elvis ever performed the title track ‘Down In The Alley’ and ‘Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues’ live. To my ears his stomping version of ‘My Baby Left Me’ sounds amazing, but was also dropped astonishingly only to be performed live twice thereafter. It’s fascinating to hear Elvis basically trying stuff out to the first night audience who appeared to have heavily influenced the show going forward. Once again with 51 years of hindsight and virtually every recorded Elvis performance now cherished, this is a fascinating and eminently enjoyable listen maybe the fans with fresh memories of the King now just 20 years into his career back then didn’t want album tracks just the hits.
Simon Nott
TAV FALCO
‘DESIRE ON ICE’
(Org)
Close your eyes and listen to this and you’ll inhale dusty crushed velvet, cigarette smoke and champagne cocktails. Tav Falco is in melodramatic mode, though you could quite easily believe that these lyrics are autobiographical such is the aura and aural atmosphere around the man. The lyrics are delivered in little more than spoken word style with female vocals caressing his voice fluffed to full attention with musical accompaniment by a plethora of legends of the rock n roll and blues scenes, Boz Boorer, Rev Horton Heat, Congo Powers, Chris Spedding and the list goes on. This has all the trappings of a movie soundtrack, a film noir adventure where daylight is never seen as Tav navigates his way from seedy nightspot to boudoir and back again in a jazz, blues restrained rockabilly tinged mash-up, it’s compulsive listening and a highly recommended shot of escapism.
Simon Nott
THE STINGRAYS
‘STAND BY FOR ACTION’
(Western Star)
As with everything released on this label The Stingrays, sit down psychobilly fans, not that band, were recorded and produced by Alan Wilson at the Western Star studio. There’d be no better man for the job that Joe Meek disciple Wilson as these guys are evidently steeped in that Holloway Road era of the pre-swinging 60’s British rock n roll. The Stingrays in various guises have been favourites on the live scene for a while but according to the sleeve notes written by John Leyton no less, this is their debut album. Most of the 14 tracks the trio have laid down here are covers of songs from the era using vintage instruments of the era and I’m assuming Alan Wilson’s Joe Meek recording kit. If early 60’s British rock n roll authenticity was the aim then they’ve hit the bullseye, the vocalist Mark has to pull out all the stops on some of these which adds to the charm in many ways as does the where needed swirling Hammond organ and Clavioline to accentuate the feel.
Simon Nott
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