Search - Brian Setzer :: Rockabilly Riot 1: A Tribute to Sun Records

"Suprisingly Authentic Record From Neo-Billy Kingpin Setzer!

DJ Del Villarreal | Detroit, MI USA | 06/17/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Who've thought that one of the most authentic rockabilly albums in recent years would come from the former STRAY CATS front man and neo-swing pioneer Brian Setzer? Not this DJ! Mr. Setzer has always been an accomplished and talented guitarist/singer, kind of like our "rockabilly ambassador" to the outside mainstream world, but in recent years you'd be hard pressed to find many of his songs on rockabilly playlists around our retro-rockin' scene. Not that any of his post-Cats material was pedestrian -far from that. It's just that his slick, effortless and oft-times `overproduced' studio sound seemed a bit out of sync with the more "traditional" sounds emanating from the modern rockabilly revival.



Now, I can't help but admit that I've dug the Stray Cats since day one -you might even say that they were an early, unseen hand nudging me towards this retro rockin' lifestyle. "Rockabilly Riot! Volume One: A Tribute To SUN Records" brings Brian full circle back to those early inspirations as he headed back to the hills -the Tennessee hills actually, to record a heartfelt, sparse and authentic paean to those artists and the songs of Sam Phillips little/big studio on Union Avenue in Memphis. Using just piano, sax and acoustic guitar (when necessary) to augment the traditional "SUN" rockabilly sound (electric guitar, standup bass and simple drums), Brian has not only created a near perfect rockabilly primer, but also a heartfelt testament to the quality and timeless brilliance of SUN Records. His commitment to the album's concept was even carried over to the equipment used: strictly vintage mics and reverb/echo created by an old 1800's era water cistern found behind the house! This is a superb record that you wouldn't mind handing to a stranger or friend who wants to know what all this "rockabilly" fuss was about.



Generous quantity of material here -23 tracks! Great selection of straightforward standards and brilliant obscure-o-billy nuggets: you can't have a SUN tribute without BILL RILEY'S "Red Hot" & "Flying Saucer Rock And Roll," CARL PERKINS "Blue Suede Shoes" or JOHNNY CASH's "Get Rhythm." But what makes this album really rev right are all the rarely heard numbers like ROY ORBISON's "Rockhouse," "JACK EARL's "Slow Down," JERRY LEE LEWIS's "Real Wild Child," DEAN BEARD's "Rakin' And Scrapin'"," KENNY PARCHMAN's unissued "Get It Off Your Mind," and TOMMY BLAKE's "Flatfoot Sam" -all performed with wild abandon and informed flair by some of the best musicians in Nashville.



STAND-OUT HOT ROD TUNE: Dig the rowdy rollin' and rockin' "Peroxide Blonde In A Hopped Up Model Ford," unissued '57 track by SUN alum "Jumpin'" GENE SIMMONS. One of the coolest hot rod tracks ever, finally completed & committed to tape with a powerful `jived up' overhaul. That's Mr. Simmons himself on backup vocals and heard muttering at the end: "Think about it, killer!"



"Rockabilly Riot!" has lots of comfortable SUN covers, but also plenty of powerful surprises hidden deep under the hood. This is the album we all knew that Mr. Setzer could make if he ever got back to his roots. Now let's see if he leaves them Hollywood hills to tour in support of this rockabilly gem...!



-Del Villarreal, MOTORBILLY RADIO, del@motorbilly.com"

Rockin' Right

J. Strandberg | Portland, Oregon | 08/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brian Setzer has always excelled when he kept things simple. If your toes aren't tapping and your hands drummin' on the steering wheel (or desk, table, whatever) then you must be dead. This is Setzer at his finest and every song is gem."