ROCK-A-BILLY RIDES AGAIN
HANK MIZELL’S high chart placing has taken many people by surprise, although it was forecast by this page several weeks ago.
His ‘Jungle Rock’ has been selling at the rate of 20,000 copies in just London and the South-East alone!
The record meant nothing in the States when first issued on King in about 1959, and it only really came to attention when included on a Starday Nashville compilation LP called ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’, about four years ago.
It then appeared on a Dutch bootleg LP, this time two years ago, at which stage demand began to build for it via the Rock ‘n’ Roll disco circuit — where it was ideal for dancing the Bop.
Around the end of 1974 a British counterfeit copy of the King single became widely available and sold like crazy for £1.50, prompting at least three record companies to try. for the legitimate UK rights. Charly Records automatically acquired these through their catalogue deal with Shelby Singleton, current owner of King as well as Starday and Sun.
Prior to its issue by Charly, ‘Jungle Rock’ had become one of the most played records on Capital Radio’s ‘Cruising’ show, first being used two years ago on the London commercial station’s oldies programme. DJ Roger Scott was thus well disposed to it when it finally came out here, but even so was amazed when it went on to win his ‘People’s Choice’ vote – and then to maintain a consistently high daily placing in his ‘Hitline’ phone-in feature.
The success of this relatively obscure Rock-a-Billy rarity has now naturally inspired other record companies to satisfy the previously unheeded demands of the Teddy Boy fraternity.
MCA are rushing out Don Woody’s ‘Barking Up The Wrong Tree‘ / ‘Cast Iron Arm’, President are pressing Chan Romero’s ‘Hippy Hippy Shake‘ / ‘My Little Lucy’, and Charly themselves are readying Warren Smith’s ‘Pink Cadillac And A Black Moustache‘. Chiswick (one of the earlier bidders for Hank Mizell) already have Vince Taylor’s ‘Brand New Cadillac‘ (available through Lightning, London, and Selectadisc, Nottingham), and also still available are Jerry Byrne’s ‘Lights Out‘ (Speciality) and Johnny Kidd’s ‘Shakin’ All Over’ (EMI).
New Spins
SPARKS: ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ (Island WP 6282)
Treated as a quaveringly sung full-blown emotional ballad, the Beatles’ old bubble-gummer is now worthy of Shirley Bassey and screamingly funny. Alternatively, it’s like Smokey Robinson with a head cold! Good short-term MoR.
PETER FRAMPTON: ‘Show Me The Way’ (A&M AMS 7218)
Out here already, here’s the Face of ’76 bending his guitar via a Talkbox connected with his mouth, thus producing an immediately grabbing sound that makes this happy toe-tapper a pure delight.
BAD COMPANY: ‘Run With The Pack’ (Island WIP 6263)
Title track of their album, it’s a medium paced thunker that drags through some slow bits which prevent it from being a total disco delight. Continue reading “March 27, 1976: Sparks, Peter Frampton, Bad Company, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Brass Construction”
James Hamilton's Disco Page 