Customer Reviews

Mugzy's Move + Barflies on the Beach

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

as a huge swing fan who owns cds from brian setzer, cherry poppin' daddies, indigo swing, and big bad voodoo daddy as well as royal crown revue, i can honestly say that this one's my favorite. great mondello is the only track that i consistently skip. and, royal crown revue ROCKS in concert. i saw them in cincy at a club and they raged! my dad has not stopped talking about the concert since. also recommended: indigo swing. but if you like swing, and haven't bought this rcr cd yet, buy it. it's well worth the price.

This may be the best neo-swing album that came out in the '90s. The Royal Crown Revue had the songs, the musicianship, the charismatic frontman in Eddie Nichols, and were a great live band. All they didn't have was the success they truly deserved as they were the best neo-swing band period.

Mugzy's Move is their masterpiece. They perform both faster dance pieces and slower, more traditional swing with equal aplomb. Some of the faster tracks such as "Hey Pachuco!", "Park's Place" and "Mugzy's Move" are absolutely killer. The slower swing tracks like "Datin' With No Dough", "Honey Child", and "I Love The Life I Live" feel as though they're straight out of a 1930's movie. Their cover of "Beyond The Sea" is great as well. The playing is simply fantastic, particularly the horn section and drummer Danny Glass. Other strong tracks include "Zip Gun Bop", "Barflies At The Beach" and the instrumental "Topsy." I'd highly recommend this album to fans who like the more popular, but not nearly as talented bands of this genre like Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Brian Setzer Orchestra.

It's a shame that Royal Crown Revue never got more credit for the Neo-Swing explosion of the mid-90's. While the Cherry Popping Daddys, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Bryan Setzer Orchestra put Swing on the charts, Mugzy's Move perfectly captures the gritty essence of the time frame better than any other CD. As a personal testament to the flavor of this album my Dad, a true zoot-suit hepcat in WWII era, loves when I play this CD because it takes him back to his heyday.
The visually impressive lyrics of Eddie Nichols, rich horn section and tight drum work of Daniel Glass pound out a hot collection of tunes with a swagger that proves Swing is more than a fashion, it's a way of life.

Established in 1989, Royal Crown Revue launched a swing revival that's still going strong and has spawned a host of imitators, from former Stray Cats singer Brian Setzer to the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. But Royal Crown Revue still rules the roost, with entries such as Walk on Fire (1999) and Greetings from Hollywood (2004). Whether you call it the bookish-sounding "neo-swing" or use the moniker supplied by front man singer Eddie Nichols--"hard-boiled swing"--you'll need a chaser after downing this powerful cocktail of swing laced with jive and rockabilly.

The accomplished sextet behind Nichols includes saxophonists Mando Dorame (tenor) and Bill Ungerman (barry), and trumpeter Scott Steen, backed by a rhythm section sharper than a stiletto: James Achor on guitar, Vinny Lepisto on bass, and drummer Daniel Glass. Nichols is, as they used to say, one hep cat: his voice brings to mind both Louies (Jordan and Prima), and the band's work reminds you of the "crime jazz" soundtracks of Elmer Bernstein and Henry Mancini. Listen to this one while reading Mickey Spillane's Kiss Me, Deadly and downing straight shots of Canadian Club.

Their signature tunes "Zip Gun Bop" and "Hey Pachuco!" are already standards in their own right. Their lightning-quick, be-bopping "Park's Place" brings back the best of Dizzy and Bird's jam sessions. Damn! These guys play tight! On "Beyond the Sea," Nichols out-swings and out-swoons Bobby Darin. "Barflies at the Beach"--a send-up of Louis Prima's version of "Sing, Sing, Sing"--closes this outing with a politically incorrect ditty about the delights of eating Charlie the Tuna...with a fin of Flipper thrown in for good measure. Yeah, man!

RCR is by far my favorite of the neo swing movement. Eddie Nichols voice is comparable to Frank Sinatra. Mugzy's Move was the first cd I'd heard by these guys and it is great. Topsy is my fave; it's this great instumental. I also highly reccomend Caught in the Act, The Contender and Walk on Fire. You won't be disappointed.

Another good time swing and boogie woogie group. Listening to this CD you know these guys like to have fun. I've got a few favorites; "I Love The Life I Live", and the Bobby Darin classic "Beyond The Sea", "Datin' With No Dough" a funny little number that alot of guys could relate to, "Topsy" a good instrumental pretty close to Cozy Cole's original arrangement, "Honey Child" I found myself singing this one in the shower, and a tune called "Barflies On The Beach" which is really the music to "Sing Sing Sing" by Benny Goodman but the story told over the music is pretty funny. Check this out for some good time music.

Royal Crown Revue is by far the best swing revival band that is out there. The songs on this disc range from fast dancing tracks to mellow lounge jazz, all of which stay true to swing and club music of the 30's and 40's. Buy this CD if you want to hear some great toe-tapping jazz. My favorites include "Zip Gun Bop", "The Walking Blues" and their cover of "Beyond the Sea"

"Hey Pachucho" and "Zip Gun Bop" are already classics."Datin' With No Dough" was realeased on various compilations too, "Beyond The Sea" is a beautiful cover. With a jazzy feel and beautiful arrangements. This is a swinging masterpiece! Probably the best retro swing album ever!
...and Somewhere Louis Jordan is smilin'...

WOW! is all I had to say after I started listening to this album. It is the perfect mix of 30's and 40's style swing with the 90's pumping urgency. Mugzy's Move starts out with high energy and eventually mellows into some cool sounds. I would be hard press to pick between this album and the Swinging Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddys. They are both excellent swingin' disk!

Or swing with a sting, that's how I'd describe the Royal Crown Revue. I'd always thought that Squirrel Nut Zippers started the swing revival til someone set me straight. Royal Crown Revue's "Mugzy" is all on the level of the Zipper's "H#ll." (Sorry, Amazon edits out the epithets)

I imagine this would make a good remake soundtrack for movies based on Raymond Chandler's novels. "Zip Gun Bop" even has the cop siren running in the background at the first. Plus, of course, there's the offer for a man to try on a pair of cement shoes and 'walk on water.'

"The Rise and Fall of the Great Mondello" has the feel of the old daredevil circuses. You can almost see the performer falling...

"Beyond the Sea" just blows poor Bobby Darin out of the water. (Pardon the bad pun!)

"Dating with No Dough" is also one of those upbeat, funny hard-luck stories. You've got to laugh, because most of us have been there.

Really no bad songs here. "Mugzy" is one of those CDs you can put on when you need to get moving or cheer up and count on having something good to hear.