Customer Reviews

Rockabilly Riot 1: A Tribute to Sun Records

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I really hope he puts out one of these per year. Brian has managed to take the authentic sound and energy of mid 50s rockabilly and record it with totally modern sound quality. Unlike his offerings with Stray Cats and 68 CBS, this cd has no modern rock or punk edge to it. This really does sound like it could have been recorded in 1954. But the one thing that has always bothered me about music recorded back then is the tinny, flat sound that even the best remasters tend to have. But here we have the best of both worlds; Authentic, heartfelt rockabilly in big booming 3-D sound. Take this home, crank it to '11' and try try not to smile and tap your foot. I dare you.

For this 23-song collection of Sun Records tracks from 1954-57 (both big hits and obscurities), Brian Setzer put the big band orchestra aside and stripped things down to just himself, drummer Bernie Dresel, bassist Mark Winchester, and piano player Kevin McKendree. The results are pure magic. Setzer captures the nuances of rockabilly, yet still manages to put his own unique stamp on the proceedings. Recorded and mastered in just three weeks, Setzer has created one of the most enduring albums of his career and sure to satisfy old Stray Cats fans who were waiting for him to return to his rockabilly roots. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Rockabilly Riot, Volume One, is a fresh, respectful interpretation of Sun gems with subtle, tasteful variations. The result is a fun, catchy, rockin' CD. Setzer could have easily hopped these up with his blistering guitar work, but instead he just shines them up a little, revs them up a bit, and says "look what these cats did." A true artist knows when less is more. Don't get me wrong, these tracks are different from the originals. Just makes you think he could have written them all. When are the next volumes coming out?

It has been some time since I have heard music with such excitement. This is a great tribute to one of the Greatest Labels in Music, "Sun". Lock your doors, turn it up and get ready to hear the "Original Rock and Roll" now called "Rockabilly, the way it was. It is unfortunate that Artists like, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich, Elvis, Johnny Cash are no longer with us, but I am sure they would enjoy it. The piano work on "Put your Cat Clothes on" is excellent. Remember the original had a very young "Jerry Lee Lewis" as the studio player. Thanks Brian for taking me back, I am looking forward to Volume 2. Don't forget "Sonny Burgess"

It's always great when Brian Setzer returns to rock-a-billy. His originals are always good and his covers always rock and this tribute disc really delivers. I already had most of these songs by the original artists, but there were a few abscure tunes that I wasn't familiar with. If you are a fan of classic rock-a-billy or just a fan of Setzer you will not be disappointed. I can't wait for Vol. 2, and 3, and 4, and 5.....

This CD is awesome, period. In every instance that I have able to find the original recording of these songs (about half), the Setzer version is better. The feel is pure Sun yet the sound is fuller and Setzer's performance every bit as "raucous" as the originals. Setzer's guitar playing keeps the good parts of the originals and adds his own trademark style. His solo on "Put Your Cat Clothes On" adds to Carl Perkins' original solo (my favorite of Perkins') in a way that's pure genius. Why not just buy a Sun compilation? You can't find more than 7 or 8 of these songs on any one compilation and 8 or 9 of them are available nowhere else. This includes "Peroxide Blonde...", half of which was originally lost. Setzer rewrote the first half of it with the approval of Gene Simmons, the original writer. Simmons also sings harmony on the CD. Further, Brian Setzer is not playing guitar on the originals. This alone makes this CD noteworthy and worth having. Check the universally positive reviews of this CD elsewhere and don't be misled into thinking this CD is anything but the best CD you'll buy this year if you like Rock and Roll the way it should be done.

It does not get any better than this! Setzer's recording of "Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache," a longtime favorite of mine, zooms to the top of this red hot rocking CD. Don't miss "Mona Lisa", or "Red Hot", either. The spirit of Johnny Cash lives on in "Get Rhythm", and The King is back in the building with "Just Because." It's truly hard to pick favorites here, because they are all GREAT rockabilly tunes, sung with Setzer's rich baritone. I,for one, don't DIG ALL THE BRASS of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, so this is a FEAST for people like myself! Don't miss this one!!!

Every song on this CD is just as great as every other. Brian has selected an excellent list of Sun recordings and does them the way they should be done-close to the originals but with just enough edge to make them his own. These performances are alot different, in a good way, than what he has done before with the Stray Cats and the BSO. Brian obviously loves these songs and plays them the way they were meant to be played, down to using an old water tower as a reverb tank. Let's hope it doesn't take very long for "Volume Two' to come out.

This is a really great album. "The Great One" put out another great rockabilly album. I would DEFINITELY advise the swingin' cats, dancers, rockabilly purists and those that love this music to buy this album! The sound, reverb, echo, tempo and all that jazz is true to the originals. Even the guitar & piano solos are true to the originals (plus a FEW of signature licks). For those looking for smoking versions of the Sun hits (sorry) this is not for you. Brian stayed true...if that's what you wanted...buy some Stray Cats albums!

Just picked this up today. This CD Rocks. Brian really seems to shine when playing the old covers and this CD is one killer cover after another. Pick this one up for sure!