Rock 'N' Roll Scene (Import) (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Rock & Pop  »  General Rock & Pop
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: March 8, 2005
• Label: Universal Records (UK)
• UPC: 042284489225
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106666777
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• Tower.com Sales Rank: #100353 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #28936 in Rock & Pop (See Top 100 Rock & Pop Bestsellers)
• #19174 in General Rock & Pop (See Top 100 General Rock & Pop Bestsellers)

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This collection is among the Scene anthologies taken from the vaults of the U.K.-based Decca Records. While most series of this ilk seem to pander to the average listener, the antithesis is true of these entries. In fact, the converse is actually the strong suit on Rock 'n' Roll Scene (1999). These 25 tracks sound arguably better than they ever have before, which is particularly noticeable on the more familiar cuts "Collette" by Billy Fury and Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group's "Rock Island Line." The song list has been astutely compiled, keeping in mind both the hardcore as well as the less-fanatical (and perhaps more typical) enthusiast. Of comparable interest, this era predates North American Beatlemania. Instead, the focus lies on a decidedly transitory period when rockabilly, teen idol, and skiffle ruled the airwaves and popular music charts. As Decca initially consisted of distinctly British acts, many of the featured acts may not be instantly recognizable. However, they have proven to be no less influential. Cases in point are Bob Cort Skiffle's stylistic reinvention of Chuck Berry's "School Day" and the equally impressive "Downbound Train" by Ken Colver's Skiffle Group. They take the tunes to places that the original never even hinted at. In the case of the former, the fluid electric guitar lines are more derivative of Chet Atkins or Les Paul than Berry's unmistakable amplified attack. Another cover comes from Screaming Lord Sutch, whose overhaul of Leiber & Stoller's "I'm a Hog for You" is strikingly similar to the interpretation that a pre-Grateful Dead combo -- calling themselves the Warlocks -- were regularly adding to their sets years after this 1963 version. There are also a couple of worthy "beat" precursors, including Freddie Starr & the Midnighters' "It's Shaking Time" or Eddie Hickey's "Plain Jane." Sally Kelly was somewhat of an anomaly as a female rocker in the predominantly male-oriented business. Although "Little Cutie" is one of the more lightweight offerings, the gutsy vocals during the chorus recall Stateside artists Joanie Sommers or Little Peggy March. ~ Lindsay Planer

This is a fascinating and delightful CD, but it takes a little listening time and patience to get at why. For 14 years, from 1956 through 1970, England's Decca Records was one of the big two British record labels, in competition with giant conglomerate EMI (and smaller rival Pye Records bringing up the rear). This 25-song compilation celebrates the early years of the label's involvement in rock & roll from the May 1956 recording of "Downbound Train" by Ken Colyer's Skiffle Group through such uniquely British phenomenons as Screaming Lord Sutch (the best thing here) and Wee Willie Harris to genuine stars like Billy Fury and early-'60s also-rans like Russ Saintly and Danny Rivers to such lost figures as Freddie Starr from the spring of 1963. There are about a dozen tracks that are going to surprise any American (and even a lot of Brits) who buy this disc, in terms of how hard they rock and how well the singers and the bands understand what they're doing. On the other hand, about half of what's here wouldn't rate alongside the American article, and the majority of U.S. listeners will find most of this material rather tame and predictable -- but the exceptions are worth the price of admission, once one gets to them. The compilers decided to make this disc representative of the label's output, rather than uniformly good, so there's some adenoidal teen pop next to the good stuff. The CD is entertaining and informative, and contains a revelation or two, but it's also funny to realize that within a few weeks of the latest recordings featured here, Decca Records signed the Rolling Stones, followed in short order by the original (that is, R&B-era) Moody Blues and the Small Faces, all making sounds that would sweep this relatively innocent, freewheeling early era aside. ~ Bruce Eder

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