Gene Vincent- "Bluejean Bop"

[axel]

I guess it's allright to bring this up here as "The Way It Used To Be" is a forum for 50s music as well.
I recently bought a Capitol double lp with the first two albums of Gene Vincent. The 2nd I had before, most of the songs of the first I had scattered on several comps and CDs.
I didn't know what an incredible record the first Gene Vincent-album "Bluejean Bop" is when listened to as a whole. No doubt the first line-up of the Blue Caps was one of the best rock bands ever, not only because of Cliff Gallup, the guitar genius, but the band as a whole. Gene Vincent himself of course being one of the greatest singers of all time.
But what actually blows me away is the sound of this record. It is one of the most dynamic I ever heard. Moreover it sounds as crisp and fresh as if it was recorded yesterday.
It is said that this album was "recorded in a rush" and that producer Ken Nelson didn't intervene much. So I can only assume that the engineer, whose name is not even mentioned, was either ingenious or had the luckiest moment of his life.
Who was this man? What's his story?

 

[Frantic]

In general most Capitol releases from that era have killer sound. If you think your double lp re-issue sounds good, you should listen to a mint original...SCHWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frantic]

yep...got this one 5 or 6 years ago...primo stuff

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Rocky-Co...=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1309386024&sr=1-1

 

[axel]

In general most Capitol releases from that era have killer sound.

Really? Something else you can recommend?

you should listen to a mint original...

Of course. The one I got sounds allright though. The Thorens player I have at the moment isn't the best for original mono pressings anyway. In any case, I can sufficiently hear that sound/ production-wise this record is a masterpiece.

 

[Frantic]

Really? Something else you can recommend?

Of course. The one I got sounds allright though. The Thorens player I have at the moment isn't the best for original mono pressings anyway. In any case, I can sufficiently hear that sound/ production-wise this record is a masterpiece.

Wanda Jackson Rockin' With Wanda....Greatest girl rockabilly and Elvis' one time girlfriend.

 

[axel]

l just met a guy called Eddie who plays piano in her band when she's in Germany. Cool cat. He even liked our concert. :oops:

 

[legbarecords]

Blue Jean Bop is one of my favorite LP's of the genre. The rockers are smokin but what really knocks me out about that record is the way Gene handles the ballads. The dynamic between the band and the vocal is really stunning. Most Elvis impersonators couldn't grasp what made his SUN recording of "blue moon" so mind blowing but Gene totally got it, maybe even improved on it. "Up a lazy river" indeed!

 

[Westex]

Though the Elvis angle with Wanda is a bit overplayed, her Capitol material is really good.

I'm partial to the Capitol honky tonkers and hillbillies myself- Hank Thompson, Skeets McDonald, Ferlin Huskey, the Louvins, Skeets McDonald, Jimmy Heap and his outfit, Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Skeets McDonald- and the Capitol production is tough to beat. It just sounds so good.

Tough to beat Gene though. Even the standards were gold with he and the Blue Caps. And that first album? One of the best ever by anybody... a surefire classic!

Check out the Rio Rockers on Capitol as well. No production whatsoever but "Mexicali Baby" is surely one of the craziest things Capitol EVER issued.

 

[Frantic]

Though the Elvis angle with Wanda is a bit overplayed, her Capitol material is really good.

It may be overplayed but it's true. I personally asked Wanda at a Sacramento show a few years ago if she dated Elvis and her answer was "we dated quite a few times and we were quite the item" Also, pretty much anyone who recorded at the Capitol Tower in Hollywood got incredible sounds. Buck Owens & the Buckaroos come to mind. I have both BUCK OWENS Bear Family box sets and there isn't a stinker to be found

 

[legbarecords]

I'm a big Skeets fan too! I first owned "goin' steady with the blues" as a 78 album. Got it at a junk store in the late 80's when such things were cheap. Not long after, I found a copy of his "love's like a faucet" 45. Still my favorite. Also visited his grave in Greenway Arkansas before setting up at a small record swap there years ago. Ken Nelson is one of the greatest producers of all time in my book. I heard Ira Louvin complained that Ken would not allow him to play mandolin on their records because he wasn't good enough. Who knows, Ira seemed like a prickly guy.

 

[axel]

Ken Nelson is one of the greatest producers of all time in my book.

This might be true. But don't you think that engineers also play an important part in a production? Especially in creating the overall "sound". For example, I think, that Geoff Emerick was extremely important for the Beatles from "Revolver" onwards. I suppose that you guys are not extremly fond of the Beatles during that period, but I'm sure you understand why and in what ways their sound on these albums was not only inventive but set completely new standards. And still is as punchy and fresh as anything. Timeless if you will. I think that Emerick was more important for the Beatles of that period even than George Martin.
I think Bluejean Bop also has a timeless sound, the music being completely different of course. Btw, the second album doesn't really sound quite as good. But maybe it's because it's not exactly the same band and the dynamic between band and vocal is just not the same. It sounds kinda flat compared to Bluejean Bop.
I'd love to check out all the Capitol recordings mentioned here, be it only for evaluation of their sound.

 

[axel]

I just remembered talking to an engineer recently. He said that the first time ever a towel was put into a bass drum was for Sgt. Pepper's (by Geoff Emerick). Not a very spectacular "invention", but it changed the sound of bass drums (and thus probably the general sound) forever.

 

[axel]

Hey, those Rio Rockers are great! Did they only make one 45?

 

[JGTiger]

I always like a thread about Rockabilly!

 

[Westex]

Hey, those Rio Rockers are great! Did they only make one 45?

I believe so.

Another fave w/ superb sound is "Worryin' Kind" by Tommy Sands. So good.

As for Skeets... his "Don't Push Me Too Far" 45 is outstanding... both sides.

 

[Frantic]

OH HELL....Just get this...

http://www.bear-family.de/index.php...pe=search&tcalbumtitel=that'll flat&tcexact=0

you need it!!!

 

[axel]

OH HELL....Just get this...

"Twenty-seven volumes"- OH HELL indeed. Everytime I see something Bear Family it feels like being overrun by the hordes of the North...

 

[axel]

Another fave w/ superb sound is "Worryin' Kind" by Tommy Sands. So good.

"Worryin' Kind" is great!
Here's a nice clip with Tommy Sands. Watch out for the "Capitol Records" sign in the back:

 

[JGTiger]

Tommy Sands, Bigger Than Texas, Is by far his best Rockabilly. Cliff Gallup kills the guitar in this one. A US copy will run ya about 20 bucks, and it is hard to find!

 

[axel]

Cliff Gallup kills the guitar in this one.

I didn't even know he played on any other records than the Blue Caps'.