Various - The Violence Inherent In The System: A NFH Compilation of European Rock'n'Roll Bands (NKVD Records)(1991)(CD)

 

Tremendous collection of European rock'n'roll bands from the very early '90s. I was a big fan of the Noise For Heroes fanzine during this era. I had no idea that they had released this compilation or that they had their own record label. I hope to get my hands on more! However, this CD contains music that is sonically great. No frills, power rock'n'roll with a punky edge. If you are driving around the city and you put this CD on in your car, you may get a speeding ticket. One of my favorite tracks is by the Scuba Drivers, from France, with All Around. If you like that song, you will love the rest of this compilation. Highly recommended.

The Hentchmen - Three Time Infinity (Norton Records)(2002) CD

I am very late to The Hentchmen. However, I have heard of them and seen their albums for years. The Hentchmen are straight-up, no frills, garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan. This CD is from 2002 on Norton Records. If this band and record have the Norton Records seal approval, then you need to get this (if you can find it!).  Here is a taste so you know what you are getting. Shimmy Shake 

If you like your rock, raw and in your face, I think you will like the The Hentchmen.

The Sleepwalkers - Roots Rockin' with (2016)

This is a fun record. The Sleepwalkers, hailing from the San Diego area, are a great mix of rockabilly, rocknroll, and cumbias. A great CD for parties. Highly recommended for those that want a fun listen.

Various Artists - That'll Flat Git It! Vol. 20: Rockabilly From The Vaults of Event Records (CD) 2004

Man...this just flat out rocks!  This is pure unadulterated original rockabilly.  I love these types of compilations because they do a great job of giving you large amounts of great music (37 tracks) for a price cheaper than trying to find and buy the original 45s (assuming you can even find them).  This is Volume 20 (I also picked up Volume 24).  If you have the slightest interest in this genre (and you should), then go out and try some of these compilations out.  They are fun and since it is put out by Bear Family, the liner notes are top notch.  Here is a taste of Curtis Johnson - Lover Boy

By the way, this compilation concentrates on the output of the Event label out of Maine!

Rikk Agnew - All By Myself (1982) vinyl

This is for you Fullerton" is how this LP opens and we begin to hear the sounds of Orange County rock'n'roll with Rikk Agnew.

I am still finding used copies or, as in this case, reissued albums of records that my record store colleagues at Off The Record in San Diego played in the store.  While this is not the music that I was listening to or buying for myself, it is a record and a style of music that I must have absorbed during those days.  I know that Rikk played in another band out of Orange County (Fullerton) called The Adolescents.  I may need to pick up that album because I remember thinking it was good at the time. The funny thing is that many of those old "punk" Orange County bands were just good rock'n'roll bands. Here I am thinking of bands like Social Distortion and Agent Orange.  I am sure there are a lot more as well but I was not really into those bands at the time. Rikk plays all the instruments on this record hence the title. What does it sound like? It certainly is fast and it does have some of that surf element that I remember from the OC bands. This is good. It is just rock'n'roll!

OC Life

10

Big Country - The Crossing (1983) vinyl

Chainsaw guitars, big vocals, anthem-like songs, and a Steve Lillywhite production. Big Country sort of stormed on to the music scene from Scotland with a big guitar sound.  They obtained some success during the MTV era. Listening to this certainly brings back memories. I was in college when this came out. Nice trip down memory lane and a good used record find at Freakbeat Records. I really think they wanted their guitars to sound like bag pipes!

Listen to:

Lost Patrol

Chris Isaak - Silvertone (1985) vinyl

I was excited about this record when it first came out because Chris Isaac had a cool, retro 50s and 60s vibe about him. Admit it, the cover makes you think a little about Elvis. In addition, this album sounded pretty different than most of what was coming out at the time (mid 80s). The record had a  little surf, a little country, and a some rockabilly.

There were a couple of things that grabbed me about this record when it first came out. First, Chris had a great voice. Second, the guitar sound of James Calvin Wilsey was outstanding. I do not remember if James continued to play with Chris after this record but I did manage to see Chris live a few times with this early line-up and they were killer.

Here is a video for the first track on the album and the song that made people notice him Dancin'  The video shows James Calvin Wilsey on guitar. I think this song captures the sound of the whole album well.

The Bags - Rock Starve (1987) vinyl

I use to work in a record store in San Diego, CA when I was in college. This would have been the early 80s. Like any good record store, the employees of the store had varied tastes. Some of the employees were into metal or punk, some into The Smiths, some into reggae, and some into other countless bands and types of music. When we worked, we all took turns playing records in the store. Funny thing, I do not remember a lot of conflict during this time. In any event, I would get exposed to a lot of records that I would normally not listen to or even know about. The Bags records was one of those records that our punk and metal guys use to play a lot. I do not remember if I ever bought this record back in the day but I distinctly remember listening to this record many times. I remembered thinking it was good.

Now, flash forward about 30 years (or so) and I am in Freakbeat records looking at their used bin and I stumble across this LP for 4.99! I had to buy it. I am playing it now and I am realizing just how great this album is. Memories.

For a taste of how good this is please listen to Love Sick Diane