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RAPIERS update
picked this up from another Yahoo Group
Unsteady Freddie
Our lads have been inevitably linked with Shadows tracks
over the years, but other instrumentals and combos send
Colin Pryce-Jones too. Ralph Gowling compiled a short list.
THE RAPIERS UPDATE! * 09-APR-06 * VOL. 6, NO. 7
<==========================================================> *
o STTP: Instrumentally Speaking
o Post o' the Week: The cure for winters blues
o Gigs: Playing a tribute to Eddie
o Random Notes: Rockin in Chippenham, A Rapier joins
The Rapiers at Pipeline, John Leyton busy recording
--> STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
"Oh yes, an awful lot of them," said Colin, recalling his
favourites from the early 60s heyday of the instrumental.
"And please remember that most of my memories come from
jukeboxes -- the sounds from those machines were so
exciting.
No Trespassing
The Ventures
The B side to Perfidia. The beginning has a wonderful,
Jazzmaster plumy sound. It's a simple tune but simple
doesn't mean easy. Elegantly written, beautifully played
and my favourite Ventures track.
Boots
Nero and The Gladiators
I always put that B side on, an exciting sound. The A side
was 'Entry of The Gladiators', which I loved too, especially
the Romanesque, sort-of-leather-boys shouting that we tried
to emulate on 'Breakfast At the Ace'.
The Mexican
The Fentones
I thought [Fentones guitarist] Jerry Wilcock played that
magnificently. Frankly, the sound of The Fentones on all
their recordings, including Shane Fentons vocal numbers,
was equally as exciting.
The Man With the Golden Arm, Diamonds, Scarlett OHara
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan
When I first heard that explosive six-string bass it was
absolutely magnificent. Tony Meehan's drumming was fantastic
-- he has to be my favourite drummer of all time. With both
The Shadows and Jet Harris, he had a remarkable technique
and style that very few people have been able to copy. By
the way, I also liked vocals they did like 'Footstomp'.
Again you had to hear it on the jukebox. When the saxophone
is playing, the bass goes into eights, giving such a lift
to the number. I've been trying to get Jet to sing that,
but he keeps saying, 'One day'!
Teen Scene, How's 'm Chicks
The Hunters
And many more! There werent many instrumentals from that
period that werent interesting in some way. For one, they
were incredibly well written. Another advantage: If your
record needed a 30-piece orchestra, you got a 30-piece
orchestra with real musicians! I miss that terribly -- I
wish we could afford to use a proper sized orchestra on
at least one track. You cant replace a violin section with
a keyboard, you'll never get the flavour of people playing
a part together with real instruments. Its something that
has almost died out, to the detriment of music."
--> POST O THE WEEK
[Posted on MSN Shadow Music...]
A miserable winters day was brightened considerably by the
arrival in the mail of Return of The Rapiers. I was lucky
enough to find the CD on eBay UK and it's great, a fine mix
of instros and vocals. I actually think I prefer it to
You're Never Alone With".
I heartily recommend it to anyone who has yet to experience
the vintage sound of The Rapiers. I was following a couple
of Rapiers EPs, again on eBay, but sadly they were priced
out of my league.
I look forward now to the arrival of the re-released 1961
CD. Jazz at Jones is playing at the moment, so it's back
to the stereo!
JohnB
New Zealand
--> GIGS
NEXT:
o 16 April * Eddie Cochran Cherished Memories Weekend,
The Olympiad, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Tickets from Lets Face It, 28, New Road, Chippenham,
Wiltshire, SN15 1HS
-With Jet Harris
UPCOMING:
o 27 April * Me and My Shadows * Huntingdon Hall, Worcester,
Worcestershire
01905 611714
-With Jet Harris, Billie Davis and Cliff Hall
o 30 April * Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth, Dorset
01305 783225
o 6 May * Westside Rock 'n' Roll Club, Druckluft,
Oberhausen, near Dusseldorf, Germany
0208 852454
FUTURE:
--> RANDOM NOTES
[*] EASTER ROCK: Jet and The Rapiers headline next Sundays
entertainment at the Eddie Cochran Cherished Memories
Weekender in Chippenham, organized to preserve the memory
of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and the legends of the 50s
and 60s rock n roll eras. Organisers expect up to 2,500
rockers and rockettes to crowd The Olympiad, Monkton Park,
14-16 April, and cheer an all-rocker line-up featuring
Matchbox, Robert Gordon, Mike Berry, Albert Lee, Chas
Hodges, and Kid Kane with original Pirates Clem Cattini
and Brian Gregg. BBC Radio Wiltshire presenter Geoff Barker,
who affably helmed the Concert for Wayne and Jackie last
summer, comperes and broadcasts his boss Saturday Night
Rock n Roll Party from the venue.
[*] TUCKING IN AT PIPELINE: The 14th Annual International
Rock Instrumental Convention promises to be a musical family
affair. First, Rapier John Tuck guests with the reunited
1960s Rapiers of Dagenham for their first show in --
Shazam! -- four decades. (You may remember guitarist Steve
Webb cementing the bond between both groups by stepping on
stage with todays Rapiers [UPDATE! 10-OCT-04] two autumns
ago in Bushey, North London.) Later at Pipeline, Johns
brother Jeff powers The Flames, formed in 1988 by ex-Rapier
Roger Cover (no longer in tow). Pipeline proclaims: Like
The Rapiers, Jaguars and Jet Black, The Flames represent the
best of vintage British rock n roll... Expect sharp suits
and stage moves to match. Legendary Fireballs guitarist
George Tomsco headlines the daylong instro mania on Sunday,
30 April, May Day Bank Holiday weekend, 1 to 8 p.m. at the
International Students House, London. Also twangin up a
storm: Silhouets, 3 Balls of Fire, Surfin Gorillas. All
for only £15.
[*] CHOPPIN N CHANGIN': Catching his second, third and
fourth recording winds, John Leyton has releases stacked up
now to fall. The audio bounty includes Colin Pryce-Jones
guesting on a completely new treatment of Son This Is She
for Johns Look for a Star - Western Star Sessions Vol. 1
CD, recorded by producer Alan Wilson at his Bristol studios
and slotted for September release on the aptly named Lone
Rider Record Company Ltd. For World Cup musical hurrahs this
summer, Johns reworked Hi Ho Silver Lining into Hi Ho
England (no Rapiers involvement unlike four years ago when
John enlisted Colin for another footie theme, Come On
England). But wait, theres more! Also this spring, expect
John all over Western Stars eagerly anticipated follow-up
to Joe Meek Shall Inherit the Earth, the labels best
selling release. Finally -- Pant! -- Colin helps out on more
recordings this autumn, when John optimistically heads back
to Western Star to finish Sessions Vol. 2. Talk about
thunder and lightning! More details at:
Cheers,
Greg Ogarrio
San Francisco
P.S. Support our lads! Why not order 1961 today.
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Bim-Bam Records
Leo's Den
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