“Blue Gene baby.” A era of British rockers grew up realizing these two phrases from Ian Dury’s tribute to “sweet” Gene Vincent. Many followers by no means heard them from the unique – a tragic omission from their musical training. The primary breath-filled, intimate seconds from Bluejean Bop!, the primary album by the primary actually uncooked US rock star: these two phrases stay completely arresting, and served as a warning that this was not one other wannabe Elvis with nothing authentic to say.
Who’d heard an introduction like that to an album in 1956? Who was extra authentically rock’n’roll, extra demanding of your consideration than Gene Vincent? Who had a greater rock’n’roll band than his Blue Caps? Bluejean Bop! has an affordable declare to be the perfect debut album of the 50s – or any decade. So the truth that it’s not in each rock assortment is a tragic omission. It truly is that good.
Take heed to Bluejean Bop! now.
Right here’s the proof: There’s Gene himself, singing like a dream, by turns mild as a sparrow, then tough because the alley cat that ate it. Not the determined, busted determine he turned later, there was an urgency about him nonetheless, like he knew this was his solely likelihood. What number of different stars of the period have been gripped by everlasting ache from a leg that was wrapped in a metal sheath, triggered when he wrecked his Triumph bike whereas he was within the navy? What different alternative would he get along with his limp and sense of being on the sting of society as a consequence? The angle in the direction of incapacity was not precisely egalitarian within the mid-50s.
Vincent knew he needed to take this opportunity, you’ll be able to hear it in his each syllable. There’s the ambiance of the album: clear but smoky, leaping out at you whereas retaining its slapback echo distance. It’s like blazing sunshine breaking via mist. Then there’s The Blue Caps, the tightest rock’n’roll band of the 50s, every given a nickname to make them intriguing. Wee Willie Williams on rock-solid rhythm guitar; Jumpin’ Jack Neal, bass; Be-Bop Dickie Harrell on smacking, deeply rocking drums; and Galloping Cliff Gallup’s lead guitar. Gallup’s enjoying is the definitive guitarist’s information to rockabilly. He lower 35 tracks with Vincent then stop the enterprise, solely surfacing once more for one country-styled album within the mid-60s. But the imprint he left on rock’n’roll was so robust that even at present guitarists doff a (blue) cap to this six-stringed genius.
All of Vincent’s honored musical fame will be traced to Bluejean Bop! The wildness: “Who Slapped John?” is a avenue ruck over a woman on document. The surprises: he makes it appear to be any track might be made his personal, such because the tacky previous “Ain’t She Sweet” and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Up A Lazy River.” The longing to be with the good children on the town: “Bop Street.” The tales about women who’re impossibly cool, such because the title monitor, “I Flipped,” and “Jumps, Giggles And Shouts.” Above all else, his capability to fire up a storm with the minimal elements: his good, heartfelt voice and a band who simply need to rock. That is making a musical mountain from a rockabilly molehill, lighting a torch for the generations who adopted him: all you want is your vitality, your artistry, and sheer will.
Artistry: they used that phrase about Sinatra, Garland, Ellington, Kenton. However it belonged simply as absolutely to Gene Vincent. The way in which he offered a track, all pent-up vitality till it’s out of the blue let go together with a shout earlier than Gallup drives in along with his guitar. He by no means as soon as sounds self-conscious: he’s in contact with what he can do, such a grasp of his expertise that he can simply let it stream.
A lot of the credit score should go to producer Ken Nelson, who captured this magic on tape. Nelson, Capitol’s A&R man and head of their nation music part, knew what he was doing: when the band turned up on the studio, sight unseen, Nelson instantly realized how good they have been and allow them to do their factor. They created the ambiance, and Nelson inspired them to specific their youth, vitality and magnificence via their devices, vocals and yells. The result’s the sound of avenue life in Norfolk, Virginia (additionally well-known for being the start line in Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land”) within the mid-50s.
Name it rockabilly, name it hillbilly rock, name it nation blended with rhythm’n’blues. No matter you name it, Bluejean Bop! is the start line for a lot that adopted. Blue Gene child, you have been the blueprint for the actual rock’n’roll we’ve liked ever since.
Take heed to Bluejean Bop! now.
