Hank Thompson (USA)
Hank The Hired Hand
(The Words & Music Of A Western Swing Legend)
2 CD SET
ETCD1030

©El Toro Records 2010

This double CD set features a fine selection of tracks from the 40’s and 50’s, including some OPS (Office Of Price Stabilzation) radio transcriptions plus a radio show from 2001 in which the King of Western Swing tells the story of his life; the beginnings, his influences and roots, his mates and colleagues...

Hank Thompson’s key to success lies in his songwriting and his band's consistent sound. Thompson's songs often cast an unflinching eye on the drinking and carousing honky-tonk lifestyle, as exemplified by his signature song "The Wild Side of Life" as well as "Honky-Tonk Girl" and "Six-Pack to Go."
From the late 1940s through the 1970s he was consistently in the country charts, landing nearly fifty songs in the Top-10 or Top-20.
With record sales well over 60 million internationally, Hank Thompson's career has impacted on seven decades (from the '40's into the 21st century) of recorded music history.
Hank Thompson died Nov. 6, 2007, following a battle with lung cancer.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 3 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Satellites (AUSTRALIA)
Jump

©Rhythm Bomb Records 2004

The Satellites originally formed '94 and have performed all over this land leaving a trail of dedicated fans from Brisbane to Adelaide & beyond. They have performed seven years running at the Wintersun Festival in Queensland (an annual event which attracts around 50,000 people from all over Australia) winning them the awards for ‘Best Performing Band’ in 1999, and ‘Best Australian Rockabilly Band’ four years running 98, 99, 2000, & again in 2001.
Since releasing their debut CD “Bop Tonight” in May ‘98, the band has gained a huge interest from both interstate and overseas, including sales to UK, Germany, USA, Finland, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, & Norway. They have had tracks included on several compilations, including; Black Jacket Racket Vol. 2.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 8 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Red Hot Poker Dots (AUSTRALIA)
Swampy Tonk Avenue
RBR5709
© Rhythm Bomb Records 2010

The Red Hot Poker Dots are a multi-award winning band from Australia, formed in 1998. They are well respected and highly established on national and international platforms for their captivating and dynamic live performances, garnering rave reviews and solid radio and industry support worldwide. The RHPD’s, perform unique originals, that reflect their infectious personalities, and their style has been branded ‘Swampy Tonk’; a combination of old school country, hillbilly, yodelling, rockabilly and country-rock, reinvented into a totally new and refreshing musical experience. The RHPD’s perform either as a singer/songwriter duo; Lil’O’Dette- Bull Fiddle, Vocals & Ray Dee Ator- Guitar, Vocals, or with a full band. Now relocated to the USA.

"A night of hillbilly mayhem with more honk, tonk and yodelling than grandma's shotgun wedding."

Rate This CD! Rating: After 8 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Red Shots (HOLLAND)
Jubilee EP
NR0100
©Red Shot Records 2003

After 15 years of boppin' & rockin' in 2003 the Red Shots made a Jubilee CD single with four great rockin' tracks. All covers but for three of them they made a new arrangement.
My Little Sister was made in an authentic 50's rockabilly style. Coming Home, slow and dark..
Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby as a swinger..an absolute an collecters item. Just a few copy's left!!

The Red Shots started in 1988 and stopped performing in 2008. 20 years of rockin'!
They made 2 vinyl L.P's
- Play My Boogie 1989
- The Wild Bunch 1991
Those two were rereleased together on one CD in 2001. In The same year they made a new album 'Texas Boogie". In 2003 followed with "Jubilee"CD single. The Red's performed mostly in Holland but also in: Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Estonia. In 20 year the band changed a few times from musicians. Among them Rogier Hermans and Eddy Poppes (Reno Brothers). And Jeroen Vergasteren (CC Jerome).
When the band stopped Hans moved on with his new project RJ.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 2 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Red Hot Poker Dots (AUSTRALIA)
Jetlagged & Jittery
RBR5708
© Rhythm Bomb Records 2005

The Red Hot Poker Dots are a multi-award winning band from Australia, formed in 1998. They are well respected and highly established on national and international platforms for their captivating and dynamic live performances, garnering rave reviews and solid radio and industry support worldwide. The RHPD’s, perform unique originals, that reflect their infectious personalities, and their style has been branded ‘Swampy Tonk’; a combination of old school country, hillbilly, yodelling, rockabilly and country-rock, reinvented into a totally new and refreshing musical experience. The RHPD’s perform either as a singer/songwriter duo; Lil’O’Dette- Bull Fiddle, Vocals & Ray Dee Ator- Guitar, Vocals, or with a full band. Now relocated to the USA.

"A night of hillbilly mayhem with more honk, tonk and yodelling than grandma's shotgun wedding."

Rate This CD! Rating: After 4 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Ringlets Trio (GERMANY)
For Daily Use
PART-CD657001
©Part Records 2003

Since 1986 the Ringlets Trio have been cruisin around the world, still consisting of Gunnar Fick (Lead Vocals & Upright Bass), Ulrich van der Schoor (Backing Vocals & Guitar) and Christof Woller (Drums & Percussion). So far they’ve supported many bands like the Stray Cats, as well as backing up stars like Dale Watson in the USA. They have various Videoclips and TV appearances also under their belt. Bandleader Gunnar’s also well-known form his 2nd Rockabilly band called the “Honky Tonk Pounders”!
The band members themselves call their music Rockabilly, but also you can find many other musical influences /styles in their songs such as: Rock ´n’ Roll, Western Swing, Blues and Jive. The CD here called “For daily use“ is the 7th longplayer album from the german combo.

And now it´s up to you to check it out.....something very cool...for daily use!

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Silvertones (UK)
Hi-Ho-Silver Radio
CHER-CD 902116
©Cherokee Records 2009

This great German trio delivers a powerful mixture of 50s-style Rockabilly and Neo Rockabilly with the individual tracks having varying emphasis on these two styles, however, without one of them taking priority on the whole. So the CD features a varied, but nevertheless harmonious overall concept with which the band ingeniously merges the two styles to form their own sound, which is likely to appeal to both the Authentic audience and the fans of modern Rockabilly.

The band from the North of Germany was founded by the three friends, Jens Staar (guitar & lead vocals), Peter Ohnsorge (double bass) and Sven Oehlmann (drums) in 1991. After practising hard, the three guys played their first gigs in 1995 and rapidly became a popular act on the German Rockabilly scene. After a rhythm guitarist had temporarily played with the band, and Sven had taken a time-out from his job on the skins, the guys got together in the original line-up as a trio in 1997. With this line-up they have played numerous shows in clubs and at major German festivals since then. After some of their songs had been released on a number of compilation CDs in the past few years, such as the Hot & Wild Vol. 1 compilation on Cherokee Records or the EP of the German "Dynamite" magazine, there was a growing demand for a complete Silvertones album. So they felt it was time for their first own CD. The songs for the CD were recorded in 2008 and then mixed and mastered at the beginning of 2009.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

Riverside Trio (UK)
My Baby's Gone

© Part Records 1998

The roots of Hillbilly bop! busking onto the streets of blackpool through the 1980..s on a saturday afternoon was the true grit of The Riverside Trio! pure authentic performance! real songs for the people of the new depression! happy shopper..s would stand and stare, tapping their feet then maybe they would chuck a few old pennies into a battered guitar case- from a time when most people were flat broke and on the dole ! "you gotta keep movin there..s a copper comin.." was the word from mick! many did but many stayed to hear this showpiece trio perform their last song of the day! So please enjoy the sounds of THE RIVERSIDE TRIO! The Cd Mixes Country, Blues And Rockabilly Equal Measure Although Even The Rockabilly Tunes Have A Bluesy Flavour Due To Cumming’s Guitar Style And Wilson’s Vocals. This Cd Ranges From Authentic 50s Hillbilly To Red Hot Rockabilly.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

Trailer Park Casnovas (USA)
So Charmin'
ETCD3010
© El Toro 2009

From the musical hills of Hollywood come the twangy sounds of Trailer Park Casanovas. They could be lumped into today's "Alternie-country" scene, but these boys reside in another court. No need for flamingos in their yard because they are fueled and supplied, rocked and amplified, by a hopped up and gassed "blurgrass" kinda sound.

Taking their lead from "The Future", native Kentuckian Paul Morris plays the guitar like a ringing a dinner bell. "Greasy, fried and sweet" guitar licks is what this guitar boy serves. "Crooning and mooning" is delivered fresh daily by Robert Lopez (Elvez), singing rockapallachian harmonies with Paul or just adding extra noise on guitar. He is the ham-bone in the broth. Tall and statuesque, Tony Redhorse is the foundation of the beat. The essential bass & dance, slapping you and that bass with his rocking style. They are all backed and beaten up by the man on the drums simply known as Jomar.

Their collective musical histories have taken them from punk rock, psychobilly, Mexican Elvis to Barbara Mandrell's made for TV band, singing songs about the Southland (but this time it's more South California), lost love, trash and beer.

Before you know it, Trailer Park Casanovas will have Airstreamed their ways into your hearts and, hopefully, your pocket books. So be a KOA and hook them up.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 2 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Quarter Mile Combo (USA)
Motels, Gas & Beer

© Rhythm BombRecords 2009

The 1950’s brought us the baby boomers, Chevy Bel Airs and pink Cadillac’s, Malt Shops and swinging rock ‘n’ roll. Quarter Mile Combo didn’t see much of this. Instead they’ve brought back a little 1950’s with a nice modern touch that produced they’re debut album: Motels, Gas and Beer.

The rockabilly foursome comes to us from the San Francisco area that features Nettie Hammar on lead vocals, Justin Barr on the guitar, Todd Troublemaker playing the rare upright bass and Gary Daly on drums. With their smooth classic image and Ms. Hammars’ powerful voice, Quarter Mile Combo presents a classic sound with their own unique touch that’ll have the ballroom swingin’ on a Friday night. They keep a cool comparison to the Brian Setzer Orchestra with shades of “Fastball”. Songs like “Kitten”and “100 Miles to Heartbreak” keeps your feet tapping and your fingers snapping, as does much of the entire album.

I strongly recommend this album to anyone who has been missing the rockabilly scene, or waiting for that fresh and unique sound of rock. Every song will keep you rockin, swingin’ and longing for the 50’s.

Aaron Short- MuzikReviews.com Contributor

Rate This CD! Rating: After 5 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Three Blue Teardrops (USA)
Rustbelt Trio

© Rhythm Bomb Records 2006

This is the newest album (their fourth) from this trio, more than 10 years after their debut release ‘One Part Fist” on the legendary British label Nervous Records. Here you have a real wild rocking and stomping modern rockabilly album made up of 13 songs (all band’s originals, half written by guitarist Dave Sisson and the other half by upright bassist Rick Uppling). One of their best quality is to be able to mix genres, adding traditional vocals harmonies on heavy rockers, or enhance what could be a classic hot rod song (Lincoln 49) with a fine and swing drums beat. Harmonies and superb brushed snare can also be found on “Alone At Last”, a teenagers’ song with a modern edge. The sound hardens a bit on “Headin’ For Disaster”, which talks about alcoholism and self destruct (Stayin’ out late at the beer joints, poppin’ pills and livin’ hard / Drivin’ too fast on the highway, slow at work and feelin’ tired / You’re lookin’ older everyday you spend gettin’ bent / But pretty soon this gift you got is going to be spent). “American Way” is a true heavy rockabilly or psychobilly (call it whatever you want) song which shouldn’t be out of place in The Quakes repertory. Nice! Changing the mood a bit, “Lord Send Me An Angel” is what you can expect with a title like that, a fine ballad with just the guitar and a very light snare, and once again traditional harmonies on the chorus. And right after this calm and peaceful moment they rush into the wild “Damage Control”. Another change of tempo comes with “The Dead Know Nothing” a western ballad with Mexican trumpets, gunshots and percussions ala Ennio Morricone. An Everly Brothers influence can be heard on “I Still Dream Of You”, and the album ends with “I’m Standin’ Here”, dedicated to Stiff Little Fingers’ Jake Burns, but the message is clear and can apply to Dave, Rick and Randy. It’s very good to see the band back in action, with a all-killer/no-filler album. With the new interest toward psychobilly in the USA, it would be more than justice to find them, who were among the first with The Quakes to play that music in America, achieving the same level of success The Reverend Horton Heat did.
Fred "Virgil" Turgis - Jumpin' From 6 to 6

Rate This CD! Rating: After 3 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Rhythm Train (SWITZERLAND)
Bad To The Bone

© Part Records 2008

The 2nd album by this Swiss Country-Hillbilly-Quartet! "RHYTHM TRAIN" have been on the road since 2001 and have become one of the most famous acts on the Swiss circuit. With "Bad To The Bone" they're releasing their 2nd longplayer on Part Records from Germany. The four musicians present 13 self-penned "oldschool songs" with accoustic and steel guitars, double bass, "skiffling" washboard and great harmony vocals! From Hillbilly, over Country, to Rockabilly and a touch of Westernswing! Do the rebel yell.....YEEEEEEHAAAAAAA!

Rate This CD! Rating: After 2 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Speedos (GERMANY)
Trip To Houten
PART-CD 647.003
© Part Records 2009

Rock & Roll, Swing and Jive with Doo Wop/Harmony Vocals by the Speedos from Germany. Re-release of their 3rd LP from 1994 featuring special guest Götz Alsmann on Piano which has sold out long time ago.

One of Germany's best Rock & Roll, Jive bands with great harmony vocals. The band's running now for nearly 20 years and has played on all important festivals.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 2 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Speedos (GERMANY)
It's Only Rock'n'Roll
PART-CD 647.001
© Part Records 2010

This album contains The Speedos 1st LP as well as an EP - originally only released as vinyl records, and now, by popular demand, available for the 1st time on CD. This German quartet have built a great name as one of the top bands on the European Rock'n'Roll circuit. There's Doo Wop, rockin' rhythms, lots of danceable tunes and fantastic harmony vocals by lead singer Olaf Prinz. Over the years the band has shared stages with many famous artists on countless international Jazz, Swing and Rock & Roll Festivals worldwide.

One of Germany's best Rock & Roll, Jive bands with great harmony vocals. The band have been together now for nearly 20 years.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 1 Vote 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Speedos (GERMANY)
A Dreamin Life
PART-CD 647.002
© Part Records 2009

Rock & Roll, Swing and Jive with Doo Wop/Harmony Vocals by the Speedos from Germany. Re-release of their 2nd LP from 1992 which has sold out long time ago. One of Germany's best Rock & Roll, Jive bands with great harmony vocals. The band's running now for nearly 20 years and has played on all important festivals regarding danceable Rock & Roll /Jive.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 2 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5