Randy Rich & The Poor Boys (GERMANY)
Bye Bye Mr Blues
© Rhythm Bomb Records 2006

After three years of touring, rehearsing and writing new material finally here it is: the much awaited and long anticipated Randy Rich & The Poor Boys album Bye Bye Mr. Blues! A declaration of love with a beat, this platter sports refreshing diversity, many original compositions and, above all, an altogether positive tone.
Thanks to a variety of instrumentations and rhythms paired with a healthy dose of hipster attitude, we are presented with several styles from the realm of good music.
Needless to say, in store are a couple of flat-footed rockabilly songs, including the catchy Tonight Little Darling, a loose, melodic piece that will have you hum along right after the first few bars, and You Can, which stands out with its somewhat unusual drum accentuation and chord changes, loosely resembling classics by Narvel Felts as well as providing one or two lyrical nods to the King of Rockabilly, Mister Carl Perkins.
Written and recorded in honor of legendary SUN artist Glenn Honeycutt on the occasion of his 71st birthday comes Mr. All Night Rock, a homage that, of course, does not claim to be historically accurate but rather is supposed to express how much the band has embosomed Glenn both as an artist and a friend.
However, the album features not only effectively stripped-down thumpers but also a few fluid piano pounders, an absolute highlight being the obscure Johnny Burnette cover Rockin' The Town. This sax-fueled, energy-driven track has a distinctive raw edge to it and resembles various wild SUN rockers. On Finders Keepers, another Burnette composition, the vocals are taken by the singing drummer boy Wassilly, who is best known for his heart-throbbing hillbilly crooning.
A selected quantity of sentimental love songs, as the country-flavored title track Bye Bye Mr. Blues, rounds things out and, along with two nifty fingerpicking instrumentals in the style of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, proves once again that music does not have to be frantic, loud and fast to be highly enjoyable. Thus, No More Rain with its vocal harmonies and strong acoustic rhythm guitar, much in the vein of celebrated late-fifties balladeers, and the sincere, heart-warming Your Picture Tells Me manage to leave us with the desire to hug our girls and to bye-bye Mr. Blues...

Rate This CD! Rating: After 19 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

Randy Rich & The Poor Boys (GERMANY)
The Way You Came
© Rhythm Bomb Records 2004

Handmade Rockabilly and Hillbilly tunes by one of europe's most famous trio's. 14 hits written by Randy Rich himself. Don't miss this wonderful CD, it's nearly out of print.

Founder and guitar player Randy lived and played in England and the US before he reunioned his german band Randy Rich and the Poor Boys, which originally was formed in 1997, in September 2003.

The line-up now`s better than ever. All of the three members are able to play minimum two instruments. And so even in a trio they can create the different styles from 50`s Country to Rockabilly and Rock`n`Roll. The boys play well-known songs, obscure late 50`s songs, instrumentals and original material. It`s also worth to mention the professionel harmony singing.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 11 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

The Radio Ramblers (UK)
Hot To Trot
TCS 409
© The Radio Ramblers 2007

Dave 'mumbling' Madgwick-vocals & rhythm guitar/ Willy Briggs-vocals & lead guitar/ Gary Boller- doghouse bass

The Radio Ramblers have been together since 2004 & were all previous members of the 'Tennessee Rhythm Riders'. A couple of years after the TRR had split, they decided to form the Ramblers. Since then, they have played the world renowned Rockabilly Rave, Hotrod Hayride & Hemsby. Their debut album released on Tail Records 'HOT TO TROT' with all self penned songs. Classic song writing and totally authentic Rockabilly from this rising UK act. Fantastic!

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

1. Rock n Roll Rumour
2. Fever Bound
3. Time For Lovin'
4 . Find Somebody New
5. I Like A Lot Of Things
6. Hot To Trot
7. Trigger Happy Baby
8. You're Gonna Miss Me
9. Can't Get You Outta My Mind
10. Mama's Little House
11. God Can Save You Now
12. Mumblin' Fits
13. Mama
14. Welfare Blues

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The Robins (USA)
I Must Be Dreamin'

©El Toro Records 2007

Despite having only a few national hits, the Robins, nevertheless, were an essential part of West Coast Rhythm and Blues.

THE ROBINS
A Top 10 R&B chart act in December 1955 with their Leiber & Stoller produced "Smokey Joe's Café", the history of The Robins vocal group goes back a decade before that from their origins in Johnny Otis' revue in the late 1940s, with whom they scored big R&B hits with "If It's So Baby" (#10) and "Double Crossing Blues" (#1).

This new El Toro compilation catches up with the group in 1953 after escaping from the Otis band and signing with RCA Victor, recording several sessions with budding producers, Leiber and Stoller, who took them to their new Spark label where they cut "Smokey Joe's Cafe".

Featuring a talented, all-star line-up including Bobby Nunn and Carl Gardner whom Leiber and Stoller would use as the nucleus of their next supergroup, The Coasters, this compilation is a near perfect blend of smoky ballads and torrid jump tunes.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 16 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. My Heart's The Biggest Fool
2. A Fool Such As I
3. All Night Baby
4. Oh Why
5. Let's Go To The Dance
6. How Would You Know
7. My Baby Done Told Me
8. I'll Do it
9. Ten Days In Jail
10. Empty Bottles
11. Don't Stop Now
12. Get It Off Your MInd
13. Double Crossin' Baby
14. I Made A Vow
15. All I Do Is Rock
16. Key To My Heart
17. Riot In A Cell #9
18. Wrap It Up
19. Loop The Loop Mambo
20. Framed
21. If Teardrops Were Kisses
22. Whadaya Want?
23. I Love Paris
24. One Kiss
25. The Hatched Man
26. I Must Be Dreamin'
27. Just Like A Fool
28. Smokey Joe's Cafe

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Arsen Roulette (USA)
Let's Get On With It

©El Toro Records 2006

A thunderous rockabilly explosion!....

Arsen Roulette, striving to become one of today’s top talents, started years ago by locking himself in his father’s cobbler shop for nights on end, feverishly practicing in the hopes of one day playing throughout the world and leaving behind a piece of himself in history, forever locked inside the immortal medium we call a CD.

Arsen recorded his first album, Lost Recordings, during the crazy days of 2003 and 2004. The hot wax features Rockin’ Lloyd Tripp on 1st guitar and Matt Pavlovcic on 2nd guitar. This multi-dimensional recording met with huge success, gaining national recognition in such fine magazines as Rockabilly Monthly and Blackcat Rockabilly. Just take a gander at a couple other raving revues:

“It has the fever and urgency of the killer” --Jumping from 6 to 6

“Watch out for this thunderous explosion” --Blue Suede News

But wait! There’s more! The year ain’t even over yet and 2006 has marked a very successful year for Arsen and his boys. Coming off a major US tour in 2005 and after being voted one of California’s top 10 bands by the Fresno Bee, Arsen and the gang has traveled over 20,000 miles including the band’s first European tour, taking them to almost every country on the old continent.

In preparation for the European tour and leading a wild new band, Arsen went into the studio to cut a dozen pure, raw, straight forward Rockabilly tracks. Drop the needle and watch it boil, mix a cup of Johnny Horton, a handful of Burnette Brothers, and a whole lotta crazy, crazy lovin’ together and you’ll have it. The title track, “Let’s Get On With It,” will be featured in the upcoming motion picture, Beauty 24.

And now the search for the right bandmates has finally come to a halt. Arsen Roulette has teamed back up with one of the best guitar players around, Matt Pavlovcic. Stepping down from the bass, Arsen has given Alex Vargas, of The Vargas Brothers fame, the ol’ doghouse, and brought in Mark Millard from Denver, Colorado to pound the skins. Most recently, “Rhinestone” Christopher Estep has stepped in to fill Mark’s seat when he’s not available.

Self penned tracks, wild vocals, rock-solid rhythm section, and blinding sharp guitars make this band one of the best Rockabilly acts since the 50’s! A damn fine piece of work, dishing out the rebop both live and in the studio. Let’s Get On With It and give it over for Arsen Roulette!

Rate This CD! Rating: After 20 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. Let's Get On With It
2. Chance On Me
3. Messed Up
4. I Do For You
5. Shake It Around
6. Sounds That Charge
7. Bop Away Blues
8. Honky Tonk Alone
9. On The Prowl
10. Lovin' On My Mind
11. Shake Loose
12. Strolling Back To You

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Arsen Roulette (USA)
The Lost Recordings

©El Toro Records 2005

50s rockabilly greatness!

Arsen Roulette teamed up with no none other than Rockin' Lloyd Trip in early 2000 to bring you this hot platter and no only did Trip pick up the guitar but also co-wrote 9 of the 15 songs featured.

"Being from a major farming community and a small city, we are a city band trying to play with a special blend of country and blues shaken and stirred to make the best show you have seen and heard in along time

Rate This CD! Rating: After 25 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. I Get Up
2. All Through The Nite
3. She Was My Baby
4. Boppin' Lil Betty
5. Gone Crazy
6. Don't Say Goodbye
7. At The Drugstore
8. Hop Up Honey
9. Tonight Tonight
10. Baby Likes To RNR
11. Jinx On Me (Demo)
12. 7 Lonely Nites, Days (Demo)
13. Spinin' Around (Demo)
14. Lonely Blue Teardrops (Demo)
15. Gone Gone Gone (Demo)

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Rusti Steel (USA)
The Embassy Sessions
FT 053
©Rusti Steel 2007

Rusti Steel (lead vocals, electric guitars, non-pedal steel guitar, back-up vcls, maracas)
Gene Vincent Crosby (piano, acoustic rhythm guitar, alto saxophone)
Stewart Dale (Doghouse bass, back-up vocals)
Les Curtis (drums)
Darrel Higham (electric guitar on "The Best Part Of The Day", "Doghouse 'Fiddle Boogie" and "Seven Nights To Rock")

Many moons ago, in a different world, a cat named Elvis brought out a record called "Something For Everybody". Well, that title could well describe Rusti Steel's latest album, "The Embassy Sessions". Recorded at Embassy Studios under the expert ear of top Rock'n'Roll producer, singer, guitarist, etc., etc., etc., Darrel Higham, Rusti has brought together the various different styles that make up Rock'n'Roll music, neatly packaged in a 12 track CD which offers something for everybody (at least everybody that digs real Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly, Rhythm & Blues, Hillbilly, Western Swing, etc.).

The album includes 11 self-penned tunes (9 by Rusti and 2 by Stewart, the original bass player from Rusti Steel & the Tin Tax). The opening track, "Traffic Jam", has become quite a hit in the Rockin' clubs and is often requested when
Rusti Steel & the Star Tones perform live.

But don't take my word for it ... grab a copy and give it a spin .... hear for yourself.

Since forming Rusti Steel & The Tin Tax in January 1986, Rusti has played extensively throughout Europe and Scandinavia, and has made TV appearances and countless radio interviews, as well as featuring in Rockin' magazines.

Rusti has released many records, one of which ("Rimshots meets Rusti Steel & the Tin Tax - Tribute To Hank Williams") won the Best British Country Music Album award for 1998. A copy of this album is displayed in the Hank Williams Museum.

When the Tin Tax split up in late 1999, Rusti formed the Red Hot Wranglers, a six-piece band specializing in pure Western Swing and Hillbilly Bop, with a sprinkling of Rockabilly. This band played the big festivals such as Hemsby, the Rhythm Riot and Americana, as well as concerts in Germany and the Cruise Inn
in Amsterdam, along with some of the more "Hillbilly friendly" Rockin' venues in England.

As well as a performer, Rusti is also an accomplished songwriter. Although he usually records his own songs himself, one of his songs "Cafe-A-La-Rock" was written for and recorded by the Comets, released on the Comets' album "The House Is Rockin'".

Rusti's latest line-up, Rusti Steel & the Star Tones, featuring the original bass player from the Tin Tax (Stewart Dale), Gene Vincent (yes, that is his real name!) on piano and acoustic guitar and Simon Ball on drums, have been tearin' up the Rockin' dance floors up and down the land and goin' down a storm wherever they play.

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

1. Traffic Jam
2. Racheal
3. Leavin' In Your Eyes
4. Thank God You're Mine
5. You're So Hot
6. The Best Part Of The Day
7. Love's Sweetest Melody
8. Doghouse 'Fiddle Boogie
9. Kite Without A String
10. Sundown Blues
11. Yours Truly
12. Seven Nights To Rock

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Dawn Shipley And The Sharp Shooters (USA)
Baby If I...

©El Toro Records 2006

“think a more rockin’ Patsy Cline……Dawn Shipley’s Sharp Shooters hit the target every time and deliver an excellent blend of ‘50’s honky tonk and Rockabilly in a very authentic fashion…” BSN Magazine.

Dawn Shipley and the Sharp Shooters, a Los Angeles based band, have a sound that is unique and inspiring, bringing in new fans each time they play. There is one good reason for this—darn good music. The music is mostly upbeat and fun, a mixture of rockabilly, hillbilly and rock-n-roll with elements of traditional rhythm and blues, jazz and honky tonk. The songs generally tell stories of love and loss, some humorously, some not so humorously. Overall, the stories are ones that most anyone can identify with, but written with Dawn’s quirky twist, which keeps each of them from being just another love song.

Their newest release, “Baby If I…” shows that the band has reached a new level of maturity. It is apparent in the songs that the band has become even more comfortable in adding their own personality to the many influences they draw from, creating a unique and enticing sound and separating them from the run-of-the-mill rockabilly artists that only recreate the traditional sounds.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 7 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. Bear With Me baby
2. Sealed With A Kiss
3. Baby If I...
4. Empty Stretch Of Highway
5. Make Believe
6. I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down
7. Anyone But You
8. Crazy Dreams
9. Sharp Shootin'
10. Goin' Crazy
11. One Cup Of Coffee
12. My Rockin' Baby
13. Full Moon keeps On Shinning
14. You're The Only One
15. Empty Stretch Of Highway #2

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The Slammers Maximum Jive Band (UK)
Jive Time!

©El Toro Records 2007

Maximum Jive at it's best; a kicking horn section rides a driving rhythm of boogie piano, powerhouse bass and sizzling drums. A Slammer Cocktail of Big Beat Jumpin’ Swingin’ Rhythm’n’Boogie-Blues.

The Story so far…
The Slammers Maximum Jive Band began in October 2004; Ex-Alabama Slammers Neale (Bass) and Claire (Piano) had met up with drummer Gary and guitarist Scott of the Jive Cats, and were advertising for Saxophone Players to complete a new band.

James (Vocals, Baritone Sax and Harmonica) came across the advert whilst searching for a second-hand fridge! Top Alto and Tenor Sax-Man Big Scott also answered the ad, and the resultant audition was a blast! This original line-up gelled immediately, rehearsing eagerly. James’ vocal talents were soon to the fore, and the year ended with a storming debut performance at Chelmsford Southern Jivers’ Club.

2005 began with the release of a 3-track demo CD and the first appearance of the Band’s dapper stage outfits. New tenor saxophonist Andy’s stunning Sam Butera-inspired solos lifted the band’s live shows to new highs at a series of successful performances, including London’s 100 Club, Brighton Jive and Shoreham RnR Club. The excitement, enjoyment and passion within the band was infectious, capturing attention, repeat bookings and a growing following.

In February 2006 the Band spent 4 days in the recording studio, laying down material for this their first CD.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 30 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. She Walks Right In
2. All Of Me
3. Just A Gigolo
4. Good Morning
5. Swanee River Boogie
6. 5 Months, 2 Weeks, 2 Days
7. Straighten Up And Fly Right
8. What'd I Say
9. Hook Line And Sinker
10. Stagger Lee
11. Short'nin Bread
12. The Chicken And The Hawk
13. Boogie woogie Country Girl
14. Buona Sera

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The Sprague Brothers (USA)
Best Of Ess Bee CD's Vol. 1

©El Toro Records 2007

A fusion of texans buddy holly and bobby fuller with a touch of surf here and a touch of merseybeat there, all blended into a superb and remarkable brand of rock 'n' roll uniquely sprague.

For those who love pure, unadulterated, masterful rock 'n' roll, look no further than the "Best of the EssBee CD's - Volume One" by the fabulous Sprague Brothers.

From their earliest recordings in 1990 through their highly acclaimed Hightone CD's, the Sprague Brothers have forged a clear and steady path, as leader Frank Lee Sprague says, "Influenced by none, inspired by many." With their roots in hometown Wichita Falls, Texas, the Sprague Brothers travel the musical map, fusing their love for the music of fellow Texans Buddy Holly and Bobby Fuller with a touch of surf here and a touch of Merseybeat there, all blended into a superb and remarkable brand of rock 'n' roll uniquely Sprague.

Throughout, their music is fresh, inspired and inspiring. There's no doubt the Sprague Brothers love what they do. You will too.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 30 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. Penetration
2. Hippy Hippy Shake
3. Rock Rock
4. Surefire
5. New Reason To Cry
6. You Only Live Twice
7. I'll Be True
8. Green Arrow
9. I'll Do It Every Time
10. Drum Boogie
11. Rock and Roll
12. I Feel A Brand New Heartache
13. My Tender Heart
14. Praying Mantis
15. Since I Don't Have You
16. No One Wants My love
17. Nesman Studios
18. Tall Tall Trees
19. Sunset In Tokyo
20. Just Over A Girl

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The Sprague Brothers (USA)
Best Of Ess Bee CD's Vol. 2

©El Toro Records 2007

A fusion of texans buddy holly and bobby fuller with a touch of surf here and a touch of merseybeat there, all blended into a superb and remarkable brand of rock 'n' roll uniquely sprague.

For those who love pure, unadulterated, masterful rock 'n' roll, look no further than the "Best of the EssBee CD's – Volume Two" by the
fabulous Sprague Brothers.

From their earliest recordings in 1990 through their highly acclaimed Hightone CD's, the Sprague Brothers have forged a clear and steady path, as leader Frank Lee Sprague says, "Influenced by none, inspired by many." With their roots in hometown Wichita Falls, Texas, the Sprague Brothers travel the musical map, fusing their love for the music of fellow Texans Buddy Holly and Bobby Fuller with a touch of surf here and a touch of Merseybeat there, all blended into a superb and remarkable brand of rock 'n' roll uniquely Sprague.

Throughout, their music is fresh, inspired and inspiring. There's no doubt the Sprague Brothers love what they do. You will too.

Rate This CD! Rating: After 22 Votes 5/54/53/52/51/5

1. Angelyne
2. All Night Long
3. Down The Line
4. Gotta Get You Near Me Blues
5. Never Knew
6. One Wheel Draggin'
7. Pickin' Peppers
8. Sea Cruise
9. Just Give Me a Chance
10. Diamond Head
11. Mopar Junk
12. Wailin
13. Beep Beep
14. She Won't Stay For Long
15. I Found Someone New Today
16. So How Come
17. If You'll Be Mine
18. Goldfinger
19. All By Myself
20. Goodbye My Love

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