Instrumental rock band from Toledo, Ohio. Founded as Orbits 1957 and after providing backing for rockabilly singer Mack Vickery on a couple of singles, renamed to Johnny and the Hurricanes and got a US hit with "Crossfire" 1959. The follow-up "Red River Rock" also became a hit in Europe and downunder and from that on they became a much bigger name outside US than on home turf, especially in UK with four top ten singles and three more top twenty up to 1961. This debute album has A:s and B:s of their first two singles - "Crossfire"/"Lazy" and "Red River Rock"/"Buckeye" - coupled with eight in the same style, where they mostly do older well known songs as instrumental up-tempo rock with saxophone, guitar or organ in the lead. Recordings are simple, direct and audio crystal. A style and sound that today probably seem obsolete to modern listeners with a clarity that may hurt younger synthesized ears, though for old blokes like me who have plained auditory systems and lots of good memories from the days still inspiring. Maybe not my first choice for close listening, but always a heartening background. Favorite tracks - "Red River Rock", "Rock-sha" and "Crossfire". Premiere US on Warwick (W 2007). Also originally issued in Australia, Canada and a couple of European countries. Japan 2015 CD on Oldays (ODR6146) came with seven bunus tracks. Early UK had label as shown here and laminated cover, some with flip-back. (FÖGÄ*)
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