GENE VINCENT/SOUNDS LIKE GENE VINCENT T 1207 (-59) UK MONO

Gene Vincent (born Vincent Eugene Craddock 1935-71) was one of the main forces behind rockabilly and the white branch of rock'n'roll and his 1956 hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula" is a true rock classic that probably every genre fan have a relation to. Therefore I feel rather sad when I for the first time check his history and find out that was hit was about it. (Following is my abridged version.) 1957 he did reach #14 on Billboard with "Lotta Lovin" and #43 with "Dance To The Bop", but after that...nothing. He earned millions on those three songs and also had prosperous turing in US up to 1959, but after trouble with the tax authorities fled to Europe. During a UK tour with Eddie Cochran, April 1960, they were in a serious car accident which hurt Vincent badly and killed Cochran. After that Vincent returned to US and for many years he commuted back and forth over the Atlantic trying to revive his carrer, but without much success. During that time he also started to get serious alcohol problems which sometimes led to outbreaks...e.g. when he tried to kill Gary Glitter in a German hotel room 1968. He fired several shots against him, but all missed and Glitter left the country soon after. Drinking also caused health problems and probably the main reason to his premature death in ruptured stommac ulcer at age 36. This was his fifth album, released just after things started to complicate . Not sure how much his regular band "The Blue Caps" were involved as it was billed as a solo effort and much of it sounds more like an arranged studio project than dirty rock'n'roll. In any case it's nicely done. A mix of up tempo and slow movers, professionally backed and very well sung, conveyed by top audio. I especially like the parts where he gets emotional and sings out, like the high pitch vocals in "You Are The One For Me" or his intimate handling of "Now Is The Hour". You might argue some of it sounds close to Buddy Holly and others Elvis-like, but they all stole like ravens from eachother back then anyway, so it don't bother me. Premiere US on Capitol (T 1207). 1959 issues also in Canada, Downunder and South Africa. French 1999 CD on Magic Records (5213762) came with seven bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here, thick unflexible vinyl and laminated flip/back cover. (FÖGÄ*)