Memories of the massive impact that Rockabilly music had on 1970's Teddy Boys which includes the BBC Radio 2 Show - When Rockabilly Ruled OK.
When Rockabilly Ruled OK
Mark Radcliffe looks back 30 years to the second rock 'n' roll revolution to hit the UK....Rockabilly.
Twenty years after Bill Haley and Elvis first appeared, a new rock 'n' roll scene was bubbling under in the UK clubs, based around rare American rockabilly records from the 1950`s, that had never been issued in Britain. Names like Charlie Feathers, Mac Curtis, Ray Campi, Billy Lee Riley, Don Woody, Sonny Burgess and many more, were revered amongst the fans, but unknown to the general public.
The programme tells how the music leapt out of the rock n roll 'underground` and for a few short years, became the hottest new cult in pop music with major record companies signing new bands, as well as digging out long-lost rockabilly tracks from their vaults, for first-time release in the UK.
It also tells how thousands of rock n roll fans marched on BBC Broadcasting House in 1976, demanding to hear `their` music on the nations` airwaves and how this resulted in two unknown London pub DJs, Stuart Colman and Geoff Barker, being catapulted onto Radio 1, with a progamme that arguably kick-started the rockabilly movement.
We hear from Stuart Colman and Geoff Barker along with musicians from bands at the time, including rockabilly hit-makers Matchbox, The Jets, The Polecats and Shakin` Stevens: original American rockabilly artistes, MacCurtis and Sonny Burgess and key UK bands, Crazy Cavan and Flying Saucers and hear the story of rockabilly`s biggest hit, Jungle Rock by the obscure Hank Mizell.
Along with BBC archive sessions recorded for the Radio 1 programme which have not been aired since 1977, the programme rejoices in the times when, for a while, it seemed that rockabilly really did rule...OK?
The programme concludes with a look at Rockabilly today ..30 years after the revolution!
Music on the show:
Johnny Burnette & The Rock n Roll Trio / Rockabilly Boogie
Andy Starr / Rockin` Rollin` Stone
Sonny Fisher / Rockin` Daddy
Eddie Bond / Slippin In
Elvis, Scotty & Bill / Baby Let`s Play House
Mac Curtis / If I Had Me A Woman
Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers / Teddy Boy Rock 'n' Roll
Charlie Feathers / One Hand Loose
Crazy Cavan / Rockabilly Star
Don Woody / You`Re Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
Carl Perkins / Put Your Cat Clothes On
Billy Lee Riley / Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll
Hank Mizell / Jungle Rock
Ray Campi / Tore Up
Shaky / It`s Rock 'n' Roll (Theme)
Crazy Cavan / Wildest Cat In Town (BBC Session)
Mac Curtis / Ducktail
Sonny Burgess / We Wanna Boogie
Matchbox / Rockabilly Rebel
Mac Curtis / Goosebumps (BBC Session)
The Jets / Yes Tonight Josephine
The Polecats / Rockabilly Guy
The Polecats / John I`m Only Dancing
Robert Gordon & Link Wray / Red Hot
Stray Cats / Runaway Boys
Darrel Higham / Down The Line
Jack Rabbit Slim / Jeeze Louise
Furious / Asbo Shuffle
(Reprise ) Matchbox / Rockabilly Rebel
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