ALBUM REVIEWS
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BIG BEAT Magazine, Melbourne, Australia - July Edition CD Review: Flatfoot Shakers Title: Let’s Go To Planet Bop Preston records: PEP 5102
Track list: • Slow Down, Heartbreak Ahead • High Class, Long Legged Beauty Queen • Let’s Go To Planet Bop • Wild Wild Wild • You’ve Got A Hold On Me • Am I Losing You • I’m The King of The Road • Mama’s Little Baby • Flat Out Like A Lizard Drinkin’ • Mister Moonlight • Nursery Rhyme Baby • Emily • The Way You’re Treating Me • Skinner The Cat Once again the Flatfoot Shakers are set to delight fans with the release of their new CD Let’s Go To Planet Bop. The production of this fourth album took place at Melbourne’s highly respected Preston Studios, which has become the premier Australian studio for musicians wanting an authentic vintage sound on their recordings. After a successful launch at Queensland’s Wintersun festival in early June, and another at Melbourne’s Monash Hotel in early July, the Planet Bop CD is already selling fast. There are fourteen tracks on this disc, including twelve originals written by frontman Kieron McDonald. The overall track list displays good diversity. The raw passion of the rockin’ tracks such as “Wild Wild Wild” comes straight out of the rebellious youth culture of 1950s, while the softer songs are more mature in lyrical content. There are several upbeat tunes on here that provide the high rollin’ energy that the Shakers are well known for, including “Long Legged Beauty Queen” and “Nursery Rhyme Baby”, while the very sweet “Am I Losing You” deserves a special mention for the pretty key change in the middle of the song. “Mister Moonlight” is a mellow number which moves somewhat differently from the rest. It seems to carry the mood of a Doo Wop tune, reminding me of a high school prom from days gone by. I must admit that the first few times it played I kept anticipating that there would be a saxophone solo during the instrumental break. The title track is impressive, with its clever vocal variations and it spacey audio effects, but my favourite off this new disc has got to be “Flat Out Like A Lizard Drinkin”. It wins, hands down, simply because I can’t go past a good guitar song. With some snappy lyrics it shamelessly indulges in a little name-dropping in the form of (Merle) Travis, (Hank) Snow, Grady (Martin) and (Scotty) Moore, so there are already four very good reasons to appreciate the tune. The laid-back vocal style used on this song is strongly reminiscent of that which was used on the old classic “Hot Rod Lincoln” – the lyrics are spoken as much as they are sung, which really adds something unique to the melody. The two covers on this disc have been carefully selected and have come up trumps after being given the Flatfoot Shakers treatment. “Mama’s Little Baby” is a great rocker which remains true to the original Junior Thompson version (on the Meteor label), while “Tired of the Way You’re Treating Me” is the one song on the album that reverts back to a real country feel. I have in my music collection an excellent contemporary cover of the latter as done by the Barnstompers from Holland, and the Flatfoot Shakers rendition is equally as good as theirs. The musicians in the current Shakers line-up obviously work incredibly well together because these four guys just keep making great music. McDonald continues to prove his worth as a songwriter and vocalist, while fellow founding band member Jamie Vancam continues to hold a steady beat on the skins. Axe-man-extraordinaire Peter Baylor provides all the great lead guitar work on this album, while Andy ‘hillbilly’ Scott contributes his plentiful skills on the upright bass. The Flatfoot Shakers continue going from strength to strength and Lets Go To Planet Bop is yet another leap forward on their very admirable musical journey. As the last song fades from the speakers there’s a final word from McDonald that says it all in a nutshell, “Meeeeeooowww”… These cats just keep on rockin’! Let’s hope this trend continues well into the future. Copies of Lets Go To Planet Bop are now in stock at Hound Dog’s Bop Shop in Melbourne, and they can also be picked up at Flatfoot Shakers gigs for $20 each. If you can’t get to a gig or to the Bop Shop you can have a copy posted to your door for $23. For album purchases and band bookings contact the band via e-mail: flatfootshaker@yahoo.com or phone Kieron McDonald on 0403 129 362. Kiz. BIG BEAT Magazine, Melbourne, Australia - July Edition CD Review: Flatfoot Shakers Title: Many Sides Of The Flatfoot Shakers Rhythm Bomb Records - RBR 5653 Track listing: • My Little Baby • Chicka Boom • Stutterin’ Sue • Lonesome • No Turning Back • Long Gone • Gold Diggin’ Mama • I’m Getting’ Rid Of You • The Love Bug • Louisiana Mama • Waiting For You • Sentimental Fool • Be Boppin’ Baby • Hypnotised • Greasy Hair • Little Girl (Bonus Alternate Take) • I Can’t Seem To Make It Real • Rocketship To The Moon Has it really been a decade since the Flatfoot Shakers first started shakin’? The backbone of the group was originally formed in April 1997 and now, to coincide with the completion of their fourth album, they are simultaneously releasing a compilation disc which is appropriately entitled Many Sides of the Flatfoot Shakers. It carries the best of the tunes from their first three platters as well as two tunes from the Preston Rockabilly promotional CD that came out way back in January 2000. This compilation CD was put together late last year and has just been released through Rhythm Bomb Records of London, thanks to the ongoing dedication of Ralph Braband. There are a grand total of eighteen tracks on this disc, including one bonus track which is an alternate take of “Little Girl”. Apart from the one cover song on the album, Gene Pitney’s “Louisiana Mama”, the remainder of the tracks are Flatfoot Shakers originals written by frontman Kieron McDonald. Many Sides of the Flatfoot Shakers showcases the wildest, the sweetest and the sassiest tunes of all their previous recordings. The varied track list changes pace several times. At one end of the scale is the very crazy “My Little Baby”, and at the other end is the very sensitive “I Can’t Seem To Make It Real”. It brings together a mixture of boppers, jivers, ballads and of course strollers, including the one that did so well for them over in Europe “Chicka Boom”. This disc is a virtual documentation of the band’s development over the past ten years. The earlier tracks feature Phil Jones on lead guitar and Carl Baker on double bass, while the different venues involved in the recordings are Preston Studios of Melbourne, Greg MacMillan’s studio in Christmas Hills and Tail Studios all the way over in Sweden. With four full length albums under their belts the boys certainly have made a name for themselves. They have played and toured extensively across Australia, including festivals in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, and of course the huge Wintersun festival in Queensland. They have also gathered a fan base of international supporters, mostly a result of their musical globetrotting. Their overseas tours have encompassed a five week stint in Europe (July 2000), the Rockabilly Rave in England (March 2001) and Viva Las Vegas in the USA (April 2001 and again in 2005). Keeping in mind that the band no longer has any copies left of their first album (self-titled), their second album Shakin’ Tonight, or the Preston Rockabilly CD, this compilation disc represents a rare second chance for anyone who missed out on any of those early platters. Don’t miss out a second time! For fans who have followed the progress of the Flatfoot Shakers since their humble beginnings a decade ago, this disc emerges as an essential collection of their “greatest hits”. The regular followers will be thrilled with the selection of songs on offer. Many Sides Of The Flatfoot Shakers is selling for $20 at gigs or can be posted out for $23. For band bookings & CD purchases contact the band via email: flatfootshaker@yahoo.com or phone Kieron McDonald on 0403 129 362. International buyers now have the option of purchasing this disc over the internet via the CD Baby website (see below). Buying a copy of this disc is a great way to join in the celebration of the band’s success, and it’s also the very best way to thank them for providing ten years of great live entertainment. Well done, Boys! It’s time to party! Kiz. Footnote: Collectors might be interested to know that are only a dozen copies left of the Flatfoot Shakers’ 10” vinyl platter entitled Chicka Boom. You’d better be super-quick if you want a piece of Aussie vinyl history! BLACKCAT ROCKABILLY HOF - HOLLAND (2004) FLATFOOT SHAKERS - HIGH HEELED LOVIN' MACHINE (Tagalong Records)
The Flatfoot Shakers from Down Under released their fourth album. Fifteen new songs from the pen of singer/composer Kieron McDonalds. I must confess I'm not too familiar with their other material, three CD's! After listening to this CD that will change, starting this week I will try to lay my hands on the other three records and give them a listen. It's not that I'm totally blown away by this release, the bulk of songs on the CD are medium-tempo foottappers not able to let my blood run any faster. Most songs are too much country, too mild and lack the charisma to grab me by the balls. But that's my personal view and taste, so sue me ;-) But don't let me give you the impression that this is a crap album! Ok, maybe not easy to grasp, after you read my introduction, but read on. If you're one of those rockabillies that, like a good deal of'm, also really dig C&W and Western Swing, and even a stray Hank Williams Jr song, than you could easily buy this CD and never ever regret that you did. The first five songs are a liking to my taste, good ol' plain rock 'n' roll with a strong dash of rockabilly straight from the history books. The album takes off with "Hypnotized", a strong rocker and well produced song. Original sound and swinging till the last note. Same goes for the next one, "Little Girl". The title song "High Heeled Lovin' Machine" would be my personal favorite on this album. "Shakin" vocals straight from the jukebox era and Pete Bailor throwing in a beautiful catchy guitar riff. Next one is a train song. Lotsa songs have been written over the iron horse bringing loved ones back or taking them away. Personally I think the steamloc has given most songwriters a perfect excuse to write some of the greatest songs ever written. This one is not the best train song I ever heard, that honor would go to Sleepy La Beef's "I'm Through" but certainly this one earned itself a high rank amongst my favorites. "Blow Whistle Blow" has a strong Lonnie Donegan flavor and showcases one of the many voices Kieron McDonald masters. Number five, "Greasy Hair" is another strong song in the line of "High Heeled Lovin' Machine". I would have loved a CD full of this, but alas the album takes a sharp bend to Western Swing after these five excellent songs. As said, not my cuppa, but I'm enough of a music lover to appreciate professionalism and creative talent. So if you're on to this style, then you should listen to this album and I bet you wont be dissapointed. There's also two ballads on this release, of which "(You Don't See Me) Through their Eyes" made a deep impression on me, although I would've appreaciated a little more torture in Kieron's voice. BLACKCAT ROCKABILLY HOF - HOLLAND (3-FEB-2000) FLATFOOT SHAKERS, SELF TITLED (Preston Records)
Every now and then, a CD falls on my doormat that knocks me right off my feet. This one did just that! I had never heard anything by The Flatfoot Shakers before, but I was very surprised when I first played this platter. This is top-shelf rockabilly with a bite! Thirteen tracks (40 mins.) of which a big nine are Flatfoot Shakers' originals. If you haven't heard of The Flatfoot Shakers before either, but you like fat greasy rockabilly in a classic 50s style, this one is for you. It can easlily match up to some of my other favorites in this genre like The Satellites, Duvals, Jack Baymoore and Go Getters. Like The Satelites, this band originates from Australia (or Oz as they call it), be sure to read the bio of this band on our website (Hall Of Fame). Now let's talk rockabilly... The CD starts of with a fast paced sure-to-be-a-classic rockabilly bopper "My Little Baby's Gone Boppin' Tonight". Superb classic sound, great Scotty Moore style lead guitar by Phil Jones, I love this guy already. The second track named "Whenever You're Ready" is a very well done cover of Dorsey Burnette's self-penned "Let's Fall In Love" (Abbott 188, 1956). Track 3 is titled "Heartbreakin' Mama" and that's a bit misleading, because you will immediatly think of the Skeets McDonald classic (with Eddie Cochran on guitar), but this is a totally different song. It's kind of a slower-paced honky tonk rockabilly thing with a greasy fat doghouse bass (great!), written by the band's singer Kieron McDonald (did you notice Skeets and Kieron DO have the same last name :)) Number four "Chicka Boom", also written by Kieron, is another gem in a rockabilly blues style that will tear you up... shivers down my spine. Next is Hal Harris' classic "Jitterbop Baby", well done. Six already, another one of Kieron's songs "Yonder Comes The Devil", a country song to dream away on, very light vocals and some additional steel guitar by Rick Dempster. "Stutterin' Sue" is another pounding rockabilly love song with a great lead guitar. And "You Ain't So Big" immediatly reminded me of some old Ballroomers (Finland) EP's from the eighties, maybe Kieron picked up their sound when he stayed in Europe in the early 90s, great vocals. "I Wonder If" is a cover of Jimmy Kirkland's Teen Life single and "Lonesome" is yet another Kieron-penned original, a ballad this time, to slow down the pace a bit (I was getting quite hot here). The next one is titled "Phil's Boogie", obviously written by the band's lead gitarist Phil Jones. The "Boogie" part of the title would suggest a piano rocker, but it's not. It's a bluesy (but still rockabilly) instrumental with great guitar. Track twelve "Tag Along" is a Rocket Morgan cover, that was also very well covered by Hank C. Burnette on Mac records in the seventies. Wonder which one the band heard first.. And last but not least, "Bad Luck Blues", a Kieron original again with that distinctive greasy slap. Too bad this is the end of it, wish there were 26 tracks on this CD, but I can asure you, this one is worth your money for sure. I don't know if you can find this gem in the shops, but it is available directly from the band.CONTINENTAL RESTYLING MAGAZINE- FRANCE (Issue 43 Feb-2000) FLATFOOT SHAKERS, SELF TITLED (Preston Records) More Authentic recordings from the Flatfoot Shakers. The self penned opener "My Little Baby's (Goin' Boppin' Tonight)" is mind blowing and is almost worth buying the whole CD for. It really has that 50's Rockabilly sound and feel! Other originals such as "Heart Breakin' Mama" are top too, and there's excellent covers of Tommy Todd's, "Tag Along", Hal Harris "Jitterbop Baby" and Dorsey Burnette's "Whenever Your Ready". This CD is mainly made of self penned songs but too many of them were mid tempo for my liking. Also, the playing on some songs are a bit less authentic than others. I would have prefered a whole album of songs like "My Little Baby" but for a first album this is a success. Here Kitty Kitty - A Kitten's Guide to Hepcat Life MAGAZINE- USA (Issue 9 Jan-2000) FLATFOOT SHAKERS, SELF TITLED (Preston Records) Okay, being partial to accents of foreign cats, I can't help but love this release!! Come on kittens we all LOVE foreign men! Okay, besides the foreign bit these cats are real rockers! The Flatfoot Shakers are a four piece rockabilly band from Melbourne, Australia. Specializing in the authentic sounds of the 50's, they cover a wide range of Rockabilly, Hillbilly and country boogie sounds. My favourite tracks are definately "Chicka Boom" (hauntingly familiar), "Stutterin' Sue" (a crazy toe-tappin' track believe me!) and the lap steel on "Yonder Comes The Devil" simply makes me melt! Nine tracks of the 13 are originals. The Flatfoot Shakers, originally formed in 1997 are definately worth a listen, your feet will be stomping and your heart will be racin'! I tell you they have been on my player ever since I opened my mail! (ladybug). HEPCAT RECORDS - California, USA ( June 2000 ) Flatfoot Shakers - S/T (Preston Records) PEP 5071 Another red-hot band from down under, The Flatfoot Shakers offer up 13 songs on this debut disc. There are some fantastic original songs on this well-recorded release including Chicka Boom and Stutterin' Sue. Lead singer, Kieron has one great voice and the band plays with fine, authentic style.
CONTINENTAL RESTYLING MAGAZINE- FRANCE (Issue 43 Feb-2000) PRESTON ROCKABILLY, COMPILATION (Preston Records) It's been many years since we last heard some real authentic Rockabilly from Australia. This 12 track CD was recorded on vintage tube equipment at Melbourne's Preston Studios - the sound is excellent. We discover 3 Rockabilly bands from the south east of the country: The Flatfoot Shakers, The Satellites (featuring a female singer on most tracks) and Wes & the Sonic aces. These bands play good straight forward Rockabilly - highly enjoyable stuff. The songs are self penned apart from 3 classic covers: "Miss Froggie" (great version), "Go Ahead On" and "Hoy Hoy". A great compilation, also available on 10" format for you vinyl collectors. Here Kitty Kitty - A Kitten's Guide to Hepcat Life MAGAZINE- USA (Issue 9 Jan-2000) PRESTON ROCKABILLY, COMPILATION (Preston Records) Preston records boasting its Australian made rockabilly has sure put out a great compilation release featuring the Flatfoot Shakers, the Satellites and Wes & the Sonic Aces, all Aussie Rockin' bands who know how to play some mean Rockabilly!! This release is something you'll want to put on your player long after the bars have closed, you still think you need more to drink and your still cutting a rug.... nuff said. (ladybug). |
