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Elvis Presley was not the music innovator of the '50s. He was the biggest star the music world had ever produced up to that point, his success was universal, and it was mainly thanks to him that rock 'n' roll spread in the west. Millions of young girls lost their heads when "Elvis the Pelvis" showcased his famous hip-swiveling moves, but the true architects of the musical revolution were Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Eddie Cochran.
To frame the artist, it's worth mentioning that Jimi Hendrix considered him the only white musician from whom he had learned something. At just sixteen, he joined Hank Cochran (they were not related) to form the Cochran Brothers, a duo that played country. The partnership ended when Eddie met Jerry Capehart, who became his manager and would accompany him throughout his short life. After an unsuccessful audition at Sun Records with Sam Phillips, he found a home at Liberty Records, for which he recorded "Twenty Flight Rock", a track that already captures the essence of the music that would make him famous—a very rhythmic and no-frills sound that makes you move to the beat of the guitar. He also appeared in the film "The Girl Can't Help It".
Despite being very young, Eddie soon proved to be a talented singer, songwriter, session musician, and guitarist, quickly becoming an expert in the field of recording. He was one of the first to employ the technique of overdubbing (vocal and instrumental overlays). While mom and dad listened to "Mantovani" and "Ray Conniff", in '58 he composed "Summertime Blues", one of the great masterpieces of rock 'n' roll, which made him a youth idol. It was covered numerous times by other artists, perhaps the most famous cover being by "Who".
I discovered Eddie Cochran while reading some interviews with punk musicians, who claimed to have drawn most of their inspiration from his music. This shows that punk is a return to the origins of rock 'n' roll, from which it took the prodigious revolutionary charge, with the difference that in '77 the songs were played with angry energy, and the lyrics were irreverent, often offensive. "Sid Vicious" relaunched two of Cochran's tracks, "C'mon Everybody" and "Somethin' Else", keeping the cadence and melodic structure almost unchanged, only altering the visual impact and interpreting them roughly.
He had not yet turned 22 when he died in a car accident in 1960, after a triumphant tour in England. Despite a very brief career, he quickly became a cult figure, an artist who, with just a handful of songs, managed to find a place in music history. Four records in which all the pioneering work of this legendary rocker is contained, his compositions, covers, and other recordings indicative of his artist life.
Tracklist and Lyrics
04 C'mon Everybody (01:55)
Ah well, c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight
I got some money in my jeans and I'm really gonna spend it right
Well I've been a-doin' my homework all week long
And now the house is empty and the folks are gone
Ooo C'mon everybody
Ah well my baby's number one but I'm gonna dance with three or four
And the house'll be a-shakin' from my bare feet slappin' on the floor
Well, when you hear that music you can't sit still
If your brother won't rock then your sister will
Ooo C'mon everybody
Well we'll really have a party but we gotta put a guard outside
If my folks come a-home I'm afraid they're gonna have my hide
They'll be no more movies for a week or two
No more runnin' round with the usual crew
Who cares C'mon everybody
C'mon everybody
C'mon everybody
10 Skinny Jim (02:09)
Well, I know a guy who's bone & skin
Women, they've been ravin' 'bout skinny Jim
Skinny Jim, man, skinny Jim
Yes yes yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim
Well, I went to a party & skinny Jim
(2nd line imperceptible)
Skinny Jim, man, skinny Jim
Yes yes yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim
Well, Jim got charm, he got class
All the women love him oh yeah yeah yeah
Skinny Jim, man, skinny Jim
Yes yes yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim
(scat singing + title, x4)
Yes yes yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim
(instrumental)
(repeat verses 2 & 3)
(scat singing + title, x4)
Yes yes yes, all the gals love him, skinny Jim
27 Cut Across Shorty (01:52)
now a country boy called shorty
and a city boy named dan
had to prove who could run the fastest
to win miss lucy's hand
now dan had all the money
and he also had the looks
but shorty must have had something, boys
that can't be found in books
well, a-cut across shorty, shorty cut across
that's what miss lucy said
cut across shorty, shorty cut across
it's you i wanna wed
now dan had been in training
a week before the race
he made up his mind
ol' shorty would end in second place
and dan with his long legs a-flyin'
left shorty far behind
and shorty heard him holler out
miss lucy, you'll soon be mine
but shorty wasn't worried
there was a smile upon his face
he knew that he was a-goin' to win
'cause lucy had fixed the race
and just like that old story
about the turtle and the hair
when dan crossed over the finish line
he found shorty waiting there
68 Sittin' in the Balcony (01:57)
I'm just a-sittin' in the balcony
Just a watchin' the movie
Or maybe it's a symphony, I wanna know
I don't care about the symphonies
Just the cymbals & the timpanis
Just a-sittin' in the balcony on the very last row
I'll hold your hand & I'll kiss you too
The feature's over, but we're not through
Just a-sittin' the balcony
Holdin' hands in the balcony
Just a-sittin' in the balcony on the very last row
(instrumental)
We may stop lovin' to watch Bugs Bunny
But he can't take the place of my honey
Just a-sittin' in the balcony
Just a-smoochin' in the balcony
Just a-sittin' in the balcony on the very last row
Just a-huggin' & a-kissin' my baby on the very last row
72 Completely Sweet (02:30)
well completely sweet that's my baby
completely sweet, i don't mean maybe
well completely sweet that's my baby
completely sweet, i don't mean maybe
and i love her more 'n' more each day
she's so completely sweet
well a-just like a-honey, that the bees bring in
mmm, a-just like a honey, that the bees bring in
mmm, i get my sugar, when i kiss her on the chin
well the sugar in my coffee, well the sugar in my tea
well the sugar in my coffee, mmmm the sugar in my tea
mmm, they both taste better, with a sugar on my knee
77 Cut Across Shorty (02:01)
now a country boy called shorty
and a city boy named dan
had to prove who could run the fastest
to win miss lucy's hand
now dan had all the money
and he also had the looks
but shorty must have had something, boys
that can't be found in books
well, a-cut across shorty, shorty cut across
that's what miss lucy said
cut across shorty, shorty cut across
it's you i wanna wed
now dan had been in training
a week before the race
he made up his mind
ol' shorty would end in second place
and dan with his long legs a-flyin'
left shorty far behind
and shorty heard him holler out
miss lucy, you'll soon be mine
but shorty wasn't worried
there was a smile upon his face
he knew that he was a-goin' to win
'cause lucy had fixed the race
and just like that old story
about the turtle and the hair
when dan crossed over the finish line
he found shorty waiting there
80 Nervous Breakdown (02:17)
CHORUS:
I'm a-havin' a nervous breakdown
A mental shakedown
See my hands, how they shiver
See my knees, how they quiver
My whole body's in a jitter
I'm a-havin' a nervous breakdown
Well, I went to see my doctor just the other day
& I've got to tell you what the man had to say
Well, he said, "Hey, boy, you just gotta slow down
You can't keep a-traipsin' all over town
After givin' you a physical check
I've come to the conclusion you're a total wreck"
(chorus)
I've made up my mind I'd better change my ways
My shattered nerves have seen better days
No more girls for a week or 2
No more runnin' 'round with the usual crew
No more movies or stayin' out late
My baby have to find herself another date
(chorus)
90 Cherished Memories (01:51)
You're going away - away from me
But here in my heart is the memory of
The way we danced the way we kissed
The way we fell in love
Oh the little secrets that we shared
When I was sad the way you cared
You let me know you understand
The way you hold my hand
Cherised Memories the things a fellow cant forget
Cherised Memories Im leaving but I love you yet..
Now you say that we must part
And even though it breaks my heart
Theres one thing you cant take from me
Thats my Cherised Memories
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