•
Rating: Revival is a word that brings to mind the idea of leftover soup, or lunch pasta that you lazily reheat in a pan for dinner to make a meal without effort.
The concept is not entirely different from what happens every time we associate the name of a musical genre with the word "revival." The danger of mimicking the pioneers of the genre is always there, if not a chronic absence of new ideas forcing revivalists to produce albums full of covers identical to the originals.
The Stray Cats, on their part, "epigones" of the dear old Rockabilly from Elvis onward, decided to venture into the minefield of revivalists in the full punk era, armed with a scorching electric guitar (Brian Setzer), a double bass (Lee Rocker), and a drum set (Slim Jim Phantom).
After their successful self-titled debut in 1981, the same year saw the release of this "Gonna Ball," certainly more underrated (and less sold) but no less successful than the previous one. There's little to comment on the excellent performance quality of the entire playlist, both the originals and the covers, just as there's little to say about the contagious enthusiasm that track after track the band manages to transmit to the listener, whether an enthusiast of the genre or not, with mastery and ease as veterans (yet we're talking about barely 19/20-year-olds).
There's more to say instead about the true added value of the band and their reheated soup: Brian Setzer's guitar.
Setzer manages to give a new color, a breath of originality to every track on the album, thanks to a crystal-clear technique, dizzying and engaging solos, along with an extremely versatile and clean shouter voice, especially on high notes.
To cite a track as an example: "Baby blue eyes." During the cover (irresistible), there are 4 masterful solos, each more beautiful than the last, played breakneck and with enormous maturity. Slap bass and drums follow suit, in a state of grace, but the real reason to snag this album is the leader's six-string and its breathtaking thrilling licks.
Highlighted are "Little Miss Prissy" (shouting vocals and often layered guitars), Cryin' Shame (a simple blues riff and mouth harmonica), "Wicked Wisky" (rock'n'roll tinged with rodeo country), "Lonely Summer Nights" (a tasteful slow dance track) and slightly underwhelming "Wasn't That Good" (weighed down by horns and a bit boring) and "(She'll Stay) Just One More Day" (slightly jazzy with sax and organ but also mildly soporific).
In conclusion, a great listen, proof that oftentimes the lunch pasta is even better reheated in the pan. The important thing is to take it off the heat in time and to have a bit of an appetite. So, Bon appetit!
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Little Miss Prissy (03:02)
Well I know a little lady, she lives down London way,
She talks and talks all night, but she ain't got much to say.
She don't need no ones opinion, don't want no interruptions,
Just shuts up long enough to reapply the suction
Well she's little miss prissy, and she love you,
but she ain't worth a dime
Well I swallow all her comments, make her all remarks,
When I finally get her where I want her,
Her bite's worse than her bark.
Well she's little miss prissy, she love you,
but she ain't worth the time
She ain't worth the time
Well I know a little lady, she lives down London way,
She talks and talks all night, but she ain't got much to say.
She don't need no ones opinion, don't need no interruptions,
Just shuts up long enough to reapply the suction
Well she's little miss prissy, and she love you,
but she ain't worth the time
She ain't worth the time
but she ain't worth the time
She ain't worth the time. Oh no
Well she's little miss prissy, and she love you,
but she ain't worth the time
04 Cryin' Shame (03:30)
Well I'm in love with you baby
And I do declare it's a cryin' shame
Well I'm in love with you baby
And I do declare it's a cryin' shame
When I woke up last night
And you called me by another man's name
Well I'm sending you right back home
Let your mother take care of you
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
I'm sending you right back home to New York
Let your mother take care of you
Well I've got lots of things to see
Too many things I've gotta do
Well I miss you girl and I love you love
And I hope you're doin' fine
Just leave me alone darling
Stop sniffin' around my door
Or else I'm gonna leave you behind
I'm in love with you baby
And I do declare it's a cryin' shame
Yeah heh heh I'm in love with you baby
And I do declare it's a cryin' shame
When I woke up late last night
And you called me by another man's name
Out the door
Well I miss you girl and I love you love
And I hope you're doin' fine
Just leave me alone darling
Stop sniffin' around my door
Or else I'm gonna leave you behind
I'm sending you right back home
Let your mother take care of you
Yeah yeah yeah
I'm sending you right back home
Let your mother take care of you
I've got lots of things to see
Too many things I've gotta do
Yeah
I love you alnight long
What else is there that I can do
I love you alnight long darling
What else is there that I can do
06 You Don't Believe Me (02:58)
I never understand what you do to me,
But I'll never get right down on bended knee,
But I cry and I cry and I cry
I don't think you know you've done me wrong,
But still I've been in love now oh so long
But I try and I try and I try,
and you don't believe me
I give you my house, my heart, my home,
When I'm gone you're not alone
You never hear a thing I say,
And it happens every day
Why, why, why, why, why, why are you never home ?
While I, I, I, I, I, sit here by the phone
'Cause I try and I try and I try,
and you don't believe me
Oh lord, I give you my house, my heart, my home,
When I'm gone you're not alone
You never hear a thing I say,
And it happens every day
Why, why, why, why, why, why are you never home ?
While I, I, I, I, I, sit here by the phone
'Cause I try and I try and I try,
and you don't believe me
Well I try and I try and I try,
and you don't believe me
Well I try and I try and I try,
and you don't believe me
09 Rev It Up & Go (02:28)
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
I got a thirty nine Ford, this only just won't die,
But I got a thirty nine Ford, this old heap just won't die,
Well, this thirty nine Ford might outlive you and I
Having a beer and listening to the radio
Having a beer and listening to the radio
It's got a worn back seat and a steamed up rear window
I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
Well, Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go go go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go go go
Rev it up and go
I got a big old bomb and it gets me where I want to go
Loading comments slowly
