Long awaited and long overdue, this new album of the Kings of Teddy Boy rock 'n' roll, Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers. It must be five years since their last original release "It's Wild, It's Weird, It's Crazy" (not counting Lyndon Need's solo effort "Guitar Crazy" from 1998). For as long as I can (or care to) remember I've been a Cavan fan, and I must say I'm very pleased with this new release. Have you seen the band on stage lately? Still wild as ever! Although Cavan has lost some hair over the years and is having a hard time making a greasy quiff nowadays (the hat he's wearing looks pretty neat), he never lost his love for rockabilly music. I wouldn't mind the fact that he's getting a bit bald, if it weren't for the fact that it reminds me of my own age. Well anyway, I still got my quiff, although it has a silver glow now.

This album rocks as Cavan has always rocked, larded with their own bluesy pounding crazy rhythm sound. Included are a bunch of well picked cover songs and a couple of Cavan Grogan original teddyboy songs. Lyndon is still wild as ever, with Terry, Steve and Mike keeping a steady rhythm. Guest stars are Linda Gail Lewis on piano (8 tracks!) and Dave Wood on fiddle. Surely a must for all Teddy Boys, rockers, and rockabillies all over the world!

Tracklisting:
Rhythm rockin' blues (Rolle McGill) / They raided the joint (Louis Jordan) / Frankie got a quiff (Cavan Grogan) / Wolverton Mountain (Killgore - King) / The feeling of love (L. Dixon - J. Williams) / Lizzy Beth (McCoy - Singleton) / Crazy love (Trad/arr. Cavan Grogan) / I go ape (Sedaka - Greenfield) / Somebody's stealin' my baby (R. White) / Gamblin' Barroom blues (J. Rogers - S. Alley) / Teddy boy flick knife rock'n'roll (Cavan Grogan) / Crazy moon (Al Horn) / Oh sugar (Hawkins - McGill) / I'm gone (Cavan Grogan)

Liner notes:
What can you say about a band that I regard as a 'legend'. It's hard to believe that this band has been on the road for the last 30 years and are still performing today and are now planning the next 30 years. I can remember to this day the first time I saw them. It was in Harrow in the mid 1970's at a club called the '65'. These cool looking guys strolled on to the small stage in our popular rock 'n' roll club. They had long drape jackets and quiffed hair and started their set with "Bop Little Baby", the sound was electrifying and everyone was starting to shake with excitement. We stood there with our mouths open. I said to my mate who was standing close by, "These guys are brilliant, where can we buy their records". They brought the house down and we were buzzing for weeks afterwards. Well, I can tell you that 30 years on, they are still bringing the house down and are even more popular with an audience of young and old.

Crazy Cavan & The Rhythm Rockers have a discography as long as your arm with many vinyl and CD releases. This latest CD just shows how versatile the band is, it's crammed full of great rockers and with years of experience they know what their fans expect. It was a big surprise to me to discover that the great Linda Gail Lewis is featured on eight of the tracks with her flying fingers on the piano. Linda's contribution and the Rhythm Rockers great sound make this CD their best release yet.

To sum these guys up is that apart from being good friends they are a great bunch of lads and are always welcomed by fans all over the world with open arms. They are a favourite with teddyboys and rockers, who love their 'crazy' sounds and wild stage performances. As I said in the beginning - 'This band is a legend' and I wish them every success in the future.

By Dell Richardson (Fury Records & Radio Caroline)

Available from:
http://www.nervous.co.uk

Nervous Records
5 Sussex Crescent
Northolt, Middx.
UB5 4DL, UK
Tel. +44 20 8423 7373
Fax +44 20 8423 7773

Crazy Cavan on the web:
http://www.rockabillyeurope.com/cavan/

Reviewed by The BlackCat, 2001