CD 192498 THE EAST & WEST ROCKERS

Tracks: Send Me Some Lovin' (v), La Golondrina, Isle Of Capri, Pretend (v), I Can't Forget You (v), Guitar Humoresque, Begin The Beguine, Hippy Hippy Shake (v), I'll Try (v), Ave Maria No Morro, In The Mood, Pledging My Love (v), Mona Lisa (v), Guitar Boogie, April In Paris, Tennessee Waltz (v), Be Bop A Lula (v), My Happiness, Teen Scene, Blue Suede Shoes (v), One Night (v), Barcarolle, Sari Nande, Move It (v), Whole Lotta Shakin' (v)

(from PIPELINE #26 - Spring 1995)

East & West rockers have a big guitar sound and use twin rhythm guitars and bass to support the lead. This is essential to reproduce Dutch Indo pieces like La Golondrina and Isle Of Capri which dominate the instrumental half of this release. The rockin' Guitar Boogie has a touch of keyboard to fill the sound out even more and Teen Scene sports a very powerfull rhythm track too. However, these are the only two non-Indo titles and so the desirability of this CD will depend on your taste for Indo instros. If you like them you won't be disappointed by these beefy presentations from East & West Rockers. (Alan Taylor)

CD 192518 THE EAST & WEST ROCKERS vol. 2

Tracks: Let Me Tell You (v), You Are My Sunshine, Tallahassee Lassie (v), Should I, Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die (v), Patricia, Keep On Knockin' (v), Till, It'll Be Me (v), Carioca, You're Still The One (v), Black Swan, No Particular Place To Go (v), Ajoen Ajoen, Forty Days (v), Traditional Guitars, Lonely Cissy (v), Yellow Jacket, Jailhouse Rock (v), La Paloma, Hey Little Angel (v), Gitarren Spielt Auf, Dreams Gonna Be Real (v), Terang Boelan

(from PIPELINE #31 - Summer 1996)

There's well over half an hour of guitar instrumentals to enjoy on this CD from The East & West Rockers. Their three guitars, bass and drums line-up probably stems from a fondness for Dutch Indo-rock but it is also ideal for the String-A-Longs type of number that they also feature. With a solid backing and strong rhythm, the lead guitar is bright and forceful to present a very full and upfront sound. Often they'll use an acoustic rhythm with lead guitar on the melody and second electric guitar filling in on damped strings. I found their style more to my liking than The Stringalongs' rather laid back MOR approach on numbers such as Should I. They bring a nice feel to Till, they have worked up a good arrangement for it too, and Black Swan (aka Saturday Night At The Duck-pond) has a beautifully ringing lead. They medley is a full five minutes long so you get a goody slice of all three numbers with Ghost Riders In The Sky providing the framework. There's a little background piano instead of second guitar on these to help fill out the sound and it's there on a fine Yellow Jacket too. With rolling Dutch Indo numbers like La Paloma and Gitarren Spielt Auf! there's a variety of guitar instrumental styles on offer on this CD which is a cut above the usual mixed vocal/instrumental releases coming out of Europe. (Alan Taylor)

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CD 192528 DUTCH ROCK 'N' ROLL

Tracks: Kom Van Dat Dak Af, De Hele Stad Is Gek En Dol, Marijke, Jenny, Veertig Rovers, Janus, Laat Me Los, Ga Mikie Ga, Doe Maar Net Alsof, Kom Op Rocking, 24.000 Kussen, Dat Ben Ik, Speel Die Dans, Flirt, Hello Mary Lou, Crazy Love, Teenage Meisje, Patsy, Een Boeketje Rode Rozen, Jolande Jij

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CD 192724 STUDIO ALBUM

Tracks: I Got A Woman / St. James Infirmary / Tequila Sunrise / Autumn Leaves / I´m Walkin´ (v) / Something / Delilah / Miss Judy / Nikita / Turn The Cards Slowly (v) / Everybody´s Talking / Eight Days A Week / I Will / Mrs. Robinson / Driving Wheel (v) / It´s Now Or Never
Bonus tracks: Walk Don´t Run (live) / Wipe Out - Let´s Go (live)

(from PIPELINE #61 – Autumn 2003)

Those of us who were lucky enough to catch Nokie Edwards performing live with AdVenture last year will have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this album. Nokie plays exquisitely on his lovely new Hitchhiker guitar through the Nokie Edwards model Marble amp. His unique combination of precision, speed and feel is well captured thanks to the sympathetic backing of AdVenture. There is a wide variety of material starting with a country flavoured I Got A Woman which shows off Nokie's artistry to great effect. It's delivered fast with flurries of notes flowing effortlessly but never seeming flash or over the top. The slow blues of St James Infirmary shows off the beautifully smooth tones of his new equipment, guitar and amp are obviously very well matched.
The Eagles' Tequila Sunrise ripples and flows while the old classic Autumn Leaves gets a light, jog-along, jazz-tinged treatment. Of the two Beatles numbers I prefer the bounce of Eight Days A Week to the simple ballad style of Something, and the similarly energetic Miss Judy is a rare Nokie original. Classy tunes like Everybody's Talking and I Will are inevitable highlights, while Mrs Robinson becomes putty in Nokie's hands. AdVenture's female vocalist Lia van Prehn gets to sing on three numbers, this will doubtless be a bone of contention for some, but the album closes with some live rock instrumental hits from the tour. (Alan Taylor)

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DVD 1944 LIVE AT THE SUNHOUSE

Tracks: Walk Don't Run / Slaughter On 10^th Avenue / Eight Days A Week / Steel Guitar Rag / Orange Blossom Special / Tequila Sunrise / I'm Walking (v) / Driving Wheels (v) / Alabama Jubilee / The House Of The Rising Sun / Mrs Robinson / Driving Guitars / I Got A Woman / Secret Agent Man / Wipe Out – Let's Go / Pipeline / Caravan / A Whiter Shade Of Pale / Bumble Bee Rock

(from PIPELINE #60 - Summer 2003)

This is the very first DVD from that most prolific of independent labels Rarity Records, and what a way to start: with the lead guitarist of The Ventures. Nokie Edwards has had many releases in his career away from the group so the set list for his brief European tour last autumn was not the all-Ventures affair that some may have hoped for. However, there was a healthy balance and all those of us who were lucky enough to see him were royally entertained. Nokie is a mighty skilful player, dextrous just doesn't do him justice. Albert van Prehn's band AdVenture provided the backing and did a fine job too. For a full report on the set refer back to Pipeline 58.
    So you know the tracks and you know the star, but does the video do the performance justice? The answer is a resounding "Yes". It was shot with multiple cameras and smoothly edited with the emphasis on close-ups. The sound is excellent too, I just couldn't figure out where the keyboard came from on Slaughter On 10^th Avenue and Secret Agent Man. This DVD is definitely not a budget production, you can buy with confidence. It is compatible for all DVD regions but is made for the European PAL TV system rather than the US NTSC system. Alan Taylor

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CD 192450 THE STORY OF ... ELECTRIC JOHNNY & THE SKYROCKETS

Tracks: Black Eyes Rock (#2), Johnny On His Strings (#2), Carioca, Patricia, La Paloma, Isle Of Capri, Ave Maria No Morro, South Of The Border, O Sole Mio, Siboney, Rocky Road Blues (v), Barcarolle, Johnny’s Beat, Begin The Beguine, La Golondrina, Guitar-Humoresque, Swanee River, Should I, Gitarren Spielt Auf!, Siboney (alt), Black Eyes Rock (#1), Johnny On His Strings, Ave Maria No Morro (alt), South Of The Border (alt), O Sole Mio (alt), Johnny’s Beat (EP version), Swanee River (EP version), Please Come Back (v)

(v) denotes vocal by Roy Michaels

(from PIPELINE #15 – Autumn 1992)

An extensive compilation this from the new Rarity Records label; benefitting from the assistance of Jan Schouten (Electric Johnny), the package contains some great vintage photos and a detailed history of the group (in Dutch). The brothers Schouten were already playing in the fifties and so were well set to capitalise on the instrumental boom begun by Apache and Walk Don’t Run. with a distinctively clear guitar tone and nifty fingerwork, the group found a niche playing South american titles and the suspicion that they might burst into Yellow Jacket at any moment haunts you through several of these tracks. They actually made two EPs of the stuff (South American Rock Vols 1&2) and all eight tracks are here. Black Eyes Rock is a very confident piece; taken slowly at first with lead guitar prominent, it opens up halfway through. Johnny On His Strings is a rocker built around a 12-bar format and Johnny’s Beat is a raw, raucus belter. Prime movers on the Dutch Indo-rock scene, Electric Johnny (and his fans) are well served by this release. (Alan Taylor)

(from NEW GANDY DANCER #43 - May 1995)

For those hearing Electric Johnny for the first time, you'll probably be surprised at the nimble fingers on Johnny On His Strings, Carioca and Isle Of Capri. Barcarolle carries a Ventures Perfidia arrangement and in my ignorance I didn't realise that the Solomon King's 60s hit She Wore My Ring was based on La Golondrina. Guitar-Humoresque is a plucky little number and Black Eyes Rock gets a Harlem Nocturne sound on a builder with plenty of trilling. The six man band were probably founders of the Indo Rock instrumental way back in the late 50s - their drummer is pictured here with one of those fabulous weird Trixon pear shaped kits-I'd love one now! Black Eyes Rock was the big single for them but on this excellent release from Rarity there are 18 instros + 8 alt tracks all of which are worth a listen - highlights being La Paloma, a spunky Johnny's Beat and Sibony. Sound is difficult to catagorise exactly but imagine The String-A-Longs and you'll not be far away. (Davy Peckett)

(from GUITAR & DRUMS #7 – March 1992)

Un des tous meilleurs groupes hollandais des 60’s présenté par notre ami Piet Muys. Aprés avoir entendu ce disque vous serez convaincu qu’il y a une école hollandaise de rock instro. Ce groupe d’Indonésien hollandais an un son fabuleux un rythme extra écoutez Black Eyes Rock, Patricia, Guitar-Humoresque, Swanee river, Johnny’s Beat, La Golondrina vous serez sous le charme. 28 titres dont 8 versions alternatives. Un must pour votre collection. (Jean Bachelerie)

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CD 192443 BEST OF ... THE ENTERTAINERS

Tracks: Melody In F, Donauwellen, Violetta, Misty, Lovely, Jeanne’s Waiting (v), Black Eyes, In A Little Spanish Town, Tea For Two, The Loveliest Night Of The Year, Pelita, Rosita My Love, Sway, I’m Counting On You (v), Sweet Georgia Brown, Once, Ode To The Residents, Over The Rainbow, Sunrise In Malaysia, The Hurricane Beat

(from GUITAR & DRUMS #2 – October 1991)

Ce groupe se compose de rob Pool- soliste, Ben Poetiraay- 2e soliste, Oswald Frederiks- accompagnement, Jaap van Loon- basse, Ben van den Berg- batterie. Un trés bon groupe dans la lignée des Fellows, Giants, Paul Selier et des groupes Indo-rocks. Ce groupe a débuté en 1979 et a enregistré pour le label Al Capone. Ses principaux succés figurent dans ce CD: Donauwellen, Violetta, une reprise du succés des Crazy Rockers – Rosita My Love, le classique Black Eyes, Pelita, Ode To The Residents. Nous avons aussi aimé Melody In F, Sweet Georgia Brown, Over The Rainbow, Sunrise In Malaysia, (clin d’oeil aux groupes Indo-rocks), The Hurricane Beat, qui termine bien ce trés bon CD. (Jean Bachelerie)

(from PIPELINE #19 - Summer 1993)

In the early '80s the Al Capone label grabbed the opportunity presented by the instrumental revival to pust out a number of newly recorded Indo rock releases. The Entertainers had two albums out and these are the source for the 70 minutes of music on offer here. You'll notice the absence of Shadows covers and indeed Dutch Indo instrumentals are about as far from The Shads as you can get in Europe. There's no appreciable American influence either, the emphasis being heavily on melody and rhythm, although perhaps there is some early Ventures in there. In common with a lot of such groups, The Entertainers have an additional "second lead" guitar in their line-up to fill out the sound. The overall effect remains fairly lightweight however, and middle of the road in the context of the instrumental as a rock style. It's all very pleasant stuff, even the uptempo Hurricane Beat is a socially acceptable (i.e. your mother would like it) rocker. She might have a job recognising Tea For Two which gets a surprisingly powerful treatment with drums aplenty, but there's no denying the beaty of the group's arrangement of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. the highlight is a magnificent 6 1/2 minute Black Eyes and I think that The Entertainers would certainly live up to their name in concert. At home it would depend on whether you wanted to be exited or relaxed, though some might find it too easy on the ear. (Alan Taylor)

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CD 192526 INDO DREAMS

Tracks: Move It, You Win Again, I'm Coming Home, Sea Cruise, I'm In Love Again, You're Still The One, Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die, Swing It Up, I Love You, Rock Little Baby, Just Call Me Lonesome, Send Me Some Lovin', Jenny Jenny, Dreams Gonnan Be Real, Hello Catarina, Lonely Cissy, Record Hop, Valley Of Tears, Lonesome Tears In My Eyes, How I Love You (Duet with Irene van Hemert)

CD 192552 INDO DREAMS vol. 2

Tracks: Indo Dreams, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, Corrina Corrina, I'm Counting On You, Save The Last Dance For Me (duet with Andres), Coquette, Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes, Silvery Moon, Anita, Hard Headed Woman, Uptown, I Wonder, Till I Waltz Again With You, Move It On Over, If You Leave Me, Marie Marie, Don't Wanna Beg Your Pardon, The Shape I'm In, Take My Heart, Turn To Me

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CD EPM636 MY FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU

Tracks: My First Christmas Without You / Rock-A-Hula Baby / Don't Believe (Duet with Andres) / Is Everybody Happy

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CD 192640 DANNY EVERETT & FRIENDS

Tracks: Duets with Andres: Don't Believe / Faded Love Duets with Terry White: Love Is No Excuse / Rock-A-Hula Baby Duets with Dick van Altena: In The Light Of The Blue Moon / Living High Duets with Ruud Everett: Ginny Come Lately / Moonlight Swim Duets with Albert West: Blue Cafe / Every Little Girl Duets with Astrid Parijs: True Love / Slicin' Sand Duets with Ruud Everett: See See Rider / Goodbye My Love, My Nona Manis Duets with Hennie Korsten: Barely Hanging On / Island Of Love Duets with Terry White: The Highest Mountain / Storms Never Last Duets with Loek Ludwig: Promised Land / The First Time, In My Life

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CD 192493 DANNY EVERETT & THE SPECTACLES

Tracks: Don't Leave Me Now, Lonesome Tears In My Eyes, Mona Lisa, Without A Love, Johnny B. Goode, Al Capone (instr.), Blue Suede Shoes, Won't You Anymore, It'll Be Me, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For, Cosy (instr.), Heartbreak Hotel, When It's Springtime In The Rockies, Forty Days, One Night, Tennessee Waltz, Darktown Strutter's Ball, Travellin' Light, Jailhouse Rock, Born To Lose, Please Return, I Gotta Know, Besame Mucho (instr.)

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CD 192445 THE REHEARSAL TAPES - FEAT. BART STRIK LEAD GUITAR

Tracks: Hurricane Rock, Darktown Strutters’Ball, Ajoen Ajoen, Guitar Boogie, Big Boy, Loempia, Black Swan, Gipsy Rock, Granada, Yellow Jacket, Mandschurian Beat (take 1+2), Johnny On His Strings, Black Eyes Rock, Begin The Beguine, Wild Geese, The Third Man (take 1+2), Vilja Oh Vilja (take 1+2). (P) 19-03-1980

(from GUITAR & DRUMS #8 – April 1992)

Encore une excellente réédition de Rarity Records, avec cette fois The Explosion Rockets avec Bart Strik l’excellent guitariste hollandais. C’est encore notre ami Piet Muys qui a écrit le livret. Bart Strik ajoué avec BJ & The Hurricane Rollers en 1975, puis en 1978 il a formé un groupe avec Savage Kalman & Les Explosion Rockets. Ils ont enregistré ces morceaux au cours de répétitions. Hurricane Rock est sa première composition en 1975, c’est un excellent morceau, comme le classique Ajoen Ajoen, Guitar Boogie, Big Boy, Black Swan, Gipsy Rock, Granada, Yellow Jacket des Ventures, Mandschurian Beat des Sounds, Wild Geese, The Third Man, Vilja, Black Eyes Rock, etc….. 20 titres qui doivent absolument figurer dans votre discotheque. (Jean Bachelerie)

(from PIPELINE #19 - Summer 1993)

Recorded on four-track equipment in 1980, The Rehearsal Tapes first saw the light of day some eight years later on Guitar Records (GLP 19380). The Explosion Rockets bring several of these familiar titles new life with a metallic edge to the lead guitar sound and some nifty amendments to the rhythm tracks. Things start moving particularly well in the Guitar Boogie, Big boy, Loempia, Black Swan, Gipsy Rock sequence. The boogie's source is clearly The Shadows but there are sufficient original touches to make it interesting and it moves along nicely. Although this Big Boy can't match the Shads' giant, it's still an enjoyable cover. Loempia hails from Belgium (The Freedom Riders) and keeps things steaming along nicely with more strident rhythm playing. Black Swan has such a different sound to the familiar Saturday Night At The Duckpond that it comes as refreshing new slice of classic RI. Rap City returns as Gipsy Rock to complete this handful of five fine fingers of rock. A number that always seems to work well whoever tackles it is the stirring Mandschurain Beat, we get two versions although really there's little to choose between them. Less well known is the equally stirring Wild Geese, but here the collection ends for me as the version of The Third Man and Vilja Oh Vilja is one too many. Slight tape noise is apparent on the instros where the Tim Schouten counts the band in with his drumsticks. Elsewhere the recording quality is fine and the edge given to these performances by being effectively live adds to their charm. Full-blown studio recordings may have produced a more perfect end product but it wouldn't be half the fun. (Alan Taylor)

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CD 192541 COMPLETE

Tracks: Ready Teddy, That's All Right, Little Breeze (instr.), She's The One To Blame, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Because They're Young (instr.), Travellin' Light, Brush Those Tears, Guitar Boogie (instr.), Let's Have A Party, Crazy Arms, Johnny Guitar (instr.), Summertime Blues, I'm Coming Home, Foot Tapper (instr.), No Particular Place To Go, I'm In Love Again, Wonderful land (instr.), Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie, Suspicion, The Breeze And I (instr.), Bop Little Baby, Gee Whiz It's You, Atlantis (instr.), She's Not You

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CD 192650 TEENAGE HEAVEN

Tracks: Ain´t That Loving You Baby, Teenage Heaven, Millennium Theme (instr.), Pretty Girl, Mystery Train, Mustangs (instr.), Shake Rattle And Roll, Forget Me Never, Return Of The Gladiators (instr.), Treat Me Nice, Kiss Me Quick, Crunch (instr.), Baby Let´s Play House, Something Else, Sarie Marijs (instr.), Memphis Tennessee, Judy, Cosy (instr.), Love Letters, Words In Your Eyes, Panhandle Rag (instr.), Promised Land, Stop At The Rock & Roll School, Theme From Limelight (instr.)

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