Title - 'The Magnet Records Singles Collection'
Artist - Matchbox
For those not in the know, Matchbox - one of my mothers and therefore mine favorite bands to jive to in the front room growing up - is an English rockabilly band. Formed in 1971 they are still active today!
I mean, have you ever been to see a band from the 70's and turned up to find out the only remaining original member was the drummer, singer or bass player? Well, try going along to see Matchbox - Graham Fenton, Lead Vocalist; Steve Bloomfield, Lead Guitar / vocals; Gordon Scott, Rhythm Guitar / vocals; Fred Poke, Bass / vocals; and Jimmy Redhead, Drums / vocals - for not only will you hear their string of hits from the era, including top tens such as 'When You Ask About Love,' 'Midnight Dynamos' and not forgetting their million seller classic 'Rockabilly Rebel,' but you will also be amazed to find the exact line up that made all those records.
If this is not unique, it is very rare indeed!
The Magnet Records Singles Collection is, amazingly the first ever round up of every A & B side issued by Rockabilly revival legends Matchbox during their heyday with Magnet Records. This 32 track double CD includes all of their UK hit singles – ‘Rockabilly Rebel’ (No.18), ‘Buzz Buzz A Diddle It’ (No.22), ‘Midnite Dynamos’ (No.14), ‘When You Ask About Love’ (No.4), ‘Over The Rainbow’ (No.15), ‘Babes In The Wood’ (No.46), ‘Love’s Made A Fool Of You’ (No.63), and ‘One More Saturday Night’ (No. 63).
With a further six (6) tracks included appearing on CD for the first time this totally fabulous Rockabilly collection begins with a sultry female voice introducing the mid-tempo fun of 'Black Slacks.' That's followed by the whistlin' and guitar twangin' instrumental 'Mad Rush,' before the aforementioned million seller classic 'Rockabilly Rebel.' A foot tappin' song of the highest quality even today, the song throws me straight back to those days jiving in my mothers front room.
Next up is 'I Don't Wanna Boogie Alone,' and that's backed by both the harmonica-driven 'Buzz Buzz A Diddle It' and then 'Everybody Needs A Little Love.' Next up are two tracks performed back when they went under the band name Cyclone, 'Palisades Park' and 'Crazy Haze.' The latter sounding like the distant relative of the Benny Hill theme, next is up is their # 14 (UK charts) monster hit 'Midnite Dynamos,’ with a new version of the gentle ballad, 'Love Is Going Out Of Fashion' along behind it.
The banjo-pickin' 'Scotted Dick' is next with the brilliant love song 'When You Ask About Love' coming up right behind. The fast-paced 'You've Made A Fool Of Me' is always a treat to hear, with the first disc coming to a close with 'Over The Rainbow / You Belong To Me,' 'Don't Break Up The Party' and then finally 'Stay Cool.'
The second disc kicks-off with absolutely brilliant 'Babe's In The Wood,' and is backed by the fiddle-inspired 'Tokyo Joe,' the dancefloor jive of 'Love's Made A Fool Of You,' and then both 'Springheel Jack' and the smooth harmonies of 'Angels On Sunday.' Next up are 'City Woman,' '24 Hours,' 'Arabella's On Her Way,' and then the high-tempo jive of 'One More Saturday Night' and 'Rollin' On.'
With over 5 million records being sold in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and more plus numerous TV shows and tours with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and many more, Matchbox quickly established themselves as a major headline attraction.
The Rockabilly legends then bring us 'Riding The Night,' the slightly-harder than usual 'Mad Bad and Dangerous,' and a very rare duet with the legendary Kirsty MacColl on the single ‘I Want Out.’ After 'Heaven Can Wait' come two previously Japanese-only A sides that also make their debut on CD: 'I'm A Lover Man' and then 'Little Lonely Girl.'
The CD booklet contains detailed notes on each single plus pictures of all relevant sleeves and knowledge that the whole project has been mastered to the highest standard by Tim Turan.
www.rockabillyrebel.co.uk
CD Purchase Link
Check out this brand new INTERVIEW with original (and still) lead singer GRAHAM FENTON that is now in Exclusive Magazine!