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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Eddie Cochran

Dark Lonely Street (10-inch vinyl EP with CD set)

Review by Gary Hill

I am sure there are a lot of people who know Eddie Cochran just because of his song "Summertime Blues." I have to admit to falling into the category. Well, you get that tune here. You also get quite a bit of other tunes, and that's just looking at the vinyl record. This also includes a CD. That CD has all the songs from the record (I have used the same track reviews on both discs because they are the same) and others, too. It's important to note that not everything here is actually from Cochran. The tracks with artist names in the track by track review are by someone other than him. Those without are him. This is quite a set, featuring a nice booklet along with the record and CD. 


You will find bonus video footage of this release is available at the Music Street Journal Youtube channel here: https://www/youtube.com/watch?v=nY4UR98AoS8


This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2020  Volume 5. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2020.

Track by Track Review
Vinyl Record
                 
Side A
                       
Dark Lonely Street

With particularly low-register vocals, the backing instrumentation is subtle and minor here. This is a balladic cut with a haunting vibe to it.

One Kiss
More of a pure rockabilly number, this has some doo-wop backing vocals. It's a classy tune that works well.
Stockins’n Shoes
Old school rock and roll drives this with style and charm  It's another solid tune on a disc full of strong music.
Teresa
This old school rock and roll ballad is all class.
Pretty Girl (2-track Stereo)
Here's a rock and roller that's a lot of fun. This is energetic, has some great hooks and killer piano work.
Summertime Blues
It seems pretty much everyone knows this song, but probably not from this version. This is the original. It works really well, too. It actually holds up remarkably well all those years later.
Side B
            
C’mon Everybody

Rockabilly with a bit of folk rock edge, there is such a classic tone and style to this. This is some of the best music of the era. It's along the lines of the kind of thing Buddy Holly used to do.

I Remember
A slow moving, balladic cut, this is decidedly old-school in tone and style.
Teenage Heaven
More powered up, this is a fun rocking groove. It works well.
Little Angel (without chorus)
This is a classy little old school rock and roller. It's cool stuff.
My Way (Instrumental) (Backing Track)
This is  a fun little romp that has some smoking saxophone and surf guitar stylings.
The Kelly Four - Strollin' Guitar
Another instrumental, this has a cool groove on a classic song structure. The guitar work is tasty.
CD
                 
Dark Lonely Street

With particularly low-register vocals, the backing instrumentation is subtle and minor here. This is a balladic cut with a haunting vibe to it.

One Kiss
More of a pure rockabilly number, this has some doo-wop backing vocals. It's a classy tune that works well.
Stockins’n Shoes
Old school rock and roll drives this with style and charm  It's another solid tune on a disc full of strong music.
Teresa
This old school rock and roll ballad is all class.
Pretty Girl (2-track Stereo)
Here's a rock and roller that's a lot of fun. This is energetic, has some great hooks and killer piano work.
Summertime Blues
It seems pretty much everyone knows this song, but probably not from this version. This is the original. It works really well, too. It actually holds up remarkably well all those years later.
C’mon Everybody
Rockabilly with a bit of folk rock edge, there is such a classic tone and style to this. This is some of the best music of the era. It's along the lines of the kind of thing Buddy Holly used to do.
I Remember
A slow moving, balladic cut, this is decidedly old-school in tone and style.
Teenage Heaven
More powered up, this is a fun rocking groove. It works well.
Little Angel (without chorus)
This is a classy little old school rock and roller. It's cool stuff.
My Way (Instrumental) (Backing Track)
This is  a fun little romp that has some smoking saxophone and surf guitar stylings.
The Kelly Four - Strollin' Guitar
Another instrumental, this has a cool groove on a classic song structure. The guitar work is tasty.
Ray Stanley - My Lovin' Baby
Rockabilly with a lot of style and charm is the order of business here. This is all class.
Troyce Key - Baby Please Don't Go
Like "Summertime Blues," this is another song that should be familiar to modern music fans, as it's been covered by quite a few people over the years. This is an old school rockabilly version that works well.
Jerry Neal - Scratchin'
I dig the echoey sound on this thing. The tune has a real early 60s vibe and some hints of surf music. It's a fun little stomper.
Nervous Breakdown
This has a great rock and roll groove. It sounds quite a bit like "Summertime Blues," though. Then again a lot of artists in those days basically rewrote a lot of their songs and released them as new songs.
Gene Vincent & his Blue Caps - Git It
There are doo-wop vocals at the heart of this thing. It's an old school rock and roller with a good groove. It's fun, but not a standout.
Bob Luman - Guitar Picker
This is a fun one. The classic old-school guitar at the heart of it really works well.
Blue Suede Shoes (undubbed)
Elvis Presley might be the one who is associated with this tune, but I prefer this version. Sure, it's under-produced, but it just has a lot of passion and fire built into it.
Baker Knight - Just Relax
This rocker is energetic and catchy. It's a highlight of the CD part of this collection.
Somethin’ Else (without fade)
I dig the gritty edge to this rocker. It's another that works particularly well.
Bob Denton - Pretty Little Devil
There is a bit more of a country edge to this tune. It's a bit of variety and solid, but not a highlight.             
Sweet Little Sixteen (UK TV)
A Chuck Berry cover, this rocker works really well in this live recording.
"l'll Be Here Until April 17" (interview)
As advertised, this is an interview bit. The tragic part is that he talks about going home, but ultimately he died in the UK shortly after this interview, and never made it back to the US.
Milk Cow Blues
An old-time blues romp, this is a good rendition.
Let's Get Together
More of a pure rockabilly stomper, this is another slab of class.
Three Steps to Heaven
A mellower cut, this has echoey vocals. I'm not crazy about the backing vocals on this. I'd actually consider this to be one of the weak points of the set.
Heinz - Just Like Eddie
A bouncy, playful feeling number, there is a real pop music edge (for the time) to the cut. It's fun, though.          
 
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