Graham Reid | | 1 min read
Yes, the cynical might say he's done rock, soul and even a Christmas album . . . . so why wouldn't Jimmy Barnes do a rockabilly album?
Fair point, but to hear him tell it he's been a fan of the pre-rock'n'roll style since growing up with it through his older brother John's collection, and then in Cold Chisel days listening repeatedly to a cassette of the Johnny Burnette Rock and Roll Trio in the van while touring.
Chisel songwriter Don Walker also loved the style and wrote Johnny's Gone in the rockabilly slap-back style (for his Catfish album).
That song appears alongside Bill Haley's Cold War-era Thirteen Women which is a strange one, one of Barnes' favourites he says although when the single was released a radio DJ turned it over to find Rock Around the Clock which was infinitely better and more important in music history.
Recorded in separate continents with bassist Kevin Shirley and Living End guitarist Chris Cheney in Australia, Stray Cats' drummer Slim Jim Phantom (in LA) and pianist Jools Holland (London), this rollicking collection of rockabilly classics (Lonesome Train, Real Wild Child) and those given a rockabilly-adjacent makeover (Roy Orbison's Working for the Man, a more raw reworking of Cold Chisel's Land of Hope and Glory) is a fun outing and, as expected, Holland's piano playing is a highlight.
The spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis is behind the Johnny O'Keefe classic Real Wild Child and although the players never actually eyeballed each other – aside from on Zoom – it sounds remarkably coherent, thanks to Shirley's astute production.
Not a major entry in Barnes' lengthy discography but a solid and enjoyable one . . . and there's a loose plan for a sequel with all of them in the studio together.
Live shows of this in clubs would certainly be welcome.
.
You can hear this album at Spotify here
post a comment