Gene Vincent And His Blue Caps, "Dance To The Bop" c/w "I Got It," Capitol F3839 (rel. 10/1957); Capitol CL 14808 (UK; rel 11/1957)
British audiences took to Gene Vincent far more than Americans. While Vincent had a string of decent hit singles here, he fared better in the UK, where multiple tours made him a rock 'n' roll hero to that fanbase. As a result, the British editions of his Capitol singles command a much higher price than the US originals. Though I own both editions of today's single, I'm playing the British one as a tribute to any UK readers this blog might, just might, have.
I share the British enthusiasm for Vincent's recordings, and this autumn 1957 twin-spin may be my favorite of Gene's time with The Blue Caps in terms of the rockabilly goods. "Dance with The Bop" sounds like the best Sun Records rockers of the mid-decade. As a song featured in the essential youth-culture thriller Hot Rod Gang, where Gene appears as an actor and singer, it has an era-defining vibe, though it wasn't a huge hit. It got to #23 on the national charts and was the last charting single for Gene while he was with the fabulous Blue Caps.
John Lennon expressed his love for this record in later interviews; he reminisced about stealing the single when it was new. (One imagines a scene set in the store managed by Brian Epstein, who no doubt rolled his eyes when Lennon entered his establishment. Things went missing in the wake of his presence.)
I sorta-own a copy of the Hot Rod Gang EP; it's unplayable but I can't toss it out. All four tracks were issued elsewhere, so there lure is the picture sleeve and the rarity of the thing.
"Dance to The Bop" was the lone performed song of one Floyd Edge, who was an obvious disciple of Carl Perkins' Sun Records work. The verses are reminiscent of Perkins' infamous "Dixie Fried." There the resemblance ends. Vincent's easy-going style and the bright racket of The Blue Caps (handclaps, backup vox, stand-up bass, hot guitar solos) are in a world all their own. What a joyous performance! It's impossible to sit still while it plays. Here is one perfect rock 'n' roll side.
John Lennon expressed his love for this record in later interviews; he reminisced about stealing the single when it was new. (One imagines a scene set in the store managed by Brian Epstein, who no doubt rolled his eyes when Lennon entered his establishment. Things went missing in the wake of his presence.)
I sorta-own a copy of the Hot Rod Gang EP; it's unplayable but I can't toss it out. All four tracks were issued elsewhere, so there lure is the picture sleeve and the rarity of the thing.
"Dance to The Bop" was the lone performed song of one Floyd Edge, who was an obvious disciple of Carl Perkins' Sun Records work. The verses are reminiscent of Perkins' infamous "Dixie Fried." There the resemblance ends. Vincent's easy-going style and the bright racket of The Blue Caps (handclaps, backup vox, stand-up bass, hot guitar solos) are in a world all their own. What a joyous performance! It's impossible to sit still while it plays. Here is one perfect rock 'n' roll side.
Cash Box flipped for the also-great "I Got It" but acknowledged the fine points of
"Dance to The Bop" with genuine admiration. Their description would make a
Baptist minister want to buy a copy.
"I Got It," penned by Dick Glaser, is a solid, melodic up-tempo delight with a hint of Buddy Holly's sound. Vincent wasn't too far afield of Holly's singing style, and The Blue Caps made with the backup Holly would've loved to have on his singles.
Guitarist Johnny Meeks, who replaced Cliff Gallup in 1957, never gets enough credit for his fine work with the Vincent band. Not a master picker like Cliff, Johnny plays with fire and fury and his combination of strumming and picking makes his every solo a thing of wonder. Drummer Dickie Harrell is the unsung hero of The Blue Caps. His embrace of any tempo or style is impressive, as is the swinging control of his playing. Seldom flashy, Harrell holds the fort rock-steady so everyone else can do their thing with confidence. That is a great rock 'n' roll drummer.
Guitarist Johnny Meeks, who replaced Cliff Gallup in 1957, never gets enough credit for his fine work with the Vincent band. Not a master picker like Cliff, Johnny plays with fire and fury and his combination of strumming and picking makes his every solo a thing of wonder. Drummer Dickie Harrell is the unsung hero of The Blue Caps. His embrace of any tempo or style is impressive, as is the swinging control of his playing. Seldom flashy, Harrell holds the fort rock-steady so everyone else can do their thing with confidence. That is a great rock 'n' roll drummer.
Congratulations! We've made it through 2025! Tomorrow, r&b legend Marie Knight sings a hopeful, reflective beat-ballad just right for the start of a new and better year, coupled with a gospel-style raver, on a 1961 Okeh Records platter. Both sides were covered by major UK performers later in the '60s.
What a fine couple of high-energy tunes to cap the year! I feel like Dancin' to the Bop all night long now! Seriously sweet geetar'ing! Oh, I LOL'd at "Their description would make a Baptist minister want to buy a copy." WhooHoo!
ReplyDeleteIt always gobsmacks me when I hear these great mid/late 1950s rockabilly/rock and roll songs and hear echoes of what the Beatles took, modified and (sometimes) made better. From songs like these they took drum beats, guitar riffs etc and somehow the British Invasion caught American kids' ears when performers like Vincent faded out. These songs produce so much heat and electricity for their time.
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