Mickey Michaels & The Forrestals, "Koffee Shop Rock" c/w "Always," Felsted 45-8509 (rel. 4/1958)

 

By mid-1958, the squares' combined patience had worn out, rock 'n' roll-wise. Sure, Elvis had been a shot in the arm for record sales; and, yes, a more robust teenage marketplace was also good for business. But all this racket! Twang-twang-twang of a million guitars; guttural stops of heavy-breathed vocalists; and the beat-beat-beat of those savage jungle drums! Why couldn't the kids take to Perry Como and Patti Page, like they had just a few years ago? (Answer: they never did, cube-person.)
    We see this pissiness in the critical response to a terrific rockabilly nugget by Mickey Michaels and The Forrestals. "Koffee Shop Rock" is an excellent piece of pop rockabilly, with no vocal chorus, save the encouraging shouts of Michaels' band; two hot guitar solos and Michael's solid Memphian lead vocals. He feels like the missing link between Elvis and Gene Vincent, and he has a great delivery. His band The Forrestals have something of the relaxed, assured feeling of Vincent's Blue Caps. This is an unrecognized rockabilly goodie!
    You'd never know this from the sourpuss reviews this Felsted platter received:

Cash Box was first, on April 5, 1958, with a thumbs-up for the better-than-average ballad side, "Always," but curt contempt for the caffienated rocker...

Billboard followed suit two days later with the same verdict: yea to the ballad, nay, nay, nay to "Koffee Shop Rock." Get over yourselves, cubes!

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/id6npxquo6wtjv3ep0em6/2298a.mp3?rlkey=pq2jc3mrk8yzpbut2mqi0jl7t&st=qz7k7n9q&dl=0

"Always" is a superior example of the rockaballad--far above the usual par for such songs--again, in line with Vincent's ability to make ballads likable rather than an "aw, crap" feeling once a rocker is flipped over to reveal a wussy teener. Michaels has a fine voice, and it's a pity these two sides are all we have to show for his talent.
    The Forrestals play it soft but not dull behind his voice. The results are pleasing, due to the earthiness in their musical DNA. While "Koffee Shop Rock" has gotten all the action on rockabilly compilations, this is not an "aw, crap" moment. Wish we had more from this fine singer and group, but we don't.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g6w6gi6zv4p3iv3b487bs/2298b.mp3?rlkey=pubgr38xhzf0k0o609lh95mv9&st=jnu4oovq&dl=0

Apologies for the lack of information about today's performers. Some records are the only surviving artifact of a person's existence. There might be a crumpled press release in some attic or basement, but it hasn't seen the light of day in seven decades. The photo I found of the group was an utter fluke, but I'm glad we have this long image. It's something to go on.

Tomorrow: teen rock 'n' rollers The Kents do the same hat-trick: blistering bopper coupled with impressive ballad; two songs penned by John Maralasco, whose handprint in '50s rock 'n' roll is indelible. A rare Argo release of 1958.