In fact, this is the first album to be released at 78rpm in over 50 years but is it as good as these three rockin’ North London teenagers are live? They’ve recently played Bestival’s sister festival Camp Bestival (where Chuck Berry headlined) and they were one of the stars of last years’ Larmer Tree (twice!). Not only that, they’ve certainly got a feel their musical heritage with their choices for their 24 tracks compilation A to Z: The Roots Of Rock ‘n’ Roll that was released on Sunday Best.

Well their debut album on Sunday Best is as hot as a Saturday night in Nasville! Kicking off with the recent single ‘Going Up The Country’ (so superior to the Canned Heat version, see links below) you know these kids are proper fans of the the whole rockin’ scene. You can’t imagine these kids doing anything else but play their music all day long.

I must admit, when Lewis was doing his 78rpm show on Bestival radio (see review HERE), he blew me away with his knowledge and passion for the music that has passed a least one generation by. Even Jupitus’ foray down to Nashville was piggy backed on The Musicians Hall of Fame having a stage that Hendrix’s played on rather than any rock ‘n’ roll connection.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis would be more interested in Buddy Holly, Duane Eddy, Elvis and his guitar player for 14 years, Scotty Moore. Not sure this is hip? Warm up with Keb Darge and Cut Chemist’s Lost & Found: Rockabilly & Jump Blues. Yeah! Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are Swing, Jump Blues, C&W, Blues, Hawaiian and rock ‘n’ roll.

Hawaiian? Billy Bragg’s a fan (see Mr. Love & Justice) and the CD ends with a tune written by the family, ‘Swinging Hawaii’. Very much in It’s certainly a family affair! How do they do it?

Well it helps that they’re all multi-instrumentalists as Kitty Daisy & Lewis play guitar, piano, banjo, lap steel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, trombone and accordion between them
Lewis is the lap steel man and ‘Swinging Hawaii’ harks back to the days when the music industry was fun (very much how Sunday Best’s Rob da Bank follows in John Peel’s eclectic musical footsteps). The Hectic Mix for John Peel Day 2008 will definitely feature one of the tracks from this CD; looks like a best yet.

Other possibilities? Even ‘Polly Put The Kettle On’ and ‘Hillbilly Music’ is done with a verve that makes you wanna get up and dance. The girls take up most of the vocal duties and whilst they sound young (which they are) it takes nothing away from their versions of ‘Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A’ or ‘Mean Son Of A Gun’; although ‘I Got My Mojo Working’ might raise an eyebrow.

Would KD&L be into Keith LeBlanc’s rework of Chess Classic’s Chess Remixed? Probably not but the only Lewis original, ‘Buggin’ Blue’s’ is a stomper that was inspired by Chess Records’ Otis Spann.

They’re not too keen on journalist either which is a shame as this style of music was huge years ago with current World Music champion, Charlie Gillett. His BBC Radio London ‘Honky Tonk’ would be your reference point to get down to Rock On in Camden Road. In the early 70’s, this is the shop where you might have been rubbing shoulders with 101er Joe Strummer as you flicked through the vinyl. Unfortunately, Rock On closed down years ago whilst a mile up the road in Kentish Town, KD&L recorded this album with Mum & Dad in the home studio in total non-digital format; but not cardboard boxes.

They’ve got a few interesting gigs coming up (as below) and did I ever tell you that once I got chucked out of a Chuck Berry gig? A story for another day but in the meantime, blow that harp and put the kettle on. Lets rock ‘n’ roll!

Forthcoming gigs
15 August 2008 Pukkelpop Festival, Hasselt, Belgium
24 August 2008 Beach Down Festival, Brighton 22-25 August www.beachdownfestival.com “20 mins from central Brighton with seas view and the best organice food and cocktails prepared by award-winning mixologists”.
11 September 2008 WONKY POP, Cargo Rvington Street, London www.cargo-london.com

Reviewed: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (Sunday Best Recordings) Cat. No. SBESTCD25 Release date: 1st September 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Going Up The Country (3:21)
2 Buggin’ Blues (4:11)
3 Polly Put The Kettle Om (2:58)
4 Honolulu Rock-A Roll-A (2:05)
5 I Got My Mojo Working (3:30)
6 Mean Son Of A Gun (2:40)
7 Hilly Music (3:15)
8 Mohair Sam (3:16)
9 Ooo Wee (2:45)
10 Swinging Hawaii (1:53)

Links
www.myspace.com/kittydaisyandlewis
The single ‘Going Up The Country’ is also available on 78rpm 10”, 7”, CD and download backed with exclusive track ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’.
www.bestival.net
www.myspace.com/robdabank
www.SundayBest.net
www.myspace.com/sundaybestrecordings
Reviewed: V/A - Folk Off — New Folk And Psychedelia From The British Isles And North America Compiled By Rob da Bank (Sunday Best Recordings) Cat. No: SBESTCD12 Release date: Septempber 2006
Charlie Gillett “From March 1972 produced/presented weekly Sunday lunchtime show on BBC Radio London, “Honky Tonk”, playing the “roots” of pop music - R&B, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, gospel and cajun - alongside whatever contemporary music that seemed to fit. “
Phil Jupitus goes to Nashville and talks to the man with Museum that’s got the flute that was played on the Canned Heat version of ‘Going Up The Country’, ‘Shaft’ by Issac Hayes (RIP) and many more song, Charlie McCoy who played the harp on the theme tune to The Old Grey Whistle Test and finds the truth behing the rumour that Jerry Allison played cardboard box ‘drums’ on Buddy Holly’s ‘Not Fade Away’ and ‘You’re So Square’. BBC Radio 4, ‘The Man Who Bought Hendrix’s Stage’ 16th August 2008 30 mins @ www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00czbwl
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Spann
dansettes.co.uk