This follows on from other A to Z Sunday Best compilations by the Cuban Brothers and most recently, Bestival, to co-inside with the mass migration to the Isle of Wight for end of season festivities next week.

I know I went on about Lewis’ 78rpm record show on Bestival Radio last year and how good the trio (with Mum and Dad) were at Larmer Tree.

If you can remember back to the Chevalier Brothers when they were the talk of Camden Town doing their thing, but particular the Louis Jordan covers, this is the what turned many people onto jazzdance scene. Not forgetting that they did a John Peel session (with their cover of ‘Hey Bartender’, Floyd Dixon’s orginal is included on Disc1) and the Chavalier’s star vibraphonist, Roger Beaujolais, many years later got to play on The Trip.

Sharp suits, big ties, shinny shoes but equally good is the C&W influenced ‘Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)’.

Similar to the Darge/Chemist collection, there’s no many more names I recognise except for Albert Ammons and Rufus Thomas but what’s really impressive is that the Kitty Daisy & Lewis track sounds as original as the originals.

If you went to Bestival, I’d be interested to know how many rockabillies turned up for the fancy dress. As Bestival is sold out, one of the benefits of not going is that you can catch the Radio broadcasts on from the Bestival web site so definitely check for when Lewis is doing his 78rpm show this year.

Oh yeah! What the A to Z about, see the track listings below. Clever eh!

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Hey Bartender’, ‘Baker Shop Boogie’, ‘Bear Cat’ and many more.

Reviewed: Various — A to Z: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis — The Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll (Sunday Best) Cat. No. SBESTCD19 Release date: 24th September 2007
Tracklisting CD1 :
1. Boogie Woogie Stomp — Albert Ammons
2. Bear Cat — Rufus Thomas
3. Oklahoma Stomp — Spade Cooley and His Orchestra
4. Hey Bartender — Floyd Dixon
5. The Hot Guitar — Eddie Hill
6. Jump Children — The Flamingos
7. Feelin’ Good — Little Junior’s Blue Flames
8. Hey Lolly Lolly — Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers
9. It Ain’t The Meat — The Swallows
10. School Days — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five
11. Sag Drag & Fall — Sid King & The Five Strings
12. Louisiana Hop — Pete ‘Guitar’ Lewis
13. Twist All Wrong — Miller-Olsen Combo

Tracklisting CD2 :
1. Baker Shop Boogie — Willie Nix
2. Ooo Wee — Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
3. Piano Man — Earl Hines and His Orchestra
4. Dig Them Squeaky Shoes — Andy Starr
5. Run Joe — Louis Jordan
6. Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) — Tex Williams & His Western Caravan
7. You Ain’t So Such a Much — Blanche Thomas
8. Grandma’s Rockin’ — Unknown
9. Voo-Vee-Ah-Bee — The Platters
10. Who Put The Turtle In Myrtle’s Girdle — The Western Melody Makers
11. Hot Rock — Johnny Carroll and the Hot Rocks
12. Rock-a-Bye Baby — Roy Brown
13. Honky Tonk Train Blues — Bob Zurke

Links:
www.sundaybest.net
www.myspace.com/sundaybest
www.bestival.net
Bestival 2007, 7th-9th September. Robin Hill country park, Isle of Wight. Curated by BBC Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank.
KITTY DAISY & LEWIS www.myspace.com/kittydaisylewis
“Between them, the trio play guitar, piano, banjo, lapsteel guitar, harmonica, double bass, ukulele, trombone and accordion, swapping instruments between songs at their super-energetic live shows”.
www.rogerbeaujolais.com
Chevalier Brothers 07/12/1983 — John Peel Sessions
Lost & Found, Madame Jo HO’s, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F 0SE: 9pm-2am Free before 11pm www.locked-in.co.uk “Every Saturday Lost & Found celebrates music with an attitude — sounds that defied hype, image and over-production with resident DJ’s Keb Darge and Andy Smith”.
Real Music For Real People- BBE Residents, Market Place, W1W 8AH www.market-place-london.com “Every Tuesday London based BBE Records (now 10 years strong) with an extended family of DJ’s, producers and artists bringing you a collage of musical treats from the past, present and future BBE catalogue”.