Rock Billy Boogie Explained
Rock Billy Boogie |
Type: | studio |
Artist: | Robert Gordon |
Cover: | Rock Billy Boogie.jpg |
Recorded: | November 1978 |
Studio: | Plaza Sound, New York City |
Genre: | Rockabilly[1] |
Label: | RCA |
Producer: | Richard Gottehrer |
Prev Title: | Fresh Fish Special |
Prev Year: | 1978 |
Next Title: | Bad Boy |
Next Year: | 1980 |
Rock Billy Boogie is a studio album by Robert Gordon, released on RCA Records in 1979.[2] It peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200 chart.[3]
Critical reception
Robert Christgau gave the album a "B" grade, saying, "Gordon's nouveau rockabilly has always been a mite slick and a mite fast, and this is his best album because he's no longer hiding it--his blown notes are just blown notes, not stigmata of authenticity."[4] The Globe and Mail noted that "the further he goes with the schtick, the more convincing he gets, and this time around it's hard to criticize his vocal work as stagey or imitative."[5]
Bruce Eder of AllMusic said that "there's not a bad song, or even a less-than-first-rate performance anywhere on it."
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Musicians
- Robert Gordon – vocals
- Chris Spedding – lead guitar
- Scotty Turner – rhythm guitar
- Rob Stoner – bass guitar, piano (on "The Catman", "It's Only Make Believe" and "Wheel of Fortune")
- Howie Wyeth – drums, piano (on "Am I Blue")
- The Three R's – background vocals (on "All by Myself")
- Terry Vernon – background vocals (on "Black Slacks", "It's Only Make Believe" and "Wheel of Fortune")
- Snooky Bellomo – background vocals (on "The Catman")
- Tish Bellomo – background vocals (on "The Catman")
- Paul Evans – background vocals (on "It's Only Make Believe")
- Marty Nelson – background vocals (on "It's Only Make Believe")
- Robin Grean – background vocals (on "It's Only Make Believe")
Technical
- Jimmy Wisner – string arrangement
- Richard Gottehrer – production
- Rob Freeman – engineering
- Eric Block – engineering assistance
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Acy Lehman – art direction
- Dick Smith – art direction
- Nick Sangiamo – cover photography
- Gary Green – inner sleeve photography
Notes and References
- Any Way You Look At Him, Robert Gordon Is Impressive. Billboard. March 31, 1979. 44–45.
- Book: Cartwright, Garth. Rockabilly: The Twang Heard 'Round the World. Voyageur Press. 2011. Robert Gordon. 198–199.
- Web site: Billboard 200 - The week of May 12, 1979. Billboard. April 21, 2019.
- Web site: Robert Gordon. Robert Christgau. Robert. Christgau. January 6, 2018.
- News: McGrath . Paul . Rock Billy Boogie Robert Gordon . The Globe and Mail . 17 Mar 1979 . F7.