The Mike Fleming Special - American Skiffle, complete with washtub bass!
1.City of gold 2.When it rains, it pours 3.Life is like a river 4.So long whiskey, I'm going back to gin 5.From Russia with love 6.On your mind 7.Heading for trouble
Mike Fleming Special
"I guess this CD is what they call 'self-titled', because there is no other title than 'The Mike Fleming Special' on the cover, a cartoon designed by C.J. Kringle, showing the band on a fiery stage. It's kind of a short CD (only 17 minutes), so I guess these days that would be an EP rather than a CD. The first track, 'City Of Gold', is a fast paced rockabilly track, with Mike Fleming doing some great licks on (electric) guitar and some real nice plucking by Kringle on his washtub bass. The second song follows the same cart-rut, 'When It Rains, It Pours', is another (self penned) authentic rockabilly track, but with the third track things change dramatically. 'Life Is Like A River' is Mike Fleming (and Mike Fleming only) on acoustic guitar and whistling to the birds (or the wildlife on his mountain). This is a long way from rockabilly and therefore I'm not in a position to judge the song, but I don't think it 'fits in'. 'So Long Whiskey, I'm Going Back To Gin', luckily, is rockabilly again, with some folk influences, or is it just the acoustic guitar in the back that makes me think so? Anyway, the song rocks. Track 5 is an odd number again, 'From Russia With Love', is an acoustic song, this time with vocals and not even close to rockabilly. On track 6 the band proves they can really rock again, 'On Your Mind' is another fast paced rockabilly song, with both electric and acoustic guitars and a fat greasy slapping bass. The last track, 'Heading For Trouble', is also a rockabilly track, one with a change of pace and some jazzy influences. Surprise, suprise, there is another song hidden behind the 7th track, one which is not listed on the cover. The title might be something like 'When The Rain Comes' and it's an acoustic ensemble, to keep the wildlife happy I guess." Black Cat Rockabilly
The Mike Fleming Special - American Skiffle, complete with washtub bass!