An excellent gig, with Charlie Feathers ably backed up by The Firebirds and Bubba Feathers. A great atmosphere on this CD, and an insight into the mind of one of Rockabilly's true greats. Recorded in 1990.
1.Intro 2.Folsom Prison blues 3.Peeping eyes 4.Tear it up 5.Too much alike 6.Gone gone gone 7.Everybody's lovin' my baby 8.Charlie chats to the audience 9.One hand loose 10.Tongue tied Jill 11.Will the circle be unbroken
Charlie Feathers
Charlie Feathers was born near Holly Springs, Miss., and grew up in a family of tenant farmers. He took guitar lessons from Junior Kimbrough, the blues singer, who lived on a nearby farm. Having left school by the age of ten, he worked on oil pipelines with his father in Illinois and Texas. He settled in Memphis in 1950, and his first recording, on the Flip label (a Sun Records offshoot), was 'I've Been Deceived', in 1955. By 1960 however, after about a dozen singles, his career was lagging. He persevered, and eventually European rockabilly fans discovered him. After the broadcast of a British television documentary, he did a concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London in 1977 that was recorded by EMI; this raised his stock considerably, but by then he was classified as an oldies performer. He also appeared in a BBC documentary called 'The Gentle Invasion'. In later years, Feathers played locally around Memphis, often in a band with his son and daughter. Charlie Feathers, one of the great original rockabilly singers, died Aug. 29 at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He was 66 and lived in Memphis.
"Charlie Feathers was the 'Tip Top Daddy'; the true rockabilly artist. He reminds his audience on this CD: 'I'm A Memphis Artist - Memphis Tennessee' and shortly after this live London performance, Memphis is where he died. He had been dogged by ill-health and apparently had already had three 'by-passes'. Internet tributes to Charlie mention: 'a phenomenal man and artist'; 'one of a kind'; a 'Rebel singer' with a'frenzied hiccup mannerism', an expressive blue-grass built voice'; a 'witness and participant in the birth of Rock'n' Roll'. This album gives an all too brief insight to and resume of Charlie's talent, history and attitudes. It is a 'knockout', especially considering his poor state of health when it was recorded. He makes it clear that he never gave up on rockabilly and that big record companies like Warner Bros never gave him the credit or opportunities that he deserved. He recognised his own importance and didn't mind telling people. At one point on the CD he disowns Johnny Cash and Eivis for denying their true rockabilly roots. He says 'the Elvis I knew died in '55'. The band Elvis had at RCA could've been found anywhere but 'you couldn't get a Scotty or Bill nowhere'. This is a unique little album that presents a historic moment in Rock 'n' Roll history and gives a good idea of Charlie's vocal range and talent, ably supported by his son Bubba. He performs some of his classic original numbers. It is great rockabilly and the pace doesn't have to be breakneck to be good. My one and only reservation is that a bit of bass distortion seems evident occasionally, probably a difficulty posed when recording live gigs; or was it just me? Charlie's characteristic vocal traits and mannerisms are all there; fantastic stuff, slap-back echo, bouncy, brilliant. Oh yes, and Radio Caroline's Dell Richardson ('Good Rockin' Tonite') pays tribute to Charlie Feathers with a brief introduction and spot-on closing comments: 'He's fantastic isn't he? . . . He is the King . . . the King of Rockabilly'. 'Nuff said.." Maggie's Blue Suede News
An excellent gig, with Charlie Feathers ably backed up by The Firebirds and Bubba Feathers. A great atmosphere on this CD, and an insight into the mind of one of Rockabilly's true greats. Recorded in 1990.