Jake Calypso Downtown Memphis (CD)

(Chickens) 14 tracks

Born in 1964 and already obsessed with the music of the 50s as a teenager, Jake Calypso not only collected the records of his idols, but also introduced them to the public as a radio DJ and soon played in his first band The Corals, thus easily came together as a fan and musician with numerous greats of the scene at that time. His bands Mystery Train (Rockhouse Records / NL) and Hot Chickens followed, until he debuted under the name Jake Calypso And His Red Hot. With this line-up the guitarist, singer and songwriter fulfilled his dream to record an album in one of the most sacred places of Rock'n'Roll: the Sun Records studios in Memphis Tennessee.

And indeed, the 14 songs (eleven of which are penned by the Frenchman) sound like they were recorded in the mid-50s, due in no small part to the spartan-analog studio setup. Atmospheric and rousing rockabilly and rock'n'roll songs that recall the class of the famous studio guests of the past. Of those, house drummer and legend Jimmy Van Eaton doesn't miss a chance to make a guest appearance on the Billy Lee Riley cover Trouble Bound, with Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) and That's All Right (Arthur Crudup) two more first class cover versions. Timelessly good!