Song of the Week: Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps - Race With the Devil/Gonna Back Up Baby

Race With The Devil

Gonna Back Up Baby

[originally published on 8/20/13. Reposted today in honor of Cliff Gallup's birthday]

For my money, Gene Vincent's second single, was the best he and the Blue Caps ever did. Race With The Devil was written by Gene Vincent (I discount all cases of the manager being given equal writing credit, as is the case on this disc) and recorded in Nashville on May 1st, 1956. This was the same inaugural session that provided yesterday's double sided gem, Be-Bop-A-Lula and Woman Love.

Race With The Devil is well named. This song sounds just like one would think a race with a devil would sound. If those races had soundtracks, that is. The highlight of the song is without question the two guitar breaks by Cliff Gallup. The tone, attack and stylings of his two solos typify Rockabilly perhaps better than any other song. Gallup used a 1955 Gretsch Duojet played through his Standel 25L15 amp and his home made echo box to create the delicious tone.

We're also giving you the Flip-Side, Gonna Back Up Baby, which showcases Gallup's Bigsby vibrato in great form. 

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!

Song of the Week: Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps - Be-Bop-A-Lula/Woman Love

Be-Bop-A-Lula

Woman Love

These early Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps singles are just amazing. Gene Vincent was a crazed rockabilly rebel before there were ever crazed rockabilly rebels. Gene Vincent grew up in Norfolk Virginia and served in the US Navy until 1955 when a motorcycle accident crushed his leg and left him unfit for service. He turned to his old love, music, and started performing around the tidewaters of Virginia where a local DJ, Sheriff Tex Davis, took note. Davis took over management and assembled a new, better band, for Vincent. One of those musicians was an older gentleman by the name of Cliff Gallup. His guitar work on these early Blue Caps singles (he was only in the band for the first 18 months) lift these songs from great to spectacular. 

We listen today to both sides of Gene Vincent's first single, released in May of 1956 for Capitol Records. It's the well known Gene Vincent penned tune, Be-Bop-A-Lula with the less well known Flip-Side, Woman Love.

Until next time, we'll see you On The Flip-Side!