| CD Reviews
Highway 17 |
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The Cadillac Kings have got it all - A guitar player whose T-Bone Walker licks and cranky chordings sound as natural as his piercing slashing south Louisiana sound. A harp player who can make it bark and yelp and still get soulful in the solos. A rhythm section that adds a rich lushness to the whole thing. A piano player whose main aim in life is to shorten the gap between New Orleans and Los Angeles, and a vocalist who sounds like he's having a natural ball on each and every tune.
So he should, Mike Thomas had a hand in writing almost every song except Jack Dupree's "Shake Baby Shake" and Gary Potts' two stonkin' harp instrumentals. Thomas writes some good stuff - from the laid back growl and easy rolling beat of "Trick of The Blues" to the hard drivin' R&B of "Watch Yourself Brother" and the sly Louis Jordan-ish "Who's Bin Lickin' My Chicken?" And who could resist the wry observational humour of the unconvinced partner of someone on a keep fit kick on "Exercisin' Baby"?
I don't know where "Highway 17" is and I've no intention of going there. The lyrics describe it as a pretty mean, evil and scary place and Gary Pott's harmonica, laced with those snakey Rice Miller wahwah patterns, adds to the menacing atmosphere. "Throwing A Dragnet is the ideal vehicle for pianist Mike Adcock to let rip with some New Orleans rhumboogie patterns and for drummer Roy Webber to kick in with some dangerously accurate drumming while Gary Potts turns into Slim Harpo on the harp solo.
Yes, these boys know how to do it right - they know how to design a good sleeve and they're even pretty snazzy dressers too. The Cadillac Kings are deservedly one of the biggest bands on the British blues scene. You loved their previous release 'Lou-Ann' on Flathead Records (FRCDV8). You're gonna love this one too!
- Red Lick Magazine
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The Cadillac Kings have had a few line up changes since their fantastic 2001 debut, ‘Lou Ann’, but their grip on big swinging early-Fifties R'n'B remains as tight. From the first couple of bars it becomes clear that this steaming gumbo of Blues harmonica, boogie woogie piano and thumping drums will be the perfect accompaniment for shaking the fat ass of your chrome bedecked Fifties showboat all over the highway. Not since the wild days of the Balham Alligators has a British Rock'n'Roll band sounded so righteous - and although the Balhams were Cajun-flavoured and the Kings lean towards the Blues, there are strong musical similarities between the bands. Partly it's the gruff vocal of MikeThomas who reminds me of Geraint Watkins. Partly it's the flashes of Mike Adcock's accordion. Mostly it's the way the guys pile into irresistible grooves with such total
abandon. - Classic American Magazine
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Already heralded as one of the best blues releases of the year, this quality mixture of blues, boogie & swing is full of a thumping double bass, deep toned harp, rolling piano and a rockabilly sensibility.
These guys effortlessly shift from one genre to the next, whether it be the swinging boogie and humorous lyrics of "Exercisin' Baby", the swing blues of "Hilde's Hop", or the impressive harp driven shuffle "You never know", there is a rare quality at the centre of the whole band akin to the centre of a stick of rock.
Had this album been recorded by say the Fab T Birds, or say Junior Watson, everyone would be jumping. As it is, a lot of rockabilly dancers are jumping along to this band, but The Cadillac Kings deserve a wider audience, which this album will surely bring them.
From Gary Potts' earthy harp to Mike Adcock's rolling piano, The Cadillacs drip with blues intensity, and probably for the first time in my life I agree with The Times music critics.
- Pete Feenstra
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CD Reviews Lou Ann
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“This is a brilliant new CD, and a very
polished release, but above all great fun! I particularly like the lyrics to
“Was It Something That I Said” which mix humour with a plaintiveness
with which almost everyone can identify to some extent! The harp interludes
on the track are spine tingling. ‘Lou Ann’ is a great way to spend 52
minutes, whatever you may be doing! I know it’s a cliché, but if you only
buy one more CD this year, you really should buy this one!” - Ashwyn
Smyth, presenter ‘Digital Blues’, Phoenix FM.
The Cadillac Kings’ new album ‘Lou Ann’ is one of the best albums we
have heard in a long time (and we hear a lot!). It’s an excellent mix of
swinging R&B and blues, ideal for dancers but the great musicianship
means it’s just as suitable to enjoy sitting down... but we defy you not
to tap your feet! It even looks great - worth buying for the cover alone! -
Robert Austin, ‘Mojo Boogie Club’ at The 100 Club'. |
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CD's Availalbe for Purchase
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Highway 17
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Highway 17 is a Flathead Production for 33 Records. The copyright
to all recordings is owned by the Cadillac Kings and Flathead Productions. © 2004 Cadillac Kings/Flathead Productions, all rights
reserved.
The Cadillac Kings are:
"Bombshell Blonde" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
"Exercising Baby" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
"Highway 17" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
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Ordering Details
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"Highway 17" £11.50
inc p&p, UK, for all orders. All
cheque
payments must be made in £'s sterling.
Click here
for Sterling Cheque Orders
Click below for Credit Card Purchases via
Paypal
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Lou Ann
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Lou Ann is a Marquis & Thomas Production for Flathead Records. The copyright
to all recordings is owned by the Cadillac Kings. © 2001 Cadillac Kings, all rights
reserved.
"Lou Ann" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
"Cadillac Swing" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
"Fortune Teller" Realaudio
Low-Fi
| Hi - Fi
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Ordering Details
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"Lou Ann" £11.50
inc p&p, UK, for all orders.
All
cheque
payments must be made in £'s sterling.
Click here
for Sterling Cheque Orders
Click below for Credit Card Purchases via
Paypal
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Band Information
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