| Track by Track Review
|
 |
2000 Indian Super Chief Motorcycle Rev
This is just what it says it is. It lasts less than 30 seconds. |
|
Johnny Horton – The Wild One
With a real down-home vibe to it, this is decidedly roots music based. |
|
The Cheers – Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots
I love the frantic drumming that gets this track going. The number has more of a musical theater vibe as it comes out from there. It’s a little too cheesy for me. That applies to both the lyrics and musical arrangement. |
|
Marlon Brando & Cast – What Are You Rebelling Against? (Speech from 'The Wild One')
Just 20-seconds long, this is strictly a spoken skit, as advertised. |
|
Shorty Rogers & His Orchestra – The Wild One
The sounds of a motorcycle get this thing going. The music that comes in from there is frantic, jazz based theme song styled stuff. It’s a real powerhouse that’s my favorite track to this point. This instrumental is all class. |
|
The Bell Notes – Real Wild Child (The Wild One)
This is a classy rock and roller that’s a lot of fun. This is another standout. |
|
Tommy Payne – Fire Engine Red Bandana (Motorcycle Queen)
Definitely on the over-produced side, this theatrical rocker still has its charms. |
|
The Storey Sisters (aka The Twinkles) – Bad Motorcycle
This feels more like a doo wop novelty song. It’s entertaining, but pretty silly. |
|
Garrett Williams – Motorcycle Millie
With twangy guitar, this is a rockabilly tune that works pretty well. |
|
Terry Ann – Motorcycle Jack
I love the guitar riffing that we get on this track. The whole number is a little lightweight, but fun. |
|
Lenny & The Thundertones – Street Beat
This instrumental lands in the kind of territory where The Ventures ply their trade. It’s a classy guitar number and a standout for me. |
|
Johnny Bond – Side Car Cycle
With a classic guitar and nearly spoken vocal style, this works well. What it misses in originality it more than makes up with in delivery. This is fun stuff. |
|
'Nita, Rita & Ruby – Leroy
Contemporary pop mixed with country, jazz and musical theater is the idea here. I’m not really a fan of this number, but it does feature some cool pedal steel guitar. |
|
Davey Day – Motorcycle Mike
The blowing saxophone adds a lot of this. I love the driving piano, too. This is an energetic old-school rock and roller. |
|
Otto Brandenburg – Leather Jacket Motorcycle Rider
This is a playful number that works reasonably well, but is a little over the top with its pop rock and roll arrangement. |
|
Leroy Van Dyke – Leather Jacket
There is a lot of hillbilly sound on this rockabilly rocker. I’m not crazy about the doo wop angle to this. In general, this one doesn’t work that well for me. |
|
Elvis Presley – Wheels On My Heels
I’m nor a big fan of Mr. Presley, but this rocker works really well. I like the horns and just about everything about this track. It’s a highlight of the disc, for sure. |
|
Jo Ann Campbell – Motorcycle Michael
This is a bouncy and fun rocker. While not showing any big surprises, it’s just particularly effective. |
|
Marcel St-Jean – The Big Black Jacket
Another fun rock and roller, I love the guitar work on this beast. |
|
Tico & The Triumphs – Motorcycle
Starting with the sound of a motorcycle, we get a doo wop styled tune from there. This is energetic, but not my kind of thing. |
|
Vince Taylor & The Playboys – Jet Black Machine
Guitar rock and roll is the idea here. This has some great riffing. |
|
Charlie Ryan – Hot Rod Harley
This is along the lines of “Side Car Cycle.” I think this is the stronger of the two tunes. |
|
The Crestones – She's A Bad Motorcycle
There is a bit of novelty silliness, but the track is fun enough to make up for it. I love the motorcycle soundbites that are incorporated. |
|
Floyd Robinson - Motorcycle Man
I really love the surf-guitar sort of sound to the instrumental arrangement on this. The backing vocals are a little silly to me, but the whole track rocks out pretty well despite them. |
|
Johnny Bond – Hell's Angels
This feels over-produced with too much of a pop sound. It does have some country and rock and roll in the mix, too. |
|
Brigitte Bardot – Harley Davidson
The lyrics to this track are in French. The number if fun, but another that’s overproduced. |
|
Long Tall Ernie & The Shakers – Motorride
This is another highlight of the set. It has a real glam rock sound. It also has some great energy. |
|
Billy Balls – Motorcycle
This is a driving punk rocker. It’s a classy tune that’s another standout piece. |
|
Billy Idol – Motor Bikin'
Who had “Billy Idol and Elvis Presley on the same album” on their bingo card? Well, this is on the punkier meets vintage rock and roll end of Idol’s style. It’s a stomper that’s another highlight of the disc. |
|
Crazy Cavan 'N' The Rhythm Rockers – My Little Sister's Gotta Motorbike
The sound of a motorcycle gets things going here. The sound here is more along the lines of rockabilly. It has some energy and style. |
|
Catmen – Gone Ridin'
This rockabilly, vintage rock and roller feels like something Robert Plant might do to my ears. It’s another standout. |
|
Robert Gordon & Danny Gatton – Too Fast To Live, Too Young To Die
This is an energetic and catchy retro rocking number. While it’s a good tune, it’s not up to the level of the last few for me. |
|
Crazy Cavan 'N' The Rhythm Rockers – Both Wheels Left The Ground
Another retro rocker, this has great energy and some killer piano work. It’s a good way to end the set in style. |
|
