From Fleetville to Vegas – The Deltas

johnaalex
Sep 27
3 min read

Released September 2025 on Migraine Records - Migraine Records – Next decade's collectors items. Also available from Raucous Records Rockabilly CDs Psychobilly vinyl 1950s Rock 'n' Roll

Leading lights of the neo-rockabilly genre, the Deltas are back!

This is limited edition reissue of the album first released in 1995 on Gary Day’s short-lived Rockout Records, From Fleetville to Vegas is one of the very best Deltas album.The five-piece line-up (the original trio plus Boz Boorer and John Buck) rips through a set of wild and frantic rockin’ blues leaving the listener breathless. Amid that wildness, they managed to add some Jive (Gettin’ Drunk), Jazz (Doctor Jazz, a Boorer’s original that quotes Charlie Parker), Rock’n’Roll (High Falutin’ Mama), Rockabilly (Rock Me) and even Gospel (Down By the Riverside.)Occasional piano, saxophone, and harmonica enlighten the performance. The sound is raw and crude, in the same vein as Billy Childish’s blues albums. This limited-edition LP has extra tracks recorded in 2025 along with a 1995 previously unreleased tune, “Whole Lotta Gal.

Reviewed September 2025 by Jailhouse John Alexander

Review

High Falutin' Mama kicks off with a classic driving guitar riff, in come the drums and then the moody vocal. A blistering guitar solo and this has all the makings of a classic Delta’s track. A great start.

Getting Drunk has a big band swing number feel to it, but there is still some classic slap bass. A great jiver.

Look Out Mabel, the GL Crocket classic gets the neo rockabilly treatment. This is faster than the original with the drums and slap bass working like crazy. A great bopper.

Shim Sham Shimmy was originally recorded by Champion Jack Dupree. The boys do the number great justice with a harsh vocal supported by some rocking harmonica and piano in addition to the usual guitar, bass and drums.

Willie Brown also features some great harmonica playing, but this is more of a bopper. Great bass playing again.

Waymore’s Blues, I doubt if Waylon Jennings could have imagined his song being done in this style, but I am sure he would have loved the slow rockabilly treatment it gets here.

Ko Ko Mo bring the tempo again with the slap bass coming to the fore to keep the rhythm going. This is one of the new tracks. It was recorded in 2025 and shows the “boys” still have it.

Whole Lotta Gal comes from the original 1995 session but wasn’t released at the time. It is drum driven bopper that should not have been kept under wraps so long!

Doctor Jazz kicks off the second side with, as the name suggests, a jazzy feel. Some very nimble guitar work and bass playing all add to make a good jiver as well as showing the range of talents in the band.

Down By The Riverside is a tune that has been done in numerous styles, but this has to be one of the most rocking!

I love To Boogie is the Marc Bolan song. Marc was clearly influenced by some of music popular in the rocking clubs during the so called rockabilly revival in the mid-1970s. Things have now gone full circle with Marc’s homage being given a more authentic rockabilly feel.

King Of The Road like “Waymore’s Blues” is a country track that was a massive hit for Roger Miller 1966. This version has a nice laidback hillbilly feel to it thanks to some nice guitar work.

Rock Me kicks off with some nice bass before the guitar and drums kick in. Basically it’s a neo rockabilly version of “She Sure Can Rock Me” as originally recorded by Roy Hall.

Around And Around is a Chuck Berry track and this version stays pretty close to the original.

Empty Chair is the second of the new tracks. “Rockabilly Rules” are the opening lyrics and who am I to argue. Classic neo rockabilly done well, a nice tribute to Crazy Cavan.

Get Down is the third and final new track and an interesting mix of styles with a touch of

Tex Mex in there.

Summary and Recommendation

This is limited edition and a most welcome one at that. It was great album when first released and the extra tracks just make it better, Grab a copy while you still can!

Track List

Side A

01 High Falutin' Mama

02 Getting Drunk

03 Look Out Mabel

04 Shim Sham Shimmy

05 Willie Brown

06 Waymore’s Blues

07 Ko Ko Mo

08 Whole Lotta Gal

Side B

01 Doctor Jazz