Ready Willing and Able - The Playtones

Ready Willing and Able

The Playtones

Released – 17th January 2025

Atenzia Records

Reviewed- 23rd February 2025

It's playtime with the Playtones, and are they ready willing and able, you bet they are, this 4 piece band are back,( also of being a five piece at times), and as always bringing their fantastic rockin sound, from Kallinge town in Sweden that is where these gents formed The band back in 2008. I remember watching them burn up the stage several years ago at the Ace Café in London, and they still rockin it up well, the rockabilly rock n roll, with a bit of country and a lot of boogie woogie. these cats have racked up several albums, at one point they had a new release every year, now they have once again released this album for our listening pleasure.

Members are.

Stefan Jonasson – vocals, piano

Johan Svensson – drums

Mattias Schertell – double bass, electric bass

Jonas Holmberg - guitar

are we READY... for the record... yeah!

Track By Track

1 - I’m Ready

yes, so are we....and a classic hit cover of the fat’s domino upbeat jiver a sturdy boogie woogie piano some nice tickling of the ivory keys, fine playing of guitar rhythm and drums flowing. bass, wild instrumental piano break, lots of speed talent, chorus echo sound coming together on the vocal chorus this is full boogie jumping track.

2 - My Little Baby -

Piano entry, bringing in drums, up-tempo full-on rhythm, straight into the whole band on a jumping jiver, subtle vocals , sectioned tone changes and pitches to stand out, honky Tonkin piano solo with broken beat drum and back to rhythm driving bass line, quick fade out ending.

3 - Eliza Jane

Lower key piano start, on mini scale, and an electric lead guitar play through with more direct drum opening, added rolls and cymbals, a few breaks like it through out, deeper more prominent vocals on this number, a more country boogie feel, and towards the end of it having a key change backing vocal little section solo vocal standout bring band together for ending moments and quick ending... saddle up for miss Eliva and good country soft rock guitar slinging

4 - Let Her in

Unique opening, another country rock n roll feel, an identifiable slowish drum solo bass drum and sounds like brush , stick.

and on snare and a dampened tambourine, then adding the solo vocal to the band entrance, I get a tiny feel of rock n roll country, and feel Spector, the drum break roll and strumming guitar, bass line playing to guitar and drum, the vocal subtle, echo feel.

to the vocal, deeper, and richer, the country rock song of the loving girl, in the mid a fantastic compress guitar country rock solo sound and a brilliant ,

and beat fade out to an individual last moment beat...

5 - am I to be the one

He is to be the one with the winning sound of this upbeat track, bright bouncy country rock and honky tanking piano. A strummed and drummed individual beat opening, the feel of jerry Lewis’s meeting Chas and Dave on a country rock big show, lot of dynamics.

fabulous boogie piano break, vibrant vocal’s fantastic structure and snappy ending.... dance in the hall or barn with your drink ready

6 - Hoppin and boppin

upbeat snappy drum roll pattern beat piano chorded low key quick rhythm decreasing scale with bouncing bass and tinkling piano and notifiable guitar all in the opening, all pause for vocal entrance, then full on together , quick paced up-tempo, rock n roller jiver, a

big feel of Lewis and chuck berry feel if they jammed , backing vocal repeating vocal end of each line and the classic style down scale outro...Hoppin and boppin your way till the end.

7 - green, green apples

well, these apples sound juicy and ripe, very quick up-tempo intro , Cajun feel, and sound to this on guitar , could even be an accordion, brill. drum paced beat, and piano playing in, the vocals coming in to bring the track together, drum brakes end each verse, brilliant smooth rockin vocals on scale. it is like the green apple version country boogie version of the promise land, bright upbeat catchy bass line, this will bounce you through the night, need your apples. to keep energy up...!!

Well...yeeha there boogie kats, what you think of that, a good true mix of rock n roll, country n country rock and boogie. woogie and hint of Cajun, if you are into jerry lee Lewis and little bit of chuck berry, then you are going to want this in your collection for sure, it will be good for the kool cats chilling time played low, and at the same time the party time country boogie kats when tearing it up, elements of traditional sounds and

more later revival style sounds rolled in to one, great for any barn , he haw shake down and rock n roll party, will have you up dancing away, looking forward to playing.

some on the air and at the club...

Vince rockin wolf Eavis

DJ rockin wolf

http://www.rockabillyradio.net