Ronnie Self Rocks
Released August 2024 on Bear Family Records - Ronnie Self CD: Ronnie Self - Rocks (CD) - Bear Family Records (bear-family.com)
Reviewed September 2024
They didn’t call Ronnie Self ‘Mr. Frantic’ for nothing, as viewers of ‘Ozark Jubilee’ and folks that flocked to attend ‘The Philip Morris Caravan’ could readily attest. Self’s raucous, livewire vocals were tailor-made for the emerging rockabilly movement, and his sides for ABC-Paramount, Columbia, Decca, and other major labels, which commenced in 1956 with a sizzling Pretty Bad Blues, have long mesmerized devotees of the genre.
Bear Family’s 33-song ‘Ronnie Self Rocks’ cuts a wide swath through Ronnie’s career, from his seminal ‘50s rockers including Big Blon’ Baby, You’re So Right For Me, Ain’t I’m A Dog, Rocky Road Blues and the immortal scorcher Bop-A-Lena (his only pop charter) and stripped-down early demos of Grandma’s Rockin’ and Money Honey to a fascinating series of ‘60s tapes that Ronnie made when he was primarily channelling his creative energies into song writing.
Struggles with destructive substances hampered Self’s musical career as time went on and ultimately brought his life to a much-too-early end in 1981, but Ronnie left us some of the craziest, most unhinged recordings of the classic rockabilly era that still pack a full-fledged wallop today. Prepare for a wild ride!
Review
This collection kicks off with one of Ronnie’s Decca recordings “This Must Be The Place”, a steady stroller showing Ronnie’s ability for quirky vocal styles. The second track “Your So Right For Me from his days with the Columbia label has Ronnie at his wildest best in 1959. “Home In My Hand” is one of the several tracks in this set that wasn’t released at the time, in fact it wasn’t until 1995 that this track that is similar to Suzie Q by Dale Hawkins was made available. It is back in time to 1956 for track 4. “Three Hearts Later” was the b side of the ABC Paramount Single “Pretty Bad Blues”. It’s a nice mid-paced rocker that would be good to stroll to. “Petrified” is another good rocker with backing vocals that give it a pop feel to it, however it didn’t get any real commercial success. Track 6 “The Boss’ daughter” is another track that was not released until 1999. It’s a good if uninspiring song but definitely worthy of its place here.
Track 7, “Bop A Lena” was recorded in 1957 and released in 1958, it reached No. 68 on the Billboard charts to give Ronnie his only chart success. An absolute superb rocking track that has been a long-standing favourite on the rocking scene since the 70s. Ronnie gives his all with his vocals. “Big Town”, track 8 brings the pace back down after “Bop A Lena” so you can catch your breath and enjoy this song that was another release on Decca for Ronnie. ”Houdini” is pop/country/rocker from 1963 when it was issued on the Kapp label as another of Ronnie’s “novelty” tracks. “My Own Kick Going”, track 10, is another recording not issued at the time. It has a steady Bo Diddley rhythm to it. Track 11, “I Ain’t Going Nowhere” is a straight pop song from 1958 that was issued on Columbia. It has a sort of “Ronnie does Ricky (Nelson)” vibe to it although given the man’s problems with alcoholism there maybe a deeper meaning to the song. “Pretty Bad Blues” is Ronnie at his rockabilly best. It was issued on ABC Paramount in 1956 as his first single for the label, but although it failed to chart it has it’s rightful place in the lists of top rockabilly recordings. “Wild And Wooly Life” is more of a country rocker and despite it’s title it isn’t Ronnie at his wildest. “Date Bait” a Columbia 45 from 1958 is a rocker with some quirky backing vocals, a fine sax solo and some great vocals from Ronnie.
I can’t be sure when track 15, “The Biggest Dog In Town” was recorded but it sounds like an early 60s country rocker, it wasn’t actually released until the ‘90s. Another of Ronnie’s Columbia recordings, “Flame Of Love” had a session band that included Grady Martin and Hank Garland on guitars with the singer, Floyd Chance, on bass, Buddy Harman on drums, the three guitars work great together on this mid-paced rocker. Track 17, “Big Fool” is a good rockabilly bopper with some fine piano work from Floyd Cramer. “About Cured?” is another of Ronnie’ more country style recordings and I think he sounds a bit like Roger Miller. “Rocky Road Blues” is a song with a country history with one of the best known versions coming from legendary bluegrass singer, Bill Monroe”. Ronnie gives the tune a rocking edge and again some fine piano playing is evident.
Track 20, “Bless My Broken Heart” was released on Kapp records in 1963 and is another of Ronnie’s “easy listening” type recordings that he does very well. The next track “Ain’t I’m A Dog” is a fine example of the rockin’ Ronnie. Wild vocals and a blistering guitar break to fore, another rockabilly classic from his days with Columbia in 1958. “Do It Now” is another track that didn’t get a public airing until 1990 a well-produced pop rocker, again with a touch of Ricky Nelson about it. Ronnie’s vocal on “When He Flies Away” sound different to me, he sounds a bit tortured. The lyric “somewhere in my twisted mind there’s got to be reason for feeling like the wild goose does at the changing season” sounds like Ronnie is dealing about his “lifestyle issues”. It’s another novelty song at track 25 “Some Things You Can’t Change” has a gospel style to it. It was released on the Decca label in 1962 and features some fine saxophone playing. “Black Night Blues” is a good ol’ honky tonk song with a great rhythm. “Too Many Lovers”, track 27, didn’t get released at the time, but for the life I can’t see why. It’s a fine pop rocker. The title of track 28, “Ugly Stick” gives a pretty good clue that it’s a novelty track that again shows Ronnie sense of humour. “Ain't I A Dandy” is slow moody rocker that dates from 1967 when it was issued on the Scratch label. The horn section give track 31 “Get Out Of My Live” a soul sound.
The final two tracks “Grandma’s Rockin’” and “Money Honey” are early demo recordings and as such have a raw feel to them.
Summary
There are more extensive Ronnie Self collections but this one has all the best bits of his recording career. It’s a pity that his work didn’t get him the commercial success many, including me, felt he deserved.
Recommendation
A nicely put together set from one rockabilly’s legends and well worth buying.
Reviewed by Jailhouse John Alexander
Track List
1 This Must Be The Place
2 Your So Right For Me
3 Home In My Hand
4 Three Hearts Later
5 Petrified
6 The Boss' Daughter
7 Bop-A-Lena
8 Big Town
9 Houdini
10 My Own Kick Going
11 I Ain’t Goin Nowhere
12 Pretty Bad Blues
13 Wild And Wooly Life
14 Date Bait
15 Biggest Dog In Town
16 Flame Of Love
17 Big Fool
18 About Cured?
19 Rocky Road Blues
20 Bless My Broken Heart
21 Ain't I'm A Dog
22 Do It Now
23 Big Blon Baby
24 When He Flies Away
25 Some Things You Can’t Change
26 Black Night Blues
27 Too Many Lovers
28 Ugly Stick
29 Ain't I A Dandy
30 Instant Man
31 Get Out Of My Life
32 Grandma's Rockin'
33 Money Honey
Band Bio is there is one
Please visit https://www.slapthatbass.online/ to read more rockin’ reviews, links to vendors etc.
Comments