DJ At’s Crazy Record Hop Presents: Foot Tappin’ & Dance At The Screamin’ Festival Vol. 1 (review)
DJ At’s Crazy Record Hop Presents: Foot Tappin’ & Dance At The Screamin’ Festival Vol. 1 (El Toro; ETCD 1017)
reviewed by Michael Macomber
Organizers of rhythm and swing nights take note: here is the disc you need. This collection of rip roarin’ vintage dance tunes, issued by El Toro to honor the 10th Anniversary of Screamin’ Festival in Spain, is guaranteed to put a shimmy in your shake. There are rock tunes that swing, swing tunes that boogie, and boogie tunes that rock. In fact, there’s something for everyone who likes to move their tail.
Ella Fitzgerald’s “Chew Your Bubblegum” is a novelty delight. She delivers the playful lyrics with her usual aplomb, and the shout-back male chorus is a hoot and a half. Bob Willis and His Texas Playboys throw down some hillbilly jazz on “So Let’s Rock,” pickin’ and grinnin’ all the way. The Du-Droppers’ “Boot ‘Em Up” is a smokin’ rhythm and blues number, featuring killer harmonies. The rockabilly raveup “Little Lovin’” finds Mimi Roman generating some serious heat, while Dude Martin rides the range as a “Boogie Woogie Cowboy.” Even Pat Boone gets in a good one, the ultra catchy “Bingo.” A lot of folks forget that Boone had a number of fine singles way back when, and he can work his thang with the best of them.
Roy Brown’s iconic “Rockin’ At Midnight” is probably the defining track here. Brown’s unique phrasing and revolutionary style make him one of the pioneers of the rockin’ rhythm form, and this R&B hit from 1948 has it all. Whether your aim is to Lindy Hop, to twist, to pony, or anything else, you will find your beat and inspiration in Roy Brown — and in the other 26 fab tracks on this disc.
