Charlie Rich | “Mohair Sam” | (Contour)

Taken from the LP ‘Crazy Rock’ | (Contour 6870 527) 1972

With the ’50s Rock and Roll revival in full swing in Britain, budget label Contour got in on the act with an album of recording by the original performers.

These sounds were cut in the late fifties and early sixties, many of which were recorded by the mid-sixties Beat groups and even to this day have stood the test of time.

There are twelve tracks on the LP which must surely clock in at under 30 minutes but I doubt this would have put off the ’70s Teddy Boys who were making waves to pick this up at their local record den.

The LP cover introduces contemporary Teds all suited and booted, smoking Capstan non-filters, wearing their drapes and rockabilly Brothel Crushers.

Fat Boy Elvis is with his bird at the bar, the jukebox is playing Chuck Berry, and the scene is set for a rave-up when all of the other fifties throwbacks turn up for some action.

My stand-out tracks are “Mohair Sam” by Charlie Rich, a live cut of “Tobacco Road” by Billy Lee Riley, “Money Honey” by Clyde McPhatter and a slammin’ Jerry Lee Lewis number from 1965 called “Rocking Pneumonia And Boogie Woogie Flu”