Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps CD

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, cut in October 1956, only four months after its predecessor, came about under slightly less favorable circumstances than the Bluejean Bop album. Cliff Gallup, whose lead guitar had been so central to the group's original sound, and rhythm guitarist Willie Williams, who was only somewhat less important to their sound, had been gone from the band for nearly two months when producer Ken Nelson decided it was time to cut material for more singles and a second album. Gallup was persuaded to rejoin temporarily for the sessions that yielded this album, and with him he brought not only a hot-sounding instrument but one first-rate original song, "You Better Believe," alongside a few other notable band originals ("Cruisin'," "Hold Me, Hug Me, Rock Me") that are among the best songs Vincent and his band ever recorded. The sound ends up similar to the Bluejean Bop album, with a little more depth in places and Vincent showing more maturity and confidence, which is how he gets away with "Unchained Melody," the most challenging ballad he'd cut up to that time -- Gallup's trilled, mandolin-like playing (which turns up on "I Sure Miss You" as well) also serves to make this one of the more unusual and memorable of the many good versions of this song. Vincent's singing also stands out on his dark, moody, ominous rendition of the Delmore Brothers' "Blues Stay Away From Me." And the band runs circles around virtually every other white rock & roll outfit of the period. Unfortunately, Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps would also be the last time that this version of the band would turn up on record with Vincent -- Gallup soon left again, and in less than three months, every member of the group except drummer Dickie Harrell would be gone. In 1998, Collectables Records reissued this album, paired with Bluejean Bop, on Bluejean Bop/Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps. ~ Bruce Eder

Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps had a little more time to prepare their second, self-titled album than they had had for their first, Bluejean Bop! As a result, there were none of the ballad standards that had filled up the track list of that disc, alternating with the rockabilly tunes. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps rocked more consistently than its predecessor, the only real exception being a cover of the much-recorded 1955 torch song "Unchained Melody." The rest of the time, Vincent and the band rocked out. Guitarist Willie Williams had been replaced by Paul Peek, and guitarist Cliff Gallup, although he had also left, had returned just for this recording, making the LP the final sessions by a near-original version of the Blue Caps. Gallup brought along a couple of songs, "You Told a Fib" and "You Better Believe," while others were contributed by Vincent and his partner, Tex Davis. But the material was less important than the approach, which was raucous rockabilly bop. "Hold Me, Hug Me, Rock Me," for instance, was an example of unfettered rocking, with the band raging and Vincent howling. The 2002 reissue adds five tracks to the album, but still brings the running time to only just over 40 minutes. The added tracks include both sides of Vincent's fifth single, "Bi-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go" and "Five Days, Five Days," plus the first takes of "Important Words," "Teenage Partner," and "Five Feet of Lovin'," making an already excellent rockabilly workout even better. ~ William Ruhlmann

Remastered reissue of his 1957 release. In the UK magazine's Mojo, Jeff Beck named this album “Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps” as the album that has influenced him the most. Includes liner notes by Jeff Beck.

Originally released on Capitol (811). Includes liner notes by Jeff Beck.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Personnel: The Jordanaires (vocals); Cliff Gallup (guitar); Jack Neal (upright bass); Dickie Harrell (drums).

Audio Remasterer: Kevin Bartley.

Liner Note Author: Jeff Beck.

Personnel: Gene Vincent (vocals, guitar); Paul Peck, Cliff Gallup, Willie Williams (gu