Zoot suits? Black & white Brando movies? Las Vegas show bands? Sounds like something your parents would dig, right? Wrong. Royal Crown Revue is the coolest of a small crop of bands that struck gold with their own niche in post-alternative pop. THE CONTENDER is not a collection of grunge guitar and gloomy, unintelligible lyrics; this is hot jumpin' swing with razor sharp horns, big, fat grooves and the hippest lounge-style vocals this side of the casino circuit.
Make no mistake; this is no gimmick. These cats blow the roof off the joint with enough swagger and swing to make Frank, Sammy and Dino proud. The whole clambake starts with a bang as the title cut comes on like gangbusters. Check out the ace tremolo pickin' on the hard swinging "Zip Gun Bop (Reloaded)" and the Krupa-esque hide-beatin' on "Big Boss Lee" and you'll know these cats aren't just frisking the whiskers. Other hip licks include a jumpin' "Stormy Weather" and the hottest "Salt Peanuts" since Dizzy himself. Get your mitts on this killer-diller, put on your best threads, grab your main squeeze and get ready to cut a rug until early bright. It's a gasser.
Recorded at Royaltone Studios and One On One Recording, North Hollywood, California.
Engineers: Jeff Hendrickson, Lee Herschberg.
Personnel: Royal Crown Revue (background vocals); Eddie Nichols (vocals); James Achor (guitar); Mando Dorame (tenor saxophone); Bill Ungerman (baritone saxophone); Scott Steen (trumpet); Dave Rollicke (trombone); Daniel Glass (drums, percussion); Alex Desert, Gregory Lee, Kincaid Smith (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Jeff Hendrickson; Lee Herschberg.
Recording information: One On One Recording, N. Hollywood, CA; Royaltone Studios, N. Hollywood, CA.
Photographer: Mando Gonzales.
Arranger: Bill Ungerman.
Royal Crown Revue: Eddie Nichols (vocals); James Achor (guitar, background vocals); Mando Dorame (tenor saxophone, background vocals); Bill Ungerman (baritone saxophone, background vocals); Scott Steen (trumpet, background vocals); Veikko Lepisto (bass, background vocals); Daniel Glass (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Dave Rollicke (trombone); Alex Desert, Gregory Lee, Kincaid Smith (background vocals).
Rolling Stone (10/1/98, p.70) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "Snazzy fedoras and a brass section can't hide Royal Crown Revue's tough-guy heart....they rock, mastering complicated beats at fast tempos, using horns for gallivanting hooks more than for gratuitous honks..."
(*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for.
Contender Music Review
Customer Contender Reviews
Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)
It's a really strong album I think it's their best I love this album. Have played it over and over. I have heard several of their other albums and I think this is WAY BETTER than the other ones I have heard. This one is a keeper. I think this is a much more "polished" album. Anyway, I think this album is a must for any record collection. I was playing it for a friend and he said "who are these guys, they are good!!". Submitted by charlescpc (Knoxville Tn) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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