Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 1. 1971

Records

Records

Album cover of The Best of Ronnie Hawkins and his Band

This Pyramid release is idea for two possible sets of customers—dedicated band fanatics and the pegged trousers DA cut—blue suede shoes nostalgia set.

It's a reissue of some old cuts from an unspecified period somewhere between 1959 and the mid 1960's while Ronnie Hawkins was still leader of the group.

There's some straight country stuff ("The Ballad of Caryl Chessman" and "The Death of Floyd Collins") pointing to Hawkin's musical background, and no doubt included so that the dedicated Band fans can point and say Ho Ho the roots of their music—etc., etc., etc.

Several of Hawkins own compositions are included, most of them unimpressive even in the light of some of the material which made the charts in those days. Baby Jean for example.

Well I found a woman and her name is Baby Jean
Yeah she's the sweetist little woman that I've ever seen.
Baby Jean (Baby Jean)
Baby Jean ( Baby Jean)
Don't be mean. Yes her lips are really groovy (Ah ooh Wah)
And they taste like cherry wine (Ah ooh Wah)
Every time I kiss my baby (Ah ooh Wah)
Well I nearly lose my mind (Ah ooh Wah).

Mostly his writing is in a sort of 1950's rock'n'roll groove with a slightly blacker than average backing, the roots of which can be seen in some of the R and B standards included on the album. They manage a passable version of Bo Diddley's classic "Who Do You Love" which shows a little of Jamie Robertson's developing guitar style and a somewhat less exciting "Mojo Man" along with a few others.

On the whole there's nothing which points to the talent which the Band exhibits today, which depending on how one feels about Bob Dylan, might be an indication of the influence Dylan has had on them. Probably of more general interest (of more interest to me anyway) would have been an album of early tracks of the band backing Dylan. Here's hoping the bootleg record scene hits this country before too long.

The Best of Ronnie Hawkins and his Band. SR 42045