Record #0648: - Hot Rod Gang (EP) – GENE VINCENT AND HIS BLUE CAPS

 

A1 “Dance In the Street”, A2 “Baby Blue”, B1 “Lovely Loretta”, B2 “DanceTo the Bop”

Capitol EAP 1-985 (UK original) UK, Sep. 1958
Words & Music by:  A1 – Al Davis, Dan Welch; A2 – Gene Vincent, Bobby Jones; B1 – Owen Grady, Ed Watt; B2 – Floyd Edge
Musicians:  Gene Vincent (vocals), Johnny Meeks (lead guitar), Grady Owen (rhythm guitar in A1 and B1), Buck Owens (rhythm guitar in B2), Max Lipscomb (piano in A2), Clifton Simmons (piano in A1 and B1), Bobby Lee Jones (bass guitar), Dickie Harrell (drums in A2 and B2)), Juvey Gomez (drums in A1 and B1), Eddie Cochran (backing vocals in A1 and B1), Tommy Facenda and Paul Peek; “The Clapper Boys” (backing vocals & hand clapping in A1 and B1)
Recording sessions: Produced by Ken Nelson at Capitol Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA, A1: 25. March 1958, A2: 8. December 1957, B1: 26. March 1958, B2: 20. June 1957
Highest chart positions:  Didn’t chart in the UK (at least not in Top 40)

The EP includes four songs that Gene and the Blue Caps performed in 1958 movie “Hot Rod Gang”.

Vincent’s fellow rocker Eddie Cochran sings bass backing vocals in “Dance In the Street” and “Lovely Loretta”.

Blue Caps’ original drummer, Dickie “Be-Bop” Harrell, got bored with life on the road and left the band in early 1958. “Dance In the Street” was the first song to be recorded with their new drummer, Juvey Gomez, who played in all five recording sessions they had in March 1958.

List price:  UK release not in Goldmine Catalog. These are going for >30 EUR in eBay depending on the condition.