Gene Vincent - Walkin Home From School

Gene Vincent only had one really big hit, "Be-Bop-a-Lula," which epitomized rockabilly at its prime in 1956 with its sharp guitar breaks, spare snare drums, fluttering echo, and Vincent's breathless, sexy vocals. Yet his place as one of the great early rock & roll singers is secure, backed up by a wealth of fine smaller hits and non-hits that rate among the best rockabilly of all time. The leather-clad, limping, greasy-haired singer was also one of rock's original bad boys, lionized by romanticists of past and present generations attracted to his primitive, sometimes savage style and indomitable spirit. Vincent was bucking the odds by entering professional music in the first place. As a 20-year-old in the Navy, he suffered a severe motorcycle accident that almost resulted in the amputation of his leg, and left him with a permanent limp and considerable chronic pain for the rest of his life. After the accident he began to concentrate on building a musical career, playing with country bands around the Norfolk, VA, area. Demos cut at a local radio station, fronting a band assembled around Gene by his management, landed Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps a contract at Capitol, which hoped they'd found competition for Elvis Presley. Indeed it had, as by this time Vincent had plunged into all-out rockabilly, capable of both fast-paced exuberance and whispery, almost sensitive ballads. The Blue Caps were one of the greatest rock bands of the '50s, anchored at first by the stunning silvery, faster-than-light guitar leads of Cliff Gallup. The slap-back echo of "Be-Bop-a-Lula," combined with Gene's swooping vocals, led many to mistake the singer for Elvis when the record first hit the airwaves in mid-1956, on its way to the Top Ten. The Elvis comparison wasn't entirely fair; Vincent had a gentler, less melodramatic style, capable of both whipping up a storm or winding down to a hush. Brilliant follow-ups like "Race With the Devil," "Bluejean Bop," and "B-I-Bickey, Bi, Bo-Bo-Go" failed to click in nearly as big a way, although these too are emblematic of rockabilly at its most exuberant and powerful. By the end of 1956, the Blue Caps were beginning to undergo the first of constant personnel changes that would continue throughout the '50s, the most crucial loss being the departure of Gallup. The 35 or so tracks he cut with the band -- many of which showed up only on albums or b-sides -- were unquestionably Vincent's greatest work, as his subsequent recordings would never again capture their pristine clarity and uninhibited spontaneity. Vincent had his second and final Top Twenty hit in 1957 with "Lotta Lovin'," which reflected his increasingly tamer approach to production and vocals, the wildness and live atmosphere toned down in favor of poppier material, more subdued guitars, and conventional-sounding backup singers. He recorded often for Capitol throughout the rest of the '50s, and it's unfair to dismiss those sides out of hand; they were respectable, occasionally exciting rockabilly, only a marked disappointment in comparison with his earliest work. His act was captured for posterity in one of the best scenes of one of the first Hollywood films to feature rock & roll stars, The Girl Can't Help It. His Capitol contract expired in 1963, and he spent the rest of his life recording for several other labels, none of which got him close to that comeback hit ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• rock
• rockabilly

[ClintReno90]

October 12th, 1971

Gene Vincent died from a perforated ulcer, aged 36.

October 12th, 2010

It's been 39 years since his death... I'm 20, but I haven't forgotten you...

R.I.P. Gene...

[28grey]

Gene Vincent is my favourite rocker, nice to see his music on the tube, uploaded by dedicated people.*****

[margusify]

Iwas still at school when i bought the 45 of this,wonderful memories of course,and i had to plug the Dansette into the lightbulb socket before i could listen to it!

[kathycantrellbrown]

Sorry he died i sure he,s rocking and singing for god, his friend,s eddie cochran,billy fury, are with him Gene was a great singer ,

[TheDJGrandPa]

Man, I'm becoming more and more of a fan of this guy! <3

[TL250Rider]

Pre Art Laboe

He is a Rock N Roll Mogal but for some reason he thinks That DISCO GANG BANGER Should be played on KRLA.

KRLA as a famous Radio Station

Brought the Beatles to Los Angeles

Played Great Music

Then Art Laboe Came

Disco Gang Banger

Dedications were BAD MUSIC IS BAD DEDICATIONS

Art Laboe was at nights in the early 80's KRLA Great during the days.

Thyen it went 24 7 Disco Gang Banger and THIS Bad KRLA would make fun of People like Freddie and The Dreamers

[John1948Five]

@goodwineguy Art Laboe was a radio personality on KRLA in Los Angeles. I don't know when he started there but anything prior to that date would be "pre Art Laboe."

[goodwineguy]

@TL250Rider What is Pre Art Laboe KRLA?

[TL250Rider]

Winnie Cooper

The Girl Next Door.

Long Hair Beautiful Little Gal

Brings back memories of Pre Art Laboe KRLA

[rockdoowop5060]

great song