The Rockats

Start Over Again

(Cleopatra)

This isn't the disc I expected. It's better.

Don't misunderstand, I anticipated a quality effort. The Rockats always issue first-chair work. But Start Over Again exceeds that already lofty standard.

It's a mix of originals, covers, and reimagined early tunes, and is consistently superior to peers' output. As countless international devotees can attest, The Rockats means the highest caliber of rock'n'roll.

Indeed, the music here is atop such a capstone as to render many competitors' toils superfluous. 

It's been eight years since their last CD, "Rockin' Together" (Lanark), and that was outstanding. The intervening years are as nothing, for the players are still at the top of their game. 

Newly minted originals "Rock, Baby, Rock (All Night Long), "Rockabilly Swamp," "Lucky Old Rockabilly (Walking Down the Pike),"and "Working Man" are apt complements to covers of Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, and others. 

1980 45 "Rockabilly Doll" b/w "Tanya Jean" is remastered and reminds of the combo's initial topmost promise. (I've still got the original cracking single, plus the two-tone mini poster that accompanied it upon issuance.)

Enough good cannot be stated of The Rockats' cohesive deploy of rockin' mannerisms. They never sounded more committedly exuberant.

Praise can rightly be accorded widely. Founding members Dibbs (he of the golden voice), Smutty, Barry, and Lewis all acquit themselves admirably, turning in remarkable efforts. 

And associates Mike Osborn and Blondie's Clem Burke are to be commended for in-pocket abetments.

Multi-instrumentalist Danny B. Harvey contributes enormously, including as mixer and producer. The resultant sound is pellucid, portaying all players in advantageous lights. 

(Not to belittle Danny's inventive soloing, but Barry remains the definitional guitar-voice of The Rockats. His inclinations amaze.)

However, there is one concern:

The cover Mick Rock photo dates from 1983's Make That Move era, as do performance clips in the promo video for "Nervous Breakdown." 

I suspect this is attributable to Cleopatra; packaging new tracks with old photos is a course taken with others on the label. 

But it's misrepresentative. There's an '80s visual ambiance that might mislead some purchasers into passing, unaware, on important fresh recordings. It looks like a retrospective.

Aesthetic apprehensions aside, though, and if the title is an indication, The Rockats may have a grand new conquest ambition planned. 

Some of us knew they had it in them.

Recommended: "Nervous Breakdown," "This Is the Night," "You're My Baby," "50 Miles From Nowhere," "Rock, Baby, Rock (All Night Long)," "Rockabilly Swamp," "Start Over Again," "Lucky Old Rockabilly (Walking Down the Pike)," "Rock Around With Ollie Vee," "Working Man," "Rockabilly Doll," "Tanya Jean"

Video: "Nervous Breakdown"

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