The Rockats

Make That Move remastered

(Available on Bandcamp)

"After all these years I finally realized The Rockats' Make That Move album was never mastered properly, or at least not up to today's standards," erstwhile Rockats guitarist/keyboardist Danny B Harvey recently wrote in a public Facebook post. "On the other hand Mike Thorne’s original production and mixes sound absolutely amazing! So I took it upon myself to remaster the original recordings using modern technology and it sounds incredible !! I also added the 4 songs we did for the film “Where The boys Are '84”. Two of these songs have never been released and two were only available on vinyl for a few months back in 1984. Of course Mikes 12” dance mix of 'Make That Move' is included as well. You're going to love this!"

I do. His remastering further clarifies and enhances luster.

Make That Move (RCA) appeared in stores two years after The Rockats first hit with 1981's Live At the Ritz (Island). Whereas the former had portrayed the band's fervid rockabilly in a boisterous concert context, the new disc found them modernizing their sound; it now incorporated Danny's synthesizer (at times prominently) and embraced colorfully alternative arrangements.

The crisp endeavor was adventurous, but it was also muscular. Guitars and drums joined shoulders in streamlined onrush through novel facets. Dibbs Preston's voice reached fresh heights of eminence as the singer found his footing in the contemporary material.

Not that they'd abandoned rockabilly entirely. Its essence evidenced itself throughout, giving even newly-minted approaches familiar swagger.

The union was quintessential Rockats. They had never confined themselves to any single fashion, and were popular with both rockabillies and punks. Make That Move underscored their hybrid soul. It was a dashing denizen of its era.

Now, it has reinvigorated appeal.

Recommended: "Burning," "One More Heartache," "That's the Way," "Go Cat Wild," "Never So Clever," "Make That Move," "Slow Down," "Be-Bop-a-Lula"

Video: "Never So Clever" (live 1983)

Bandcamp (Danny B Harvey)