Back In the Day, 2011

Johnny Hatton

Johnny Hatton's Gospel Bop

(CD Baby)

Finnish Rock Pastor Pontus J. Black directed me to this undersung opus, a kindness for which I'm indebted to him. "Spazz" Hatton's impressive resume is too extensive to recount here; suffice it to say he is perhaps best known for head-turning toil with the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Another BSO alum, much-lauded drummer Bernie Dresel, helped bring this Divinely inspired roots romp into riveting being. No strict genre demarcations are observed, as Rockabilly rollick and Country sway join with crooned harmonies in cumulative diversion. One can only marvel at the talents of Douglas Livingston and Fino Roberto, the former a slide specialist and the latter a much-in-demand, fleet-fingered session virtuoso.

"My aim was to get a real rocking album," Johnny told a 2016 interviewer. "I am a minister and I play in the church band. Financially speaking, it was a dumb idea [to record Gospel Bop] because nobody wants to play Gospel on the radio stations..."

Market insights aside, though (and as cost-free as it is for laymen to argue), rewards most sublime are not pecuniary in nature. Gospel Bop was a resounding triumph deserving of greater applause in its time. The disc still offers benefits to those wise enough to seek it.

Recommended: "I Saw the Light," "Gospel Bop," "Shake a Hand," "The Other Side Of Me," "Racing With the Devil," "Jesus Loves You Baby Anyway," "If I Lose My Way," "Get In Line Brother"

Video: "Gospel Bop"

Facebook

Amazon

Spotify