(Includes a cool 3-D pop-up, Buddy Holly Stratocaster guitar within the CD’s superb packaging)
Although Buddy Holly tribute songs and albums are a dime a dozen, "Oh Boy!" by Runaway Express aims to be slightly different from the rest, mainly because the band avoids sounding merely nostalgic and has the ability to let its own vision shine through. Professional and efficient, the Englewood, Colorado outfit is forever on the same page and it's evident they're deeply smitten with the music of Buddy Holly.
Most of the usual suspects are here: "Peggy Sue," "Not Fade Away," "Think It Over," "True Love Ways," "Learning The Game" and so forth. Clasping tight to the original structures and arrangements of these timeless tunes, Runaway Express adds extra layers of punch and power to the proceedings. A little bit of rock and roll, a little bit of country, a little bit of pop. It all works like a charm. Two versions of "Rave On" also appear on the disc. One is a typically rocking take, while the other is done bluegrass style.
Aside from material Buddy Holly composed, "Oh Boy!" contains songs he performed by other artists. Covers of Fats Domino's "I'm Ready" and "Come On Let's Go" by Richie Valens are just a couple of such numbers.
Another arrestive track on "Oh Boy!" is "Caprock," which was authored by Runaway Express vocalist and guitarist Jim Ratts. Scripted of picturesque lyrics, this up-tempo ditty salutes the spirit of Buddy with warmth and passion. The musicianship on "Oh Boy!" gushes with brilliance and awareness.
Runaway Express is a great roots rock band whose expertise and attention to detail magnifies the indelible songwriting of Buddy Holly with purpose and taste—and then some.
The Band: Jin Ratts (vocals, guitar) Salli Severing Ratts (vocals) Scott Bennett (guitars) Ernie Martinez (mandolin, dobro) Butch Hause (bass) Chris Stongle (drums) Ted Cole (flute) Daniel Jones (pedal steel) Guest Players: John McEuen (banjo and mandolin) John Magnie (accordion) Ed Contraras (accordion) Neil Haverstick (guitars) Guest Backup Vocalists: Vickie Jones Amy Nugent Annie Phillips Mary Huckins Timothy P. Irvin Steve Pierce |
Tracks: Rave On Love is Strange/Come on Let’s Go Caprock Peggy Sue Raining in My Heart Good Rockin’ Tonight/I’m Ready Not Fade Away Learnin’ the Game Doesn’t Matter Anymore Rave On Think It Over Oh, Boy Clovis Highway True Love Ways Down the Line Coda (Rave On) |
Can you tell me more about RV Stewart Productions?
Welcome to RvStewartProductions, home of Record collectibles, the Lance Monthly, Cool Links Publishing, and Lance Music Publishing. Lance Record's focus is on early rock and roll from its official birth in 1954 throughout the ‘60s with a special emphasis on early ‘60s guitar-rock instrumental styles by King Richard and the Knights and modern guitar-rock offerings by Ritch Stewart, his brother, the late Jason Stewart who sadly passed on April 15, 2021, and their father, Dick Stewart. RvStewartProductions (Record collectibles) is not a new company.
The spark for Record collectibles came when Albuquerque-native, Dick Stewart was bitten by the rock-and-roll bug in 1954 and wanted to do more than just listen and dance to its infectious beaHe wanted to be a contributor.
Guitar-rock instrumentals became his passion after listening to the late ‘50s and early ‘60s hits by George Tomsco and the Fireballs from Raton, New Mexico, and the Ventures from the Pacific Northwest. As a result, in 1961, Stewart formed the Knights that later became known as King Richard and the Knights. A few years later, Stewart composed and released a guitar instrumental titled “Precision” with his band, and it earned a number-one spot on KQEO, the leading rock-and-roll, top-40 A.M. radio station in New Mexico at the time.
L.A.’s Dot Records was so impressed with the instrumental’s classical piano hook that the major record label made an offer to release it nationally but sadly changed its mind when the Beatles came to the United States. Not only the Knights, but many aspiring rock-and-roll bands suffered the same fate. It was the coming of the British Invasion and the 45-vinyl record-buying teens turned their undivided attention toward the Beatles, including a slew of newly formed British bands that immediately followed. But Stewart didn’t throw in the towel. In 1965, he published the Lance Newsletter (today the Lance Monthly) in Albuquerque to help put some of the local bands, including his own, on the map. It was during this time that Stewart formed Record collectibles which immediately signed many of these local bands which showed promise. In the late ‘60s, Stewart turned his attention toward another genre of music: Mexican/America Rancheras and formed Casanova Records. He released several vinyl record albums and singles by the popular New Mexico Mexican/American bands, and he and the Knights contributed four of their own instrumental offerings.
One of them was their version of “El Rancho Grande” which became an instant hit in the Mexican/American market of the Southwest and continues to this day to do well with downloads and listens on the Internet. RvStewartProductions (Record collectibles) is very active today. Record collectibles continues to release CD albums, most of them instrumental with King Richard and the Knights with Dick Stewart and Ritch Stewart at the helm. Dick Stewart has also been busy writing books on the history of early rock and roll, his latest being Fourteen Unsung Pioneers Who Didn’t Get Their Due. In addition, the Lance Monthly will once again post new issues. There’s a lot to see and much to take in at Record collectibles. So, take your time while enjoying the rest of the recently released King Richard and the Knights’ instrumental, “Phantom Riders.” When you give Record collectibles a call, you will be directly connected, so don't wait, call now!
How can I get in contact with someone from RV Stewart Productions (Record collectibles)?
You can get in touch with Record collectibles through three methods:
Phone for Record collectibles: 505-286-0623
Email for Record collectibles: rvstewartproductions@yahoo.com
Contact form: Use the contact form on our website to get in touch with Record collectibles.
Who were The Knights?
The Knights (a.k.a. King Richard and the Knights) had its beginnings in 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico (U.S.A.), during a time when instrumental rock ruled the world with The Ventures and The Fireballs leading the way. Thus, the band (or combo as it was called back then) became a Ventures/Fireballs-style band, playing 40 to 50 instrumental guitar songs per gig with no vocals other than a Chuck Berry tune here and there to break the monotony. By 1964, the band finally developed an identity and released "Precision" on a little label called Red Feather Records. This guitar instrumental with a classical piano accompaniment performed by the studio engineer, Dave Bonham, became a regional hit (chiefly due to the unique combination of these two music genres) and set the record for the most time at number one for a local release on the then ruling Albuquerque, New Mexico rock-and-roll AM radio station, KQEO. But when the Beatles invaded the U.S. in Feb. of 1964, it was a bad omen for The Knights. The Knights just couldn't give up their beloved rock instrumental efforts. After a few notable vocals on John Wagner Studios' Delta Records, the band disbanded in 1967.
When you give Record collectibles a call, you will be directly connected from someone from Record collectibles, so don't wait- call now!