Eddie Cochran at the Town Hall Party

Rating:
Summary: A Great Talent
Review: The Town Hall Party TV Shows 1959'

Introduction (Jay Stewart)/Instrumental (Dick D'Agostin & The Swingers) /Introduction (Dick D'Agostin)/C'mon Everybody/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/Don't Blame It On Me/Summertime Blues/Interview (Johnny Bond)/Introduction (Jay Stewart)/Night Walk (Dick D'Agostin & The Swingers) /Introduction (Dick D'Agostin)/School Day/ Be Honest with Me/Money Honey/C'mon Everybody
Approximate Viewing Time: 30 Minutes

Well after over a few years in the making, to use movie speak, the long promised footage of Eddie Cochran backed by Dick D'Agostin & The Swingers recorded live at The Town Hall Party on 07 February 1959 is finally available for all to savour, drool over, enjoy and perhaps regret that Eddie is no longer with us to realise the esteem in which he is held. I am aware of many hurdles that have been placed in the way of Rockstar/Bear Family Records in trying to release this video and our thanks has to go to all concerned that we are able to hold the finished product in our grubby mitts.

The footage is in monochrome but that only adds to the atmosphere that oozes from the screen, for sure this is the real thing. Genuine fifties live rock 'n' roll from one of it's leading exponents ably backed by Connie 'Guybo' Smith and Dick D'Agostin & The Swingers. The show is split into two shows, both initially introduced by a cool looking Jay Stewart and on each occasion this is followed by an instrumental from Dick D'Agostin & The Swingers. The first has no known title but the second is the tight raspy sax lead menacing 'Night Walk'.

For the first show, after a brief welcome from Dick D'Agostin, Eddie Comes on an launches into the classic 'C'mon Everybody' complete with the aforementioned D'Agostin pounding away at the piano which certainly enhances the performance. This is followed by a meaningful reading of the ballad 'Have I Told You lately That I Love You'. Next up is a powerful rendition of Fats Domino's 'Don't Blame It One Me' complete with growling vocals. Eddie breathes life into this song, simply an outstanding performance. The first set closes out with a rockin' treatment of the teens call to arms 'Summertime Blues'.

At the mid-way point, there is a back stage interview between Eddie and Johnny Bond together with Dick D'Agostin and one of the Swingers. Nothing too starling in this but they do talk about Jimmy Rodgers and others. Bond unfortunately comes across as somewhat 'squareish' and radiates an image of a country singer who as late as 1959 could not really come to grips with this new fangled rock 'n' roll music. This is all the more surprising from the guy who went on to record and hit with 'Hot Rod Lincoln'.

However it was soon back to rockin' and, after a muffled start, the sound and sight of a sparkling work out by Eddie on Chuck Berry's 'School Days' is evident. This is followed by another ballad, this time Gene Autry's 'Be Honest With Me' complete with a tasty sax break from D'Agostin. It is then time for a raunchy and bluesy treatment of 'Money Honey' before closing out with a reprise of 'C'mon Everybody' which at the time was Eddie's current release.

This material is historically important in rock 'n' roll history but, above all, it is oh so enjoyable.

© Tony Wilkinson