Rolf Harris - Rockin Rollin Ramblin

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Music reviews of Rockin Rollin Ramblin

Music Review: King Rolf - an apt title
Rating: 5 Stars

Eschewing the raucous nature of the Stones' version, this is a smooth, dancable, version which should have them fox-trotting in the better night clubs of Wagga-Wagga and Alice Springs.

2. Walk on the Wild Side (Reed)

This version is very similar to the original, perhaps as a tribute. However, Rolf makes this a family song by removing the "ambiguity" in some of the lyrics with undeniably clean and wholesome words, although the eefing and arfing of the Sheilas' chorus is a weak point.

3. Brindabella morning

A Rolf ballad.

4. The Indian Pacific

A Rolf interpretation of a Country and Western song.

5. Zip a dee doo dah

Upbeat Baccarach style arrangementment of this Disney classic.

6. Wild Thing (Taylor)

Finally back to solid material, this reggae version of the Troggs hit shows the perception of The Master in showing new aspects and depths in what some might consider light-weight 60s pop. Combining UB40-style arrangement with a sprinkling of the calypsos so popular at the start of the 60s, it is doubtful whether this will ever be rivalled, or even attempted, again.

7.Raining on the rock

A Rolf original (?), but surprisingly good.

8. I Feel Good (Brown)

Rolf was obviously so taken by the frenetic movement of the original that he took care to get this over by using an arrangement very similar to "Jake the Peg" but with extra bounce and gospel chorus, presumably so that the extra leg could be used to advantage. This will have every fan of the "Father of Soul" on their feet if Rolf should go near them, although they should keep the weaponry concealed as long as possible.

9. Two Little Boys

Recognising that the song needing updating for the new Millenium, this song has been given a positive and upbeat blue-grass arrangement, with banjo work that must mean that Billy Connolly will be covering this in the near future.

10. Letter to Narelle

A Rolf ballad.

11. Great Balls of Fire (Blackwell/Hammer)

Improving on Jerry Lee Lewis by taking Showaddywaddy's great version as his starting point, he then takes the arrangement more in the direction of Atlantic soul, albeit with a much reduced budget.

12. Sylvie

A Rolf ballad.

13. Honky Tonk Women (Jagger/Richards)

From the opening notes of digeridoo, we know we are in for a real experience here. Again exploring areas that the Stones would fear to enter in the field of sound effects, this undoubtedly means that The Glimmer Twins' lawyers have been "squared".

14. Sonny

A Rolf ballad.

15. Roadhouse Blues (Morrison/Krieger)

Another straight tribute track, it hints at what could have been if Rolf had been introduced to Acid instead of Quite Decent Little Wines...

16. John Henry

A Rolf interpretation of a Country and Western song.

17. Smoke on the Water

Another stunning arrangement, as Rolf moves this song into the world of 60s cocktail bar jazz. Look for a rush of similar arrangements by jazz musicians in need of cash as they raid the back catalogues of bands such as Black Sabbath, Blodwyn Pig and Edgar Broughton, with consequent legal action.

18. Heigh-ho - Whistle while you work

Sterling work here by the "Bruce's Chorus" supporting a solid version of these songs.

19. Stairway to Heaven (Page/Plant)

Magnificent. The High Point of the album. Like many people who got, quite frankly, ratted off with this song the two hundredth time some plonker who'd got a new girl friend would put it on, give a deep sigh and then attempt to play the solo on her; this is the version for me!

Rolf uses his signature "minimalist" approach developed in his televisual artistic exploits ("Can you hear the tune yet?") to give a refreshingly clean arrangement, reducing it to its bare bones to reveal a very dancable song.

Rolf's exegesis of some of the more obscure lyrics is interesting, although purists may differ with his interpretations. The echoing by the Bruces' Chorus, and the removal of the over-blown guitar solo in favour of a tight digerdoo/tremolo accordion (thanks Ross) duet lead to the embarrassing question of why these combinations were never exploited by the leading progressive rock bands: this could an opening for today's heavy metal bands to actually show some originality instead of merely replaying the 60s/70s, and badly at that (give them all military service, that's what I say!)

20. Bad Moon Rising (Fogerty)

Slowing the beat slightly and replacing the jangly guitar with a really smooth performance on accordion makes this arrangement a toe tapper without giving you any need to jump around and dance like the original did. This means that there is less danger of spilling the pint of brandy you are drinking to calm yourself after the previous track, and makes it easier for the doctor to inject the tranquilisers.

21. Goodnight Irene

An interesting version of this bar room classic to sing-a-long to as the ambulance doors close.

...and so we say Goodnight to Rolf, a true musical giant; no one else would have had the nerve to take on some of these songs, and even fewer could have beaten them by two falls and a submission without apparently breaking sweat.

Description of Rockin Rollin Ramblin

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Miscellaneous
• Pop
• Rock