Record Review: Buddy Holly

2 New Buddy Holly Compilations You Must Own!

Universal Music has just released two Buddy Holly sets that are worth your attention. "Memorial Collection" is the most complete overview of Buddy Holly's short but highly influential career that I've ever heard. It's three CDs packed with 60 songs that cover his early days with local friend Bob Montgomery, to his failed, but wonderful rockabilly rave-ups on Decca Records, to his breakthrough success on Brunswick with The Crickets and solo on Coral. The set wraps up with the oft-bootlegged, but never sounding better "Apartment Tapes". All the hits are here, so if you're missing any of Buddy's classics, this is the CD compilation for you. But for those who have the hits, you're gonna love the original, undubed versions of Holly tunes, such as "Down The Line" and "Holly Hop". You're used to hearing the versions that feature The Fireballs 1960s instrumental overdubs that appeared on the "Holly In The Hills" LP. Here, these songs are stripped down to their original rockabilly groove. The Fireballs, under the direction of Holly's ex-producer Norman Petty, also added instrumentation to "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" and one of my personal favorites, "Learning The Game". They added those overdubs after Buddy's sudden death on February 3, 1959, but the songs originate from Holly's infamous "Apartment Tapes". They and many others were recorded in Buddy and Maria Elena's New York Apartment just weeks before his death. You'll hear the original, acoustic versions of those songs on this set as well as its companion CD, "Down The Line: Rareties".

I'll admit that I've had "The Apartment Tapes" for years on a bootleg CD, but hearing how Universal was able to clean then up is a revelation. It's wonderful and even a little bit eerie to hear Buddy's voice only accompanied by his acoustic guitar. It's like you're in the same room with a genius who was busy creating the next chapter in his life. Unfortunately, he didn't make it that chapter, but now we are so lucky to get a glinpse into what the next step would have sounded like. And that is what the entire 2 CD compilation, "Down The Line: Rareties" is about. "Rareties" also features many alternate takes and stripped down versions of songs you know by heart. If you're a die hard Buddy Holly fan, then you need this two disc set to complete your collection, but if you just want a tremendous overview of his entire musical career, than "Memorial Collection" is just what the doctor ordered. You can find both compilations at Best Buy or download them on iTunes. Here is a link to them on Amazon.com so you can listen to samples of each track and hear for yourself the magic of Bubby Holly: 50 years later.
Buddy Holly - "Memorial Collection"
Buddy Holly - "Down The Line: Rareties"

Record Review: Chuck Berry Box Set!

Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings: 1960-1966


I can't tell you how happy I am that Hip-O Select has released a new Chuck Berry box set. This set picks up where Johnny B. Goode: His Complete '50s Chess Recordings, the 4 CD set that they released last year, left off. It's 1960 and Chuck is still on a roll releasing rock n' roll classic after rock n' roll classic for the immortal Chess Label. Over 4 CDs, this new set covers everything Chuck recorded from 1960 to 1966, when he left the label for a 3 year stint at Mercury Records. You Never Can Tell: The Complete Chess Recordings: 1960-1966 is a stunner. The songs are not nearly as instantly recognizable as his '50s output, but they are just as fresh, driving and rockin' as anything Chuck Berry ever recorded. We begin with Chuck's first session of 1960, which was held on March 29th. He was definitely in the mood for more blues, as this set kicks off with amazing versions of Charles Brown's "Drifting Blues", "Don't You Lie To Me", "Down The Road Apiece" and "Worried Life Blues".



For me, the most impressive recordings are the instrumentals that I've never heard before. Chuck just knocks me out with "Mad Lad", "Surfin' Steel (Cryin' Steel)", "Guitar Boogie", "O Rangutang", "Butterscotch" and "After It's Over". They've also included 2 cuts off the great LP that Berry cut with fellow guitar legend, Bo Diddley. The "Two Great Guitars" LP was released in 1963 and featured "Chuck's Beat" and "Bo's Beat" and I'm sure you can guess that these two ten minute plus songs are worth your time.



Honestly, the most eye-opening music on this 4 CD set comes from a 45 minute live show from October of 1963. It was recorded at the Walled Lake Casino in Detroit, but never was released. Chuck is backed up by an unknown band, that probably contained some Motown legends as the band was billed as The Berry Gordy All-Stars. Our boy is ON FIRE during these live recordings of his hits. I've included a link to a smokin' live version of "Johnny B. Goode", so you can hear what I mean.



If you can spare the coin, this box set is worthwhile for not just any fan of Chuck Berry, but any fan of Rock n' Roll itself.
Click here to hear a live version of "Johnny B. Goode" from 1963
Click here to see the webpage at HipOSelect.com!

The Dixie Cups Win & We Want Richard To Open That Door!

The Dixie Cups Win Friday Night Cat Fight

"Jock-A-Mo" vs. "Iko Iko"

The Dixie Cups "Iko Iko" - 68 Votes

Sugar Boy Crawford "Jock-A-Mo" - 56 Votes

Sugar Boy put up some great numbers with his original 1953 version of the song, but the Dixie Cups' 1965 Top Pop 20 rendition of the song took the prize.

This week, we have our very first FOUR-WAY Friday Night Cat Fight with the classic R&B tune, "Open The Door, Richard". Listen to the entire Cat Fight Podcast before casting your vote for either Jack McVea, Dusty Fletcher, Count Basie & His Orch. or Louis Jordan. I played these songs a lot back in my XM Radio days, but I never opened the song up to a popularity vote like this, so I'm very interested in the results.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

Subscribe to my weekly email newsletter, "Prowlin' With Matt The Cat" at the bottom of MattTheCat.com.

New Orleans Friday Night Cat Fight!

Clyde Wins Friday Night Cat Fight

"Without Love (There Is Nothing) "
Clyde McPhatter : 81 Votes
Tom Jones : 44 Votes

Tom Jones certainly gave Clyde a run for his money, but in the end, the high tenor of Clyde McPhatter wins out.
This week, as we celebrate Mardi Gras, the Friday Night Cat Fight brings a little bit of New Orleans right to your computer. The theme of this week's show is of course New Orleans R&B and all the masters are here, from 'Fes to Fats.
The battle this week will be by two New Orleans natives over a song that has become synonomous with the Big Easy and Mardi Gras. It began as "Jock-A-Mo" in 1953 by Sugar Boy Crawford & His Cane Cutters, but evolved into "Iko Iko" which hit the US top 20 in April of 1965. Vote on this New Orleans classic, this week on the Friday Night Cat Fight.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

The Friday Night Cat Fight is listed in the iTunes Podcast Directory. Click this link to automatically open iTunes and go right to the Cat Fight Podcast.
Thanks for continuing to spread the word about The Friday Night Cat Fight as it is getting bigger and bigger every week.

The Valentines Day Cat Fight

Congratulations to Amos Milburn who won last week's Cat Fight with over 50% of the vote. He defeated both Chuck Berry AND The Rolling Stones over the song, "Down The Road Apiece."


Amos Milburn (1946) - 61

Chuck Berry (1960) - 43


Rolling Stones (1965) - 15

This week's Friday Night Cat Fight theme is "Hearts" for Valentine's Day. Listen to the half hour plus broadcast and then vote for your favorite version of "Without Love (There Is Nothing)". Click Here to listen to this week's Friday Night Cat Fight! and have a Happy Valentine's Day.

Would You Pay To Listen To Matt The Cat on The Web?

Let’s just say that Matt The Cat put up an Internet radio program that you could stream at work and download to your ipod or computer. You could listen to it anytime you wanted and a new program would be put up every weekday. Would you be interested and would you pay to listen to such a program? There are many expenses associated with such an endeavor. A legal internet radio show would have to pay publishing rights to BMI and ASCAP. A show would also have to pay rights to the RIAA (Sound Exchange). All this costs money. Plus, Matt The Cat would have to make enough to support himself and his family. In return, Matt would present a great sounding, professional show that would be even better than those shows he produced for XM Radio.

Please take a moment to fill out this survey, so we get an idea how many are willing to sign up.

Thanks so much for your time.

Soulfully,
Matt The Cat

Friday Night Cat Fight EXTENDED & First 3-Way!

This week, we have TWO firsts on The Friday Night Cat Fight. The podcast is being expanded into a half hour program! AND we're going to have a 3-way Cat Fight for the first time EVER!

Each week, the show will have a theme that relates to the song that the cats will be battling over. Then toward the end of the half hour of tunes, the Cats will battle it out for your vote.

This week's theme is "Roads" to correspond to the Cat Fight which will be over the classic tune, "Down The Road Apiece". Don Raye wrote the song for Will Bradley's Orchestra, who did the original version. We begin, however, with Amos Milburn's 1946 rendition which was recorded during his first session for Aladdin Records. Then, Chuck Berry puts his stamp on it from 1960 and we close out with The Rolling Stones version from their 2nd US LP issued in 1965.

Vote for the version you dig the most and please leave feedback in the comments section as to how you like the new version of the Friday Night Cat Fight.

Friday Night Cat Fight On The Web!

The Friday Night Cat Fight is listed in the iTunes Podcast Directory. Click this link to automatically open iTunes and go right to the Cat Fight Podcast.

Thanks for continuing to spread the word about The Friday Night Cat Fight as it is getting bigger and bigger every week.

Five Keys Inducted To The "Alley Of Fame"

You voted and you made it happen. The Five Keys have won five consecutive Friday Night Cat Fights and are now inducted into the MattTheCat.com "Alley Of Fame".


"The Glory Of Love " #2


Five Keys: 103 Votes
The Velvetones : 37 Votes


The Five Keys become only the 2nd vocal group and 4th artist over all inducted into the "Alley Of Fame".


They easily beat The Velvetones' 1957 version of "Glory Of Love" to make it FIVE wins in a row for the Keys. They now can no longer compete in the Friday Night Cat Fight now that they are in the "Alley Of Fame".



Who will be next?

FNCF Feed Now On iTunes...

Hey Prowlers,

Good news for those of you with iPods. iTunes is now listing the Friday Night Cat Fight podcast feed at the iTunes Store. Click this link to subscribe to the Friday Night Cat Fight on iTunes.

Also, beginning tomorrow (2/6/09), the Friday Night Cat Fight podcast will be extended into a half hour show. The show will feature a theme that leads into the weekly Friday Night Cat Fight. This week's Cat Fight will be the first ever 3-way. Don't miss it, this Friday on MattTheCat.com.

The Friday Night Cat Fight

Matt The Cat - Mention in NY Daily News Today!

Hi Prowlers,

New York Daily News entertainment writer David Hinckley gave me a very nice mention in today's column on "The Day The Music Died". I'm mentioned toward the end of the article. Click the link below to read the article.

New York Daily News - "The Day The Music Died"

Soulfully,
Matt The Cat