The Cyril Davies' All-Stars: Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies Various Artists: Girls With Guitars
An escalating side effect of the current vogue for vinyl is that some reissues are being released only in that format – and some are so interesting they merit covering. theartsdesk saw this a while ago with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Jimmy Page’s Lucifer Rising soundtrack and John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil. So, once again, this week’s reissues aren’t available on CD.
The compilation Girls With Guitars does though draw from a series of CDs – three so far – issued under that title, each of which collected loud, rough and tough female performers from the Sixties. The album version collects 12 smash-bang musical thrills and shares no tracks with the 1989 comp album of the same name. Unlike that release, the new Girls With Guitars isn’t all-British recordings but includes Americans too.
Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies is a five-track, seven-inch EP which includes five tracks that have never previously been issued. Its artwork echoes The Cyril Davies' All-Stars only EP, The Sound of Cyril Davies which was issued in 1964 after his death that January. While the 1964 EP collected the four tracks issued by the All-Stars across their two 1963 singles, Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies does not credit the source of its recordings. Sound quality is good for vintage off-air recordings and a best guess for the when and where is August 1963 when the band, as Cyril Davies' R&B All-Stars, appeared on The Beatles’ Pop go The Beatles BBC radio show, recorded at Manchester’s Playhouse Theatre.
To differing degrees, both records reconfigure how the music of the Sixties is seen. More immediately, they are terrific fun. With Girls With Guitars, head straight to side two and the snarling “Outta Reach” by She. This 1970 single (the band formed in 1964) from the Sacramento, California five-piece was their only original release. A throbbing testament to the band’s punk attitude, it’s irresistible evidence California wasn’t all about good vibes and mellow moods.
Then, return the needle to the beginning of side one and the thrilling, sneering “A Ladies Man” by our own Colette & The Bandits (with session-era Jimmy Page on guitar). Girls With Guitars is a free-wheeling comp period-wise and geographically, but is unified by the unfettered energy of all its contributors. Amongst the curiosities is The Beas’ “International Girl” which first appeared as a film soundtrack tie-in single with vocals by The Supremes. When Motown found out it existed, the single was withdrawn and the vocals redone by the otherwise obscure The Beas’. Overall, Girls With Guitars is an infectious, electrifying album.
Cyril Davies is not a name which crops up often, but those he encouraged and inspired – most notably The Rolling Stones – changed the landscape of British music. Davies was a balding harmonica player who had played alongside guitarist Alexis Korner in Chris Barber’s jazz band in 1960. He and Korner injected blues into the combo. After leaving Barber, the pair formed Blues Incorporated, the first regularly performing British-born, blues-dedicated band. In late 1962, Davies struck out on his own and formed the All-Stars (initially The Cyril Davies Blues Band) and pursued his vision of a tough, Chicago-styled R&B. He chose rockers from Screaming Lord Sutch's band for the line-up rather than blues afficiandos. Jimmy Page was in the band for the blink of an eye. The Rolling Stones were the All-Stars interval band at the Marquee.
'Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies' is an important release
But Davies died at age 31 in January 1964 before he could see what grew from what he had sewn. He would though have never been a pop star like Mick Jagger or his band member Long John Baldry. Not only did he not have the looks, his music was a purist’s take – albeit a wild one – on the American music which provided the inspiration.
Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies then is an important release with coarse music which threatens to run off its rails. The take of “Chicago Calling” is more agitated than its counterpart single, while the previously unheard cover of “See See Rider” is razor-wire sharp. The EP more than demonstrates that Davies’ take on blues wasn't solely academic. This is an exhilarating record.
Girls With Guitars and Radio Sounds of Cyril Davies are not mainstream releases. But they are vital and need to be heard. Each brims with energy, and each exploits vinyl imaginatively.
