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Reviews
Billboard - March 10, 1956 I'll Play Your Game Don't Mention My Name Billboard - October 20, 1956 Something I Said Bop Bop Ba Doo Bop Billboard - April 6, 1957 
Now Dig This Vinyl
LEW WILLIAMS Looking for all the world like an original Imperial album (down to the text
layout on the back cover and Bear Family's own customized version of Lew
Chudd's famous label design), this is a 10" teaser for the 29-track 'Cat
Talk' CD (BCD 16347). It features all of his issued Imperial masters —
every one a gem — plus his Hamilton ballad 'I Saw You Crying in The Show'
and 'Cat Talk'. The Imperial classics are the obvious highlights and if your collection is without the likes of 'Something I Said', 'Bop Bop Ba Doo Bop' (which made a lasting impression on Brian Setzer. . .), 'Centipede' and 'Abracadabra', then you're not the cat/kitten I thought you were. "She said 'Big daddy, I've got a runner in my hose, I'll be back soon as I powder my nose'". Sheer poetry. Bear Family Records, P.O. Box 1154, D-27727 Hambergen, Germany.) Trevor Cajiao Now Dig This Compact Corner
LEW WILLIAMS Prior to 1977 and the release of the first 'Imperial Rockabillies' album, I was completely unaware of the talents of Lew Williams. That changed when I heard the sounds of 'Bop Bop Ba Doo Bop' and 'Centipede'. Now, twenty-two years after I first heard them and forty-three years after they were recorded, the freshness of these performances is there for us all to relive and enthuse over once again. Subsequent volumes in the 'Imperial Rockabillies' series brought us 'Abracadabra' and 'Cat Talk' on Volume 2, with 'Gone Ape Man' and 'Something I Said' being included on the third and final set in 1980. All six are included on this new Bear Family CD which, in its twenty-nine performances also offer the two remaining Imperial cuts not previously reissued, 'Don't Mention My Name' and 'I'll Play Your Game'. Should there have ever have been a fourth Imperial collection, then these two would surely have been included despite 'I'll Play Your Game' having a rather square "Yah Yah Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta" chorus tucked in behind. The Lew Williams story from this and the last issue of NDT gives the low-down on where and when these recording were laid down. I'll only relate the fact that the first session for Imperial, cut at Jim Beck's studio in Dallas was held in November 1955, the second from September 1956 was in Hollywood. The only difference to my ears are those slightly more polished sounds and techniques on the '56 cuts, the '55 recordings really sounding on the ball. Williams lyrics are right on the mark too, no wasted moments with empty spaces. His youth culture language as demonstrated on 'Cat Talk' and 'Centipede' showing how in tune he was with the generation he was aiming to sell his material to. If the discography is right, then it's Barney Kessel on lead guitar on the Hollywood session and for a jazz man he's pretty damned good. Texan musicians were featured on the Dallas cuts with Cecil Luna providing the lead licks. If you've been following Lew's story, then you'll be aware of his pre-Imperial cuts and although we do get earlier versions of 'Something I Said' (country), 'Cat Talk' and 'Don't Mention My Name', they're not as good as the later and better recordings. Lovers of the rougher and more acetate-sounding recordings will love 'em, naturally. They are important to show how Lew heard them in his mind first. These earlier recordings were laid down at Jim Beck's too. In December 1955, Lew recorded 'My New Pink Suedes' which in tone and lyrics does bear comparison with another song about suede shoes...the tinkling piano gives a totally different feel. Personally, I don't feel it would have had the impact that the other suede shoes song had! Dot subsidiary Hamilton coupled 'I Saw You Crying in the Show' and 'The Girl I Saw On Bandstand' from 1958, and they are more pop oriented items and quite acceptable despite being a lot different from those eight magical Imperial sides discussed earlier. One real oddity is a 1959 backing track from April of that year with a new January 1999 vocal track. Hmmm! In fairness Lew Williams' vocal chords are not in quite the same trim as they were in the fifties and things are a touch strained at times. Full marks for effort and intent though. The hidden gems for me are the real early 1953 recordings. No rockabilly or rock n roll here, just superb country music. The last six titles on the disc are Lew's earliest recordings made at Jim Beck's when he was in his late teen years. Despite Lew's belief that his earliest stabs at recording at Beck's were terrible, they sound fine to me. The arrangements and lyrics are sound too. Of course there are major influences here, the main one being Lefty Frizzell who at the time was THE main man. Lefty, too, cut all his early successes at Beck's studio. In these Williams country tracks, not only the vocal nuances of Frizzell have been used, but I detect a touch of early Marty Robbins in there too. This has to be one of Bear Family's landmark releases. Not only does it give the collector all those marvellous Imperial sides in on volume, it also includes the before and afters in the career of Lew Williams. I favor the before era which demonstrates his roots and influences. Kevin Coffey's story is basically what NDT readers have read over two issues and the photos all courtesy of Lew himself are outstanding. In September I told you to file Jerry Reed alongside Melvin Endsley for excellence. Well move 'em along a bit and make room for Lew Williams. Howard Cockburn Rocket #7
Melt Down Reviews
Lew Williams. . . 12 primo slices of the fantastic Lew Williams. If you haven't already got most (if not all) of these tracks, then you must have been diggin life on the moon for the past decade. . . Joking aside, these are essential tracks. A couple of the early tracks (such as the original 'Cat Talk') are included alongside their more polished, later counterparts. The vast majority are classy uptempo dance floor fillers. The original demo of 'Cat Talk' demonstrates Lew's R&B influences well, as does the crazy 'My New Pink Suedes', a different slant from blue suede shoes, eh? After these early tracks we are treated to all those Lew classics. This, along with the CD version have been released at just the right time, as Lew is playing at the forthcoming 'Viva Las Vegas' weekender, and will no doubt be visiting European and UK weekenders in the future (we hope). Certainly a worthy addition to your record collection, especially if you don't already own these tracks. Crazy Jay Rocket #8
Melt Down Reviews
Lew Williams. . . Cat Talk. You probably have a chunk of the tracks on this CD but there are loads of surprises that make this release a must for all Rockabilly fans. Apart from the slick, Swingin', cocky Cat Music tunes we love and expect from Lew, there are also some good early country/Hillbilly recordings such as 'Just For Tonight', 'I've Been Doin' Some Slippin' Too', 'What're We Gonna Do?' and 'I Cried Over You For The Last Time Last Night'. There are also some later 'Teen-Ballad' type songs included here. Before you run off screaming at the thought of Teen-Ballads I gotta tell you these are still quality recordings and sound good! I particularly like 'Between Classes' and 'Teenage Tears'. There are also some interesting earlier takes of some of Lew's classics such as a great slow Hillbilly version of 'Something I Said' and an earlier version of 'Cat Talk' that shows well the impact of R&B on the first generation of Rockabilly artists. All Lew's well known recordings are here. 'Bop Bop Ba Doo Bop', 'Cat Talk', 'Centipede', 'Something I Said', 'Gone Ape Man', 'Abracadabra' and just watch out for the ultra cool 'My New Pink Suedes', pink suede shoes, man that's wild! This was also written before 'Blue Suede Shoes' so it ain't a rip-off of the idea, it's an original. This is a Bear Family release so as you might expect its well packaged and has a great accompanying booklet with some rare photos of Lew Williams in the 50s and real in-depth sleeve notes courtesy of Kevin Coffey. This is truly a great CD and as I said a must, even if you have 'some' of Lew's recordings, you won't have many of these, I guarantee! When I first heard that Lew Williams had been found alive and well and was going to be playing at the weekender in Las Vegas, I at first felt a jolt of excitement in my stomach, but then a slight lump in my throat. Like most of you I had been listening to Lew Williams since I was a kid, was I really gonna see him live? Buy this CD, buy it now, and make sure you get along to the 'Viva Las Vegas Weekender' and see Lew Williams, a true innovator of our music. Paul CulshawHep Cat Records — Holiday Catalog — Volume 4, 1999 Celebrity Picks! by Big Sandy Lew Williams — Cat Talk — BCD 16347 There was a time back in the dark ages (early 80s) when the name Lew Williams was surrounded with awe and mystery. His records sounded like no others — filled with jazzy groovage and bop talk sung in a southern drawl. It was uptown yet downtown, "country boy goes to the city" and it all rocked. "Who was that cat?" we asked. Well, the awe remains, but this CD goes a long way in uncovering some of the mystery. All of Lew's amazing Imperial sides are here with unreleased demos and enlightening early alternative takes. BUY this disc! LEARN the untold story of cat music! HEAR Brian Setzer's secrets revealed. SEE Lew live at VLV 2000! Hey Cats and Kittens, there are more reviews to come. Would you like to review one of Lew's songs or the CD or LP yourself? . Send your own review. (Reviews may be edited for length. Not all reviews can be included on the site. Submission of a review gives Iffic Publishing Company and Lew Williams the right to use your comments.)
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Cat Talk
