The 1981 Listening Post - Shakin' Stevens - Shaky

Shakin' Stevens - Shaky

#445

September 1981

Shakin’ Stevens

Shaky

Genre: NostalgiRock

2.75 out of 5

Highlights:

I’m Knockin’

Baby You’re a Child

I’m Lookin’

Stevens was on the forefront of the 50s rockabilly revival so this is album has about 40% covers. His sped up “Mona Lisa” is a treat, as are so many of the others, like “It’s Raining” and “You Drive Me Crazy”. But what really comes across is how in love with the genre Stevens is and that comes through on his own songs like, the excellent “I’m Knocking’”. 

Stevens is an earnest practitioner of the form and there’s this wave in 1982 that he can ride. But, Stray Cats and Rockpile and Dave Edmunds and others are doing similar things and adding an 80s flavor to it. I like it when the form is pushed forward not reflected upon as though it’s preserved in amber. 

The Stray Cats were rockabilly as emancipatory music. Stevens belongs in the reactionary category. It was better back then, he seems to be saying. Or at least, it was great.

I’m not as intrigued by that. 

I’m highlighting a couple original Stevens tracks cuz you know what? They’re pretty derned gud. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/shaky/1539003099

The 1980 Listening Post - Shakin' Stevens - Marie Marie

Shakin' Stevens - Marie Marie 

October 17 1980

Shakin’ Stevens

Marie Marie

Genre: Rockabilly

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Revenue Man

This will get rereleased in 1981 as This Ole House, which is what it says on Apple Music but we are listening to it as a 1980 release.

With that out of the way…

I guess this album deserves some accolades as containing the version of The Blasters’ “Marie Marie” that made that single famous. But, over the years, I’ve become more accustomed to the Alvin Brothers’ version.

That said, it’s an unkillable song in the genre and Stevens’ version is just fine.

And while his version of “This Ole House” is good, Brian Setzer would elevate it a couple decades later. 

The rest of the record is perfectly acceptable 80s nostalgia rockabilly. 

Shakin’ Stevens was the U.K.’s biggest selling singles artist of the 80s and I have no idea what to make of that.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-ole-house/1539003104

The 1980 Listening Post - Shakin' Stevens - Take One!

 Shakin' Stevens - Take One!

February 8 1980

Shakin’ Stevens

Take One!

Genre: Rockabilly Throwback

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Shame, Shame, Shame

I’m not writing a tome about some of these but I will record quick thoughts. Like: Why does this album sound more vibrant and…fun…than his 1981 offering? I don’t think it’s because 81 was a slog. Something feels different in the 80 recordings.

Perfectly acceptable, if middlingly interesting rockabilly nostalgia.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/take-one/1538999278