Eddie Cochran would've been 80 today, what a great singer and guitar player he was. If you don't got no Eddie Cochran, you're missing out on some great rock and roll.
Happy birthday, Eddie!! One of my guitar heroes and inspirations (play nowhere near as well but I can certainly mangle "Twenty Flight Rock" or "Hallelujah, I Love Her So" when duty calls), named my first cat after him (honestly!) and the reason - along with George Harrison- I'm the proud owner of several Gretsch guitars. Love him and going to go put him right now!
Eddie was another one of the greats I wanted to be. One of my best friends back in the day was even more of a rebel than I, and he was a huge Cochran fan.
Couple of Killer recommendations; single disc - Legendary Masters, sounds great, 4 disc 'Box Set', mastered by Boppin' Bob Jones, say no more... Legendary Master can be picked up for a couple of quid, Box Set a bit more but not extortionate.
Way back in 1956 with his 'brother' Hank Cochran and the single Slow Down, pretty sure I read that as well as writing the song, singing it and playing guitar he also played drums and bass, not bad for a kid.
It's a great disc, one of my favourites is Nervous Breakdown, it's got a really infectious beat, daddy-o.
Another giant light years ahead of his time... Wrote most of the stuff himself (right?), channeled both blues and country as well as kick ass rock and roll... Experimented with overdubbing, performed wearing eyeliner and influenced hundreds and hundreds of bands and artists. Too bad he seems a bit unsung... You do not hear him revered as much as Buddy Holly. But I think they were on par with each other.
I've got a couple of his compilations, including the Legendary Masters set above - all great stuff. The Who were always big fans and they recorded versions of C'Mon Everybody, Summertime Blues & My Way and played all of them in concert. All three appear on the 'new' Fillmore East 1968 release. Also, John Entwistle played Somethin' Else on his 1975 Ox tour. Eddie also did great versions of other early rockers' songs like Cut Across Shorty, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Long Tall Sally, Milk Cow Blues & Blue Suede Shoes.
LOVE THIS SONG - our band plays this one, and Cmon EveryBody and Summertime Blues. This is us, me on guitar and vocal, recorded at home Josephine Baker and the flapper girls footage is public domain.
Eddie was one of the premier, pioneers of the 1950's rock n roll genre. It is astonishing that he was only 21 when he died considering he had already produced so much viable work. "C'Mon Everybody" was one of best pure rock and roll tracks to come out of the 1950's.
his original Liberty records retain value, nearly 60 years after he's gone. Shows a lasting quality methinks.
My copy of Legendary Masters is literally just an arm-length away from me at this very moment. Time to give it a blast. Happy Birthday, Eddie, you'll not be forgotten 'round here
Appreciate the Appreciation Thread, OP. Hopefully new fans will emerge! My one hopefully helpful hint: Eddie Cochran - Rocks "Rocks" rocks & gives a good slice of Eddie R&R. From Bear Family Records; whom previously released arguable the "ultimate" Cochran: Eddie Cochran - Somethin' Else: The Ultimate Collection Enjoy.
I have 'Cmon Everybody' on a single (London Records, UK 1959). Was scratchy already when I got it. Nonetheless I still let it spin on my record player often enough. The b-side is in better condition...^^
So many Eddie favourite's, this defines the rock n roll teenager to me. One of the greatest rockers, and my favourite 50's artist!
a Holy Grail collection from Bear Family as previously discussed in the 'your favourite bear family releases'.... I will never figure out why Eddie wasn't as huge in the states as he was in the UK, and why he is not considered on the same plane as the top listed US 1950's rockers. He was another ahead of his time, recording, producing, overdubbing, and his guitar skills were heavily used as this box set provides. This seems to be mostly forgotten. Brian Setzer got it!! for sure!. A huge beacon in the legacy for sure. He's basically made a career being Eddie influenced.
