Reviews
GATTON ROCKS AGAIN
Dan Forte - Vintage Guitar Magazine
Any previously unreleased recordings of the late, great Danny Gatton are big news, and these are no exception. In the early '90s, singer Mike Campbell (stage name "Sweet Mikey C," to avoid confusion with Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell) was introduced to Gatton via his drummer, Shannon Ford. The three produced 11 tracks spread over two sessions – one rock and roll covers, the others co-penned by Campbell.
Sweet Mikey C is a bit of a vocal chameleon, sounding like early Roy Orbison on the opening cover of the Sir Douglas Quintet hit "She’s About A Mover" and mixing in some Buddy Holly influence on his own "I Know The Way By Heart."
This is the type (or one type) of music Gatton reveled in, and every lick reveals what a blast he was obviously having – his Tele simultaneously singing and snarling.
For Elvis’ "Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do," the Jordanaires provide background vocals, and Danny switches to his Gibson ES 295, with plenty of rockabilly slapback. Gene Vincent’s "Be Bop A Lula" is given a slightly updated, funkier beat, but Gatton stays close to Cliff Gallup’s guitar lines.
The spooky original "Killer On The Loose" contains some of Gatton’s most impressive playing, spotlighting his cutting tone and snaky, rapid fire licks.
Rather than supplement the 11 Campbell/Gatton tracks (about 35 minutes) with enough material to fill out one CD, Mikey sat on the tapes for a dozen or so years, then gathered Gatton’s rhythm section in Nashville (with Ford again drumming and co-producing) to pay tribute to Gatton.
On Disc 2 of this double set, guitar hotshots Arlen Roth and Johnny Hiland "subbed" for Danny, as it were – alternately on most cuts, and in tandem on the title track and cover of Dale Hawkins’ "Susie Q." And for "That’s All Right," the legendary Scotty Moore supplied the same licks he played on his first recording with Elvis, with Nashville session great Bob Moore supplanting Gatton’s longtime bassist John Previti.
Again, Campbell’s co-writes (with '70s country star Freddy Weller and others) sit comfortably alongside covers of Orbison, Holly, Johnny Cash, and others. On "My Baby Left Me," the fleet-fingered Hiland proves that Gatton (his "main guitar hero") isn’t the only one who can kick up some dust. Roth deftly weaves guitar parts (including a melodic baritone solo) in, around, and through a cover of Robin Luke’s "Susie Darlin’" and adds beautiful bends and volume swells to Cash’s "I Still Miss Someone."
The set ends with a blistering take on "I Fought The Law," the perfect finale to this rock and roll party and a farewell that would doubtless make its guest of honor smile in abstentia.
Sweet Mikey C - Rock ‘n Roll Time Capsule
Barry Cleveland - Guitar Player Magazine
Danny Gatton recorded and produced 11 old-school rockers with vocalist Sweet Mikey C (a.k.a. Michael Campbell) in the early ‘90s, but the Telemaster passed before the album could be completed, and the tracks languished until Campbell decided to spruce them up and release them along with a second disc of new material. Campbell sings like a cross between Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, and he and Gatton (backed by drummer Shannon Ford, bassist John Previti, and piano/sax man Bill Holloman) tear it up on covers such as “She’s About A Mover,” “Well, All Right,” and “Be Bop A Lula,” and originals such as “Killer on the Loose.” The second disc features the same backing band with various guests, including master pickers Arlen Roth, Scotty Moore, and Johnny Hiland gettin’ their Gatton on. This red-hot disc exudes more authentic rockabilly vibe than an East Texas jalopy race.
