£10.50

STILL ROCKIN' IN THE SAME OL' WAY     

MCD2004

Still Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way - the Beginning…

After arriving in Finland from the UK in 1977, Dave was starting to make a name for himself in the clubs around Finland. During those early days Dave worked as a session player on albums and in the making of various TV jingles for chart-topping producer/artist Mikko Alatalo. It wasn't long before Dave recorded his own single Dim Light Boogie/Razzle Dazzle, during which time Dave met a bass player who played Dave a copy of a Big Band Swing album by local artiste, Kalle Fält. The album was arranged by Paul Fagerlund, with lyrics written by Vexi Salmi, featuring some of the top session players on the Finnish music scene. It was that record which sparked off Dave's career in Finland. He loved the album and one year later he was under a recording contract for Vexi's record company, with the same arranger and band behind him. The result of this liaison became known as Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way, initially released in 1978 on an EP, and followed shortly by the album. All She Wants to Do Is Rock, Rockhouse and Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way, contained on this compilation, were all released on the original LP.

"Excellent songs, brilliant production." (Dave Price, Head of Production, BBC Radio)

…And Then…

This CD kicks off with All She Wants to Do Is Rock from 1978 - a Wynonie Harris original, one of Dave's all time favourite artistes and, sure enough, Dave gives the track his characteristic Boogie treatment.

Dim Light Boogie was the first of Dave's songs ever to be released. It was recorded by Charly Records for the Rock*n*Roll Is Still Alive album in 1976, sung by Graham Fenton of Matchbox fame, during a live performance by the Hellraisers, one of Daves first bands. Dim Light Boogie was also featured in 1978 on the Finnish TV version of Jukebox Jury, 'Levyraati'. Dave tied first place with Count Basie! Subsequently, Charly Records released much of Dave's material during the period 1976-1993.

"If Dave is not soon among the hottest names in the Finnish music scene, I will readily eat grilled chicken shit!" (Jukka Rönkä, Warkauden Lehti Newspaper)

It Doesn't Matter and You're Wrong were originally recorded by Dave in 1977 at a little studio in Tin Pan Alley in London with Dynamite, a new band he had just formed, with Roger Cover on bass. You're Wrong was the first number Dave recorded under his own name. After the recording session, armed with his original mastertape, Dave walked into the offices of CBS in London. Having been rejected by the powers that be at CBS, he came down in the lift, where he was approached by the manager, at that time, of Alvin Stardust. As the story goes, he took a liking to Dave's new single after hearing it in the A&R department and promised to include one of these new tracks on the B-side of the forthcoming Alvin Stardust single. This said, he walked out, equipped with Dave's mastertape. Unfortunately, he was never seen or heard of again, and Dave could do little else other than go back into the studio some months later and re-mix the tracks… a lesson learnt! The band, Dynamite, is still going strong today. I should also mention that Dave was unsuccessfully looking for a 'black' bass vocalist for the backing vocals on It Doesn't Matter. He ended up singing all the harmonies himself!

Nick Barnes, bass player with Little Tina & Flight '56, recalls that, in 1977, the Dutch Rockhouse Records had invited the band for a tour of Holland and to record an album. Bert Rockhouse had seen Dave on stage with the Hellraisers and suggested that Dave should be asked to play on the record with Little Tina & Flight '56. So, Dave's first encounter with the band was on a trip back from Rouen with the Hellraisers, being dropped off their tour bus, with his upright piano, at the port of [Newhaven], then loading up the piano into the Flight '56 tour bus and heading for Holland, for his first show with Little Tina. This was closely followed by four days in the studio in the making of the album 'This Little Girl's Gonna Rock It'. Following the tour with Little Tina & Flight '56, one day while Dave was having a drink with Bert Rockhouse in his studio, they discussed many aspects of music production, leading to Dave's recording of the song Rockhouse. Although the track was written for Rockhouse Records, when Dave was looking around for an outlet for the song, Vexi Salmi beat Rockhouse to it and it was released on the original Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way LP.

"There is hardly any rocker in the Nordic Countries who can offer as fierce a stage show." (Suosikki Magazine)

Dave originally heard the song I'll Be Glad at the Solar Penguin hotel in the Algarve back in 1977, whilst performing at the casinos in and around Albufeira. It was written by Bobby Boulter, who was later to become Dave's road manager. Dave liked the melody and decided to record his own version of the song.

Now That I've Found You was composed by Dave in 1978, originally entitled 'Laajavuori' - inspired by the famous ski-jump in Jyväskylä, Finland, which Dave could see out of his apartment window. The song was recorded with a full orchestra in 1986 and it was re-named 'Song Number One' as there were no lyrics for it! Words for the song were written by Dave in 1990 and the track was finally mixed in 1998. It has never been released until now, 23 years after it was first composed! The 2-inch mastertape of the song was nearly lost due to corrosion, and when it was put on the machine for mixing the tape shredded and stuck to the recording heads. After discussions with Ampex, the mastertape was 'dried out' for 3 days in a special oven at Ampex headquarters and transferred into digital format just in time to save it. This song combines a full symphony orchestra. Note the haunting counter-melody. The track features Dave's late arranger colleague, Paul Fagerlund, at his best.

Rockin' Rollin' Spacemen was a demo track, recorded 'live' at Dave's apartment in Finland around 1980 on his old, faithful Revox B77! For those in the know, this arrangement is an interesting variation of the final version eventually released on the Jive Jive Jive LP in 1981, which can be found on Good Time Series vol. 1, Cadillacs & Moonlight.

While residing in Finland, Dave was once arrested at his home in the middle of the night for working without a work permit and deported to Germany! Following wrangles with the Finnish Immigration Authorities, in 1982 Dave's single, Can't Stand Those People, was dedicated to them. Dave was annoyed, quite rightly so, as is evidenced by the lyrics of the song: "What do we call those people…". (The song must have hit the spot as the formalities were radically changed, albeit some years later, when Finland joined the EU!) The beat is masterfully held together by Olli 'Big Daddy' Ahonen on drums although, when first released, his name was fatefully misprinted as 'Pig Daddy' - a name which has stuck with him ever since! The guitarist, Jari Siekkinen, arguably was Finland's answer to Tommy Steele!

Mr Rock was originally released in 1982, on an LP of the same name. Schooldays, a cover of the Louis Jordan favourite, represents a taste of Big Band Swing, also first released on the Mr Rock LP.

"Fantastic! He jumped onto stage from nowhere and totally bewildered his audience - I have never seen anything like it!" (Markku Veijalainen, MTV)

The B-side of the single Mind Your Own Business (1982) is also is included on this CD - a track entitled Rock Me. This song was adapted into a promotional track for Beavers, one of the largest jeans manufacturers in Scandinavia, and distributed on a red flexi-disc under the name of The Girl in Beaver Jeans.

A full orchestral treatment has been given to the Jive Jive Jive LP original from 1981, I've Lost Her Again - recorded in 1988, mixed 9 years later in 1997!

Grizzly Bear Boogie was among the sixteen piano Boogie Woogie instrumental tracks licensed by Dave to Charly Records for the Boogie in the City album, recorded in 1993. It was originally played by Neville Dickie - another of Dave's mentors - in the late 1960s, at the height of his success. At the age of 11, when learning to play the piano, Dave would often hear Neville Dickie on the radio and decided to write to him asking for guidance on how to play Boogie Woogie. Neville replied, sending Dave the original music to three of his songs - one of which was none other than Grizzly Bear Rag! A horn section brings colour to the original version of Driving Home, also first released on the Boogie in the City album in 1993.

Seven Nights to Rock, Honey Hush, Back to Basics and Poor Ol' Mr Woogie are all recent productions recorded at Dave's Midnight Rock Studio, all featuring top class musicianship. Back to Basics - a pun on words, also borrowed by John Major - acts as a tribute to one of Dave's all time favourites, Count Basie. As a 15-year old teddy boy, Dave used to jive to Honey Hush at the Cocked Hat in Nottingham, before he was playing professionally. Here the track features the wailing trombone of Robert Jarvis, the first-rate guitar of Jim Knowler and the commendable double bass of Jarrad Coombes.

Dave tells of his first, self-imposed audition: "It was with Rock Island Line, a very good professional band, which was touring around the circuit. They had a hit with Choo Choo Ch' Boogie in 1973. I was 15, I had been to see the band play, called the club and managed to find out the telephone number of their manager, Phil 'Phab' Bailey (who later became involved with Shakin' Stevens, Matchbox and Crazy Cavan). Rock Island Line did not have a piano player and I told Phab that I wanted to join the band! He politely informed me that they were not looking for a pianist, but I pushed him and found out where the band was scheduled to play next. I snatched a lift from a friend and drove several hundred miles to the venue, with my piano, HH amplifier and 2 Carlsboro 4 x 12s. When I arrived at the club, I told the band I had been sent by Phab for an audition, to which the band politely informed me that they were not looking for a pianist. Despite their negative attitude (!) I set up right in the middle of the stage and I guess they didn't have the heart to send me away. No-one bought me a beer, though! The show turned out to be great, it was a wild night and everyone, including the band, had a good time. Unfortunately, the band was not looking for a pianist and I did not get the job!"

Over the past ten years or so, Phab has released Dave's material on a regular basis on his various productions.

Poor Ol' Mr Woogie, a Chas & Dave original, Dave has transformed into a powerful, distinctive run.

This CD is concluded with Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way, the album title track of 1978. This track was also featured on Jukebox Jury on Finnish TV and, uncannily, again came in second place after Count Basie's Splanky.

"Dave Taylor is the most sensational act in the Scandinavian show business today and undoubtedly the most promising and talented performer in the Scandinavian rock scene for years." (Jyrki Hämäläinen, Editor/TV Presenter)

…Still Rockin' in the Same Ol' Way

Dave performed at the renowned Cannes TV Festival in October 1998. As his support, Dave chose the great Italian Swing & Jive band, the Good Fellas. The success of that show was such that it led to a further engagement, this time at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1999, where Dave, again with the Good Fellas, appeared at the launch party for the new Austin Powers film, 'The Spy Who Shagged Me'. The audience included top Hollywood stars and producers, such as Steven Spielberg, Val Kilmer, Charles Bronson as well as Richard Branson.

As a sequel to the K-Tel release in 1996, a new Hooked on Jive CD consisting of Dave's recordings was issued on the Emporio label at the end of 1998. In March 1999, Dave was asked to compose another jingle for CMR radio station's Rock*n*Roll programme, Good Rockin' Tonight, hosted by Dell Richardson.

At the end of 1999, Dave also found time to record a special celebratory Millennium CD, Time for Rock & Roll, featuring 12 tracks - one for each position on a clock face. In-keeping with the 12 points of a clock, only 1200 CDs were manufactured. All were sold within one month of release!

Following extensive touring in the UK and Spain in December 1999, including a Millennium party hosted by Sir Dai Llewellyn in Cardiff's prestigious St. David's Spa Hotel, Dave returned to Italy in January 2000, performing at some of Italy's top clubs with the Good Fellas. At the time of going to print, Dave's material is about to be issued on a new compilation on Raucous Records, which is currently under production. And look out for vol. 4 in the Good Time Series! ‘A Rockers’ Guide to the Galaxy’.

"I appreciate your music very much." (Mauno Koivisto, President of Finland)

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