Rocket Girl
© Copyright-El Toro Records
(8437003699207)
Record Label: El Toro Records
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Betsy-Dawn Williams
Born in North Carolina, Betsy-Dawn Williams (BeeDee) got her first start in music singing in the Baptist choir, but from the first time she heard her granddaddy play claw hammer banjo and imitate a train whistle on his harmonica, her soul was captured by the raw sounds of hillbilly music. The first time she heard rockabilly she was completely smitten, listening to Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. The raw twang and the pounding rhythms
found a home deep in her heart. Betsy-Dawn got her first guitar at the age of 13 and began teaching herself to play chords and back up her own singing. Later she picked up the string bass and has played both guitar and string bass in several bands, including the western swing band The Westernaires, 2 bluegrass bands Pioneer Valley Bluegrass and Lost Wages. She can also be found today playing with the female honky-tonk band Girl Howdy.
Jeff Potter
At the age of 10, Jeff got his first drumkit and a lesson on how to play a two-finger boogie-woogie on the piano from "Judy" - a teenaged family friend. For many years down in his cellar, Jeff played that boogie-woogie fast and slow, and performed long Gene Krupa/Cozy Cole style solos on his drums. From 1956 to '57 he spent his candy money buying every single rock & roll, rockabilly and rhythm & blues record he could afford. Jeff played in various recording bands for 12 years (including Al Anderson's Wildweeds) before writing, singing and performing his own songs, mostly in the style of 50's rock & roll, fronting 2 bands, The Contenders, then later Jeff Potter & the Rhythm Agents. Jeff and Betsy-Dawn Williams played in a previous band together from 1998 to 2002 called American Roadhouse featuring a mix of rock & roll, R&B and rockabilly. In addition to co-producing and playing on Rocket Girl, Jeff can also be found performing with New York's The Lustre Kings. Jeff still plays his drums in the cellar.
Graham Tichy
Graham started playing guitar at the age of 10 and has been called "one of the hottest, most capable guitarists on the rockabilly scene today" by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. At the age of 26, Graham has made a name for himself touring the world at major festivals, backing legends such as Wanda Jackson, Robert Gordon, and Jack Earls, and recording critically acclaimed albums with Detroit's Bones Maki and the Sun Dodgers. Albany, New York's' Metroland magazine deemed him the area's "Best Guitarist of 2003."
Jim Haggerty
Jimmy started playing accordion at age 5. At age 10 he switched over to the bass. When he was 16, Jimmy got his first upright bass, and grew up listening to his parents 1950's record collection and developed a natural feel for roots music. While in college, he furthered his studies in music theory and Jazz. After Jim returned from college, he found that most jazz upright players turned their noses away from rock gigs..so he took them all, and has played with an impressive roster of musicians, including Chuck Berry, Wanda Jackson, Bo Diddly, Terry Adams, Robert Gordon and Louis Bellson to name a few.
Other guest musicians include:
On stringbass: Guy DeVito, Norm "Red" Rogers, Jay Gorleski, electric bass guitar: Mark Neveu, guitar: Mark Gamsjager, Norm Blackwelder, drums: Keith Levreault, Marshall Grossman, dobro: Jim Henry.
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Wow what a way to start 2007
author: Owen Russell- Sydney Australia
This is a great CD,from the first song, Too many words to the last, why doncha call, it is pure dynamite, Betsy Dawns song writing is spot on,I absoutely love this CD, when is the next one due out?.
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How come this girl isn't famous?
author: Alex Agronick
An amazing record of totally original rockabilly music. Every song is unique which can be difficult in this genre. I find many of these tunes rattling around in my head during the day-a sure sign that this music has staying power. If this were 1955 Betsy-Dawn would be a superstar. High production values and excellent musicianship throughout. And she wrote all but one of the tunes!
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www.rockabillybabe.com
author: www.rockabillybabe.com
Put your lyrics in a jar they all sound fake, it’s gone too far and I’ve got a headache – now I need a break”. That is the fading verse in the rockabilly kicker Too Many Words, from Betsy-Dawn Williams’ latest release, Rocket Girl. Rocket Girl is a kick-ass album from a rockabilly girl with humble North Carolina roots. To quote her label’s website, “BeeDee” got her first start in music singing in the Baptist choir, but from the first time she heard her grand-daddy play clawhammer banjo and imitate a train whistle on his harmonica, her soul was captured by the raw sounds of hillbilly music”. It’s been many years (like a long, long time ago) since a female musician has commanded such respect on the rockabilly scene. She’s not just another pretty face. She writes her own songs, from honky tonk to rockabilly, Betsy-Dawn is a talented musician and hell on a scooter.
The Rocket Girl flies into another toe-stomper Lurlene Can’t Read, a flash into the past of childhood remembrance. From there the tempo drops to the ultra-swing of This Feeling Called Love, a slow running flame of passion. Wrong Again pops up as a retro-piano backed, punk-fueled idea of never being right.
I’m sure she’s heard this before, but Betsy-Dawn’s angelic voice carries a heavy resemblance to the great Wanda Jackson with more twang. Plus, Betsy-Dawn has a host of very talented musicians on Rocket Girl, including a few mainstays like Graham Tichy on guitars, Jeff Potter on drums and Jim Haggerty on the stand-up bass. These guys keep it tight and keep you in the glorious time zone of yesteryear. Moving on to my favorite track is a spoof off of the album title called Outerspace Motorspace Scooter Machine. This honk-a-billy ditty is a head-bobbing masterpiece. “It’s a mean screamin’ green scootin’ gravity liar,” Ms. Williams pleads.
Get It Off Your Mind is the only cover on the CD, but it gels right in with Betsy-Dawn’s retro sound. Walkin’ & Talkin’ is a mid-tempo downer on cheating with a quiet blend of Patsy and old skool country.
I can go on and on about the sheer greatness of Rocket Girl, but I have to leave something for you to engulf for yourself. This album is worth its weight in space dust. Pick up your copy of Rocket Girl at Eltoro Records. - Mark
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