Purvis and the Stray Dogs
Purvis Vesley is one of the best-kept secrets in rockabilly. He was practically invisible until the recent release of his breakthrough album Rock the Dog Park with the all-star group The Stray Dogs. Now the dogs are out.
The Stray Dogs are the backbone (or dog bone) of the Purvis Vesley sound. The Dogs are Chris Goddard (guitar), Jeff Harris (bass, guitar, resonator guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmony vocals), Jimmy Sage (drums), David Ervin (keys), Lynn Asher (harmony vocals), Dan Barbee (keys) and John Maas (keys). One or the other of them have played with rockabillies like Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley band), Leon Russell, Lee Rocker, Bill Kirchen, Billy C., Commander Cody, the Moonlighters, and Merle Travis.
Rock the Dog Park includes Purvis’ signature versions of great rockabilly tunes from Elvis, Carl, Lee Rocker, Leon Russell, Eddy Cochran, and Freddie Mercury (???). Some of these tunes were not well known, or had faded from memory (or the fans’ memory has been fading), so Purvis wanted to bring them to wider attention, or as he said, “drag them suckers out of the cellar before the rats eat them or some hippie sells ‘em at a yard sale.”
Purvis was raised in the back woods of Belle Meade, Tennessee near Nashville. He grew up listening to Elvis, Carl and Jerry Lee as well as Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Emmylou, Rodney Crowell, Gary Morris, the Beatles, various one-hit wonders and the Byrds. His parents were very disappointed that he listened to “that horrible noise” rather than classical and choral music. He sometimes compromised by listening to country and gospel harmonies.
When he is not polishing his old Cadillac that is parked in his front yard, Purvis spends his time searching the Internet for forgotten rockabilly hits, combing his hair, or still trying to train that beagle. The beagle has co-written several of Purvis’ upcoming single releases, including Runaway and the rockametal hit Can’t Get Enough of Your Food. We expect more great recordings in the near future.
The Tunes
Purvis, Jimmy, Jeff and Chris are all rockabilly historians to some degree or other. Chris can even tell you what guitar was used to record many songs. Jimmy can tell you how DJ Fontana’s drums were recorded. Jeff discovered Buddy Holly’s real name. Purvis started looking into the history of songs he liked during his early years as a DJ; it was boring at 1 in the morning and he wasn’t sure if anyone was listening. They wanted to share the history of these great recordings with you.
Big Hunk of Love was Elvis Presley’s twelfth Number 1 hit, recorded in Nashville when he was on leave from the Army in 1958. The words say it all about Purvis…”all I want is all you got.” Chris, Dave, Jeff and Jimmy (the Special Projects team) laid down this high-energy track.
Moon Mullican wrote Seven Nights to Rock. Moon was a great R&B and rockabilly pianist who might have been a rockabilly star like Elvis except for his cowboy hat and his weight. He did, however, write his own songs. He was the un-credited co-composer of Jambalaya, with Hank Williams. Jerry Lee Lewis cited him as a major influence. Purvis found the song courtesy of the Moonlighters. Bruce Springsteen also performs the tune.
Great Balls of Fire was a hit for Jerry Lee Lewis. Otis Blackwell, who was responsible for many of Elvis’ hits, and Jack Hammer wrote it. In this version, Dave Ervin plays several “Killer” piano parts to support Purvis. Dolly Parton, ELO, Fleetwood Mac, the New Grass Revival, and Johnny Winter have also recorded versions.
Legend has it that Elvis performed Blue Moon of Kentucky (originally a waltz) as a 4/4 rockabilly tune for Sam Phillips at Sun Records after a ballad he was using as an audition didn’t impress Sam. He was worried about what “Mr. Monroe” would think of this new version. Sam just told him, “Son, Mr. Monroe will be so busy counting his money he won’t care.” In fact, Bill Monroe sent Elvis a thank you note. According to Scotty Moore, Bill Black came up with the tune when he, Scotty and Elvis were trying to think of a B side for Elvis’ single, That’s Alright. Elvis’ comment was, “That sounds like Carl Perkins.” It turns out that Carl Perkins did a rockabilly version with his brother Jay in 1948; he thought Elvis sounded like him when he heard the song on the radio. Patsy Cline recorded yet another version.
Don’t Be Cruel is another Otis Blackwell song that was a hit for Elvis in 1956. Elvis rewrote the arrangement on piano and did 28 takes in the studio. Our version uses a modification of Cheap Trick’s arrangement. Billy Swan, The Judds, Merle Haggard, John Lennon, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Diamond, and Jackie Wilson also recorded versions of the song.
Say When is a gem Carl Perkins wrote but never recorded. His son found the tune and gave it to Lee Rocker. It appears on Lee’s CDs …
Little Piece of Your Love was co-written by Lee Rocker and Leon Russell. It’s now a ringtone. Music marches on… Dave turns it into a piano boogie barnburner.
Restless is another great tune from Carl Perkins. He performed it on the Kraft Music Hall, hosted by Johnny Cash. Chris and Jimmy jam out on this version.
Summertime Blues was a theme song of teens in the 60s. It was a B side by Eddie Cochran (co-written with his manager, Jerry Capehart). Who didn’t need to borrow the car? The Stray Cats, the Beach Boys, Blue Cheer, the Who, T Rex, Olivia Newton-John, Cheech Marin, and Alan Jackson did versions of the song as well. Purvis nails the teenage angst, with some sturm und drang thrown in.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Who knew Freddie Mercury (nee’ Farrokh Bulsara (Gujarati)) was a closet rockabilly? It’s arguably one of the best rockabilly tunes around. He is said to have composed it in a short time in Munich during a Queen recording session. Diana Ross, the Chipmunks, Brian Setzer, Michael Buble’ and others have covered the song. Purvis does all the vocals here.
Love Me Tender is a classic Elvis ballad written by Ken Darby. It was based on the Civil War ballad Aura Lee. The ballad was credited to Darby’s wife, Vera Madsen, and Elvis Presley. Elvis’ contract with publisher Hill and Range specified that he receive co-songwriter credit for tunes he performed. Elvis typically rearranged and rewrote many of his songs, however, so he did have creative input. When asked why he gave credit to his wife for the song, Darby replied, “Because she didn’t write it either.” In addition to Purvis, Richard Chamberlain, Percy Sledge and Linda Ronstadt have recorded it. The first time Purvis did the song is the only time anyone has seen Lynn Asher at a loss for a teaching critique.
Rave On was written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty and first released by West. Buddy Holly made it a hit. It’s also been covered by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Commander Cody, and Denny Laine of Wings. Purvis learned it from the Dirt Band in the early ‘70s. Dan provides the hot keys here.
All Shook Up is another Otis Blackwell tune that was a hit for Elvis. Paul McCartney, the Beatles, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart and the Jeff Beck Group, the Permian Rangers, and Ry Cooder have recorded the tune. We like our version best, with Purvis handling all the vocal chores.
All Tore Up is a Moonlighters tune by Austin DeLone and Tim Eschleman, who are still rocking in Marin County. It features a New Orleans drumbeat by Tony Johnson that propels the tune and makes it unique.
Sea Cruise isn’t exactly rockabilly, but according to the Sage of San Geronimo Valley, is the sort of thing that rockabilly bands would do in between more classic songs. Our version, and Sound Medicine’s, crosses Manhattan Transfer-like harmonies with rockabilly. Robert Gordon and Link Wray did a great version. Purvis has been doing this tune since his days in Backseat Boogie.
William Smith “Bill” Monroe wrote Blue Moon of Kentucky as a bluegrass waltz and recorded it in 1946 with his Bluegrass Boys, including Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. It was a nationwide hit by 1947, and was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2002. It’s the official bluegrass song of the State of Kentucky. This is the classic bluegrass
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