“The White Lines” are a german Rock ´n´ Roll / Rockabilly band which set their spot on the music map in 1988 when four young men without any knowledge of playing an instrument decided to found
a combo. The one and only reason for this was and still is, the passion for 50´s Rock ´n´ Roll music with all it´s different styles. At first they had to learn their instruments and also had to learn to play together. After a few months everyone was able to master an instrument and they began to play small gigs for friends and relatives. As time went by the gigs grew bigger and bigger and got more professional. In 1993 they released their first extended play record followed by 10 more releases over the years until now. Nowadays the band plays all over Germany and wherever they are wanted. The musical influences are the heroes of the 50´s such as Elvis, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins or Eddie Cochran. This doesn´t mean that they just copy them but rather are an inspiration for their music which is a mixture of the good ole stuff and their own interpretation of Rock ´n´ Roll music. Therefore the live repertoire consists of a lot of self penned songs and nevertheless some timeless classic tunes from the golden era. During the years a lot of people asked about the band´s name “The White Lines” because they saw it in conjunction with cocaine or stuff like that but this is of course not the case. The name comes from the road marking on the highways which are mostly white lines – that´s all.
The musicians are:
Bernd Tesch - vocals, double bass
Carsten Tesch - lead guitar, backing vocals
Rolf Asmussen - drums, backing vocals
Olaf Tesch – rhythm guitar
Discographie der WHITE LINES:
1.: 7"EP - Real Rockin´ Now: Buffalo Bill, Crawdad Hole, Matchbox, If I had me a woman.
1993 Laura Records - LREP 9301 - ausverkauft.
2.: 7"EP - Rockabilly Beat: C´mon Baby Let´s Go, Rockabilly Beat, Goin´ to Memphis, Long Blond Hair, Got The Job, Honey Hush. - 1995 Laura Records - LREP 9503 - ausverkauft, bis auf einige wenige Exemplare ohne Cover.
3.: CD - Rock´n´Roll Is Back: Rock´n´Roll is back, Rock The Barber, Long Blond Hair, Don´t you know, C´mon Baby Let´s Go, The Train Kept A Rollin, Got The Job, Goin´ To Memphis (alternativ), G´me all your love, I saw the light, Rockin´ Rhythm, Blue Swingin´ Mama, Lazy Bone, Honey Hush. - 1997 Laura Records - LRCD 9704 - ausverkauft
4.: 7"EP - Rock-A-Billy Showdown Vol. 1: Rockabilly Mama, Hell Train (with Mace Sharp), Tiger Attack (with Teddy Cameroe), I´m Left You´re Right She´s Gone. - 1998 Laura Records. - LREP 9805
5.: 7"EP - My Baby Done Gone Away: Tongue Tied Jill, Honey Baby, My baby done gone away, I´m gonna cry. - 1999 Laura Records - LREP 9906
6.: 7"EP - Original Rock´n´Roll: Is it love?, Maybelline, Well...come on baby, Ready to Rock.
- 2000 Rebel Music Records - RM 7001
7.: 12"LP - Ready To Rock: Baby I Don´t Care, Had A Dream, Never Thought, Are You Walkin´, Hey Little Girl, Nichts Wirklich Garnichts, Where Did You Stay Last Night, Ready To Rock, Rockabilly Mama, Red Cadillac & A Black Moustache, Let´s Go Boppin Tonight, His Latest Flame, Boogie In The Dark, Goodbye Baby. - 2002 Rebel Music Rec- RM 12002
8.: CD - Ready To Rock: Baby I Don´t Care, Had A Dream, Never Thought, Are You Walkin´, Hey Little Girl, Nichts Wirklich Garnichts, Where Did You Stay Last Night, Let´s Go Boppin Tonight, My Baby Done Gone Away, Rockabilly Mama, Red Cadillac & A Black Moustache, I´m Left You´re Right She´s Gone, Ready to Rock, Well...come on baby, Is it love?, Maybelline. - 2002 Rebel Music Rec- RM 5001
9.: CD - Rockabilly Fever - 2003 Rebel Music Records RM5002
10.: CD - Gospel Train - 2006, BMS-RS 606
11.: CD - Rockabilly Memories, 20 Rockin´ Years - 2008 Rebel Music Records RM5003
12.: 10-inch-LP + free CD: White Lines - For Vinyl Fans Only - Rebel Music Records RM 10001
Review by Black Cat Rockabilly Europe: http://www.rockabilly.nl/reviews/whitelines.htm
A German combo, called The White Lines, dropped their latest CD in the mailbox of BlackCat Rockabilly Europe. So we did give it a spin. Off course we did!
This band hauls from Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. In 1988 they were a bunch of young men, had no knowledge of playing an instrument, and decided to form a band. A Rock n Roll / Rockabilly band that is. The reason is quite obvious: they all have a great passion for 1950's Rock n Roll music with all it's different styles. The four gentlemen had first learn to play their instruments, and also had to learn to play together as a team! After a few months they managed to play quite well and did some small gigs for family, friends and relatives. Sure they got better and better and as time went by the gigs they played grew bigger and bigger! And The White Lines became more professional.
In 1993 their first extended play record was released and that was follwed by eleven more releases, of which ten are selfrecorded and selfproduced in their own recording homestudio "Laura Records".
Nowadays The White Lines play all over Germany and wherever they are invited to come to play. Influenced by great names such as Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and off course Elvis, they play Rock n Roll in a way that isn't just a copy of those heroes of old times, but a mixture of them and their own Rockin' music. The White Lines have a live repertoire that consist a lot self penned songs together with some timeless favourites from that great 50's era. A nice question that some people may have regarding the band's name is where that name comes from... Well it is not from that freaky stuff called cocaine (that some madmen snuff from white lines) but it's from the white lines that lay on the highway's as roadmarkings... those roadmarkings are usually white lines, that's it!
Okay, let's talk about this 20 years of Rockin' album.
We start this CD with an old time favourite of Carl Perkins, "Blue Suede Shoes". The leaflet that comes with the CD says: 'Obviously a Killer'... I have nothing to argue with that statement. "Is It Love" is a self penned rockin' ballad about an unfullfilled love, well, I love this one for sure! Bassplayer Bernd Tesch' "Rockabilly Mama", is an original written for the EP 'Rockabilly Showdown' from 1998, great song. Over to a cover from the Delmore Brothers: "Blues Stay Away From Me" This is a well known song, a bit weak played if I may say so. The saxophone in this song is of great quality! Original written for the late Elvis Presley, but first released by Little Richard is "Rip It Up", The White Lines can now stand with all the other great Rockers who recorded this song, perfect!
For all the Bluegrass and Hillbilly lovers a traditional song is next on the menu: "Wild Side Of Life". Another great song by Bernd: "Rock 'n' Roll Is Back". Yeah, I agree!! Ever heard of Crazy Cavan? Well listen to "Train Of Love", this early 80's song is again perfectly played, I'm sure Cavan Grogan likes it too. You give Bernd Tesch a pen and he writes really great songs, this time a balad about a lost love: "Had A Little Baby". Next they throw in a Johnny Cash song from 1956 "Rock 'n' Roll Ruby" nice, but it could be a little rougher in my opinion. "One Too Many Mornings" by Bob Dylan, Hillbilly, don't like it too much... Originally sung by Charly Feathers in 1956, The White Lines deliver a good cover with "Tongue Tied Jill". "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard Penniman is next on this CD, followed by "Mystery Train". Written by Junior Parker as a blues song, and made a real Rockabilly tune by Elvis, Scotty and Bill, now played real well by The White Lines.
Number fifteen and the last one on this album: "So Long Baby Goodbye" by Dave Alvin and sung by Shakin'Stevens in 1985 is a great song, but there aren't too many bands who play this with the right stance, this one also stays a little behind. You see, twenty years of Rockin' by these gentlemen has come to a good, if not really good album. I had fun listening to it!
Tracklisting:
Blue Suede Shoes / Is It Love / Rockabilly Mama / Blues Stay Away From Me / Rip It Up / Wild Side Of Life / Rock 'n' Roll Is Back / Train Of Love / Had A Little Baby / Rock 'n' Roll Ruby / One Too Many Mornings / Tongue Tied Jill / Tutti Frutti / Mystery Train / So Long Baby Goodbye
The White Lines are:
Bernd Tesch - Vocals, Double Bass
Carsten Tesch - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Olaf Tesch - Rhythm Guitar
Rolf Asmussen - Drums, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Stefan "Der Graf" Schroeder - Drums on tracks 4, 11 and 13
Karsten "Kanne" Geiger - Saxophone on tracks 4, 11 and 15
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