Huelyn DuVall - Texas Rocker
Still Feels Like Rockin'
Posted June 17, 2008
What a great pleasure to have a new 50's Rock and Roll CD coming from Texas, even if
recorded in Sweden, by Huelyn Duvall. Following the steps of Bobby Crown, another Texas
50's cat, Huelyn flew way up North in 2005 to record, with Wildfire Willie and The
Ramblers, some new songs. That great CD tilted "Get Carried Away" was issued a couple
of months ago on Goofin' records (GRCD 6131), a great label who gave us many CD's by
Marty Brom, Miss Mary Ann or Ray Collins Hot-Club since twenty years. Without Wildfire
Willie this session would have never taken place and we will have missed a great record.
Thanks also to Pete Hanoken for that record and for being the one who made Jimmy Lee
Fautheree's last recording available on vinyl. Hope to meet you someday, guy!
Huelyn, born in 1939, in Texas, know about what he sing on "Hillbilly Rock", a great
waxing from the pen of Paul Kennerley better know by Marty Stuart on MCA records. That hot
rocker with piano and fine guitar licks will bring back in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Kentucky and Tennessee when Elvis was still The Hillbilly Cat. The next song "Get
Carried Away" came from the pen of Jan Svensson aka Wildfire Willie. That's a bouncy
rocker with very nice guitar licks who open the door for "Feel Like Rockin'", the
next song in line. Here, Huelyn handle a hot song first recorded, but never issued, for
"Sun" by Jackson Rockabilly wizard Kenny Parchman. The title tell you straight
what's about: if you feel like rockin, that's the perfect meat. We still wonder how
Sam Phillips could have let Kenny Parchman recordings in the vault and that's fine to
see Huelyn doin' justice to Kenny's talent. Huelyn remember hearing that song for the
first time on tour with The Ramblers riding on their van several years ago. He liked it
immediately and can't understand too why that true classic was not issued in the 50's.
A fine tribute!
Next song, "Hurtin' Inside" moves you on Brook Benton's songbook from 1959.
Brook's recording who found his way on the Pop and R'n'B charts is covered with
class and the great sax work done by Gustav Bendt carries the shades of Boots Randolph
and King Curtis.
Next is a little tribute to Huelyn's friend, the great Eddie Cochran with "Cradle
Baby" from the pen of Terry Fell. "Cradle Baby", a gentle rocker with great guitar
parts, was originally issued as B-side of Eddie's classic "Twenty Flight Rock" in
1957. Here everybody make a great job before witching on "Everytime I'm Kissing
You", a Carl Belew's song, better know by Johnny Horton. Huelyn was already wandering
on Johnny Horton repertoire in 1956 with songs like "Baby, I'm Ready If You're
Willing" or "Honky Tonk Man" when Rock and Roll was not allowed on KCUL "Cowtown
Hoe Down" in Fort Worth. "Start All Over" and "What In The World" are to fine
rockers from Huelyn's own pen who drives us to "No Other Baby", a nice song who
remind me Buddy Holly and Sonny West beat pattern.
"You Got Me Shook", is an unissued Ben Hewitt's song, and is a nice tribute to that
rocker who passed away in 1996 and gave us some fabulous records on "Mercury" at the
tail end of the 50's. "All Fogged Up" is a strong ditty from Huelyn pen and drives
you to Drive Inn movie with the solid drums beat done by Markku Juvonen. Next came a great
work on Elvis 1962 all time classic "Anything That's Part Of You". Nothing
surprising to see Huelyn at home with Elvis song ’Äòcause, in 1957, he was playin' on
stage with The Troublesome Three "I Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do" and "Teddy Bear".
Then living in rural Texas he didn't get to hear all the rockabilly we now then but was
able, on his local AM radio station, to catch few Elvis, Marty Robbins or Carl Perkins
songs. To close that CD we got a muscular rendition of a Carl Butler's song "If
Teardrops Were Pennies" first recorded by Carl Smith in 1951.
That classic song will show you how a country song can be shaped in a rock'n'roll one
with the hot guitar work from Jyrki Juvonen. Here end that excellent CD who deals not with
nostalgia but brings you raw energy and heartfelt renditions.
Huelyn relations with those way up north frozen cats had not ended because he will play in
Finland, Sweden and Holland that month. A welcome comes back in that country where I saw
him on stage with Janis Martin and Eddie Bond in 1985. He only performed once in France
and hopes to return again maybe with Sid & Billy King or Gene Summers. All are from Texas
and don't cheat with Rock'n'Roll music. Gene Summers last CD "Reminisce" Cafe is
a great one and recently he got a great welcome on a Dallas show with The Nightcaps, Bobby
Rambo, Ray Sharpe and Jimmy Velvit.
Huelyn's record can be buy on his web site at www.huelynduvall.com or from Goofin' at
www.goofinrecords.com
Dominique "Imperial" ANGLARES
www.bartemon.net
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