Rocket 88: Rocket 88

1981 Big Band Swing

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Tracklist

A1 Rocket 88Johnson
A2 Waiting For The CallBruce, Brown
A3 St. Louis BluesHandy
B1 Roll ‘Em PeteTurner, Johnson
B2 Swindon SwingSmith
B3 Roadhouse BoogieJohnson
B4 Talking About LouiseKorner

Musicians

Jack BruceBass, Vocals, Written-By
Charlie WattsCover (Design), Design (Cover), Drums
Alexis KornerGuitar, Vocals, Written-By
Bob HallPiano
George GreenPiano
Ian StewartPiano, Producer, Liner Notes
Don WellerTenor Saxophone
Hal SingerTenor Saxophone
John PicardTrombone
Colin SmithTrumpet, Written-By

Also credited. Written-By: Pete Johnson, Pete Brown, W. C. Handy, Big Joe Turner. Engineer: Mick McKenna. Lacquer Cut By: Bob Jones. Mastered By: Bob Jones.

Release notes

Quoted directly from album notes written by Ian Stewart:
This album was recorded under less than ideal conditions at the Rotation Club in Hanover, West Germany - where the stage is 20 feet above the floor and most people watch from the sides. For some reason, the band was on fire that night, despite a long bus ride and the odd hangover or two. Although acoustically the club left much to be desired, I feel we have achieved one of the best live albums ever, with the sort of feeling that is never achieved in studios. Jack Bruce in particular played his ass off; and by the time “Roll ‘Em Pete” ended the set, his fingers were bleeding profusely from playing double bass - something he has only rarely done in recent years. Although the album was recorded on 24 tracks, there are no instrumental overdubs. Everything is as it was on that night, and the editing scissors were only used on one number so that we could have four tracks on side two.