Rocket 88 (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rocket 88 is the name of a United Kingdom-based boogie-woogie band formed by Ian "Stu" Stewart and Bob Hall. The band is named for the 1949 Pete Johnson song "Rocket 88" and is also the title of their 1981 live album, recorded by the Rolling Stones' Mobile Unit.
The band featured many top British musicians from different backgrounds who would meet up whenever possible during the 80s for what was in effect an ongoing jam session. "Regular" members of the band included the two above-mentioned founding members, plus Alexis Korner, George Green, Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Colin Smith, John Picard, Don Weller, Dick Morrissey, Colin Hodgkinson, Zoot Money, Chris Farlowe, Hal Singer and many others who happened to be in town.
The band recorded a live album on tour at the Rotation Club, Hanover, in Germany which was released in March 1981 on the Atlantic Records label (SD 19293). Ian Stewart wrote the sleeve notes on the back cover of the album, covering not only a brief history of the band, but also an interesting history of boogie woogie and rock 'n' roll in general.
Although it is rumoured that there are numerous bootleg live takes, the band's only officially released album contains the following tracks:
Side 1
1. Rocket 88 (Pete Johnson) 7:27
2. Waiting For The Call (Jack Bruce/Peter Brown) 10:16
3. St. Louis Blues (W.C.Handy) 7:55
Side 2
4. Roll Em’ Pete (Pete Johnson/Joe Turner) 5:52
5. Swindon Swing (Colin Smith) 7:34
6. Roadhouse Boogie (Pete Johnson) 7:17
7. Talking About Louise (Alexis Korner) 5:14
See their only record on the alexis-korner.net site
