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Rock and roll was mostly about the singers and gyrators. Some of the piano players (Little Richard, Jerry Lee) gave out energy, but neither should we overlook the guitar guys. Early Elvis was guided and accented by Scotty Moore, a veteran of country combo The Starlight Wranglers, who could pick and swing and lash the arpeggios with style. A huge part of the rock and roll grammar book was established then. Likewise with Chuck Berry, who used clanging harmonies on his guitar to replicate the horn section of a jump jive band. He was a low maintenance Louis Jordan, toting his own brass combo.

One of my favourites was Cliff Gallup, who played the most extraordinary music with Gene Vincent And The Blue Caps. He was the Paganini of rockabilly, fast, precise, inventive. He played a solid body Gretsch and made his own echo boxes, creating a wild, wondrous tone. His time with Gene amounted to less than a year in 1956, but the 35 tracks he featured on were pure skill. Start with ‘Be Bop A Lula’ and ‘Race With The Devil’ and marvel. George Harrison was a fan, Jeff Beck recorded a tribute album to Cliff called Crazy Legs and Brian Setzer from the Stray Cats is a true acolyte. He don't mean maybe.

Supergrass – Alright (Parlophone)
Camera Obscura – Break It To You Gently (4ad)
The Chambers Brothers – Uptown (Sony)
Guards – I Know It’s You (Partisan)
Vampire Weekend – Step (XL)
Robinson – Waiting On Cinderella (Pulawan)
Gene Vincent – Race With The Devil (Capitol)
Bell XI – A Thousand Little Downers (Belly Up)
The Child Of Love – Give It To The People (Double Six)
Rams Pocket Radio – Cavities (white)
!!! – Californyeah (Warp)

Temptations – I Got Heaven Right Here On Earth (Motown)
Mark Mulcahy – Poison Candy Heart (Fire)
He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister – The Same Old Ground (white)
Duckworth Lewis Method – Third Man (DCR)
Wanda Jackson – California Stars (Sugar Hill)
Field Report – I Am Not Waiting Anymore (Partisan)
Billy Bragg – There Will Be A Reckoning (cv)
Bell XI – Be Careful What You Wish For (Belly Up)
Sigur Ros – Stormur (XL)
Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up (Motown)