Spin That 45 - Part 2: 25 Years Goofin' Records

Autumn 2009 finnish label Goofin' Records had its 25 years anniversary. To celebrate this owner Pete Hakonen organized a Rockabilly festival in Helsinki, headlined by Deke Dickerson, at the end of October. As a special treat for his customers and especially for the record collectors amongst them he released a set of five singles, all limited to 300 copies, only available at the show. As 50 copies each went to the bands, the math is easy: Only 250 people would be able to buy the complete set. I wasn't going to be at the show and accepted my destiny of not owning these Fin-A-Billy 45s. But luck was on my side. Not all sets were sold, some people reserved copies but didn't pick them up in the weeks to come, so Pete offered the remaining ones via E-Mail. I hadn't checked my mailbox for some days, so the E-Mail wasn't fresh anymore when I finally read it but I was still able to purchase a complete set of singles before some crazy Japanese could buy them all.

All five singles come in the same company sleeve, specially printed. On the front it has the Goofin' logo and on the back the list of the five 45s. The first single is by the Hal Peters Trio. These guys have been around for centuries and played Authentic Rockabilly ages before it was called Authentic Rockabilly. They do two cover-versions in best Sun-Rockabilly tradition. Solid! Mystery Train is an old finnish Rockabilly band that originally started in the late 70s, in the mid 80s took a long break and now is back on Suomi's Rockabilly stages up and down the country.  They do an original and a cover-version of the obscure 50s song 'Rockin' Ghosts', originally by Little Gerhard from Sweden. Maybe more about him in this blog later. 45 number 3 is the only disapointment of the set.  The Cast Iron Arms back Finland's Rockabilly legend Teddy Tiger of Teddy and the Tigers, who these days looks like the beardless brother of Johnny Legend, and the result isn't exciting. Two live recordings were chosen for the single. The rather unknown Buddy Holly song 'Learning The Game' and 'Nothin' For Me' by I don't know who, but it sounds like a 60s song. The undisputed winner 45 is the return of another Finland Rockabilly veteran, Buck Jones, who is backed by his band the Billyhowgs. Both songs are originals, sound great and rock. Side A 'Long Lonesome Highway' is a Western-Rockabilly song with lyrics I'd like to know more about while the flip 'Can You Feel Me Comin' is a fast Saxophone Rock'n'Roll number on the edge to Rhythm'n'Blues. Very nice, even when the song title is a bit creepy. The last single is by the relatively new band B. Cupp and the Strapless Trio whom I like much better than B. Cupp with the Fill-Ups. They also provide two decent sounding 50s Rockabilly numbers, both covers, and Side A is the winner. A fast version of Sid King's 'Shake This Shack Tonight'. Their version of the Glen Glenn classic 'I'm Glad My Baby's Gone Away' on side B on the other hand is a bit lame.

Just today when surfing the net I saw copies of these 45s available for reasonable prices, so go record hunting now! You might regret it one day if you don't!