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"...The Love Kitten...Is Lookin' For Me..."
Anyone compiling something as wacky and yet sexily brill as "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats" has to have had some serious music chops allied with good taste and deep pockets, never mind the obsessive nature of being drawn to all things Austin Powers Siamese purring and yeah-baby slinky. Obscure US B-sides, genre hip-hops from Fifties and Sixties Vocal Groups, Rhythm 'n' Blues, Rock 'n' Roll, Pop, Folk, Lounge, Latin, Country & Western and even a smidge of World (most of the Jazz are instrumentals) – and all it on the theme of cats. You will ahem – lap it up and go out through the in-flap door, etc.
But this is a VICKI FOX CD compilation - a warmly remembered lady associated with the Rock On Record Shop in London's Camden Town when Ace Records was formed back in the mid Seventies. Vicki and label owner/founder Ted Carroll had a 30-year friendship before she lost a six-year battle with cancer in 2016. Vicki had a hand in artwork for some of Ace's compilations (pictured in the lovely 24-page booklet of the "Sounds Of The Unexpected" set - Volume 3 in a series of 3), had a ginormous record collection, consummately great taste and was a huge fan of musical 45s from every odd and off the-beaten track genre (see list of three comps below).
There is a purr-fect-ly good explanation for all of it (sorry, couldn't resist the purr er pun oh stop it). To the loves kittens lookin' for love...
UK released 31 March 2008 - "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1168 (Barcode 029667030229) is a 24-Track CD compilation collated by VICKI FOX that plays out as follows (56:51 minutes):
1. Three Cool Cats – THE COASTERS (January 1959 US 45-single on Atlantic 45-6132, B-side to "Charlie Brown")
2. Cleon – RENÉ HALL (August 1958 US 45-single on Specialty 641, B-side to "Frankie And Johnny")
3. Kitty Kat – PAUL OTT (January 1960 US 45-single on Thunder International 1022, B-side to "I Am Yours")
4. El Pussy Cat – MONGO SANTAMARIA (November 1964 US 45-single on Columbia -43171, A-side)
5. Cat Hop – THE DODGERS (February 1955 US 45-single on Aladdin 3271, B-side of "Drip Drop")
6. The Siamese Cat Song – LU ANN SIMMS (March 1955 US 45-single on Columbia 4-40467, B-side of "La La Lu")
7. The Alley Cat Song – DAVID THORNE (September 1962 US 45-single on Riverside R-4530, A-side)
8. Cat Nip – DAVID "Baby" CORTEZ (May 1960 US 45-single on Clock C-1024, A-side)
9. Sweet Pussycat – THE MORGAN JAMES DUO (January 1966 UK 45-single on Phillips BF 1462, A-side)
10. Leave My Kitten Alone – LITTLE WILLIE JOHN (June 1959 US 45-single on King 45-5219, A-side)
11. Sneakin' Up On You – PEGGY LEE (April 1965 US 45-single on Capitol 5404, A-side)
12. The Cat – EDDIE & ERNIE (April 1965 US 45-single on Eastern 45-603, B-side of "Turn Here")
13. What's New Pussycat? – TOM JONES (August 1965 UK 45-single on Decca F 12203, A-side)
14. Walkin' My Cat Named Dog – NORMA TANEGA (February 1966 US 45-single on New Voice 807, A-side)
15. The Cat – JIMMY SMITH (August 1964 US 45-single on Verve VK 10330, A-side)
16. The Cat Came Back – SONNY JAMES (September 1956 US 45-single on Capitol F3542, B-side to "Hello Old Broken Heart")
17. Love Kitten – NOREEN CORCORAN (September 1963 US 45-single on Vee Jay VJ 555, A-side)
18. House Cat – THE ROMANCERS (January 1956 US 45-single on Dootone 381, B-side of "I Still Remember")
19. The Kitty Kat Song – LEE DORSEY (May 1965 US 45-single on Amy 927, B-side of "Ride Your Pony")
20. That Darn Cat – BUDDY GRECO (November 1965 US 45-single On Epic 5-9864, A-side – Issued as That Darned Cat in the UK October 1965 on Columbia DB 7726, A-side)
21. Let's Do The Cat – JAMIE ROSS (1964 US 45-single on Coun-Tree LG-1005, B-side of "Honey Honey" - with KENNY RICE & LEO'S FIVE uncredited)
22. If You Play With Cats – CHARLES BROWN (October 1961 US 45-single on King 45-5570, B-side of "Without A Friend")
23. Tom Cat – THE ROOFTOP SINGERS (March 1963 US 45-single on Vanguard VRS 35019, A-side)
24. Top Cat Theme Song – TOP CAT ORCHESTRA & CHORUS – Jim Timmons (1962 US 45-single on Golden Record FF689, A-side)
NOTES:
Tracks: 4, 11, 15, 19, 22 and 23 in STEREO; all others in MONO
Like the other two Vicki Fox compilations that I've reviewed (see list below), the 16-page booklet for "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats" is a feast for the eyes and a tickler for the brain cells. Given that its entirely Fifties and Sixties entries – the memorabilia is glorious to look at – the Gold British Tri-Centre for The Coasters London 45 "Three Cool Cats", a rare Picture Sleeve for the Jimmy Smith classic "The Cat", a press poster for the raunchy movie "What's New Pussycat?" on United Artists sided by a demo copy of the famous Tom Jones theme music (you swing it Mr. Woodward), a cartoon of a cat standing in a fridge like he's Dean Martin at the Copa with two mice opening the door remarking on how cool he is. And on it goes to adverts for Harmonicas for Harmonicats and 'Purr' Cat Food at one schilling and one pence from your usual Pet Store Stockist (tasty).
The DUNCAN COWELL and ROB SHREAD Audio Restorations/Remasters only compliment the chic selections – six of which are in glorious Stereo. The Lee Dorsey track "The Kitty Kat Song" and Buddy Greco's "That Darn Cat" are typical - clean and full of clarity. Each track is discussed with a sense of almost giddy love for it. There are photos of our furry friends beneath the see-through CD tray, depictions of them in cartoon and photo form everywhere and the artwork is specially done to reflect those Siamese Twins on Bongos – so Sixties – Meow!
"Feline Groovy..." opens on a total winner by The Coasters on Atlantic Records sounding the best I've ever heard it. "Three Cool Cats" was the B-side of a No.2 R&B dancefloor bopper called "Charlie Brown" where we get the benefit of Bass Lead Vocalist Will "Dub" Jones and towards its slinky irresistible fade out - the Saxophone of King Curtis. That’s followed by two shuffling funnies – Rene Hall giving it some lowbrow spoken vocals as he searches for his evasive "Cleo" – that followed by the mid-tempo guitar and meows of "Kitty Kat" where Paul Ott tries in vain to bring his meandering moggy to heel. Things up to Latin piano-bop with Mongo Santamaria and his so-Sixties brass-pumping "El Pussy Cat" where you can just see the patrons of some lounge dancefloor giving it some John Travolta and Uma Thurman (great audio too – very Boogaloo in its own way).
Things dip a bit with the slightly out-of-place "Cat Hop" – a Vocal Group novelty hit that is very hissy probably due to its extreme rarity (Nice Sax solo though, the boys accompanying with bop-bop). Straight into great Far East fun and in perfect Mono audio – Lu Ann Simms doing "The Siamese Cat Song" recognizable from the tune being in Disney's "Lady And The Tramp" (as done by Peggy Lee in the film). Lu keeps the accent by way of the Orient while David Thorne takes his fabulous Charlie Rich-meets-Bobby Darin drawl vocals to the shuffling Lounge Lizard extreme for "The Alley Cat Song" which describes a 1962 male predator on the prowl for his next unladylike conquest. We get organ instrumental frantic for "Cat Nip" where Dave "Baby" Cortez takes his band through the hi-hat shuffle while the lead singer of The Morgan James Trio tells of us of eyes that shine like ember – because she’s a "Sweet Pussycat" (he longs to hold her, but Cruella just leaves him flat).
We go Fifties King Records R&B shuffle with "Leave My Kitten Alone" where Little Willie John warns that all bulldogs had better know who is the main-man. And if the Beatles covered it - then the Saxophone bopping original is good enough for all of us. As she purrs and vocally slouches through "Sneakin' Up On You" – you are instantly reminded why Peggy Lee stood head and shoulders above so many – that sexy delivery backed up by a great Chip Taylor and Ted Daryll tune – what a winner. I don't know Edgar Campbell or Ernie Johnson credited as Edgar & Ernie and their very early Motownish R&B shuffler "The Cat" – but it's a goodun. In roars the powerhouse that is Tom Jones in that huge sex-comedy "What's New Pussycat?" Warbling harmonica and drifting tufts move across the very 60ts Folk Rock of "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" where Norma Tanega comes cross like The Mamas and Papas meets Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid – very cool actually. But speaking of actual cool – you then get Jimmy Smith smashing it with his Organ and Guitar chugging "The Cat" from 1964 on Verve – and what a racket his brass band and him made – great stuff.
Coming on all Ann Margret coquettish, Noreen Corcoran tells us she's a "Love Kitten" lookin' for love while the deep tenor male answers yeah! Sounding like a great Fifties Vocal Group night out, "House Cat" by The Romancers is a fantastic dancer that must have slayed them in the Saturday Night Fish Fry aisles (could be first time on CD too). Some city slicker, no one is quicker than "That Darn Cat" - Buddy Greco getting all Las Vegas schmooze as he eggs on the brass like Sinatra might (look out!). Frantic organ and drums fill "Let's Do The Cat" - an obscure 1964 maniacal moment from Jamie Ross while 'Baby Doll' can play with Charles Brown if she comes on home to his place for a discussion on philosophy (or whatever else pops up over by the drinks globe). "Feline Groovy..." saunters home with the Folksy acoustic guitar-strummed 'ring-tail' "Tom Cat" - a tale of a struttin' heat-bound stalkin' his neighborhood. It ends with the indisputable leader of the gang - "Top Cat Theme Song" - a ditty that is so familiar to us all and bound to summon up many afternoons after school seeing it on daytime TV.
For sure not all of it is undiluted genius (4-stars), but there's a wonderful sense of fun about this CD and the Audio/Presentation both rock. Time to re-purr-puss the stereo lads (oh dear)...
Vicki Fox CD Compilations for Ace Records
1. "Feline Groovy: 24 Purrfect Tracks For Kool Kats"
24-Track CD compilation released 31 March 2008 on Ace Records CDCHD 1168 (Barcode 029667030229)
2. "All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling At All Musical Stations"
24-Track CD compilation released 28 August 2015 on Ace Records CDCHD 1450 (Barcode 029667073721)
3. "Sounds Of The Unexpected: Weird & Wacky Instrumentals From Pop's Final Frontiers"
24-Track CD compilation released 25 August 2017 on Ace Records CDTOP 1505 (Barcode 029667084024)
