Review of ‘Boogie Chillen – Early Mods’ First-Choice Vinyl’ (Fantastic Voyage) – 3-CD Compilation Album

This well produced 3-CD collection has been compiled by original early sixties Mod, Robert Nicholls, based upon the sounds he heard in dance halls and clubs  and collected in the 1960 to 1963 period. In fact, all of the recordings here date from the years 1952 to 1962.

In the extensive 20-page illustrated booklet that accompanies this release, Robert talks us through going to the Under 21 Night at The Royal in 1960 and 1961 to hear some “good R&B” along with the other ‘Individualists’ and early Mods, and quotes some early recollections of the Lyceum in Aldwych from early Mod DJ Jeff Dexter. Indeed it is the Lyceum ballroom where Robert says he first saw Mods in significant numbers in autumn 1961.

Each CD has its own focus and title – CD 1 is ‘Boogie Chillen’ and is predominantly Blues and R&B focused, featuring the likes of John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Slim Harpo, Clyde McPhatter, Howlin Wolf, Cannonball Adderley etc. with the occasional surprise inclusion (here, it’s Johnny & The Hurricanes’ ‘Red River Rock’ and  Neil Sedaka’s ‘One Way Ticket’).

Disc 2 is entitled, ‘Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go’ and encompasses the progression towards Soul via Rosco Gordon’s ‘Just A Little Bit’, James Brown, Ray Charles, Jimmy Reed’s ‘Big Boss Man’, Bobby Bland, Ike & Tina Turner and The Impressions etc.

When we get to the third CD, we are in ‘Land of 1,000 Dances’ mode with Don & Bob’s ‘Good Morning Little Schoolgirl’, Bobby Parker’s ‘Watch Your step’, Chuck Jackson’s ‘I Keep Forgettin’, Ritchie Barrett’s ‘Some Other Guy’ and Jimmy Smith’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ amongst others.

Overall, this is a very interesting musical documentation of the early London Mod scene from the view of one of its early participants. You will probably be familiar with much, if not all, of the material collected together on these three discs, but it has to be remembered how difficult it was to hear, let alone buy, these records back in 1961/62. And that is what makes this collection of songs and booklet so interesting to those of us who weren’t there in the early sixties but who want to get a better idea of what it was really like.