Ray Campi - Rockabilly Man

The spirit of rockabilly up close and personal

This from-the-archives live show documents Ray Campi, the living spirit of all things retro-rockabilly, riding the crest of the wave of the 80s rockabilly revival at Preston’s Canterbury Hall in 1988. Backed by Sugar Rayford & The Hotshots, Campi, resplendent from head to toe in scarlet and with a Texan flag tied to the neck of his double bass, shakes, rattles and rolls his way through a 20-song resume of his extensive career. Vintage 50s titles including My Heart’s On Fire, Caterpillar and It Ain’t Me get goings-over, alongside numbers from his time on the Rollin’ Rock label during the 70s. There are also selections from his then current Bear Family album Taylor, Texas 1988.

From the off the tireless rockin’ daddy from Austin, Texas works overtime slapping and riding his double bass, cracking jokes and sharing anecdotes from his lifetime in rockabilly, western swing and good old rock’n’roll. One thing this DVD captures by the truckload is Ray Campi’s untamed enthusiasm for the music that’s defined him. “You may not know these guys but you’ve heard these songs,” he says. Just what you’d expect from a trusted keeper of the flame.

Cherry Red Films | CRDVD 156

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
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