The Rockingbirds - The Rockingbirds

Deluxe reissue of a 1992 Camden Town country classic

Flying Burritos were swooping over North London in the early 90s, courtesy of arguably the UK’s greatest ever country group. The Rockingbirds’ love of Gram Parsons, John Prine and Kris Kristofferson manifested itself in a remarkable collection of songs that proved you didn’t have to walk the streets of Nashville to fully understand heartaches and hangovers.

Authenticity was the key for Alan Tyler’s writing, be it the redneck optimism of Further Down The Line or the soured romance of Halfway To Comatose, though producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley added the pop sheen they brought to Madness and Dexys, most notably on the album’s centrepiece Gradually Learning. Rave reviews didn’t transfer into sales, though, and the band were dropped soon after.

Their closest brush with fame may have been their sole Top Of The Pops appearance covering Right Said Fred’s Deeply Dippy for a charity EP, sadly not included on the bonus disc. There is, however, space for their shambling debut single A Good Day For You Is A Good Day For Me and a punked-up charge through the Burritos’ own Older Guys.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Heavenly | tbc

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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