Chas & JI - Before We Grow Too Old

From the Thames estuary to Tennessee

Taking a short break from his longtime bass-playing buddy Dave Peacock, pianist and singer Chas Hodges had himself a busman’s holiday last year, teaming up with legendary Crickets drummer Jerry Ivan ‘JI’ Allison in Nashville, Tennessee. The result was this sprightly collection of vintage rock’n’roll and rootsy Americana.

It’s not so far removed from Hodges’ day job, as several of these tunes have featured in Chas & Dave live sets over the years: the relaxed goodtime vibes of Fats Domino (the title track), Elvis (Wear My Ring Around Your Neck), Ray Charles (One Mint Julep) and Jerry’s own earlier employer Buddy Holly (Tell Me How). They’re guaranteed pub singalongs every one, albeit in a boozer on the other side of the Atlantic.

>p>Clyde McPhatter’s yearning Lover Please is given a charming barrelhouse makeover, while Bob Dylan’s She Belongs To Me goes bluegrass, and there’s even space for Honolulu Baby, a tune Hodges has sung on-and-off since first hearing it in a Laurel & Hardy short as a kid. Now, what happened on the bassman’s holiday...?

Castle | CMQCD 1493

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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