The Brian Setzer Orchestra - 'Songs From Lonely Avenue'

Taking pages out of black-and-white gangster movies, “Songs From Lonely Avenue” tells somewhat similar tales, all concocted by the 50-year-old Stray Cats leader who strayed from rock to swing.

And swing this CD does – starting with a wild, wild ride on the “Trouble Train,” speeding down the express track. Most of the tracks are uptempo. In one exception, the swingsters go bluesy with the give-away title “My Baby Don’t Love Me Blues.”

Blue you won’t be, and a good deal of the credit goes to 87-year-old Frank Comstock, a big name in Hollywood when Setzer was a pup. He  scored the music for “Dragnet” and its offshoot, “Adam-12.” He also scored the music for the Setzer horns.

“Kiss Me Deadly,” also the title of an old Mickey Spillane novel, is a standout. “Dead Man Incorporated” is another must-hear.

There are a number of swing-type bands making the rounds these days, but so far, Brian Setzer is the mob boss. Go, cats!

– Frank Roberts

Tracks to download  “Mr. Jazzer Goes Surfin’,” “Mr. Surfer  Goes Jazzin’”

Buy "Songs from Lonely Avenue" in CD format

Buy "Songs from Lonely Avenue" in vinyl format

Buy "Songs From Lonely Avenue" in MP3 format (Links go to Amazon.com)

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