Just prior to the filming for "Hot Rod Gang" Gene Vincent had once again completed a recording session which subsequently would become regarded as one of the most historic in rock 'n' roll, not because it produced any major hit records, but because Eddie Cochran had decided to sit in anonymously and provide backing bass vocals to complement those of Peek and Facenda.
This resulted in some of the most exquisite harmonies in rock 'n' roll as they laid down tracks like the classic "Git It," "Peace Of Mind," "The Wayward Wind" and a beautiful version of the standard "Now Is The Hour." Cochran's distinct bass vocals are clearly audible on some eight numbers. Gene also cut, without Eddie's assistance because he was recording "Summertime Blues at the time, further memorable tracks like "Rocky Road Blues," "Dance in the Street" and "Summertime," an imaginative upbeat adaptation of the Gershwin's Porgy & Bess musical production tune. Most of these cuts found their way on to what has been considered by many to be the definitive post-Cliff Gallup album, "A Gene Vincent Record Date."
GIT IT
(Eddie Cochran starts background)
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Well-oh, well-oh, well-oh, well-oh
Well-oh, well-oh wop, whip-whip-whip
Woo-who-who, Woo-who-who
Woo-who-who, Woo-who-who
Woo-who-who-who, Woo-who-who,
Woo who-who-oh-who
Once there was a girl, Oh-oh what a girl
She looked to me "Where can it be?
Where's your Cadillac car?"
A Cadillac car (Cadillac Car)
Where can I get me a cadillac car?
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
Well I'll do the best I can
Well say, git it, git it, git it, git it, git it
Once there was a girl, oh she was so sweet
She said to me "Where can it be?
Where's your diamond ring?"
A diamond ring (diamond ring)
Where can I get me a diamond ring?
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
I don't have it now but I can git it (git it)
Well I'll do the best I can
Well say, git it, git it, git it, git it, git it
Well-oh, well-oh, etc. (with.
Woo-who-who, Woo-who-who
Woo-who-who, Woo-who-who)
.fade
Following the "Record Date" sessions and the filming of "Hot Rod Gang" his band hit the road again to tour extensively. Gene went out to perform in the US and Australia with Eddie Cochran and Little Richard. The strain of touring with one of the wildest rock 'n' roll outfits around, while at the same time enjoying little or no chart success, proved too much for some members of the Blue Caps.
Eddie had his first Gold Record with Summertime Blues. Co-written with Jerry Capeheart, this song reflected all the hopes and yearnings of teenage life and was a resounding success on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eddie's personal life, unusually for the music business, was harmonious. His girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley, was also a songwriter and understood the vagaries of the business. They had been introduced by Phil Everly (Sharon had been his girlfriend), and following Eddie's next single, 'Cmon Everybody', the couple worked together to produce 'Somethin' Else' (1958).
Scheduled to join the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour with his friend Buddy Holly, Eddie was prevented from doing so by the film 'Go Johnny Go'. When Buddy's plane crashed, killing him, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. Eddie was devastated. He and Ritchie Valens had been filming together only days before. Afterwards, Eddie avoided flying whenever he could. He recorded John D Loudermilk's song 'Three Stars' as a tribute to his friends, but ironically it was not released until after his own death.
In December of 1959 Gene arrived in London having been invited to headline a number of appearances on the popular "Boy Meets Girls" show. Gene's decision to tour the UK and appear on British TV was crucial. It not only saved him from impending obscurity but opened up his career to a whole new, expectant and adoring European audience. Gene Vincent arrived on British soil on December 6th 1959 to a hero's welcome.
Although he had not had a major UK hit for over three years, a cult following had grown in Britain based largely on the images conjured up by his many previous Capitol LP, EP and single releases all superbly packaged with cover photographs depicting a wild and tortured American rocker.
Jack Good, the British impresario who had booked Gene for his "Boy Meets Gils" TV shows, was less than impressed upon meeting Gene for the first time. Contrary to the wild man image created by the stores of wrecked motel rooms across America, Gene came across as an extremely polite Southern country gentleman, addressing Jack Good as "Sir." Jack set about changing Gene's image, dressing him from head to toe in black leather and draping a silver chained medallion around his neck. Many of Gene's British followers identified with the black leather "biker" image and Gene's popularity duly soared. Even more so after his much-talked-about appearance on his first Jack Good "Boy Meets Girls" show . a TV image that, for those who witnessed it, has failed to diminish even thirty years later.
Gene's early live shows in Britain were equally impressive commencing on December 7th at the Tooting Granada with "Boy Meets Girls" host Marty Wilde. Later Gene caused a sensation at the Paris Olympia before beginning a long series of one night stands promoting his new UK single "Wild Cat" which reached the British Top 30 in January, 1960. In March 1960 Gene's next U.K. single "My Heart" followed "Wild Cat" onto the charts, going on to peak at No. 16 equalling "Be-Bop-A-Lula's" highest UK placing three years earlier.
To add to the on-stage excitement, Gene was joined by his old pal Eddie Cochran for the famed but fateful "Anglo-American Beat Show" tour put together by Larry Parnes.
Eddie was the darling of the British teenagers. They loved his music and his all-American good looks, turning out in number for his live television and radio appearances. The tour was such a resounding success that it was decided to extend it for a further ten weeks. Flrst, though, Eddie had recording commitments in the United States. With Sharon Sheeley, now his fiancee, and Gene Vincent, he decided to fly back to the States for the Easter break.
On April 17, 1960, after hurriedly leaving a Bristol gig, Gene, Eddie Cochran and Eddie's girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley took a late night taxi on route to London. They were all in the back seat. In the town of Chippenham, Wilshire, around 1:00 am, the cab rounded a curve and hit a cement post at 70-mph. The accident ended Eddie Cochran's life and severely reinjured Gene's leg leaving him with a limp the rest of his life.
Gene's own words on the accident: "When the three of us traveled together, Shari always sat in the middle; but, because of the crowd of fans I got in the cab first, then Eddie, then Shari last. With Eddie in the middle, the only way he could have flown out that door was if he was he tried to cover Shari. The only way I came out alive was because I had taken a sleeping pill. After the crash, I woke up and carried Eddie over to the ambulance even though I had a broken arm. I was in such a state of shock that I though nothing was wrong with me. Eddie died two days later on Easter Sunday; somehow, I didn't."
This short historic Vincent-Cochran tour has been well chronicled over the years. In the late 1980's Liverpool Empire Productions offered a tribute in the form of a successful stage musical, "Be-Bob-A-Lula." While on the tour Gene and Eddie were working on an arrangement of the old Al Dexter country novelty, "Pistol Packin' Mama" and plans were made to record the song together. Regrettably Eddie's untimely death prevented the completion of those plans but Gene did return to the UK after Eddie's US funeral and cut the song at EMI's Abbey Road Studios on May 11, 1960.
Eddie Cochran - Denver Interview, 1957
The Eddie Cochran Story
Jerry Capehart talks about Eddie Cochran
Interview, England 1960
Eddie Cochran in Untamed Youth (1957)
Teenage Heaven
Twenty Flight Rock (The Girl Can't Help it)
