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The Shakin' Pyramids hail from Greenock, where the trio were busking the streets of Glasgow. Bored with the lack of excitement in their own home region, they heard Paris calling. The sound of manic rockabilly almost brought on the second French revolution. Pop pickin' is a fast & furious business, & on their return to Scotland, the emergent Cuba Libre label (a Virgin subsidiary) promised fame & fortune for The Pyramids.
Now we find ourselves during the summer of 1980 in a damp, dingy basement, called quite appropriately, "The Hellfire Club".
The tape starts running & they're off laying down some inspired, wild, hard-hittin', uninhibited music.
The Pyramids had the extraordinary ability to play anywhere they desired.
Suprised passers-by from the Glasgow streets had become their audiences, boppin' & hoppin' to their all-out tempos on street corners all over the country.
The original band consisted of twin-guitarists: James G. Creighton & Railroad Ken, with harmonica player Dave Duncan.
Their 1st release was an EP in 1981 entitled, "Take A Trip", which was later released on their full-length debut album, "Skin 'Em Up", a rip-roarin' item praised by every rockin' cat in those days. Their self-penned songs, "Take A Trip", "Let's Go", & "Hell Bent On Rockin'", are still considered gems in the jewelbox of every rockabilly collector.
They then released a 45 entitled, "Tennessee Rock n' Roll" b/w "Alright, Alnight" which was also simultaneously released with the same tracks & two further tracks "Muskrat Ramble" & "Too NNNervous To Rock" on a limited edition EP, followed with an EP recorded with skiffle star Lonnie Donegan, a prime rock n' roll influence in England during the 1950's.
The Shakin' Pyramids recorded one more album for Vigin records, "Celts & Cobras", & one more 45, "Pharoah's Chant" b/w "Just One Time". "Pharoah's Chant" is interesting, as it preceded "Walk Like An Egyptian" by The Bangles, yet it contains the same chant utterance for utterance!
Sadly,
the energy & verve of their debut had been replaced with a stultifying maturity, & the group disbanded soon after.
-Ant Hanlon
Source: Liner Notes & All Music Guide
Additional information by Ant Hanlon 2005
