Search - Lew Williams :: Cat Talk

I'm Telling You Dad, It's The Best We Ever Had!

jmacbops | Dallas, Texas USA | 04/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rockabilly fans have been enjoying Lew Williams' recordings on Imperial compilations for years but this CD gathers all the released sides along with demos, alternate versions, and unreleased takes. If you like "Something I Said", "Cat Talk", "Centipede", and "Bop Bop Ba Doo Bop" this CD will knock you out! Lew's version of "New Pink Suedes" would have been a killer if Carl Perkin's Sun recording hadn't made it to market first. The CD includes extensive liner notes too. Lew Williams is alive and well and living in the Dallas area. He will be headlining at Viva Las Vegas on April 22, 2000. This CD is a "must have" for any serious fan of 50's Rockabilly & Rock 'n' Roll."

Cat Talk Still Fresh Today

JMAC | Denton, TX United States | 06/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My rockabilly band had been covering 4 or 5 of Lew Williams' songs when, quite by chance, I was introduced to him through a friend just before this album came out. Lew is an absolutely delightful man and we have become good friends. It was a treat and an education to hear him tell of his experiences in the early days of rock 'n' roll. I was honored when Lew took the stage for the first time in 41 years and asked my band to back him.



This CD includes the released recordings that have been wildly popular with collectors and rockabilly fans for decades as well as well unreleased demos of songs Lew wrote in the 50's. All are lively and fresh today despite being recorded more than 40 years ago. Lew's songs perfectly capture a bit of what it was like to be a Texas teenager in the days when rock 'n' roll was exciting and new.



Some interesting trivia: Lew's song "My New Pink Suedes" was inspired by the wild clothes popular with teenage rock 'n' roll fans back in the day. And Lew wrote it well before Carl Perkins' rockabilly anthem "Blue Suede Shoes" hit the charts. Great minds do think alike! While Carl's song became a classic, Lew's song remained an unknown demo until now. I am honored that my band was the first one to publically perform "My New Pink Suedes" for Lew.



Lew's songs "Centipede," "Cat Talk," "Something I Said," and others released by Imperial have shown up on several compilations. But this CD is the first collection of all of Lew's released material and all of his previous unreleased 1950's demos. Unlike many demo recordings, Lew took pains to get the best musicians and cut quality demos. Most of them could have been released as-is back in the day. Bear Family's mastering and production is, as always, outstanding.



If you want a great sounding peak into exuberant 50's Texas Rockabilly, the real thing, I highly recommend this CD."

At last! The whole Lew Williams story in words and music

Russell Miles | Dallas, TX United States | 05/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lew Williams has done a remarkable job of presenting in one CD his complete output as a rockabilly artist of the 50s. The sound reproduction and remastering of these super-rare tracks are state-of-the-art! The liner notes tell his whole story from his early career to his life after leaving the music biz. I highly recommend this CD, it is cram-packed with tracks and would be worth it at twice the price!! I met Mr. Williams in 1992, he is a classy gentleman indeed, and at that time he was not even aware that he had long had a cult following among rockabilly enthusiasts in the US, Europe and even Japan. What I like about this release, is that it is geared to both the casual listener like me, as well as the obsessive record collector type who wants to know exactly when and where every track was recorded and released. This shows Williams' understanding of the modern CD buyer and his business savvy are razor sharp as he approaches the age when most folks would be content to sit in a rocking chair. Well, Lew is rocking... rocking the house. Catch him live and in person if you can! This music is the real deal, and therefore it is timeless! Go cat, go!"