| Shakin' Stevens | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 April 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 8 January 1978 | |||
| Studio | Basing Street, London | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 33:37 | |||
| Label | Track | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Shakin' Stevens chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Shakin' Stevens | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
Shakin' Stevens is the debut solo album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in April 1978 by Track Records.
From 1969, Stevens was the frontman of the rock and roll group Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets. However, in 1976, he was offered the chance to record some solo tracks with Track Records. Two singles, "Never" and "Somebody Touched Me", were released in March and September 1977, respectively. [3] [4] Neither made any impact on the UK charts, although the latter somehow managed to creep into the Top 40 in Australia. Shortly after the release of "Somebody Touched Me", Stevens landed a leading role in Jack Good's West End musical Elvis! , playing the middle role of Elvis Presley's career alongside Tim Whitnall and P. J. Proby. [5] With interest in Shaky now increasing, Track decided to go ahead and record an album with the hope of capitalising on the singer's newly heightened profile.
After seeing a performance on a TV special called Don't Knock the Rock, Stevens recruited the services of group Sounds Incorporated. [6] Joined by Stevens' old Sunsets bandmate Ace Skudder on piano, the band went into Island's Basing Street Studios on 8 January 1978. With Bob Marley recording in the next door studio and under the musical direction of saxophonist Alan Holmes, producers Mike Shaw and John Fenton captured an album's worth of material in a single day. [7]
Preceded by the single "Justine", issued just a few weeks after the session in January, the album Shakin' Stevens was released in April 1978. Unfortunately, the record flopped and Track Records ceased operations soon after its release. However, by the end of the year, Epic Records had signed Stevens and in the wake of his success in the 1980s, the album was re-released by Track's parent company Polydor in 1983. [8]
Although the album is officially titled Shakin' Stevens, the record labels carried the instruction 'Play Loud' which has led many fans and discographers to refer to the album by this title.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Can't Sit Down" (Instrumental) |
| 2:00 |
| 2. | "I'm Ready" |
| 2:43 |
| 3. | "So Glad You're Mine" | Arthur Crudup | 2:30 |
| 4. | "Let's Dance" | Jim Lee | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Till I Waltz Again With You" | Sid Prosen | 3:03 |
| 6. | "Such a Night" | Lincoln Chase | 2:58 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Justine" |
| 3:03 |
| 8. | "Baby Blue" |
| 3:52 |
| 9. | "Wait and See" |
| 2:13 |
| 10. | "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave" | Leo Price | 2:53 |
| 11. | "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" / "Jenny Jenny" / "Tutti Frutti" |
| 4:58 |
| Total length: | 33:37 | ||
Musicians [6]
Technical
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The Bop Won't Stop is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in November 1983 by Epic Records. Compared to his previous albums, this album was not as successful, only peaking at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart despite the success of its singles.
Give Me Your Heart Tonight is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in October 1982 by Epic Records. To date, it is his last studio album to reach the Top-Ten in the UK, peaking at number 3 on the Album Chart.
Lipstick Powder and Paint is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in November 1985 by Epic Records. It peaked at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart.
Let's Boogie is an album by Welsh rock and roll singer Shakin' Stevens, released in October 1987 by Epic Records. It peaked at number 59 on the UK Albums Chart.
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The Shakin' Stevens EP is a 4-track EP by Welsh singer Shakin' Stevens, released in December 1982 only in the UK and Ireland. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks behind Renée and Renato's "Save Your Love".
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