Roy Black & The Cannons – Last Rock’n’Roll Show, Live 26.12.1964 - #50

Roy Black & The Cannons – Last Rock’n’Roll Show, Live 26.12.1964

For someone who loves rockmusic, Roy Black is the devil in disguise. One of Germany’s most sugary Schlager singers with a string of hits that one couldn’t escape from. As a kid, sitting in front of the TV and hearing Mr. Black singing about romance and love and the like, wasn’t my idea of good music. Even when I was ten or thereabouts, I knew instinctively, that this wasn’t my cup of tea and I’d rather listen, at that time, to some longhaired Beat or Rock band from England or the States. Mind you, I’m not talking about easy listening, I’m explicitly addressing Schlager. If you’re not from a German speaking country, you don’t know what you’ve missed. And you should be grateful that fate hasn’t brought you in contact with this genre. The others know what I’m talking about. Let’s go to the cellar and weep about our misspent youth.

What I didn’t know until recently, is, that Roy Black was, before he took up this Schlager dreck, a Rock’n’Roller at heart. Well, sort of. Here’s the proof. Six songs rescued from way back in 1964 and delivered on a 10” platter (with CD supplement of the same six songs). They are covers of standard tracks alternating between Rock’n’Roll, Blues and some crooning pointing the way of things to come. This was apparently their last show as Roy Black & The Cannons. The Cannons seem to have carved a very small niche as a band on their own, but there’s nothing to ring a bell really.

I’d like to say this release is a revelation, but truth be told, this is a mediocre affair at best. More of a gimmick than anything else. The performance is not to bad, but you’ve heard these songs better and with more verve. But of course, these bands came aplenty in those days and their skills were enough for the local Saturday night dance. Almost fifty years later, you can’t help but wonder wether they would have been bigger, had they carried on. I don’t think so, as they are lacking in almost every department. Don’t get me wrong, this is not bad per se, it’s just nothing to write home about. It gave me a moment’s thought about Roy Black and I’ve adjusted my opinion about the man just a little bit, as this release is, despite everything I said, much better, than what was to come.

The sound quality? You can listen to it, but your HiFi system will be insulted, having to play what sounds like an audience recording. Hey, I mean this was 1964 and I’m pretty sure, there was nothing like the Rolling Stone mobile unit available. And if my information is correct, these were the only six songs that could be rescued from this gig. Buy it and then sit around your fireplace, telling your grandchildren how it was in the goold old days, when music was handmade and kids did what they were told.

Cheers

Devon