Various Artists – The Gene Vincent Connection (Bear Family)
Marking 50 years since Vincent’s death, this 36-track comp is an intriguing cross-genre round-up of covers of the great man’s work. Bobby Darin, Kay Starr and Jerry Vale rub shoulders with lesser-known names, most notably the extremely rare Wee Willie Harris and The Voices. Brit acts weigh in, too, with fine covers by Marty Wilde (It’s Been Nice), Terry Dene (Pretty Little Pearly), Vince Taylor (Rocky Road Blues) and our own Vince Eager on an emotive Five Days, Five Days. French act Les Chaussettes Noires supply one of three rebooted versions of Be-Bop-A-Lulu, while Scandinavia is represented with Rock Ragge & His Four Comets (Bluejean Bop and Who Slapped John) and The Spotnicks’ I’m Going Home (To See My Baby). Steve Harnell
★★★★

The Sabrejets – The Restless King (Raucous)
Belfast rowdies The Sabrejets have kept us waiting for another portion of their greasy rock’n’roll. Apart from cover versions of Blue Moon Baby, Someone’s On The Loose and You Don’t Love Me, these are all originals, even though tracks Tennessee Flat Top Bop and Faster Than The Eye Can See already sound like rockabilly standards. Across 15 songs, there are plenty of different flavours, with a touch of early country making an appearance, plus hot-rod rumble instrumental Lightnin’ and the surprisingly heartfelt Don’t Turn Your Back On Love. Craig Brackenridge
★★★

The Elegants – Little Star (Jasmine)
The Elegants deserve better than their one-hit wonder status. Their multi-million selling single Little Star gets top billing here, of course, but there are some swoonsome gems elsewhere to celebrate, from the romantic Goodnight and Speak Low to introspective Tiny Cloud. Rounding up almost their total studio output from 1958-62 across five record labels, The Elegants – and the fine emotive vocals of lead singer Vito Picone – now get another hour in the sun. Steve Harnell
★★★★

The Hot Tone Sinners – Teardrops In The Dark (Western Star)
Portsmouth’s The Hot Tone Sinners have delivered a super-cool debut for Western Star. Yes, the 14 tales of love, loss and madness are riddled with recognisable tropes, but they’re executed with such earnest freshness and impeccable musicianship that it’s difficult to resist. Opener The Reaper and boogie-fuelled Alone And Cold are notable highlights, as is the toe-tapping title track, Teardrops In The Dark, and the brooding Stay, which is elevated by the unrepentant keys of Western Star’s own Alan Wilson. Lord have mercy. Dan Biggane
★★★★

Various Artists – Gogglebox Rock! (Western Star)
A fine cast of stalwarts from the Western Star stable come together on this 24-track collection of TV-inspired songs. It’s a quirky compilation, which sees the likes of The Persuaders, Howlin’ Wilson, and Norm & The Nightmarez pay homage to nostalgic telly titles such as Joe 90, Fireball XL5, On The Buses and Catweazle. Highlights on this entertaining romp include The Strays’ The Coolest Undead Kids In Town, The Stradlings’ Archie’s Weird Mysteries, Popeye’s Dik’s rollicking good The Ballad Of Mr Benn, and The Bad Detectives’ warm tribute to the creator of children’s telly favourites Bagpuss, Ivor The Engine and The Clangers on Oliver Postgate’s Brain. Dan Biggane
★★★

The Rock-It Dogs – Chills, Thrills & Blood Spills (Western Star)
From the opening sonic blast of Riders Of The Surf to heartbreak ballad closer All I Needed, this expanded reissue of The Rock-It Dogs’ debut is an absolute riot. Punky and more than a little spunky, we’re dancing all over Tiger Army’s toes here, but who cares when it sounds so damn good. All but a well-chosen psychobillified cover of Teenager In Love are written by frontman Kris Passmore and it’s the musical equivalent to eight cans of Red Bull topped off with generous spikes of vodka. It might be a little thrashy for some readers, but Chills, Thrills & Blood Spills is a rockin’ molotov cocktail from start to finish. Dan Biggane
★★★★

Johnny Hallyday – Elle Est Terrible! (Jasmine)
This 32-track overview of Hallyday’s early rock’n’roll years confirms his reputation as the Francophiles’ go-to man for the big beat. Mixing originals in his native tongue – the rollicking opener Laisse Les Filles crackles with lip-curling energy – alongside charismatic English language covers of Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Be-Bop-A-Lula and Blueberry Hill, Hallyday benefits from the help of some terrific studio session musicians. A lilting reworking of the Everlys’ Cathy’s Clown on Le P’tit Clown De Ton Coeur and a surprising falsetto in Johnny Preston’s Feel So Fine highlight the versatility he was to expand upon to such great effect in later decades. Steve Harnell
★★★

The Chilkats – Chilkat Night Out (Timezone Records)
German four-piece The Chilkats tap into the rich traditions of Chicago, New York and New Orleans on Chilkat Night Out, their swinging debut for Timezone Records. Fronted by guitarist Hendrik Frommhold, the influence of T-Bone Walker, Buddy Guy and BB King on his playing brings the blues home when songs start to sway too far down the jazzy side of the street. Take The Elevator and Paranoia Blues are the prize picks, and cool chromatic harmonica playing is a highlight throughout. However, the nine tracks offered might prove a bit too breezy for those looking for some rock with their roll. That said, it’s still a harmless, good-natured, listen. Dan Biggane
★★★