Phoenix - The Elvis Forum

Eddie Cochran died 55 years ago today !

Eddie died in a UK car accident in 1960, when aged 21.



He had a number of hits in the Elvis style in the 50's, including Summertime Blues & C'Mon Everybody.



When negotiations fell through for Elvis to appear in The Girl Can't Help It film in 1956, Eddie got a useful career break when he was signed instead, and did a memorable take off of an Elvis-type singer with Twenty Flight Rock.

Thanks , Colin. I can't believe I did not see this earlier. Sorry I missed posting on his anniversary.
Have you heard this one before ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VODyrhg9l7E

Thanks, Walter !

He kinda nailed that one !

WalterHaleJnr wrote:Thanks , Colin. I can't believe I did not see this earlier. Sorry I missed posting on his anniversary.
Have you heard this one before ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VODyrhg9l7E

Putting a vowel on the end of words where there is no vowel, spoils the whole damn thing-a.

Would you rather I posted the same old, same old familiar Cochran tunes ?

Happy Birthday Eddie (wherever you are). Thanks for the music.
Seems sad to me that no one, to this point, has made a bio pic of his life and times.

Here you go Colin. Get a load of this instrumental. It's good !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lgb_9nrsEw

The same day that Russwood Park in Memphis burned down, Eddie Cochran was killed in a car crash in England. He was only 21.

Never to be forgotten !

"What'd I Say" by Ray Charles was a huge hit in the summer of 1959, a number one on the R&B charts. The song has of course been covered by dozens, maybe hundreds, of artists over the years, but one of the earliest known versions is this one by Eddie Cochran.

Eddie never recorded a proper studio version of "What'd I Say", but the song was part of his live repertoire, and when he toured England in early 1960 he performed it also at one of the several BBC's "Saturday Club" programs he did, and we are so lucky that the tape survived.

This was recorded late February 1960, and the voice we can hear introducing Eddie and the song is that of the show's host, Brian Matthew.

Eddie sings and plays lead guitar, and is backed by The Wild Cats: Jim Sullivan on guitar, Tony Belcher on guitar, Brian Locking on electric bass, and Brian Bennett on drums.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ4TX4PT1QI

Such a talent !

I was serving on the P & O liner RMS Strathmore in the med when I saw a teenage passenger crying.

When I asked her what was up, she said "Haven't you heard ? Eddie Cochran has been killed in a car crash !"

What a tragic loss.

And could so easily heve been Gene Vincent as well !

Colin B wrote:Such a talent !

I was serving on the P & O liner RMS Strathmore in the med when I saw a teenage passenger crying.

When I asked her what was up, she said "Haven't you heard ? Eddie Cochran has been killed in a car crash !"

What a tragic loss.

And could so easily heve been Gene Vincent as well !

Eddie Cochran & Gene Vincent in 1960.jpg

Great story, Colin. Thank you.

It was a cruel loss for rock and roll, that's for sure. Like Buddy Holly, Eddie would have grown to be a very interesting artist, not just an oldies icon.

Mister Moon wrote:

Colin B wrote:Such a talent !

I was serving on the P & O liner RMS Strathmore in the med when I saw a teenage passenger crying.

When I asked her what was up, she said "Haven't you heard ? Eddie Cochran has been killed in a car crash !"

What a tragic loss.

And could so easily heve been Gene Vincent as well !

Eddie Cochran & Gene Vincent in 1960.jpg

Great story, Colin. Thank you.

It was a cruel loss for rock and roll, that's for sure. Like Buddy Holly, Eddie would have grown to be a very interesting artist, not just an oldies icon.

Of course, one must not wish bad things to anybody, but I have to admit that sometimes I have regretted it was not Gene who had been killed instead in that accident. Although only 25 years old, he was well past his better years, and his work until he died was mostly mediocre stuff. Also, I don't think he was a very happy man.

But we can't change history, and I wouldn't change this even if I could. It's just... things that come to the mind...

In 1970 Gene recorded two great albums for the Kama Sutra label: The day the world turned blue & Gene Vincent.
Unfortunately he died in 1971 so his comeback was short lived.

Luuk wrote:

Mister Moon wrote:

Colin B wrote:Such a talent !

I was serving on the P & O liner RMS Strathmore in the med when I saw a teenage passenger crying.

When I asked her what was up, she said "Haven't you heard ? Eddie Cochran has been killed in a car crash !"

What a tragic loss.

And could so easily heve been Gene Vincent as well !

Eddie Cochran & Gene Vincent in 1960.jpg

Great story, Colin. Thank you.

It was a cruel loss for rock and roll, that's for sure. Like Buddy Holly, Eddie would have grown to be a very interesting artist, not just an oldies icon.

In 1970 Gene recorded two great albums for the Kama Sutra label: The day the world turned blue & Gene Vincent.
Unfortunately he died in 1971 so his comeback was short lived.

It's a matter of opinion, of course, but I think that his earliest stuff, 1956-1958, is light years away from everything else he did.

But I admit I haven't listened to his later material for ages. Maybe I should try again.

Have to agree with Mister Moon. Gene's later recordings and albums were sub-standard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2mANpwuuBs