A Rocket in My Pocket: The Hipster's Guide to Rockabilly Music

A Rocket in my Pocket is the story of rockabilly music, the primal 50s howl of rockin' rage that helped start it all. Rockabilly had its roots in country, blues, folk, hillbilly, R&B, boogie-woogie and most other indigenous Deep South forms of popular song that you could strum three chords along to or howl down a cheap microphone. It was young people's music, made almost entirely by the first wave of teenagers, despised by adults in general and the country music establishment in particular. Its pioneer exponent, Elvis, eventually become respectable in the eyes of straight society but he was the exception. 1950s rockabilly was a spontaneous outburst of spirited three-chord songs, tiny record labels, primitive studios, fiercely partisan audiences and wild-eyed, driven performers who weren't even sure that their musical careers would last the week. The book charts the rise (and fall) of the original 50s wave of rockabillies. It will also follow the progress of the music, in clubs, on radio, TV and film, pinpointing the key record labels and important regional centres, showing how fashions eventually changed and left rockabilly high and dry, far too wild and primitive in an era of smoother sounds. Décharné traces the music to its Memphis roots.

Max Décharné has previously written "Straight from the fridge, Dad" and other books.

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Comments

[J Richter]

Needing assistance from a rockabilly expert. I'm hoping someone can help. So I'm in search of an old 45rpm I had growing up. It's an old rockabilly sounding number & the only snippets of lyrics I can recall are this:

"These blues have got a hold on me, that ain't no lie.
I feel so lonesome, I think I'm gonna lay right down & die
Blue blue blue, blue blue blue
Lord oh lord, I'm feelin' blue"

Any help would be SERIOUSLY appreciated! :) I can be reached via email at muzik_guy2@yahoo.com

[Larry]

Hi,

I really like the arrangements, but I'm not noticing the actual musicians for the songs by Billy Barrix (Cool Off Baby & Almost).

Does anybody know who plays guitar, bass and drums on these?

Thanks,

Larry
mutleybird@rocketmail.com