THE ROCKETS #1
Let's start with three Dutch Rockets who, according to the translation I read, formed in 1950 and were still blasting off in 1982. God loves a trier. Here they are in 1979...
The Rockets - Weerd Schenk Mie In
THE ROCKETS #2
From 1952, here are some Kentucky Rockets led by one Harry Vann "Piano Man" Walls, as seen above...
THE ROCKETS #3
The Trumpeteers were a US gospel combo active from the late '40s through until the '80s. They also sang doo wop in the 50s as both The Rockets and The Four Rockets. I'm not sure whether they ever visited Scotland, but this appears to have been their biggest non-gospel hit... and I'm going out on a limb to guess this will be George's favourite today.
THE ROCKETS #4
Originally calling themselves The Rhythm Aces (a name we'll undoubtedly come back to in the future) when they met on a US army base in Germany, these guys changed to The Rockets and then The Rocketeers (ditto) when they returned to Chicago and started hanging out with Johnny Otis.
THE ROCKETS #5
(SPACEMAN &) THE ROCKETS #6
Had to shoehorn these 1958 guys in because they're great, and they remind me of Captain Caveman...
Spaceman & The Rockets - Caveman Love
THE ROCKETS #7
US instrumental group from 1959 "under the direction of Dick Glasser". That's got to hurt.
THE ROCKETS #8
Oregon rocket 'n' rollet from 1961...
THE ROCKETS #9
New Zealand instrumental combo from the early 60s. You can read their entire history here.
THE ROCKETS #10
Featuring Lois June Lewsader (aka Lois Lee) on vocals, here are some Illinois Rockets from 1963...
THE ROCKETS #11
Danish Rockets from 1965 who clearly thought it'd be a wheeze to lynch one of their bandmates on a washing line...
LOS ROCKETS #12
Chilean band, active from 1965 through till the late 70s, doing a mix of Shadowsy intrumentals, surf tunes and covers.
THE ROCKETS #13
Long-running South African soul band, fronted by Colin "Bones" Delight, who got it together in 1967 and only called it a day last year. Here they are in 1976...
The Rockets - It Ain't What's On The Woman
THE ROCKETS #14
In 1968, three former members of LA doo-wop group Danny & The Memories transformed into a psychedelic folk rock gang called The Rockets. Soon after, they would change their name to Crazy Horse and begin an on-off affair as Neil Young's backing band.
The Rockets - Hole In My Pocket
LOS ROCKETS #15
Nicaraguan jazz rock from 1968...
THE ROCKETS #16
Meanwhile in Germany, these Rockets were rockin' in '68. This b-side is the only track I could find on the tube of you, which is disappointing, because I would have loved to hear "Du Bist So Wunderbar" or "Hey, Blondes Girl!"
The Rockets - Mein Girl Und Ich
(LES) ROCKETS #17
Originating in Paris in the year of my birth (1972), these guys were originally known as Crystal. They then changed their name to Rocket Men or Rocketters and started dressing as five aliens, with bald heads, grey eyes, silver skin and space suits. In 1975 they became (Les) Rockets and recorded the song below, which I'd like to tell you was a huge hit... although I can't find much evidence of that. Still, 128,000 views on the tube of you must be worth something.
THE ROCKETS #18
Taking time off from their day-job as backing band for Dutch singer-songwriter Peter Koelewijn, these Rockets released a clutch of glam singles in the mid 70s.
The Rockets - Rock n Roll Drummer (Part 1)
THE ROCKETS #19
Detroit Rockets founded by two former members of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, along with lead singer Dave Gilbert who was also a member of The New Order (see Namesakes #86) and The Free (see a future edition of Namesakes). They were active from '72 to '83, scraping into the US Top 40 in '79 with a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well. Here they are with one of their own compositions, from the same LP...
THE ROCKETS #20
70s pub-rockers from Ladbroke Grove, featuring one Oz Osbourne (not that one) on bass.
(HARRY TOLEDO &) THE ROCKETS #21
Discogs suggest this was a UK band, but their only single was produced by John Cale in New York, 1977, and Harry is wearing a "Made In USA" armband and singing about a US automotive company... but maybe he's trying too hard to convince us of his nationality.
Harry Toledo & The Rockets - Busted Chevrolet
THE ROCKETS #22
Aussie punks from Perth, active in 1979 and not for very long. Lead singer Roddy Radalj went on to form The Hoodoo Gurus about a year later.
THE ROCKETS #23
Swedish punks from the 90s...
The Rockets - Creatures' Nite Out
THE ROCKETS #24
THE ROCKETS #25
Greek rockabilly from 2005...
THE ROCKETZ #26
LA "Psychobilly" band from 2005...
The Rocketz - Rise of the Undead
ROCKETS! #27
Canadian Rockets, with added exclamation mark, from 2007. If nothing else, they win the prize for today's best song titles, including Mr. Green, Your Days Are Numbered, Bacon, Bacon (Leaving The Attic), SohCahToa The Skullslayer and...
THE ROCKETS #28
Aussie indie band active from 2010 - 2013...
THE ROCKETS #29
Sometimes I can't possibly write anything better than the biog on discogs...
"Swiss Rockabilly band, successor of Jerry And The Rockets, without Jerry."
This is also from 2013...
THE ROCKETS #30
Indiana wants him... and they can have him. Only joking! "80s-Influenced Pop Project from Jesse Anderson," found on the Camp of Bands...
The Rockets - Razor's Edge Anthem
Quite a lot to go at there - but there were plenty more Rockets I couldn't find audio for. Honorary mention today goes to The Shit Rockets, because... at least they're honest about it.
But which Rockets rock your world... and which do you wish would put a sock in it?
30. THIRTY. and #3 is bobbins, by the way. Things seem to be improving with #4 and #5
ReplyDeleteGiven my affiliations I obviously have to go for #13 but some of the others look intriguing. Will try to find time to go through them properly later.
ReplyDeleteNicaraguan Jazz Rock and Greek Rockabilly.
ReplyDeleteIt's all here.
An epic post.
#8 seems to be an amalgam of three famous rock and rolls sings stitched together. The German rockets have had a calming effect on Lucky. I quite liked #17 but #19 could be the one to beat
ReplyDeleteand you've saved the worst 'til last. So after suffering all 30, my choice is #19. The promise of jazz rock was unfulfilled, it just sounded like a surf instrumental.
ReplyDeleteAs always, George, you're a martyr to the cause.
Delete#4, #13 and #19 for me
ReplyDelete#17 is terrible but their look clearly inspired fellow Frenchmen Space when they had their smash hit "Magic Fly" a couple of years later.
Shamefully I already have #3 in my collection. Sorry George. Also some tracks by #13 on the fine 'Cape Herald Hipcat Parade' compilation. Take it away Bones!:
https://youtu.be/F_EGYsdrt2s?si=tw8TvsKa0m7LBTfv
Liked the two instrumentals at #9 and #12. More than a touch of Hank Marvin about them.
ReplyDeleteSo many Rockets, too little time, so I'll admit I didn't make it to the end.
Epic post as CC said.