Just like Eddie by Bob Spence (4/5)

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5).

"I said, what the fuck is you looking at"? You knew that they threatening sound of Gene Vincent was no joke. I just stared. "Fuck you man". Gene was messing around with a knife and had a nasty look in his eye. "Gene give it a rest you dozy bugger". The warm cockney voice of Joe Brown bounced into Gene's subconscious. Something seemed to register in his mind and he slumped. "No problem". Joe Brown grinned. "Take no notice, he's always pissed". "I'm looking for Eddie Cochran". "Isn't everybody eh"? Brown shook his head very slowly. "Eddie is off in a taxi mate. He'll be touring again though". I was crestfallen. "If you want his autograph then the fan club can send one out to you".

"No it's not like that, I really need to see Mr. Cochran". "Why would that be"? There he stood with a towel behind his head. Eddie. Eddie Cochran. He ushered me through. "You want an autograph I guess". He gestured. "Its Frank". "So, how about to Frank with best wishes, Eddie"? This was my moment. "No nothing like that, Mr. Cochran I have a song I have written for you". Eddie smiled. "A songwriter? Great. Come on, follow me".

I fingered his Gretsch, Eddie Cochran's guitar and I was playing it. The action and set up were unlike anything I had ever played. The strings were lighter and the neck felt different too. The strings were lightly oiled. "It goes something like this". The song was in C major and the chords sounded full in the echoing confine of the brick corridor. My voice was not really full enough to be a lead and was a little too nasal, but I could just hold a note for the tune to hang there. The riff that held the song together caught Eddie's attention. He picked a tambourine and sung out Baby, baby, bayabay.

The lyric sounded fuller and he chuckled a little like the Big Bopper on Chantilly Lace and it sounded great. A snare drum appeared on a little chrome stand and a drummer with brushes from the backing band, I think it was Rory someone, improvised a rhythm.

"Nice, nice". Joe Brown nodded. Eddie spoke. "It has potential, a lot of potential. Do you have any more?" "Yes". I strummed the opening bar of 'You keep me on a string'. It followed the classic C, A minor, F and G7. Eddie picked up a guitar and followed the progression and the second time we reached the point he harmonized. It didn't just sound good - it sounded awesome. I then broke into Dance until you drop which was a raucous party style rocker that drew from Lets Have a Party but had a more interesting chorus. Rory the drummer put a nice little roll into the breaks as Eddie do-wopped and played around vocally with the lyric 'Dance'. We looked through the lyric sheets of 'A magical moment', 'My girl Angie' and 'Heartbreak weekend'.

Continued... Next Page (5/5)

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