BLUE SUEDE NEWS #46 Spring '99

Wow, here's a great band for you to discover, Danny Dean & The Homewreckers from California swing and rock'n'roll just right. Filling the gap between Swing, '50s Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly with ease they dress in sharp suits and leave most of the "rebel" image behind, following the roots of northern band style Rock'n'Roll a la Bill Haley and Freddie Bell & The Bellboys. The title track starts off a set of 8 originals by bandleader Danny Dean (he's been around since the early '80s, playing Rockabilly and Punk in a variety of bands) and 4 covers. "Move It" is known to European fans as one of Cliff Richard's (Britain's Elvis) biggest and best '50s hits. Great version and "Move It' writer Ian Samwell came up with a second verse for it - for Danny to record! They also revive Eddie Cochran's 'Teenage Cutie' with a fine saxophone led mystic swing groove - cool. There are two versions of "Thunders Are Go", a first rate swing'n'roll in a Comets fashion, as is"Hey Mama" and a bunch of other fine dancable tracks, too. "Clouds"is a more modern swing rock-a-ballad. The mystic 'Restless' (J.Kidd & The Pirates) is the second British song, sung with great passion and featuring an extremely twangy, surf-inspired lead guitar. "Take Me Back Again"is a romantic tune with a nice melody and extra back up a great song follows with "Double Talk", starting off as a lounge-swingtype effort with smooth vocals it soon gets more rockin' with a catchy melody - a beautiful song. There is not one track I don't like, they are all excellent, '50s style Rock'n'Roll with a strong swinging edge and a hint of Rockabilly. These 4 guys are a tight combo with saxophone, guitar, bass, drums (and guest musician on piano on 3 tracks). Danny has a wonderful, smooth voice and the sound quality is top notch. If you like the Rock'n'Roll side of swing, grab this CD first. - GM

THE RIVER REPORTER, The Music Scene

Have you heard the news? There's good rockin' tonight. To their credit,Danny Dean & The Homewreckers don't try too hard to sound retro, despite their tendency to dress like 1950's hepcats. The music is rockabilly-based with a little swing, pop and country mixed in. Dean's songs are well crafted, well played, the production is strictly nineties, and he sounds like one of the better singers currently working the rockabilly revival circuit. Choice song: "Bad Girls Who Smoke." Good Records! - Bob Cianci

SKRATCH June 1999

Rockabilly straight up in its purest form is what Danny Dean & The Homewreckers are all about. From a music career that ran the gambit from punk to rockabilly, even performing in a band with Mike Ness, pre-Social D, Danny Dean has played many genres of music. Coming from a background of jump blues, rockabilly and swing, Danny Dean & The Homewreckers produce a sound that incorporates aspects of all that and more. With rockin' guitars, slappin' bass, tight drums and a vintage vocal style that Dean delivers smoothly.This band delivers a clean sound. Check out "Thunderbirds are go", Bad Girls Who Smoke,"Teenage Cutie and"Restless" If you are into the more traditional rockabilly sound then give this CD a listen and you might be surprised. - Jaymes Mayhem

Rockin' Fifties June 1999

(translated from German)

An American Band, with the Cliff Richard's Sound?! Or so you would think by there cover of "Move It".Danny Dean & the Homewreckers are much more than just a mere late 50s and early 60s British Rock'n' Roll cover band. "Thunderbirds Are Go", one of many in the style of Northern Band Rock'n'Roll with saxophone the likes of Freddie Bell & The Bellboys and Bill Haley. There is a outstanding version of Eddie Cochran's "Teenage Cutie" and the boys version has a mystical swing groove, a very successful experiment . The energetic "Restless" (Johnny Kidd & the Pirates) has a twangy feel and a Surf music inspired lead guitar, Cool. These four Californians deliver a extremely successful album with 12 songs. Danny has a pleasant voice, his musicians (saxophone, bass, guitar drums plus piano on 3 tracks) really know their craft and the sound quality could not be better. Anyone into the swinging side of Rock'n'Roll will be astounded. To top it off there is also a thick booklet with information,song lyrics and photo. - Gaby Maag.

ROCK & BLUES NEWS AUG-SEPT '99

The Homewreckers seem undecided if they are going to be a rockabilly band, a swing unit or just play good ol'rock 'n' roll. The title cut is a twangy remake of Cliff Richard's 1958 rocker, while "Thunderbirds Are Go" is a swinger while "Hey Mama" falls somewhere between. "Clouds," a 4-beat medium tempo dance tune with slower segues, should have stayed in the can; even the best rockers would have had trouble selling.