The photo on the cover says it all: A baby, bediapered Rocky Burnette (circa 1954) clutches a toy guitar to his chest, index finger emphatically flung towards dad Johnny (who’s a-pickin’ and a-grinnin’), as if to say, “Go, Dad, go!”
The self-proclaimed “son of rock ‘n’ roll” comes by his title honestly. Dad Johnny and Uncle Dorsey were rockabilly pioneers, founding members of the Johnny Burnette Trio, who rocked the airwaves with the likes of “Train Kept a Rollin'” in the late ’50s. Throughout Rocky’s childhood, such artists as Elvis, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent were frequent household guests. Vocals are Rocky’s forte, and his pleasant, Elvis-like baritone (heavy on the reverb) is derivative in the very best sense of the word. Zeke Zirngiebel, who adeptly handles all the guitar work — acoustic, electric, and bass — also has roots showing, apparent in his Beatlesque riffs and Link Wray shadings.
With the exception of the title cut, which was Johnny’s biggest hit, all the tunes were co-written by Burnette and Zirngiebel. Often lyrically formulaic, in anyone else’s hands some of this material might seem trite. But Burnette’s no poseur. His genuine sincerity carries the weaker material, and on burners such as “Freight Train”, “Get On Board” and “Backroad Boogie”; (“B-b-b-b-backroad boogie, gonna get some noogie, from my shugie, backroad boogie”), Burnette and Zirngiebel smoke.
Of particular interest are Burnette’s gorgeous vocal renderings on the south-of-the-border flavored “One Love Is Enough” and “Vaya Con Dios”. The ghost of Marty Robbins rides tall in the saddle once more!