HANK MIZELL moved to Chicago in 1956 and formed a band with Jim Bobo on lead guitar, Eddie Boyd on bass and Bill Collins behind the drums. After being approached by local C&W artist and owner of the small Eko Records, Gene Parsons, the boys recorded "Jungle Rock" in a makeshift studio in Gene's converted garage in 1958. The uniquely thick bottom end generated by the minimalist studio equipment on hand evoked a fitting backdrop for the primal theme of the track. A primeval soundtrack for a tropical shindig!
The song gained traction during the mid-70s, when DJ Roy Williams of the Wild Wax Show heard it on a Dutch bootleg compilation and began spinning it for the Teds that were reveling in the rockabilly revival building momentum in the UK. Charly Records took note of the rising popularity and acquired the tapes from King Records, releasing the track with the original B-side, "When I'm In Your Arms" in 1976.
Alternate issues with "Animal Rock And Roll", a song written by Rosemary Mizell, on the flipside coincided with the release of Hank's new 1976 full length "Jungle Rock" LP that was meant to satiate a new generation of rockers and boppers. The single was released on various labels in Europe, Scandinavia, Canada and the US. I was thrilled to come across a copy of the French issue on Philips.
BORN OUTTA TIME
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