Barrence Whitfield & The Savages "Barrence Whitfield & The Savages" 1984

This is Barrence Whitfield and the Savages 1st LP from 1984 on a local Boston based label Mamou records. This whole thing clocks in at 30 minutes of frenetic RnR. They cover such tunes as Don Covay's 1954 screamer (recorded under the alias of Pretty Boy) Bip Bop Bip. Frankie Lee Sims - Walking With Frankie and even Jimmy McCracklin's Georgia Slop. Even the originals are top notch. No ballads here just great RnR.
Growing up in East Orange, New Jersey, Barry White spent his teen years fronting various funk and rock bands. When success eluded one outfit that had it almost within reach, he closed the door on the music business and headed for Boston to attend B.U. Studying to be a television news writer, he supported himself by working in a used record shop, where his inclination for singing along with records drew crowds. It also got the attention of then-Lyre Peter Greenberg, who encouraged his return to performing. Peter brought along the basis of the Savages in the form of disenfranchised Lyres, and Barry brought his record-collector's love of R&B. He also unveiled his new moniker, Barrence Whitfield, since the world just wasn't big enough for two Barry Whites.
On his spectacular first album, backed by a frisky quartet of young, greasy roadhouse rockers (including a couple of ex-Lyres), Whitfield stakes his reverent claim to the priceless hipshake legacy of Screamin' Jay Hawkins and other venerable titans of primal rock'n'roll. Whitfield is a tremendous vocalist with a bloodcurdling falsetto, the enthusiasm of a drunk amateur and the easy control of a seasoned pro. The Savages — especially saxman Steve LaGrega — keep pace on wacky old numbers like "Bip Bop Bip," "Mama Get the Hammer" and "Georgia Slop," contributing likely originals to this raw adventure that hardly seems like it was recorded in 1984. [David Greenberger / Scott Schinder / Ira Robbins]
Personnel:
Barrence Whitfield - Singer / Howard Ferguson (ex-Real Kids, Lyres) - Drums / Peter Greenberg (ex-DMZ, Lyres, Customs) - Guitar / Phil Lenker (ex-Lyres) - Bass / Steve Lagrega - Saxophone / thanks to Bill Mooney- McCoy - piano & organ
produced by Peter Greenberg / recorded at Perfect Crime Studio, USA

traxfromwax:
1. Bip Bop Bip 2. Walking with Barrence 3. Mama get the Hammer 4. Fat Mama 5. Cotton Pickin' 6. Go ahead and Burn 7. Savage Sax 8. Georgia Slop 9. Walk Out 10. Miss Shake It 11. Whiskey Wagon 12. King Kong 13. Ship Sailed at Six
…originally served by Philo...