The Allen Oldies Band
Live and Delirious! (Freedom)
Allen Hill loves the oldies like Jim Valvano loved basketball. Even if you don’t worship “Wooly Bully,” the hyper-caffeinated enthusiasm Hill’s Allen Oldies Band brings to the oft-derided world of cover-bandom is inspirational. Recorded live on Jersey City’s WFMU, Live and Delirious! erases years of robotic radio repetition to breathe new life into old hits like the Tremeloes’ “Here Comes My Baby” and Ernie Maresca’s “Shout, Shout (Knock Yourself Out).” Though not as potent as being there live, it’s hard to imagine a more keyed-up performance emanating from your radio dial. Hill’s between-song proclamations of fealty to Sir Doug’s “She’s About a Mover” and Roy Head’s “Treat Her Right” constitute entertainment in their own right. Other than the minor Kingsmen hit “That’s Cool, That’s Trash” most everything the Houston octet plays is a well-known quantity. Interpolating “The James Bond Theme” into Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man” and revving up Tommy Roe’s “Dizzy” to 78 RPM keeps even the jaded know-it-alls engaged. While improvised lyrics and awkward rests abound, the band’s corn infusion doesn’t sound shoehorned. Lots of bands play oldies, but few do it with the genuine affection and energy of Hill and company.
This article appears in February 10 • 2006.
