The Fabulous Thunderbirds [Girls Go Wild] [Remaster] (CD - 1979)

Recorded at Sumet-Bernet Sound Studios, Dallas, Texas in May 1979.

Fabulous Thunderbirds: Kim Wilson (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Vaughan (guitar); Keith Ferguson (bass); Mike Buck (drums).

Recorded at Sumet-Bernet Sound Studios, Dallas, Texas. Includes liner notes by Denny Bruce.

Digitally remastered by Robert Vosgien (Capitol Mastering).

Personnel: Kim Wilson (vocals, harmonica); Jimmie Vaughan (guitar); Mike Buck (drums).

Recording information: 05/1979.

Their debut album, with the original lineup of Wilson, Vaughn, Buck, and Ferguson stompin' through a roadhouse set of covers and genre-worthy originals. One of the few white blues albums that works. ~ Cub Koda

Minimally produced (nary an overdub to be heard), the Fabulous Thunderbirds' first album showcases their tough, modern approach to the blues, with an energy and integrity that also appealed to fans of the nascent post punk/new wave bands of the day. Highlights include a faithfully swampy cover of Slim Harpo's "Scratch My Back."

Leader Kim Wilson's "Rocket Pocket" is a harmonica showcase a la Little Walter, while "Rich Woman" appropriates the riff from Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy" (the same one the Stones borrowed for "19th Nervous Breakdown"). The bonus track "Things I Forgot to Do" is a nice slow New Orleans style ballad, in which the T-Birds are joined by the horns from Roomful Of Blues.

Although there was no Fabulous Thunderbirds album by the name of Girls Go Wild prior to this 2000 release, this is actually a repackaged version of their self-titled 1979 debut. It has all of the songs from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, in the same sequence, but adds three bonus tracks, as well as liner notes by producer Denny Bruce. Why the title change? Well, because the lettering "Girls Go Wild" was so prominent on the cover, it became unofficially known as their "Girls Go Wild" album, and for this reissue, the title change is official. At any rate, it's still the group at their early bluesy best. No hard info about the bonus cuts though, except that all three, oddly, were recorded after drummer Fran Christina (who did not play on the debut album) joined. One of those bonus songs, "Things I Forgot to Do," is an outtake from the band's third album, Butt Rockin', and features members of Roomful of Blues. ~ Richie Unterberger minimize