Cornell Hurd Band
It’s not much of a stretch for Cornell Hurd and his big band of Texas swingers to cover Aubrey “Moon” Mullican. The seminal singer-pianist has been an influence since Hurd moved to Austin in 1989, and his propulsive numbers are generously incorporated into the Hurd playlist. Practice makes durn-near perfect in this bright, lively and relentlessly entertaining sixteen-song collection that features, in addition to Hurd’s usual herd, several guests who share an affinity for Mullican’s proto rock ‘n’ roll.
To catch up: Mullican, who died in 1967 after a 30-year career, combined boogie-woogie piano with hillbilly country to create a sound that’s as playful as it is urgent, and there would be no Jerry Lee Lewis without him. Plenty of others share the sentiment of guitar slinger Bill Kirchen, who says in the CD’s booklet, “Moon was the missing link for me between the Delmore Brothers and Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
Mullican was the first to have a hit with “Seven Nights To Rock”, later resurrected by the likes of Nick Lowe, BR549 and Bruce Springsteen. “Seven Nights” is here as well, with a baritone sax keeping time and Hurd riding the beat. Kirchen joins in for “Don’t Ever Take My Picture Down”, and Tommy Alverson takes the vocals on “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone”, giving it an appropriate honky-tonk feel.
The piano is the centerpiece of any Mullican number although here Scott Walls’ pedal steel gives it a run for its money and that duty is shared by Floyd Domino, Pete Gordon and Debra Hurd, who all live up to the standard Mullican set more than half a century ago.