GENE VINCENT Pistol Packin Mumma/Weeping Willow 45rpm Capitol 1960

Gene Vincent only had one really big hit, "Be-Bop-a-Lula," which epitomised rockabilly at its prime in 1956 with its sharp guitar breaks, spare snare drums, fluttering echo, and Vincent's breathless, sexy vocals. Yet his place as one of the great early rock & roll singers is secure, backed up by a wealth of fine smaller hits and non-hits that rate among the best rockabilly of all time. The leather-clad, limping, greasy-haired singer was also one of rock's original bad boys, lionized by romanticists of past and present generations attracted to his primitive, sometimes savage style and indomitable spirit. 

Vincent was bucking the odds by entering professional music in the first place. As a 20-year-old in the Navy, he suffered a severe motorcycle accident that almost resulted in the amputation of his leg, and left him with a permanent limp and considerable chronic pain for the rest of his life. After the accident he began to concentrate on building a musical career, playing with country bands around the Norfolk, VA, area. Demos cut at a local radio station, fronting a band assembled around Gene by his management, landed Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps a contract at Capitol, which hoped they'd found competition for Elvis Presley. 

Indeed it had, as by this time Vincent had plunged into all-out rockabilly, capable of both fast-paced exuberance and whispery, almost sensitive ballads. The Blue Caps were one of the greatest rock bands of the '50s, anchored at first by the stunning silvery, faster-than-light guitar leads of Cliff Gallup.  The slap-back echo of "Be-Bop-a-Lula," combined with Gene's swooping vocals, led many to mistake the singer for Elvis when the record first hit the airwaves in mid-1956, on its way to the Top Ten. The Elvis comparison wasn't entirely fair; Vincent had a gentler, less melodramatic style, capable of both whipping up a storm or winding down to a hush. (Richie Unterberger, AllMusic)

I have graded the vinyl  Very Good Plus as it has light play marks and those consistent with a record being brought in and out of its sleeve.  Having said that, it plays really well, clear and amazing for its age.  These are both great sides and loads of fun to test play, such a trip to way back when and associated ideas with the era. 
It has a new inner sleeve with a soft lining to protect and a thick outer plastic cover.  I have also created a photographic frontispiece but must make it clear that this is NOT THE ORIGINAL COVER, I think it helps to identify when housed in a collection.
Matrix Runout Side A F33863-1 Matrix Runout Side B F33864-1

POSTAGE : I prefer to use UPS via eBay, which is a really speedy service, usually arriving overseas within 2-4 days, whereas Royal Mail can take many weeks to arrive.  I have a flat rate of £20 which is what it costs to deliver to US and other parts of the World although Europe is around £15.  There is only provision for one flat rate and so it is fixed at £20.  If you live in Europe please mail me and I will adjust the postage before you buy.  In some instances the postage costs more than £20, to further parts of the World and we may need to similarly adjust this, although often I am prepared to pay the difference provided the record isn’t very low value.