The band jump straight in with a rocking "You're Humbuggin' Me", where Dennis Taylor does sterling work on saxes. The stereotypical surfing sound makes its presence most felt as the song starts to fade. It is quickly to the fore on Jerry McCain's "Ding Dong Daddy," although Danny Amis' guitar solo does comes close to falling apart.

Most of the songs on "Rock'n'Roll City" are originals, starting with "Lonesome Town" with its shades of Link Wray, where Clearwater is in fine voice. The softer side of Clearwater comes through even stronger on the slow ballad, "I Love You." The album is generally dominated by up tempo rock'n'roll based songs, however, epitomized by "Hillbilly Blues," but also veering towards rockabilly ("Old Time Rocker"), and even country ("Peggy Sue" which features some fine picking, and thumping double bass from engineer and studio owner George Bradfute).

Los Straitjackets really get to flex their muscles on "Monkey Paw" and "Back Down To Earth." Elsewhere they show that they are adept at playing the blues whether it be New Orleans style ("Before This Song Is Over" and "Let The Four Winds Blow") or West Side Chicago ("Midnight Groove"). They leave the stage to Clearwater to round things off on the almost sermon-like "Good Times Are Coming" which is dominated by churchy organ from Steve Conn.

"Rock'n'Roll City" is an entertaining album, although it is likely to appeal more to Clearwater fans than Straitjackets fans. The material offers something of a tour through the music of the late 1950's and early 1960's when blues, and rhythm'n'blues developed into rock'n'roll. Think of the sound of early Sun Records and you will be in the right sort of area. It never quite sets the world alight, but is good clean fun, nevertheless.

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