Celts and Cobras
Celts and Cobras is the second and final studio album from the Scottish Neo-Rockabilly group The Shakin' Pyramids (billed on the album cover as "Shakin' Pyramids"), released in 1982 by Cuba Libre, a subsidiary of Virgin Records. "Just a Memory"[1] and "Pharaoh's Chant"[2] were released as singles from the album. It was not as warmly received as the group's debut album, Skin 'Em Up, and they disbanded shortly after its release.[3]
Track listing
Side A:[4]
| 1. |
"Pharaoh's Chant" |
2:42 |
| 2. |
"Like Me With No-One" |
3:48 |
| 3. |
"Pretty Neat Come One" |
2:56 |
| 4. |
"Just A Memory" |
2:29 |
| 5. |
"Plainsailin'" |
2:21 |
| 6. |
"Sugar Bee" |
2:15 |
| 7. |
"Rockin' Mystique" |
2:39 |
Side B:
| 1. |
"Quit And Split" |
2:32 |
| 2. |
"It Hurts To Be In Love" |
2:26 |
| 3. |
"You Can Bet" |
1:37 |
| 4. |
"Just Rockin'" |
3:40 |
| 5. |
"Ferocious" |
2:00 |
| 6. |
"Who Cares" |
2:47 |
| 7. |
"Reeferbilly Polka" |
2:23 |
Reception
Celts and Cobras was seen by some as a departure from the band's original sound, and the group disbanded soon after its release. While debut album Skin 'Em Up had garnered a 5/5 star rating from Rolling Stone, the magazine awarded Celts and Cobras only 3 stars.[6] Trouser Press wrote, "Celts and Cobras offers a higher percentage of their own songs, but on it they're accompanied by piano, accordion, electric bass and even — gack! — a string section. More dismaying is the band's descent into schlock-pop consciousness: instead of Eddie Cochran and Link Davis tunes, we get the Everly Brothers and Gene Pitney. The band still rocks, but they'd better figure out where they're going."[7] Allmusic gave the album 3/5 stars,[8] and opined that "the energy and verve of their debut had been replaced by a stultifying maturity."[3]
Personnel
The Shakin' Pyramids
References
