Skiffledog (Hilton Valentine) - It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate!

Skiffledog (Hilton Valentine) - It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate! - 2004

from CDBaby

Hilton Valentine is best known for his work as the guitarist with the sixties British Invasion group, The Animals: most notably, his opening arpeggios in 'House of the Rising Sun.' To quote the book Fuzz and Feedback - Classic Guitar Music of the '60s, ''Undoubtedly what sold 'The House Of The Rising Sun' was an arresting arpeggiated solo guitar introduction that traced a brooding Am/C/D/F/Am/E/Am chord sequence. The intricacies of the performance were dissected by guitar students the world over. Even today the riff still occupies a place, somewhere around stage three, in the great 12-Step Mastering The Guitar programme.''

Hilton made his name in rock and roll, earning himself a world wide number one hit, nine additional top 40 hits, gold records, a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his handprint in Hollywood's Rock Walk of Fame, but his beginnings were based on folk.

He fronted his very first skiffle band at the age of 13. This is the music he would always return to. Even when he was touring the world playing rock and roll, at home he'd take out his acoustic and revisit the old skiffle music and write folk songs.

He's back to his roots again with a new studio recording of original acoustic music with some old skiffle thrown in. Having received airplay from several BBC Radio stations in the UK and in his home state of CT it has been well received by their listeners and fans all over the world. BBC Radio Scotland's senior producer, Stewart Cruickshank has this to say: ''Genius Animals guitarist returns to roots in fine style. A fine selection of material, which we'll be playing frequently in weeks and months to come. His own songs more than stand up to Mr. Lennon's and Mr. Leitch's.''

01. Looking To The Sun
02. Run Run Run
03. For John
04. Wreck Of The Old '97
05. Working Class Hero
06. Probably 3rd Street
07. Diggin' My Potatoes
08. Peace
09. River Tyne
10. Ballad Of A Crystal Man




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Hilton Valentine - Skiffledog on Coburg ST

Hilton Valentine - Skiffledog on Coburg ST - 2011

Hilton Stewart Paterson Valentine was born on May 21, 1943 in North Shields, Northumberland England. He immediately taught himself some chordsfrom a book called Teach Yourself a Thousand Chords and formed his own skiffle band called The Heppers.  They played locally in halls and at outdoor venues, with the newspaper calling them "a young but promisingskiffle group." The Heppers eventually evolved into the rock and roll band, The Wildcats which after some personnel changes had Tappy Wright on rhythm guitar.

Tappy was Hilton's best friend and became the road manager for The Animals.The Wildcats were a very popular band in the Tyne & Wear area getting continuous work in Church Halls, Working Men's Clubs and Dance halls. They decided to take it to the next step and recorded a 10" acetate LP at Morton Sound titled Sounds of The Wild Cats. In 1963 The Animals were starting to form.  Chas liked what he heard and asked him to join what was then called The Alan Price Combo. Sadly, the only evidence of this energetic guitar playing is the 1963 live Club - a-go-go recordings. In 1970 he recorded a solo album of what some people categorize as psychedelicized folk music titled "All In Your Head". Hilton has reunited with the original lineup of Animals three times since their split. In 1994, Hilton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Animals. In May 2001, he was inducted into Hollywood's Rock Walk of Fame along with the other Animals and had a two night reunion concert at the El Rey Theatre. Since 2004 Hilton has been concentrating on acoustic material, under the name SKIFFLEDOG titled CD "It's Folk 'n' Skiffle, Mate!". 

With an acoustic guitar, snare, bass, washboard, spoons and shakers, Hilton Valentinedelivers very high energy Skiffle and Rock n' Roll with some mellow solo material sprinkled on top in album "Skiffledog in Coburg St.

All songs were recorded live in the studio. Only backing vocals and guitar solos were overdubbed.

01. Rockin' Daddy
02. Move It
03. I'm Satisfied With My Gal
04. Rockin' & Rollin'
05. Gamblin' Man
06. Race With the Devil
07. Number Nine Train
08. Twenty Flight Rock
09. You're My Baby
10. My Dixie Darling
11. Lonesome Traveler
12. I'm Wild About My Lovin'
13. Midnight Special
14. Anyway
15. Fran and Lil





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