Reviewed by Tony Cummings

I have it on good authority that the Starlights from Compton, LA are about to play gigs in the UK. If it comes to pass that's going to be a blast for all those who've pined the passing of the Swan Silvertones, Pilgrim Travellers and the other classic quartets of the 50s. For the Starlights, as this romping, stomping, sweat-flying, church wrecking CD shows, are carrying on in the tradition of all those great groups of yesteryear. (In fact, some of this team are descendants of the old Pilgrim Travellers.) The Starlights sport two 'hard' lead singers who can rasp, scream and gurgle an audience into delirium whether sitting in church pews or at plush nightclub tables while their songs, if winning few prizes in the originality stakes, are bluesy, broody and overflowing with joyful proclamations of having overcome hard lives and harder environments. If you thought the music of Compton was all gangster rap violence, these proud carriers of the quartet tradition will teach you otherwise

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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