Ross Wilson: Reviews

It was a fantastic show. Perhaps Daddy Cool was the highlight, but The Beachboys were the most musically pure on the night, and better than they have been on any of their trips to Adelaide, and that includes the infamous concert at Football Park. What we did see was a legendary front man surrounded by a superb band, playing great songs. You're hard to please if you didn't enjoy it!!!

I was on holiday in adelaide and decided it would be a great experience to see the Beach Boys, Daddy Cool and Christopher Cross. I was disappointed that Mike did not do more vocals or showed more enthusiasm. I understand that he is older now, but I also saw Elton John last year and he had more energy. My grand mother also has more energy than Mike. I would pay that money again to see Daddy Cool live anytime.

Daddy Cool haven't changed a bit, and they really got the crowd in the mood, what a lot of fun memories they brought back, they really entertained.

I thought Daddy Cool kind of stole the night (clearly I'm a fan). Certainly great to see all of them, and in particular Hannaford, with some great guitar playing, after all this years.

Superb sequencing of songs, great production, & the quartet's ability to entertain, gives this legs. The band lives up to its name on its belated 3rd album. They are as relevant as ever.

Shamefully, I've only known about this Australian band for a couple of years....when I heard the classic "Eagle Rock". The song stuck in my head.....and on a whim decided to buy this CD. It's probably the most awesome CD I've ever purchased!! Simply perfect musicianship.....this CD seems to want to be played loud---very loud!! Visit Ross Wilson Dot for more insight and free plays of this most fantastic brand of rock, country, and everything in between. Highly Highly recommended!!!!

It seemed a good idea at the time (1970) & it still is. Thirty four years between albums must make this a candidate for the Guinness Book of Rock Records. They've aged yes, but their music is just as good, even better. Its not rock revival its rock reinvention at its finest. Amazing. Welcome back guys!

An excellent album that was years in the making but worth the wait. 'The New Cool' is an eclectic mix of 50s doo wop, soul, sweet ballads & duelling guitar-fuelled rock'n'roll.

' Ready!!!!......Aim!!!!!!.......PARTY!!!!!........best describes the sense of fun & frolic that came through for me while reviewing your very excellent ' Daddy Cool ' release , as well as the musical
brotherhood and the feel of fresh wax on an old T-Bird ' .

The unmistakable 50s doo-wop mixed with 60s surf city sounds & duelling jangly guitars that states 'Daddy Cool' is evident across all tracks. Ross Wilson is in fine form, while drummer Gary Young lends his vocals to the very Australian, quirky & self-explanatory 'Getting Drunk'. Ross Hannaford's baritone is superb on 3 tracks, the outstanding one being 'Sun Is Always Shining'. 'Everybody's In The Mood' sees a swing/party groove layered over sax & harmonica. The team also deliver their first surf instrumental 'Waves'. The new Daddy is indeed back.

Mark Shepherd is a longtime true Daddy Cool fan who really 'gets' what we're on about. Mark graced us with the first review of Daddy Cool's album 'The New Cool'. It hit the stores Nov 4, 2006, but we had signed advance copies at the 2 festivals we played on the NSW long weekend 30 Sept & 1 Oct .
"Eight hours from Sydney to Deniliquin to see the mighty Daddy Cool. Friendly locals, plenty of food & drink and great weather (a bit too much dust but as D.C. says "you can't have everything").... Eagerly awaited D.C. to hit the stage and blow me down if they didn't knock our socks off for the second time in 30 odd years. Brilliant ! Then got my copy of "The New Cool" and had 8 hours of Heaven (Teenage Heaven that is) to listen to it on the way home. Glad to see all the "one-off" songs are now on the one album. Especially "$64,000 Question" , "The Christmas Bug" and "For You".... which is a modern day 'classic'. Best of all... there are also some never released, never heard before, NEW ONES ! "Hey Senorita" is a ripper we heard at the Tsunami Concert but "Everybody's In The Mood", "Daddy's Back", "You Can't Have Everything", "They Built The Ute" and Gary Young's "Getting Drunk" are all new and all fantastic... and what about "Sexy Girl" ! D.C. showed us in the Seventies how "fifties" should be done, now in the Noughties, they are showing us how "Seventies" should be done! Then there's the magic vocals on "Sun Is Always Shinin' ". More Mr Hannaford please ! That reminds me... "Barbara".. who sings that ? It can't be either of the Ross's, or Gary, or even Wayne ?...The Album cover says Ross Hannaford ! ..no, can't be, must be a typing error.. Wonderful song anyway. Then there is the fairly heavy "Uluru", it freaked me out a bit at first but after a few listens I got right into it. Just shows D.C. can turn their hand to anything.
D.C. have a habit of predicting the future. In 1971 they told us "Eagle Rock is here to stay".. true, "Come back again, I'm just crazy about you babe".. true, now they have said "Daddy's Back".. TRUE !"

"The New Cool" is easily the best DC album yet - the songs are great, the
performances are particularly exciting and the tracks make up a real album rather than just a bunch of sides. I think you should be proud of what you have done here - you have created something in the incredibly ephermal world of pop that has LASTED! It's no small feat - I think it's a great shame you ever broke up. Congrats on a great comeback (if that's what it is) and I hope it sells a Million!!!! All the best. DNP

"The awfulness of the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004 had few good outcomes. One may have been the re-formation of Daddy Cool to play at the February 2005 benefit concert in Melbourne. Live recordings from that event, including 'Come Back Again' (Ross Wilson's 2nd greatest song) & a fiery 'Daddy Cool' close this rollicking album, which brings together songs recorded over a period beginning in 1994. Daddy Cool's musical palette is broader than first glance might suggest & here is disco funk (the opener 'Daddy's Back', the crooning 'Sexy Girl') driving rock ('Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' on' & Howling Wolf's houserocker 'Everybody's In The Mood' with saxaphonic assistance from Paul Williamson & Julien Wilson) & group vocal doo-wopping ('$64,000 Question'). And if you're looking for an anthem try Gary Young's 'Getting Drunk'. As ever, the Cool are a socking unit & Ross Hannaford's guitar lines are testament to a fertility of imagination."

Delightful & infectious retro grooves infused with humour & respect for the old forms.

Blues & Roots Top 50 chart - #4 The New Cool - Daddy Cool

My copy of New Cool arrived today from half a world away, and it's simply AWESOME. I would have been happy with just a half hearted rehash, but this is way beyond all expectations! The new stuff is AMAZING, perhaps the best tracks to date. Waiting for it was a long ten days, but well worth it! Tomorrow, it goes in the CD player in my taxi, and all of Key West can get turned on to what's kept me rockin for the last thirty four years.

OC/AC - so very very true!!!

"Reuniting with old friends after many years gives a feeling of 'it seems like only yesterday', and that nostalgia is apparent on Daddy Cool's first album in 32 years. The New Cool is new, but also familiar, thanks to lead-singer Ross Wilson. There's doo-wop on 'For You', rockabilly on 'Everybody's In The Mood' and 'Hey Senorita', jazz on 'Daddy's Back', rock 'n' roll on '$64,000 Dollar Question' and the New Orleans-esque 'Barbara'. Gary Young sings lead on one song, Ross Hannaford on three and there are three live bonus tracks. It seems like only yesterday."
Rating = amazing+

(edited text) "After a 34 year wait Daddy Cool's new album is pretty damn cool. Mixing doo wop, rock & jazz You Can't Have Everything, Sexy Girl, & Waves help make this an excellent album. Whether it scores any new fans remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Daddy Cool do it their way, and their way is still pretty cool." Rating 3.5 stars Adventurous

What a fabulous cd, I just love it & will be giving it plenty of air play on my show. Congratulations on your fantastic music.

"Love 'The New Cool' - an instant party! Rock solid."

Our 1st press review - ahead of the official release 4 Nov 2006.
"Here it is, half a lifetime later, Daddy Cool's 3rd studio album. And while the world is unrecognisably different, life in DC land has barely changed. 'The New Cool' is an irresistible mix of 1950's West Coast garage, Chuck Berry & doo wop." (4 stars)