''Celts and Cobras'' is the second and final studio album from the

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

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" and "Pharaoh's Chant" were released as singles from the album. It features a more diverse instrumental palette than the band's debut album, '' Skin 'Em Up'' (1981), but was seen as a departure from the group's original, immediate sound.

Reception

''Celts and Cobras'' features more varied instrumentation than previous Shakin' Pyramids releases, but was seen as a departure from the band's original, immediate sound.''Shakin' Pyramids''
at AllMusic '' Trouser Press'' said, "''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... The band still rocks, but they'd better figure out where they're going." AllMusic gave the album 3/5 stars, and opined that "the energy and verve of their debut had been replaced by a stultifying maturity."

Ethnomusicologist Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...

Craig Morrison wrote, "'' elts and Cobras' drifted farther from rockabilly as they broadened their horizons... One writer asked, "From neo-rockabilly to neo-schlock—is this neo-progress?"

Track listing

Side A: Side B:

Personnel

The Shakin' Pyramids

*Davie Duncan –

Lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

, drums, percussion, tambourine *James G. Creighton – Acoustic and electric guitar, acoustic bass, mandolin, background vocals *"Railroad" Ken McLellan – Acoustic guitar, background vocals

Additional Personnel

*Bob Andrews: Piano, electric bass *Geraint Watkins: Accordion *Mitch Caws: Slap bass *John Willoughby: Upright bass *Andy Powell, Paul Hughes: Electric bass *Strings arranged by Roy Clark

References

{{Authority control 1982 albums The Shakin' Pyramids albums