Here's something very cool from the one-and-only Rum Bar Records. Christina Jean & Her All Stars have released an official music video for their cover of "Hanging On The Telephone," which they put out as a tribute to the late, great Clem Burke. Christina Jean & Her All Stars are a project assembled by drummer and songwriter extraordinaire Richie Mendez (JJ and the Real Jerks, The Legendary Swagger, FOXY, The Pushers, The Glimmer Stars), who put an all-star team of his friends together to record some of his favorite songs. Joining Mendez and lead singer Christina Jean are Stu West and Jerry Andrews.
The rest of this project is still forthcoming, but Mendez wanted to release "Hanging On The Telephone" as a single in the wake of Burke's passing last year. I would imagine that Burke was a massive influence on Mendez, and you can feel the love that went into this recording. Even though this is technically a Nerves cover, it's really a Blondie cover — not straying too far from the version of this song that most people know. I love this song so much that I will always welcome another rendition of it. And I must say that Christina Jean & Her All Stars did this song justice! This is proper Blondie/Clem Burke worship but with a special flair of its own. Christina Jean's lead vocal is fantastic. The song fits her voice nicely, but she isn't trying to be Debbie Harry. The video, edited and shot by Miles Mendez, is available for your viewing pleasure via Malibu Lou's YouTube channel. I'm looking forward to more from Christina Jean & Her All Stars! And 2026 should be another big year for Rum Bar Records, with releases from Inflatable Idols, Angela Tini, The Glimmer Stars, Foxy, Hollywood Stars, and Michael freaking Des Barres already confirmed and other cool stuff in the works. Get ready!
