Monday, April 23, 2012

Dr. Feelgood - All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977) - Part 2 - #79

Dr. Feelgood - All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977) - Part 2

There's a three page review of the set in Uncut May 2012 (including Wilko Johnson interview) and they give it a 9/10 rating. Interesting text btw, not just your 08/15 piece of hot air. I'm just beginning to ask myself, why is it, that despite the very high profile of Dr Feelgood (at least during the last couple of years), there's hardly anything available in the shops. If, and I mean "if", there's a Dr Feelgood section at all in the racks, you see probably about two, three CDs at the most. And it's even worse when it comes to Wilko Johnson. Most outlets don't seem to have this on offer.

Cheers

Devon

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dr. Feelgood - All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977) - #78

Dr. Feelgood - All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977)

Yes! Yes! Yes! I don't care much about the umpteenth remastered version of the Dr. Feelgood canon according to Wilko Johnson, but this gave me the shivers. I only hold a promo copy in my hand and this consists of the three CDs sans DVD. Speaking of which, I believe I have seen more or less the complete footage on there, but I'm holding out for my commercial copy to make it through the post channels, and hopefully, the visual quality is better than the VHS can provide for, taken from tenth to twentieth generation tapes.


As for the audio part, I'm not sure when I'll be listening to the remastered (2006 and 2012) and live tracks. I'm not one giving myself a headache trying to figure out what's different from earlier releases of certain tracks. This is Dr. Feelgood in all its Wilko Johnson glory and the tracks to go for are on CD 3 (01 to 13). Bloody unbelievable! Tracks I didn't even know Dr. Feelgood had recorded ("Everybody's Carrying A Gun" or "Casting My Spell On You", both of which I had firmly placed in the Wilko Johnson repertoire only) or some instrumentals that I'd never thought I'd hear from our heroes. In the truest sense, these glittering diamonds are leftovers that were probably not considered good enough way back when, but today these outtakes are an archeologists dream come true.

These thirteen tracks alone make this boxset an item, for the true Dr. Feelgood fan, that's not to be missed. I believe, even if Wilko Johnson makes it true and releases a new CD this year with all new songs, this here is still going to be the star of the ticker parade for 2012.

Cheers

Devon

Friday, April 6, 2012

Ernest (Erny) Cadet (Action) - R.I.P. - #77

Ernest (Erny) Cadet (Action) - R.I.P.

Erny died just over a year ago, on March 25, 2011. He was certainly one of the good guys and happened to be the drummer in Action, the early seventies band from Zweibrücken/Germany. I'm glad I got to know Erny and to have witnessed the one off reunion gig of his band in 2008 (http://www.drfeelgood.ch/action.htm). Here's a clip from this performance (with a new singer).


There are more videos from this concert where this one is coming from. Erny, you're still being missed! There's a CD available (Garden Of Delights CD 149) with the original tracks from 1972 plus a few bonus ones from their 2008 gig. At the time, Erny did also release a DVD of the event. I'm not sure this can still be had, try your luck.

P.S.: Just found some newspaper clips on the internet, apparently there's going to be a memorial gig, which is supposed to be an annual event. First one will be on April 14, 2012. Can't make it this year, as I'm already heading to some other place, but I'll make sure, I'll be there in 2013.

Cheers

Devon

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Mighty Four -Pt. 2 - #76

Mighty Four -Pt. 2

Only almost a year later http://thepracticerocks.blogspot.com/search?q=mighty+four this CD has finally found its way into my CD player. Talk about fast! I'm going to review the CD on my website (link will follow as soon as its up), so this here is just a short one. Eight tracks clocking in at just below the half hour. But as the saying goes, rather a first class 30 minutes, than a boring full hour. The band seems to be more diversified, compared to earlier releases and there is even a heavy Blues of sorts ("Meet Me Down The Corner"). They call it High Class Jump'n'Blues, but there's a good slice of Rock'n'Roll to be found as well. Recommended listening of the month and contender for a top spot in the 2011 shortlist of albums. Did I say I was late?

Cheers

Devon

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Shonen Knife - Pt. 2 - #75

Shonen Knife - Pt. 2

Just listening to a bunch of CDs by one of my all time favourite bands, I was surfin the www at the same time and came across this video here. A rather recent gig and around 60 minutes of it.


Hook it up to your TV set and enjoy! Shonen Knife rocks! Even after all these years.

Cheers

Devon

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Danny Amis aka Daddy-O Grande - #74

Danny Amis aka Daddy-O Grande

Here's just a glance at the world of Danny Amis aka Daddy-O Grande. He's best known for his role in Los Straitjackets (a fantastic instrumental band btw), but he's been playing with a lot of other bands as well. Lost Acapulco are one outfit that comes to mind (their collaboration CD with Daddy-O Grande is highly recommended).


If you can't do without vocals, then you're certainly on the wrong boat, but if you find good instrumental music exciting, then check out everything that has to do with Danny Amis aka Daddy-O Grande. Here's his website: http://www.daddyogrande.com/

Cheers

Devon

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

John Blaney - A Howlin' Wind (Book) - #73

John Blaney - A Howlin' Wind (Book)

This book here, subtitled "Pub Rock And The Birth Of New Wave", found its way into my letterbox today. Of course, I haven't read it yet, but checking the index reveals a lot of references to Dr Feelgood or Wilko Johnson (plus a host of other bands/musicians from the pubrock era). I believe, except the few well known books (Will Birch for one) regarding this topic, there's not much more on the market.


These are around 350 pages in the form of a paperback, with just a few pictures thrown in. Released by soundcheck books. I've no idea about the general price, although my copy did cost me the equivalent of around EUR 22.00, which I consider good value.

Cheers

Devon

Dr Feelgood - Private Practice - #72

Dr Feelgood - Private Practice

The other day, I found this CD in a local shop. Apparently a re-release (GRANDCD32) in a digipack. The old Grand release was GRANDCD01 and came in a jewel case. I don't see anything different than the catalogue number and a slight alteration to the cover. I didn't have a clue as to this release until this afternoon and I don't know wether other albums are in the pipeline to get the same nontreatment. The Cadiz website is not very informative and other sources are hard to come by.


Unfortunately (for me), I'm the kind of guy who needs to buy this stuff, even though the album is in my collection a few times over. I just hope, that Cadiz leaves it at that, because I really don't need to buy the whole backcatalogue again. But there you are, once a Dr Feelgood fan, always a Dr Feelgood fan.

Cheers

Devon