Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home - #164

Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home

What do you expect from a chef who mixes strawberry icecream with minced meat? Well, after you've survived the first shock and given it some time to settle in your stomach, you're thinking, this eatery must have three stars, no questions asked. Although, I have most of the Who's output in my collection, it did take me by surprise first. Hearing some stranger's vocals on songs that are entirely Wilko's. But fear not, two or three spins of the entire album and you're hooked.

Roger Daltrey is doing a very good job and, I seem to keep on repeating myself, since I used this very same term in another connection as well, is not apeing Wilko's vocal style. Well, that would have been something to listen to. But then, Mr. Daltrey is also a million light years away from his usual bread and butter job. He does sound quite at ease with Wilko's songs and even tracks like "Sneaking Suspicion" are well worth listening to again.

The extensive use of keyboards is something else, not entirely standard on Mr. Johnson's output. But again, this is great and lets you hear those well known ditties with a twist. "Everybody's Carrying A Gun" has lost some of its dark under tones and is more of a happy go lucky song now. One of the highlights is certainly "Turned 21", a song that's been among my top 10 Wilko Johnson tracks, since it was released way back when. This is a great great version. I can't say for sure, but it sounds like it's being played at around half the speed of the original. And what it does to the song, thumbs up!

There's no use going through this album track by track, just let me add, that the first song, "Going Back Home" makes your entry into this world of Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey collaboration very easy. Lots of harmonica, which could be well by Mr. Daltrey himself, I don't know, as I don't have any information re recording etc. As a diehard Wilko fan, you might need some time to settle in. Give the album the chance it deserves and you'll be rewarded in spades.

Cheers

Devon

Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home - #163

Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home

For all the vinyl aficionados out there, this item will not only be released as a CD, but will make an appearance on glorious vinyl as well. At least that's what it says on the website of a local dealer. Good good, that's the kind of news to save a day.

Besides the UK/EU release of this item, there's going to be a Japanese SHM edition of the CD. It's the same 11 tracks as on the standard release (no bonus), at least it didn't say so on the website where I found this. No mention of a Japanese vinyl though.

Cheers

Devon

The Urban Voodoo Machine Featuring Wilko Johnson - #162

The Urban Voodoo Machine Featuring Wilko Johnson

One of those two songs, "Heroin", is available on the free CD that comes with the March 2014 issue of Classic Rock (U.K.). It's the Bad Company cover on the magazine and the CD itself is entitled "Sharp Shooters". That's now the second time in only a couple of months, that Wilko Johnson is on one of these giveaway releases.

Cheers

Devon

Wilko Johnson - Back In The Night/The Best Of Wilko Johnson (LP) - #161

Wilko Johnson - Back In The Night/The Best Of Wilko Johnson (LP)

Meanwhile, the LP has made its way to my place. This is exactly how a vinyl release should be made. Excellent haptics, gorgeous graphics, 180 gr platters, "2500-word biography" (no, I didn't count it, it says so on the back of the sleeve) and on side four an additional five songs "Live in Tunbridge Wells, November 2005". Fantastic really.

Now, "Red Hot Rocking Blues" is somewhere in the mail pipeline and should get here any day now as well. From what I've read, this one has also a number of bonus tracks on offer.

Cheers

Devon

Dr. Feelgood - Japanese Reissues 2014 (CDs) - #160

Dr. Feelgood - Japanese Reissues 2014 (CDs)

The whole lot from Down By The Jetty" to "A Case Of The Shakes" seems to have been reissued in Japan in January 2014 and those CDs can be ordered online (with a 3 to 5 days delivery time delay). Strange enough, the exact same batch is also offered as a cardboard sleeve edition (different catalogue numbers, but also single albums) with a street date in March 2014. What do I make of this? No idea, really! The latter seemingly "limited". O.K., there's a laugh! Last time I believed such a hype ... I probably need to turn back the clock a few decades.

Not sure I'll be forking out my cash for this, right now, sorry if I offend anyone, I couldn't care less. They could as well ask me to transfer my cash into their accounts, thus helping the starving record industry. I need to wait and see where this goes to. If there's any good reason thrown my way, I might change my opinion about this. Until then, this is a no-go for me.

Cheers

Devon

Wilko Johnson - Back In The Night (LP) - #159

Wilko Johnson - Back In The Night (LP)

Another Wilko Johnson album makes a first time appearance on vinyl. "Back In The Night" has a release date of around January 31, 2014. Interesting to see what's being thrown onto the market now. I'm not complaining, my orders have been placed for all the upcoming items.

Not on pre-order yet, the collaboration album with Roger Daltrey, which, I believe, will take another two months (or thereabouts) to make it into the shops. And there's hoping that Wilko will finish the project for an album with all new material.

Cheers

Devon

Wilko Johnson - Red Hot Rocking Blues (LP) - #158

Wilko Johnson - Red Hot Rocking Blues (LP)

I just got an e-mail the other day, pointing out, that "Red Hot Rocking Blues" will be released as a 180gr vinyl item (who would have thought?). Depending on the country, there seem to be different street dates, January 20, 2014 for the U.K., Germany around mid February 2014 and even more for other distribution areas. Ask your favourite brick and mortar shop record dealer to order this for you and support these stores. The major mailorder biggies care exactly zero about you and your needs.

Cheers

Devon

The Urban Voodoo Machine feat. Wilko Johnson (Part 2) - #157

The Urban Voodoo Machine feat. Wilko Johnson (Part 2)

Meanwhile, the 7" (on red vinyl) and the CD single have found their way to this place here. Interesting stuff, to say the least. Aficionados of Wilko Johnson should head straight for the B-side. Here, the master of the telecaster is in full flow and, I have to admit it, put a grin on my face when I heard this ditty the first time around. In fact, I'm still smiling when I listen to the song. Wilko at what he does best.

The A-side? Of course, superb performance of our hero, but I've got a bit of a problem with the song itself. Sounds a bit like a broken down Tom Waits leftover. And, frankly, I've had enough of Tom Waits to last a lifetime. Excellent songwriter and performer, no doubt, but he's been overdoing it by a country mile for the last 15 years. The guy used to be an innovator, he's just a nuisance these days. And copying him, what does that make you? But still there's Wilko on it and these days I take every bit I can get of the man.

In a review I read, that it takes some guts to ask Wilko to play guitar on a song called "Help Me Jesus", Well, he did it, doesn't mean he has to back the lyrics. Both songs are worth having, the first one only because you can't go without anything that has Wilko's name on it, but it's really the second track where your heart is. Buy it, no matter what I, or someone else says.

Cheers

Devon