Dr. Feelgood is one of those names I'd never have even considered for this feature, had I not heard Undertones drummer Mickey Bradley play a track by a certain Dr. Feelgood ("not that one") a couple of weeks back on his excellent BBC Radio Ulster show (available not on the Sounds app). And once Mickey had pushed me down that particular rabbit hole...
DR. FEELGOOD #1
American pianist Willie Lee Perryman was the first blues musician to make an impact on the US pop charts. He recorded under the name Piano Red in the 30s and 40s (while maintaining a day job in upholstery), but it wasn't until 1950 that he had his first chart hits, "Rockin' with Red" and "Red's Boogie". In 1961, he recorded the song "Dr. Feel-Good" and changed the name of his act to Dr. Feelgood and the Interns. The b-side, Mr. Moonlight, was later covered by The Beatles.
The quintessential* Essex pub rock band who made the big time. They formed in 1971, comprising Wilko Johnson, Lee Brilleaux, John B. Sparks and John Martin. "Still active today with none of the original members." Imagine if that was true of the Beatles.
(*I've never used the word "quintessential" on this blog before. It might not be 100% appropriate in the sentence above, but I'm past caring.)
DOCTOR FEELGOOD #3
Also in 1971, these US jazz-rockers exploded onto the scene with Dick Winters on saxophone and a track about bogies and the fluff you find between your toes. The full album is available on the tube of you, if you're so inclined.
"Original Down South hip hop music that reintroduces its audience to the kind of rap that put the dirty south on the map -- its like taking a trip in time with your favorite mind altering narcotic." This one from 2015.
Only five for you today, but that's still four more than I'd have expected until recently. Special mention should go to this song from Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Vince Neil: the title track of their 1989 album... if only because it's the first Dr. Feelgood that pops up when you enter those words into google..
I’m not going to pretend to be the world’s biggest expert on
Wilko Johnson – a quick glance through the archives of this blog, and I doubt
you’ll find his name mentioned more than once or twice. I only really know him
from the obvious Dr. Feelgood tracks (although he'd left the band by the time of Milk & Alcohol). However, when I heard about his death
last week and read a little bit more of his story, I was tempted to dip my
ears into the swirling pool of the interweb and see what random nuggets might surface. I didn’t do this with a post in mind, but
I found some pretty groovy tunes to share, so why not?
Think about the girls in California
I tell you man, I’d rather stay at home
I spend a lot of my time trying to survive the motorway, so
I was naturally drawn to this one.
There's also a version of this on Wilko's collaboration with Roger Daltrey, a double act that appears to have got together purely to use the radio shorthand Roger Wilko... and then not actually used it.
I presume the spelling was to
avoid a lawsuit from Friedrich Nietzsche.
You know she’s Superman’s big sister
Her X-Ray eyes see through my silly ways
Superman’s big sister, superior skin and blister
It doesn’t seem surprising nowadays
And now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain...
My Way is such a famous song, it's hard to believe that the Beatles were on the verge of breaking up when Frank first recorded it. It feels like it must have been around well before 1969. But the French song, "Comme d'habitude", it was based on was only written two years earlier. The lyrics to that are very different from the ones Paul Anka wrote for Frank though... after old blue eyes told Paul he was quitting the music business because he was sick of it. Talk about a comeback...
Frank apparently came to hate My Way though, and Leonard Cohen only liked Sid Vicious's version. Call me a traditionalist, but I still think Frank's take is unbeatable... although I do have a fondness for Shane MacGowan's version. Not to mention Elvis and Willie. Each one can bring a tear to my eye, if the wind's blowing in the right direction. However, they all follow the same Frank's template... unlike Maxine Weldon, who really took it her own way in 1975...
There are a few songs called My Way in my collection that have nothing to do with the infamous karaoke staple. They were all written long after, and all suffer in comparison...
Eddie Cochran had been dead almost a decade when Frank first faced his own final curtain. So Eddie had nothing to live up to when he recorded this little beauty in the late 50s...
We have a new guest this week on Guest Post Thursday - our old friend Rigid Digit, and even better... it's his round! Take it away, RD...
3 months of Lockdown hasn’t actually been as bad as
initially feared.
Work continues, buying music continues unabated.And after early difficulties, shopping, beer
and spirits, and a selection of snacks (including Frazzles, Pork Scratchings,
and Ritz Crackers) continue to arrive at my home.
As advised, daily exercise involves a 30 or 60 minute walk
around the local area.12 years I’ve
lived here, and I’ve discovered new roads, paths, and houses I never knew
existed.
One such walk, on a warm evening, concluded with a walk up
the hill towards home and past the local Pub.
It was at that point it hit me – “I could murder a Pint”
Yes, I can imbibe at home – but the sitting in a Pub nursing
a Pint of frothing ale is but a dream at this time.
The potential easing of restrictions suggests Pubs and
Restaurants may be opening soon, but until that time when I/We can enter the
local hostelry again, here are 10 Boozy Based Tracks to keep the Spirits up (do you see what I did there?)
Bad Manners did a sort of Two Tone Ska thing with added
Music Hall.Buster Bloodvessel’s gurning
upped the comedy angle, as did frequent appearances on Tiswas.
This track may not be strictly “about” booze, but namechecks Lemmy’s favourite
drink (after Jack Daniels), and is one their very best.
Straight out of Canvey Island, plying no nonsense R&B,
and you wouldn’t want to start a fight with any of them.A supposed autobiographical tale of
songwriters Nick Lowe and Gypie Mayo consuming too many Kahlua based drinks at
a John Lee Hooker show.
Despite having no original members, Dr Feelgood continue to
tour to this day – and a thoroughly great show is guaranteed
The Irish do like a drink (apparently), and it would take
about a month to complete a Pub Crawl in Dublin’s Temple Bar (you may also need
a second mortgage).Those in the North
are equally thirsty too.In my
experience they also have some of the most welcoming Pubs I’ve ever been in.
The Who By Numbers isn’t a bad album, just often forgotten
in the pantheon of ‘Oo greats.
OK – it’s a patchy album.After Who’s Next and Quadrophenia they just sound a bit laboured in
places.But the good outweighs the not
so good, and is ripe for re-discovery.
This track deals with the darker side, and catalogues Pete
Townsend's experiences and reasons for giving up the demon drink.
There are 9 official albums in The Doors catalogue – I
reckon all you need is the debut (from which this track is lifted) and The Best
Of The Doors, and you’re pretty much covered.
Also, this track is apparently responsible for Status Quo’s
change in style from psychedelic pop to heads down no nonsense mindless boogie
This track is never less than an absolute joy.Jangling guitars, speedy delivery (all done
and dusted in under 2 and a half minutes), and a video featuring
mad/uncomfortable dancing, a claymation sequence, and a cameo from Phill
Jupitus.
He drinks a Whiskey drink, he drinks a Vodka drink
He drinks a Lager drink, he drinks a Cider drink
And somehow this song escaped the BBC censors with the line
“pissing the night away” – George Formby’s harmless, but suggestive, “With My
Little Stick of Blackpool Rock" gets banned, but a song about alcohol
abuse containing a naughty word is absolutely fine.
Fresh over from Ireland, the band need a hit single to repay
Decca’s faith.They deliver a re-working
of an old folk song, hit the top 10.It
gets too much for Eric Bell who goes back home, but Phil Lynott gets a taste of
Rock & Roll lifestyle and a legend is born.
10. Underworld – Born Slippy
Lager, Lager, Lager …
Thanks, RD... I've long thought of doing a similar Top 10 myself, but was always crushed by the sheer weight of drinking songs available. Good to see my beloved whiskey well-represented, even though I haven't touched a drop in 20 years. (Can it really be that long?) RD also had quite a few leftovers in his list, so maybe I can persuade him back for a volume 2. Or perhaps you fancy a go at compiling your own drinking Top Ten. As always, the door is open for anyone on Guest Post Thursdays, and as I speak, there's a blank space in the diary next week...
