Stupidity was one of the most unexpected number 1 albums in 1976. Despite critical acclaim, Dr Feelgood's first album "Down By The Jetty", in cricketing parlance, failed to trouble the scorers, and the follow-up "Malpractice" manage to lurk around the lower reaches of the album charts.
Nevertheless, thanks to constant touring around the UK, the Feelgoods had managed to build up a reputation for their tremendous live shows and were the only band to have properly broken out from the pub-rock scene to a level of mainstream recognition. They proudly flew the flag for Canvey Island.
Thanks to some clever marketing, to whip up enthusiasm for the new live album and then delaying its release, when the LP finally hit the stores the demand was such that Stupidity became the first ever live album to go to the top of the charts in its first week of its release in the UK. The Feelgoods were never to have it so good.
I would like to say I was there, but unfortunately this all past me by !
It was only sometime in 1977 that a school friend lent me his copy of the album, and don't tell anyone, I taped the LP and then played it constantly, trying to work out the lyrics. "Soda pop on the floor", "Got a whistling clover" etc, well, at least I think that is what he said !
It was only three or four years later that I shelled out for my own copy, which as the label states was £3.49 at Our Price Records, so it was probably when I was at College in Cardiff. However, Dr Feelgood were the second major band I saw live ( after Pink Floyd in Berlin on their Animals tour ) when they played Crawley Leisure Centre in 1977.
"Stupidity" is one of the rare albums where I can remember all of the songs on it, and remembered it as a truly outstanding album with only one duff track, and at most two ordinary songs, with the rest being from the top drawer.
Out of the 13 tracks present, 6 were covers of R&B classics, but the majority of the better songs were Wilko Johnson compositions, especially with "She Does It Right", "Going Back Home", "Back In The Night" and "Roxette" being outstanding, although the title track, "I'm a Hog For My Baby" and "Walking The Dog" giving them a fair run for their money.
The Feelgoods were unlikely looking stars. Lead singer Lee Brilleaux looked like a squadie dressed up for a rough evening, drummer The Big Figure and bass player John B. Sparkes looked like night club bouncers and guitarist Wilko Johnson strutted around like Frankenstein, so they were hardly pin-ups, but the energy and menace of the music drew the crowds.
Musically, they combined traditionally R&B with clever modern day lyrics that to some extent were the pre-cursor of Punk Rock, and according to some critics, Dr Feelgood were Punk's elder brother. Indeed, most of Punk's founder members expressed their admiration for Dr Feelgood at some point.
Side one, recorded in Sheffield in 1975, opens with Chuck Berry's "Talking About You", a short introductory number to set the tone with driving bass, a choppy guitar and menacing vocal. It's quickly followed by one of only two songs where Wilko sings the main vocal, "20 Yards Behind", which has some of his trademark lyrics "There's so much confusion in the town when she's passing through, all the cars are going backward and the traffic light change to blue, I'm walking 20 yards behind her cos I am frightened about the damage she do". Brilleaux also delivers a harmonica solo which was famously described as "suck, blow, suck, blow", which fortunately was a reference to the musical playing !
The title track, Solomon Burke's "Stupidity" is up next, with a big build up, then becoming toe-tapping mid-pace number with some great guitar.
"All Through The City" has a great riff but a fairly ordinary tune, but makes reference to their Canvey Island beginnings - "I've been searching all through the city, see you in the morning down by the jetty"
Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" is the low point of the album, the second Wilko vocal, and plods on for over 5 minutes, and even Brilleaux's frantic harmonica can't save it.
The mood changes with a brilliant cover of Rufus Thomas' "Walking The Dog", waking up all those who had fallen asleep during "I'm A Man" "Mary Mary, quite contrary how does your garden grow, with silver bells and cockle shells and pretty ladies all in a row !"
The side ends with the fabulous "She Does It Right", arguably Wilko's finest song, with perhaps his best riff and guitar solo, and a superb vocal from Brilleaux. It's hard to believe the single disappeared without trace, as it is possibly one of UK's finest R&B moments.
Second two, the Southend side, opens with "Going Back Home" jointly written by Wilko and Mick Green of The Pirates. It has a great rhythm section, a searing guitar solo and great Harmonica. "Got a brand new motor and I'm waiting for a loan, so I can fill her up and start her, then I'm going back home",
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Talking About You
2. 20 Yards Behind
3. Stupidity
4. All Through The City
5. I'm A Man
6. Walking The Dog
7. She Does It Right
1. Going Back Home
2. I Don't Mind
3. Back In The Night
4. I'm A Hog For You Baby
5. Checking Up On My Baby
6. Roxette
Released 1976
UK Chart Position : 1
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