After their live album "Stupidity" was a surprise number 1 in the UK album charts, Dr Feelgood's follow-up album was eagerly anticipated, both for the new songs from guitarist Wilko Johnson ( real name John Wilkinson, and not to be confused with the English Rugby Union World Cup hero ! ) as well as the next batch of R&B classics to be covered. However, just before the new album was about to be released, news came out that Johnson had quit/been fired, depending on which source you read.
The music press reported that the split had arisen by the insistence of the other Feelgoods that Lew Lewis' "Lucky Seven" should be included on the album, although when we finally got to hear the song it was hard to see why they took this a stance over such an ordinary song, apart from perhaps some solidarity ( and potential royalties ) to a fellow Canvey Islander.
Matters looked even stranger when Dr Feelgood made their Top Of The Pops debut, but rather than play the single "Sneakin' Suspicion" they gave, an admittedly energetic, performance of the B-Side "Lights Out" rather than promote the Wilko composition.
The album was greeted with generally poor reviews, mostly along the lines that it was already consigned to history, with the focus on what the Feelgoods would do next without their song-writer. The fact that the producer of the album was Bert de Coteaux, an American with a track record in disco/soul didn't help and led to the accusation that the Feelgood's rough edge had been smoothed away. The album contained 5 Wilko compositions and 5 covers.
The tour to promote the LP included a performance at the Crawley Leisure Centre, the first time the venue had ever been used to host a pop/rock gig, but the set-list was essential "Stupidity" plus the new covers, although "Sneakin' Suspicion" was also played. It was a great concert though !
I was disappointed with the album. Although there were a handful of highlights, there were also several ordinary songs, so it was going to be interesting to see how they sounded 45 years later.
Side One is by far the best side and opens with the title track. "Sneakin' Suspicion" was always the one stand-out song on the album. A mid-paced stomper with the trademark choppy guitar, slide guitar solo, a typically gruff vocal and piano increasingly prominent as the song progresses, it was the obvious choice for both the title track and the single from the album. It still sounds good.
Next-up is "Paradise", one of the two songs sung by Wilko. It's hardly typical Feelgood fare and almost psychedelic or even rockabilly. It the hands of a more versatile singer it could be great but Wilko's monotone delivery spoil this version for me. That said, some critics reckon this to be Wilko's finest ever song !
"Nothin' Shakin' ( But The Leaves On The Trees )" is the first and best cover, with the song having first being recorded in 1958. Lee Brilleaux gives a great vocal and harmonica, the bass and drum performances are probably the best on the LP, and there is an energy missing from many of the other songs.
"Time and The Devil" is the other song with a vocal by Wilko. It's almost a whimsical boogie and again features the slide guitar, there's more piano in the background and is perhaps the second best song on the album. Wilko sings "Time and the devil's gonna bring me everything I need", and as one reviewer at the time remarked, "Let's hope so !"
Side One ends with the frantic cover of "Light's Out" which has a great vocal from Brilleaux, and is one of the better songs on the album. It wouldn't be out of place on "Stupidity".
Side Two opens with "Lucky Seven" which actually sounds quite decent now, but could easily be part of the Chuck Berry back catalogue. It's followed by "All My Love", which is the least interesting Wilko song on on display here despite a nice guitar riff and solo and Lee gives the harmonica some gusto.
The cover of Willie Dixon's "You'll Be Mine" is in the album filler category, a routine R&B song with very little originality to be make it memorable.
The highlight of side two come next. Wilko's "Walking On The Edge" has the trademark choppy guitar missing from most of the album, more slide guitar and another top vocal from Brilleaux.
The final track "Hey Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut"goes on too long and is a waste of vinyl.
Overall this was a better listen than I had expected, with a couple of songs sounding better now than I remembered. It was noticeable though that the bass was much lower in the mix than the previous Feelgood albums, and will never know how the change of direction hinted at in "Paradise" would have mapped out.
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Sneakin' Suspicion
2. Paradise
3. Nothin Shakin' ( But The Leaves On The Tree )
4. Time And The Devil
5. Lights Out
1. Lucky Seven
2. All My Love
3. You'll Be Mine
4. Walking On the Edge
5. Hey Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut
Released 1977
UK Chart Position : 10
Singles :
Sneakin Suspicion ( No 47 - 1977 )
