I first became aware of Eddie And The Hot Rods when their Live At The Marquee EP started to getting significant airplay on Nicky Horne's late night radio show on Capital Radio. Despite being covers, all three songs on the EP were new to me and I thought they were superb. Starting with a high energy version of ? And The Mysterions "96 Tears", then a frantic version of Bob Seger's "Get Out Of Denver" before finishing with a rousing sing-a-long version of Van Morrison's "Gloria", or G-L-O-R-I-A as it perhaps should have been titled.
The debut album was eagerly anticipated, and it didn't disappoint. Like Dr Feelgood, the Hot Rods came from Canvey Island and the two bands were often compared with each other. However, although the Feelgoods possessed the menace of Lee Brilleaux's vocals, Wilko's spiky guitar and a reputation for their energetic live performances, their rhythm section still gave a smooth sound to their essentially R&B set-list.
The Hot Rods on the other hand were much more raw, and whilst Dr Feelgood have been labelled as an essential precursor to punk-rock who heavily influenced punk's leading lights, Eddie And The Hot Rods have subsequently been cited as the missing link between pub rock and punk.
Indeed, "Teenage Depression" was loud, fast and full of angst. The 11 songs lasted only a little over 31 minutes but it didn't feel as if the listener was getting short changed. Eight of the tracks were penned by guitarist Dave Higgs, with three covers. Generally, the original songs worked best, with Joe Tex's "Show Me" and Sam Cooke's "Shake" probably being the weakest tracks. However, given the high benchmark that didn't mean they were bad. Another aspect was that the two tracks which were recorded on the same night as the Live At The Marquee EP, "Been So Long" and "The Kids Are Alright", were almost the album's highlights.
As as an indication of how often I must have played all the LP, I could remember all of the songs but it would be interesting to see how good they sounded today 46 years after its release.
Side one begins with "Get Across To You" which is the perfect opener and scene setter for what is to come. Starting with some manic drumming before the urgent guitar joins in, it has has a toe-tapping tune and a crazy guitar solo.
"Why Can't It Be ?" is another high tempo song, and might perhaps today be labelled as power-pop, and paving the way for the Buzzocks. The bass lines are particularly noticeable.
"Show Me" comes next and is more obviously a R&B song, and the next track, "All I Need Is Money" has a pacy chorus and the attitude that many a punk band espoused.
"Double Checkin' Women" is lyrically the closest to material on this album that Wilko Johnson might have written, and is another track that might be considered to be R&B.
Side One closes with a live version of Pete Townsend's "The Kids Are Alright", and is a good, energetic version of a good song that probably deserved wider exposure, having only reached number 41 as a single for The Who. It's one of my favourites on the album.
The title track and only single from the album starts Side Two, and is perhaps the best studio song on the LP, and has the best riff.
"Horseplay" is the only song to feature piano, but it is low down in the mix so barely noticeable. It is pacy, but probably the most monotone of the 11 tracks on the album.
"Been So Long" is my favourite song on the whole album. The other live recording from the Marquee gig, it has a slightly slower pace, a great bass intro, a jagged guitar riff and the tempo gives the verse space to breathe, before a faster chorus. It should have been the second single.
"Shake" only lasts for 1 minute 30, and feels slightly out of place here, being move of a Twist type song than a prototype punk rock track.
The six-minute finale "On The Run" is a great track but slightly against the grain from the preceding 25 minutes. Although there is a similar angst, paranoia and frustration in the lyrics, musically it borders on the psychedelic, especially the guitar lines, and some weird noises. The spoken "A number, I am not a number" is taken from the cult TV series "The Prisoner" which was enjoying a hugely popular repeat re-run when "Teenage Depression" was released, and in 1977 Dr Feelgood released the album "Be Seeing You", the title being another popular recurring line from the series.
I have to admit that I was worried that "Teenage Depression" might have sounded terribly dated but I needn't have worried as still sounded great and I really enjoyed hearing it again.Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Get Across To You
2. Why Can't It Be ?
3. Show Me
4. All I Need Is Money
5. Double Checkin' Women
6. The Kids Are All Right
1. Teenage Depression
2. Horseplay ( Wearier Of The Schmaltz )
3. Been So Long
4. Shake
5. On The Run
Released 1976
UK Chart Position : 43
Singles :
Teenage Depression ( No 35 - 1976 )
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