Album Review #14 - Dave Edmunds - "D.E.7th" (1982)

 

Album Review #14

 

Artist:  Dave Edmunds

Album:  DE7th

Year of Release:  1982

Grade:  4 / 5

 

Band Members

Dave Edmunds – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards

Dave Charles – drums

John David – bass

Geraint Watkins – piano, keyboards

Bobby Irwin – drums

Dave Peacock – banjo, bass

John Earle – saxophone

Dick Hanson – trumpet

Mickey Gee – guitar

Albert Lee – guitar

Liam Grundy – piano

Neil King - trumpet

 

Background

Dave Edmunds is from Wales and one of the founding members of the band Love Sculpture and later Rockpile.  Edmunds’ music stylings are sometimes called pub rock, new wage or twist on rockabilly (more rocker version).  In a unique situation, Edmunds and Nick Lowe formed the band Rockpile.  However, both were signed to different labels so what they ended up doing was Nick Lowe and the rest of Rockpile backed up Edmunds on his solo records while Edmunds and Rockpile backed up Nick Lowe on his solo records.  Once their recording contracts expired, they were able to record one album as a band before breaking up.  This was Edmund’s first album without any Rockpile members in years.

 

Edmunds was also a sought-after producer working the Stray Cats, Squeeze, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.  He has also worked with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Star, and Paul McCartney.

 

My oldest friend Chris introduced me to his older music.

 

Personal note – My friend Dave and I met Dave Edmunds briefly while waiting to get into his show at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit in 1987.  We got there early because there was no reserved seating and we both really liked Dave Edmunds.  We held the door open when people started lugging equipment in and out.  Next thing we know, Dave Edmunds walks out so we quickly say hi and shake his hand.  He asks us what we are doing and I say “waiting for you to start playing”.  He said “Well, I’m going to dinner so see you in a bit”.  Later, we got into the show and stood right in front of the stage.  We were by the piano player with all the cords tucked in.  Some drunken idiot next to us sets his beer on the stage and knocks it over.  Beer is heading right for where everyone is plugged in.  Edmunds sees it and I take my jacket and block the beer from hitting the electronics (potential electrocution).  Then Dave looks my way and says thanks.  My first rock star interaction.

 

Track Listing

1.      “From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)” (Bruce Springsteen)

2.      “Me And The Boys” (Terry Adams)

3.      “Bail You Out” (Chris Rees)

4.      “Generation Rumble” (Graham Lyle)

5.      “Other Guys Girls” (Christopher Gent)

6.      “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)” (Gary Geld, Peter Udell)

7.      “Deep In The Heart Of Texas” (Geraint Watkins)

8.      “Louisiana Man” (Doug Kershaw)

9.      “Paula Meet Jeanne” (Jude Cole)

10.  “One More Night” (Liam Grundy)

11.  “Dear Dad” (Chuck Berry)

 

 

Review

“From Small Things” is a great opening album track.  First, it takes everything good about a Springsteen song and Edmunds puts his own spin on it.  It definitely has a rockabilly style guitar that anchors the song from start to finish.  Kind of a typical song story – girl leaves home, takes a job, meets a boy, girl runs off with boy, meets another guy and kills him, then heads to prison. Springsteen actually gave him the song.

When (Edmunds) went to see Springsteen perform at Wembley Arena (in 1981), he expected a good show but not necessarily a new song to record. "I was backstage in the hospitality area after the gig," Edmunds remembered, "and one of his crew of road managers tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Bruce wants to meet you.' I went back and had this great talk with him, and he played me this song and said, 'I'd like you to do this, if you like it.' He said he'd send me the tape, which he did."

 

The second track “Me And The Boys” starts out with this great guitar riff.  My only critique and what stops this from being an amazing song is the vocal echo.  It is just too much of a delay and muddles the vocals.  To me, the song is all about good friends hanging out.

 

“Bail You Out” is a typical Edmunds style song.  Heavy on a rockabilly beat and guitar.  It is not as engaging as other tracks on the album.  It is in the middle in terms of cuts.

 

“Generation Rumble” is a catchy song about one generation (mother) fighting with another (daughter).  Then as the song progresses the daughter becomes a mother and has the same battles with her daughter.  The song sort of reminds me of that parental anguish “I hope you have a child just like you”.

 

“Other Guy’s Girls” is a takeoff on the grass is always greener but kind of flips it.  Instead of the wandering eye of the singer leaving the girl, he wants to know why she can’t act like his friends’ girlfriends (charming, showing affection, faithful).  Then it ends up with his friends saying that they wish their girlfriend were more like his.

“Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)” has definitely more twang than the other cuts on the album.  It’s a cheating song where the singer is the one being cheated on.  But it does have a catchy melody and chorus.

 

“Deep In The Heart Of Texas” is more rockabilly than country song even though the title almost screams country music.  It’s really more about the stereotypical image of cowboys and Texans.  The song itself is just ok.  It’s not the worst song on the album but falls in the middle.

 

“Louisiana Man” starts with a boogie woogie shuffle that would fit into a country song.  It has some nice musical pieces with some cajun flavors. 

 

“Paula Meet Jeanne” is another sort of cheating song.  The singer is tired of his girl cheating on him so an old girlfriend comes back to town so the singer says enough is enough and don’t bother calling him back.  It is definitely in the traditional Edmunds style of the rockier rockabilly.  It was written by singer/songwriter Jude Cole who had some hits in the late 80s.

 

“One More Night” is a really nice ballad.  His vocals have quite a bit of emotion with a piano backing.  While it is not a fantastic song, it is a good song.

 

“Dear Dad” is a Chuck Berry cover song.  This song does nothing for me.  He pretty much keeps the Chuck Berry sound.