Thursday, March 23, 2017

ABCs of My Vinyl Collection (Letter E, Part 4)

It's probably not the best sign when your favorite song from an artist was penned by another, but that's the position I find myself in with Dave Edmunds. Elvis Costello said he gave "Girls Talk" to Edmunds "in a moment of drunken bravado," and we should all be thankful for his cockiness. The next time you have a free evening, do yourself a favor and play both of Rockpile's albums from 1979, Nick Lowe's 'Labour of Lust' and Edmunds' 'Repeat When Necessary,' back to back. Lowe, Edmunds Billy Bremner and Terry Williams were a hell of a unit. From the Edmunds' section, here are the three singles from 'Repeat When Necessary,' covers one and all. I'll have another treat featuring Edmunds and Lowe and a couple of famous siblings next time.

"Girls Talk"
"Crawling From the Wreckage"
"Queen of Hearts"

7 comments:

The Swede said...

This great album arrived just ahead of the time I first started working in a record shop and it was one of the very few titles that managed to unite all of the staff, becoming a turntable favourite - 'It's Alive' by The Ramones being another that springs to mind. A bunch of us travelled the few miles down the road from Ipswich to Colchester to see Rockpile on this tour, in an underground student hall on the Essex University campus. Up to the point where I ran headlong into the aural onslaught that was Husker Du several years later, it was the loudest gig I'd ever encountered.
'Repeat When Necessary' is one of *those* albums, that, for no apparent reason, has the ability to reanimate the sights, sounds, smells and sensibilities of the 19 year old version of me. I love it dearly.

Brian said...

Swede, It's great when you can find an album that unites the staff. In my days behind the counter in the early '90s, we had a few of those, but it was rare. Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend worked in our shop.

Pop Judge said...

Such a classic from my album from my teenage years. Great memories.

Brian said...

You never cease to surprise me, Judge Pop. Happy we have this one in common. Hopefully tomorrow's selection will meet your approval too. Word on the street is we will be hearing from you guys soon. Can't wait.

Echorich said...

The rock family tree that includes the branches with Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello and Rockpile was in full foliage in 79. Our musical tastes would take us down different paths over the following decade, but there was a brilliant, no nonsense sound of pop and rock and roll that came from these men that has had a way of staying with us.

Brian said...

Thanks for that, Echorich. I would probably throw Graham Parker and a couple of others from Stiff into that group, but you are right. We did stick with this crew through many changes in our musical tastes.

Rol said...

I love all of these, but Crawling From The Wreckage has a special place in my record collection. Amazing song.