The best live record ever: and it reached No1! Just a few years into the 1970s, rock had become self-indulgent, and pompous, and singles were increasingly cheesy. But on the pub-rock live circuit Dr Feelgood were building a reputation for their sweaty, speedy, choppy, Canvey Island-bred rhythm and blues. The ace in their hole was their mop-topped, black-clad, bug-eyed guitarist, Wilko Johnson, who careered around the stage like a madman with a machine gun, chopping out funky riffs in a totally unique style. This 1975 live set (released in 1976) was fresh, unrelentingly exciting and inescapably danceable.
Comprised of recordings taken from 1975 tours, the live Stupidity finally captures the relentless, hard-driving energy of Dr. Feelgood at their peak. All the music on Stupidity is presented raw and without overdubs, making it clear that the dynamic friction between guitarist Wilko Johnson and vocalist Lee Brilleaux could propel the band toward greatness. While many of the versions here don't differ in form from the original studio versions, these unvarnished performances are considerably more exciting, revealing the Johnson originals "She Does It Right" and "All Through the City" as minor rock & roll classics.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracks
1. Talking About You - 1:59
2. Twenty Yards Behind - 2:06
3. Stupidity (Solomon Burke) - 2:20
4. All Through The City - 2:54
5. I'm A Man (Ellis McDaniels) - 5:10
6. Walking The Dog (Rufus Thomas) - 2:58
7. She Does It Right - 3:05
8. Going Back Home (Wilko Johnson, Mick Green) - 3:47
9. I Don't Mind - 2:13
10.Back In The Night - 3:09
11.I'm A Hog For You Baby (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 3:17
12.Checking Up On My Baby (Sonny Boy Williamson) - 3:17
13.Roxette - 3:04
14.Keep It Out Of Sight - 2:59
15.Riot In Cell Block No. 9 (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 3:48
16.Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry) - 4:02
17.All Through The City (Stereo Version) - 3:04
18.Roxette - 2:23
19.Boom Boom (Johnny Lee Hooker) - 2:44
20.Rock Me Baby (B.B. King, Lil' Son Jackson) - 4:57
21.All Through The City (Stereo Version) - 3:13
22.Oyeh ! (Stereo Version) (Michael Robert "Mick" Green) - 2:31
23.I'm A Hog For You Baby (Stereo Version) (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 3:05
24.Stupidity (Stereo Version) (Solomon Burke) - 2:08
All songs by Wilko Johnson except whete noted
Tracks 1-7 Live at Sheffield City Hall, 23rd May 1975
Tracks 8-15 Live at Southend Kursaal, 8th November 1975
Track 16 Live at Friar's Aylesbury, May 17th 1975
Tracks 18-20 Live at Cardiff Top Rank, June 19th 1974
Dr Feelgood
*Lee Brilleaux - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Slide Guitar
*Wilko Johnson - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*John B. Sparks - Bass Guitar
*The Big Figure - Drums, Backing Vocals
1974 Down By The Jetty (2014 Japan SHM edition)
Free Text
Text Host
Another great by the Doctor! Thanks a lot...
ReplyDeleteTerrific stuff by Dr Feelgood. Would you happen to have Private Practice too?
ReplyDeleteThanks for another superb Feelgoods post but why did you skip their 2nd Wilko album Malpractice!? I lost interest in them after Wilko left - thats not to say they weren't a good band without him but with him they were great.
ReplyDeleteComplete crap, never liked them then, don't now.. charra from essex... no talent.. where is Wilko now.
ReplyDeleteAfter a cancer battle Wilko returned stronger, and released an album with Roger Daltrey "Going Back Home", they also touring together.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwLeTPVuD3c
Hello. I've added your blog to my blog's list. can you add mine please? Thanks. www.kriteriaradial.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thanks for the continued Dr. Feelgood material, have been enjoying the hell out of it.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry charra. Did they do the Four F Club on ye? More fool you. Have a Cuppa, love. Negative comments get negative responses.
ReplyDeleteMick the Dick.
To Mick the Dick, et al, charra is and always be, shyte..
ReplyDeleteThank you for tis Marios. Glad to hear that Wilko is still alive!
ReplyDeleteWilco is always welcome.
ReplyDeletethanks,
musicbringer
Best live album ever? You're having a laugh, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteThe Feelgoods were just so-so American R&B copyists
Try these instead
Allmans - Fillmore East 1971
The Band - Rock of Ages 1972
Grateful Dead - Live Dead 1969
Van Morrison - Too late to stop now 1973
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus 1978
Magazine - Play 1980
Bob Marley - Live 1975
Misty in Roots - at the Counter-Eurovision
The Rolling Stones - Get yer ya-yas out 1969
Any of these would leave the Feelgoods choking on their dust...
Outside of Magazine I see a list of copyists.Dr Feelgood were on a very short list of bands(Flamin' Groovies,Modern Lovers etc.) trying to keep the faith alive.I was born in 1950 and was bored by the rock/pop music of the early to mid 1970s.I had basically switched to bop and hard bop jazz.Then it all changed in 1976.I feel 1979 is the best year for rock.The great albums are endless!In 2014 I basically listen to jazz and alt. country(whatever that is).
ReplyDeleteLuv Wilko!
Hi, thanks for a great blog. I like the variety that you introduce rather than following a narrow furrow of a single genre.
ReplyDeleteI know the posts are pretty old (especially this one), but it looks like
almost all your older links to freetexthost now end up with
'account suspended'
Hope you may be able to fix this.
Best wishes.
Anonymous, all Dr Feelgood posts repaired...
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for that.
ReplyDeleteThey really were something to see in the UK of the 70's. A great live performance.