Not as random as it might first appear, this five-disc set joins the Feelgoods’ timeline with the Canvey Island band on the verge of major changes. Sneakin’ Suspicion was the band’s fourth release, and the last to feature guitar-toting figurehead Wilko Johnson, soon to be sacked (in ill-judged haste, considering his role as Feelgood’s sole writer).
It’s a state of affairs born out by the 1977 album’s reliance on covers, with the title track arguably the only original to meet the benchmark set by previous material. Be Seeing You, released later the same year with new strummer John Mayo, found them tapping old friends Larry Wallis and producer Nick Lowe for new songs, while reworked 60s soul hits (Wilson Pickett, Homer Banks) suggested an at least partial detour from their pub-rock roots.
All but three tracks on Let It Roll (1979) were written specifically for the album, on which various permutations of members collaborated with session player Pete Wingfield and producer Mike Vernon, most effectively on the near hit single Put Him Out Of Your Mind, but it was a relatively underwhelming collection.
They were back on track for 1980’s high-octane A Case Of The Shakes, with Lowe again producing and singer Lee Brilleaux writing with more confidence on Punch Drunk and Drives Me Wild. That album was the furthest they’d escape Johnson’s long shadow.
And as if to underline the lessening dependence on their erstwhile founder, 1981’s live release On The Job completely ignores the Wilko-era songs that were hitherto the backbone of any Feelgoods set list. It would, however, be Mayo’s last outing and mark the end of the group’s long deal with label United Artists, the law of diminishing returns heralding their final days as a force with which to be reckoned.
by Terry Staunton, 21 December 2016
Tracks
Disc 1 Sneakin' Suspicion 1977
1. Sneakin' Suspicion - 3:55
2. Paradise - 4:06
3. Nothin' Shakin' - But The Leaves On The Trees (Cirino Colacrai, Diane Lampert, Eddie Fontaine, John Gluck Jr.) - 3:29
4. Time And The Devil - 3:01
5. Lights Out (Mac Rebennack, Seth David) - 1:55
6. Lucky Seven (Lew Lewis) - 2:48
7. All My Love - 3:50
8. You'll Be Mine (Willie Dixon) - 3:21
9. Walking On The Edge - 3:42
10.Hey Mama Keep Your Mouth Shut (Ellas McDaniel) - 3:57
All songs by Wilko Johnson unless as else written
Disc 2 Be Seeing You 1977
1. Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do) (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett) - 3:09
2. She's A Windup (John Mayo, Big Figure, John B. Sparks, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:00
3. I Thought I Had It Made (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:16
4. I Don't Wanna Know (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:42
5. That's It, I Quit (Nick Lowe) - 2:35
6. As Long As The Price Is Right (Larry Wallis) - 3:09
7. Hi-Rise (John Mayo) - 2:37
8. My Buddy Buddy Friends (Aaron Corhton) - 2:45
9. Baby Jane (Bernard Reed, Harry Nesbitt, Jerry Wilson, John Bishop, Lee Simmons) - 2:58
10.The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock 'n' Roll (Brownie McGhee, McKinley Morganfield) - 2:20
11.Looking Back (Johnny Guitar Watson) - 2:00
12.60 Minutes Of Your Love (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) - 2:24
Disc 3 Let It Roll
1. Java Blue (Rick Danko) - 4:30
2. Feels Good (John Mayo, Pete Wingfield) - 3:25
3. Put Him Out Of Your Mind (John Mayo, Mike Vernon) - 3:50
4. Bend Your Ear (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 4:02
5. Hong Kong Money (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 4:36
6. Keeka Smeeka (John Mayo) - 4:02
7. Shotgun (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 6:28
8. Pretty Face (Chris Boyle, Gavin Daneski, Ralph Worman, Vic Sendall) - 2:34
9. Ridin' On The L & N (Dan Burley, Lionel Hampton) - 3:32
10.Drop Everthing And Run (Graham Foster, Pete Wingfield, Mike Vernon) - 3:17
Disc 4 A Case Of The Shakes 1980
1. Jumping From Love To Love (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:52
2. Going Some Place Else (Larry Wallis) - 2:17
3. Best In The World (Nick Lowe) - 2:33
4. Punch Drunk (Larry Wallis, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:44
5. King For A Day (Larry Wallis, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:06
6. Violent Love (Otis Rush) - 2:20
7. No Mo Do Yakamo (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:15
8. Love Hound (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 3:00
9. Who's Winning (Nick Lowe, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:12
10.Coming To You (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:47
11.Drives Me Wild (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:24
12.Case Of The Shakes (Bat Fasterly, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:56
Disc 5 On The Job 1981
1. Drives Me Wild (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:48
2. Java Blue (Rick Danko) - 3:57
3. Jumping From Love To Love (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 3:06
4. Pretty Face (Chris Boyle, Gavin Daneski, Ralph Worman, Vic Sendall) - 2:44
5. No Mo Do Yakamo (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:07
6. Love Hound (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:59
7. Best In The World (Nick Lowe) - 2:31
8. Who's Winning (Nick Lowe, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:09
9. Riding On The L & N (Dan Burley, Lionel Hampton) - 3:21
10.Case Of The Shakes (Bat Fasterly, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 3:06
11.Shotgun Blues (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 5:48
12.Goodnight Vienna (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 0:44
Dr Feelgood
*Lee Brilleaux - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
*John B. Sparks - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Gypie Mayo - Guitar
*The Big Figure (John Martin) - Drums, Vocals
With
*Tim Hinkley - Keyboards (Disc 1)
