Dexys Midnight Runners | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Dexys Midnight Runners are best known in America as one of new waves ultimate one-hit wonders, thanks to their 1982 number one smash "Come on Eileen," a distinctive fusion of 80s pop, Celtic folk, and blue-eyed soul. In the U.K., however, they earned a fair amount of critical acclaim and made a greater impression on the public consciousness with their frequent changes in sound, wardrobe, and personnel. Dexys were formed in 1978 by singer/guitarist/songwriter Kevin Rowland and singer/guitarist Kevin "Al" Archer (who changed his first name to avoid confusion). Both had been members of the Birmingham, England, punk band the Killjoys, and Rowland, who was ethnically Irish, had split his childhood between London, Ireland, and Birmingham, and soaked up the influence of Irish folk and the so-called Northern soul music popular in the Midlands. Seeking a new direction, Rowland and Archer decided to put together a full-fledged soul outfit and named it after the stimulant Dexedrine, a popular drug on the Northern soul scene (despite the strict no-drinking-or-drugs policy Rowland later imposed on the band). The lineup eventually settled on trombonist Big Jim Paterson, tenor saxophonist Geoff Blythe, alto saxophonist Steve "Babyface" Spooner, keyboardist Mick Talbot (who replaced Pete Saunders, was once a member of the Merton Parkas and later joined the Style Council), bassist Pete Williams, and drummer Andy "Stoker" Growcott (who replaced Bobby Junior). Acutely image conscious, Rowland tried to reflect the bands working-class roots by dressing them as New York dockworkers, with a wardrobe lifted straight from the Martin Scorsese/Robert DeNiro film Mean Streets. The band struggled financially at first, especially given its large membership, and according to legend, Rowland organized (or at least encouraged) shoplifting expeditions to make ends meet. Dexys didnt take long to release their first single; "Dance Stance" (aka "Burn It Down"), an attack on anti-Irish discrimination, appeared on EMI in 1979, but only scraped the lower reaches of the charts. However, their next single, "Geno," a tribute to American-born soul singer Geno Washington (whod made his career in the U.K.), went all the way to the top of the British charts in early 1980. Dissatisfied with their share of the profits, the band stole the completed master tapes of their debut album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels, and successfully reworked their deal. When the album was released later in 1980, it caused a sensation. With their bright, tuneful, horn-heavy take on Memphis soul (which predated Paul Wellers similar transformation of the Jam), Dexys were hailed as British rocks return to an organic, soulful sound in the post-punk/new wave era. Their third single, "There There My Dear," became a Top Ten hit, but Rowland insisted on following it with the inadvisable single choice of "Keep It, Pt. 2," which flopped. This was the last straw for most of the band, who had grown tired of Rowlands control-freak leadership and restlessness. Archer left to form the Blue Ox Babes, and most of the rest of the group wound up in the Bureau, leaving only trombonist Paterson with Rowland. Rowland and Paterson regrouped Dexys, adding guitarist/banjoist Kevin "Billy" Adams (again renamed), drummer Seb Shelton (ex-Secret Affair), keyboardist Mickey Billingham, alto saxophonist Brian Maurice, tenor saxophonist Paul Speare, and bassist Giorgio Kilkenny (who replaced Steve Wynne). After the 1981 single "Plan B" (which featured a new wardrobe of boxing boots and ponytails), the new lineup left EMI and signed to Mercury. Their first single for the label, "Show Me," became a Top 20 hit, but the follow-up, "Liars A to E," flopped, and Rowland considered modifying the groups approach. Allegedly, he heard a demo tape of Archers folk-influenced Blue Ox Babes material, and decided to reinvent Dexys in a similar fashion. He infuriated the Babes by not only borrowing from their sound, but recruiting violinist Helen OHara out of their lineup; he also added Steve Brennan and Roger MacDuff on the same instrument. The second Dexys album, Too-Rye-Ay, was released in 1982, and while their soul sound was still easily audible, it was now sitting alongside a strong Irish folk influence, making for a striking hybrid. The makeover was accompanied by yet another wardrobe change, this time to a scruffy gypsy/hobo image that wound up changing the standard of acceptable dress at many a restrictive London club. Dexys introduced their new sound on the single "The Celtic Soulbrothers," which was a mild success; however, the follow-up, "Come on Eileen," was a smash, becoming their second British number one. A few months later, helped along by the groups highly visual, MTV-ready appeal, "Come on Eileen" broke in America and went all the way to number one there as well. With their new folky direction thus established, the entire horn section (even the loyal Paterson) departed in the summer of 1982, as did keyboardist Billingham. Unfortunately, at the peak of the groups success, the rest of the lineup proved unstable as well, due in part to rifts with Rowland; eventually, the core of the group was whittled down to Rowland, guitarist Adams, and violinist OHara. Rowland took Dexys to New York to work on the follow-up album, which -- slowed by his perfectionism -- took a year and a half to record. In the meantime, EMI released the singles compilation Geno in 1983. Paterson rejoined the group when Rowland decided to blend his soul and folk phases more thoroughly, and the rest of the instrumentation was filled out by hired session musicians. When Dont Stand Me Down was finally released in 1985, Rowland insisted that no singles were to be pulled from the album, wanting it to stand as a cohesive piece of work in the manner of 70s LPs. As a result, it sold much more poorly than expected and wasnt helped by lackluster reviews that slammed Rowlands attempts at Van Morrison-esque poetry. After a few weeks, a panicked Mercury -- whod spent quite a bit of money to make the record -- released "This Is What Shes Like" as a single, but the damage was already done. One last single, "Because of You," charted in 1986 after being used as the theme to a British TV show, but with Dont Stand Me Down having bombed, the group disbanded. Rowland mounted a solo career and returned in 1988 with The Wanderer, a mellow record flavored with country and lounge-pop, which failed to sell. A disheartened Rowland spent the next few years in a deep depression, fighting off bankruptcy and cocaine addiction. In 1996, he signed with Creation as a solo artist, but in typically idiosyncratic fashion, his comeback effort was an all-covers album; My Beauty was released in 1999 and sold abominably, probably not helped by Rowlands new wardrobe of dresses and suspenders. After a couple years spent living down the album, Rowland returned with a new edition of Dexys Midnight Runners, with the stripped down name Dexys, in 2003. The new line-up began playing live shows and contributed two new songs ("Manhood" and "My Life in England") to the greatest-hits collection Lets Make This Precious. The group, which included former Runners Mick Talbot and Pete Williams, began recording in earnest in 2005 but the painstaking processes didnt yield results until the release of One Day Im Going to Soar in 2012. Along the way, another former member, "Big" Jim Paterson, joined back up, and Rowland added new vocalist Madeleine Hyland, as well. The album was met with a positive response from critics and signaled a triumphant comeback for the band. After a full slate of concerts over the next few years and the departure of Talbot, Paterson, and Williams, the groups next move was to record Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul. Released by Rhino in June 2016, the record features their unique versions of classic Irish songs (like "Women of Ireland" and "Carrickfergus") and a wide range of others (like Joni Mitchells "Both Sides Now"), all given that Dexys spin. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 16 Title: Searching for the Young Soul Rebels Released: 1980-07 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Burn It Down (04:21) 2 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (03:46) 3 The Teams That Meet in Caffs (04:08) 4 I’m Just Looking (04:41) 5 Geno (03:27) 6 Seven Days Too Long (02:43) 7 I Couldn’t Help If I Tried (04:14) 8 Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn’t Apply (02:59) 9 Keep It (03:59) 10 Love Part One (01:12) 11 There, There, My Dear (03:31) |
| Searching for the Young Soul Rebels : Allmusic album Review : The crackling stations being switched on the radio and the gang shout followed by the spoken injunction to "burn it down" sound like they should be starting off a Sham 69 record. Then "Burn It Down" actually starts, with its horn section, Hammond organ and Kevin Rowlands utterly unconventional soul vocals. The cult of Dexys, and this album in particular, were worshipped as the return of "soul" to English rock music at the dawn of Thatcherism. Exploring the myth that this album holds, especially in Brit music terms, can be a strange prospect: 20 years on it doesnt sound revolutionary, it just sounds good. And good it is, quite good, compared to where Paul Weller ended up, i.e., too reverential by half. This is vibrant, alive, and unconcerned with perfection. Rowland takes a role that Morrissey would have in 1985 and Jarvis Cocker in 1995 -- the unexpected but perfect voice to capture a time and moment in the U.K. His slightly strangled wail and sly, wry lyrics and song titles ("Tell Me When My Light Turns Green," "Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesnt Apply") make this album in many ways. Musically, the group lays down R&B grooves and brassy hooks with aplomb, as on the brilliant "Seven Days Too Long" and the number one single "Geno," but throw in film noir touches, John Barry-writing-for-James Bond fare and more just as ably. The liner notes have a fun description of the groups origins and brief notes for most of the tunes -- the best for the finale, "There, There, My Dear": "P.S. Old clothes do not make a tortured artist." The 2000 reissue contains a slew of extra tracks and B-sides, making it the version to find. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 16 Title: Too-Rye-Ay Released: 1982-08 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:29:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Celtic Soul Brothers (03:09) 2 Lets Make This Precious (04:02) 3 All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz) (04:07) 4 Jackie Wilson Said (Im In Heaven When You Smile) (03:06) 5 Old (05:33) 6 Plan B (05:03) 7 Ill Show You (02:40) 8 Liars A to E (04:10) 9 Until I Believe in My Soul (07:01) 10 Come On Eileen (04:32) 11 Love, Part 2 (01:19) 12 Dubious (02:41) 13 T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) (03:47) 14 Lets Get This Straight (From the Start) (03:33) 15 Old (live at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London) (04:55) 16 Respect (live at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London) (07:42) 17 Lets Make This Precious (original version) (03:42) 1 T.S.O.P. (04:15) 2 Burn It Down (04:01) 3 Lets Make This Precious (04:05) 4 Jackie Wilson Said (03:16) 5 Come On Eileen (06:33) 6 Soon (01:27) 7 Plan B (04:05) 8 Geno (03:33) 9 Respect (06:59) 10 Old (04:27) 11 The Celtic Soul Brothers (02:46) 12 There, There My Dear (04:55) 13 Show Me (03:25) 14 Ill Show You (03:03) 15 Lets Make This Precious (03:41) 16 Jackie Wilson Said (03:05) 17 All in All (03:52) 18 Old (04:40) 19 Reminisce, Part 1 (05:52) |
| Too-Rye-Ay : Allmusic album Review : For one brief moment, Dexys exploded into Americas consciousness -- and what a song to do it with! "Come on Eileen" combines ramalama rock & roll, soul delivery, and Celtic/country flavor into a perfect musical fusion and an irresistible U.K. and U.S. number one hit. The rest of the album is nearly as successful, with quite a few numbers that should have matched "Come on Eileen"s fame. Given that songs obvious debt to Van Morrisons similar fusions, its no surprise that Dexys tipped their hat with a great cover of Morrisons "Jackie Wilson Said," another big British single. Throughout the album, Rowlands distinct, unique voice takes the fore, but the revamped Dexys lineup proves it was the original versions equal, if not better. Given that only trombonist Big Jimmy Patterson remained, and even then only for two tracks, recruiting a new band able to create the "Celtic soul" Rowland dreamed about turned out to be exactly the right move. Excellently produced by Rowland and the legendary Clive Langer/Alan Winstanley production team, Too-Rye-Ay sounds like an old soul revue recorded on-stage, no doubt an intentional goal. Other highlights include the opening jaunt "The Celtic Soul Brothers," which just about says it all both in title and delivery; the slow swirl of "All in All," and the vicious ballad "Liars A to E." | ||
 | Album: 3 of 16 Title: Geno Released: 1983-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 32:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Geno (03:27) 2 Plan B (02:36) 3 Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (03:23) 4 Dance Stance (03:41) 5 The Horse (02:23) 6 There, There, My Dear (03:15) 7 Keep It (03:45) 8 One Way Love (03:12) 9 I’m Just Looking (04:41) 10 Soul Finger (02:13) |
| Geno : Allmusic album Review : Geno is a compilation album containing the A- and B-sides of the first five singles released by Dexys Midnight Runners in the U.K. between 1979 and 1981. Four of these singles made the British charts, three hit the Top 40, two the Top Ten, and one, "Geno," and a tribute to American expatriate soul singer Geno Washington, went to number one. The first four singles, "Dance Stance," "Geno," "There There My Dear," and "Keep It," were made by the original Dexys lineup, which featured three horns and sported what in England was called a "northern soul" sound, i.e., the gutbucket R&B style of Booker T. & the MGs. But instead of a gritty soul singer up front, there was the adenoidal Kevin Rowland, who sang with a theatrical passion that was moving despite its pretentiousness. By the time of "Keep It," Rowland seemed to have nothing but posturing on his mind, after which the band split. Rowland reorganized a new unit to make a final single, "Plan B," in the familiar style, but Dexys had only begun its series of drastic musical, fashion, and personnel shifts. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 16 Title: Dont Stand Me Down Released: 1985 Tracks: 7 Duration: 46:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Occasional Flicker (05:49) 2 This Is What Shes Like (12:18) 3 Knowledge of Beauty (07:02) 4 One of Those Things (05:56) 5 Reminisce, Part 2 (03:31) 6 I Love You (Listen to This) (03:19) 7 The Waltz (08:23) |
| Don't Stand Me Down : Allmusic album Review : Utterly overlooked upon release, condemned and chastised by every reviewer who came within 50 yards of it, Dexys Midnight Runners third album arrived in 1985 with the bands once-illuminated fame looking seriously battered, not only by the three years that Kevin Rowland kept listeners waiting, but also by the fact that hed seemingly thrown away every pop classic blueprint hed ever laid his hands on. Quite frankly, the album was a mess, with half the songs sounding like extemporized intros, and the rest seemingly trapped within their own middle eights. The fact that the Smiths, to name but one, had long since made a virtue of such intricacies was irrelevant -- the world wanted another "Come on Eileen." Instead they got "The Occasional Flicker," a song-cum-ramble-cum-rant that apparently went out of its way to disrupt those demands. Ah, but its such a magnificent disruption. Freed (in his own mind at least) from the tiresome dictates of the bands hitmaking past, Rowland conceived an album that drifts past in a blur of haunting and sometimes haunted melodies, with the vocal lines floating almost conversationally over them. Play the album once, then think back on it later, and all you remember is the sheer casual joy of it all, the sense that Dexys gathered in the studio for fun as much as profit, and if nobody liked what they did -- which they didnt -- then so be it. Listen closer, however, and even the lackadaisical swagger is expertly crafted. "This Is What Shes Like," doomed to become the bands first non-charting single since "Liars A to E," is an absolute corker once you give it a chance to sink into your skull and, track by track, Dont Stand Me Down unfolds to become not the ugly duckling of Dexys Midnight Runners hit-packed catalog, but the new dawn that could -- should -- have finally exorcised "Eileen" and her buddies. And when it didnt, the band broke up. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 16 Title: The Very Best Of Released: 1991 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:06:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Come On Eileen (04:05) 2 Jackie Wilson Said (Im In Heaven When You Smile) (03:06) 3 Lets Get This Straight (From the Start) (03:33) 4 Because of You (03:14) 5 Show Me (03:23) 6 The Celtic Soul Brothers (03:09) 7 Liars A to E (04:10) 8 One Way Love (03:12) 9 Old (05:04) 10 Geno (03:27) 11 There, There, My Dear (03:15) 12 Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (03:23) 13 Dance Stance (03:41) 14 Plan B (02:36) 15 Keep It (03:45) 16 Im Just Looking (04:20) 17 Soon (02:00) 18 This Is What Shes Like (04:28) 19 Soul Finger (02:13) |
 | Album: 6 of 16 Title: The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners Released: 1991-05-21 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:06:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come On Eileen (04:05) 2 Jackie Wilson Said (Im In Heaven When You Smile) (03:06) 3 Lets Get This Straight (From the Start) (03:33) 4 Because of You (03:14) 5 Show Me (03:23) 6 The Celtic Soul Brothers (03:09) 7 Liars A to E (04:10) 8 One Way Love (03:12) 9 Old (05:04) 10 Geno (03:27) 11 There, There, My Dear (03:15) 12 Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (03:23) 13 Dance Stance (03:41) 14 Plan B (02:36) 15 Keep It (03:45) 16 Im Just Looking (04:20) 17 Soon (02:00) 18 This Is What Shes Like (04:30) 19 Soul Finger (02:13) |
| The Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners : Allmusic album Review : Very Best of Dexys Midnight Runners, a 19-track collection, gives a comprehensive look at the band. Though the import price tag may be prohibitive, it is notable for the inclusion of the rare "Because of You" -- the charming theme to the British television show Brush Strokes -- unavailable elsewhere. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 16 Title: Because of You Released: 1993 Tracks: 14 Duration: 56:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Celtic Soul Brothers (03:14) 2 Show Me (03:24) 3 Liars A to E (04:10) 4 This Is What Shes Like (04:28) 5 Lets Make This Precious (04:02) 6 Soon (02:00) 7 Reminisce, Part 1 (05:52) 8 Because of You (03:14) 9 Lets Get This Straight From the Start (03:34) 10 Old (05:04) 11 All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz) (04:07) 12 One of Those Things (04:24) 13 Dubious (02:41) 14 The Occasional Flicker (05:49) |
| Because of You : Allmusic album Review : Is Kevin Rowland a musical genius or a wacko nutcase? He was a punk in the late 70s (the Killjoys), then a soul rebel (Searching For The Young Soul Rebels), then a Celtic soul brother (Too-Rye-Ay), then a tortured artist (Dont Stand Me Down), then a jazzy popster produced by Deodato (Wanderer) and finally, a torch song transvestite (My Beauty). To change musically as often as Rowland has in 20 years is either crazy or brilliant. Listening to this budget-priced collection of Dexys tracks from their heyday on Polygram/Mercury, its obvious that Rowland knew exactly what he was doing, and he did it well. He had a constantly changing musical vision, and he kept changing until he got it right. The tracks from the Too-Rye-Ay era are the most brilliantly realized tracks here. Thankfully, the overplayed "Come On Eileen" has been left off this collection in favor of some lesser-known tracks ("Show Me," "Soon"), and B-sides ("Dubious," "Reminisce, Pt. 1," "Lets Make This Precious," "Celtic Soul Brothers," "Old," "All In All," and the non-album single "Lets Get This Straight From The Start") are still brilliant 20 years later. The tracks from Dont Stand Me Down are lifeless and dull, with the exception of the single edit of "This Is What Shes Like." The title track is a nice country tinged non-album single that was the bands final release. This is a nice compilation if you are looking for something deeper than the hits, but Too-Rye-Ay is better suited for the novice, and everything else is for the pro. Is Kevin Rowland a musical genius or a wacko nutcase? Probably a bit of both. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 16 Title: BBC Radio One Live in Concert Released: 1993-10-25 Tracks: 13 Duration: 54:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) (04:19) 2 Burn It Down (03:58) 3 Lets Make This Precious (04:18) 4 Jackie Wilson Said (Im in Heaven When You Smile) (03:07) 5 Come On Eileen (06:30) 6 Respect (06:25) 7 Soon (01:34) 8 Plan B (04:04) 9 Geno (03:29) 10 Old (04:36) 11 The Celtic Soul Brothers (02:47) 12 There, There, My Dear (05:22) 13 Show Me (03:38) |
 | Album: 9 of 16 Title: 1980-1982: The Radio 1 Sessions Released: 1995 Tracks: 8 Duration: 33:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (03:16) 2 Lets Make This Precious (03:28) 3 Dubious (03:21) 4 Until I Believe in My Soul (07:17) 5 Liars A to E (04:47) 6 Jackie Wilson Said (03:08) 7 All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz) (03:55) 8 Old (04:40) |
| 1980-1982: The Radio 1 Sessions : Allmusic album Review : This is the second radio-broadcast compilation for Dexys Midnight Runners, and like the BBC sessions, these shows demonstrate just how good this band was live. This CD highlights the classic Too-Rye-Ay album, as seven of the eight tracks presented here are live renditions from the release, and they are performed brilliantly here. Kevin Rowland adds his chats when he can, which augment the already wonderful songs. And some of the songs sound tighter, rougher, and better live, such as the majestic "Old." The band is hot, Rowlands voice is in top form, and the emotion pours out of the speakers. More selections from the earlier days would have been welcomed, as 1982 is heavily favored. Given the length of the CD (just over 33 minutes) and the wealth of material to draw upon, one wonders why more songs were not included. The CD is nicely packaged, and although it was not issued by the band, they have every right to be proud of it. Rowland does contribute some very brief thoughts about the songs in the liner notes, which are great to read even though they are short. Overall, a great package. Fans will love this and will be able to prove once and for all that this band could play live and had much more to offer than their hits. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 16 Title: It Was Like This Released: 1996 Tracks: 18 Duration: 58:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (03:23) 2 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (03:46) 3 The Teams That Meet in Caffs (04:08) 4 Dance Stance (03:41) 5 Geno (03:27) 6 Im Just Looking (04:20) 7 Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn’t Apply (02:59) 8 Seven Days Too Long (02:38) 9 I Couldn’t Help If I Tried (04:14) 10 Respect (03:34) 11 The Horse (02:23) 12 Keep It (03:59) 13 Love, Part 1 (01:08) 14 There, There, My Dear (03:15) 15 Keep It, Part 2 (Inferiority, Part 1) (03:55) 16 One Way Love (03:12) 17 Plan B (02:36) 18 Soul Finger (02:13) |
| It Was Like This : Allmusic album Review : It Was like This collects the entirity of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and adds all the B-sides from the album, plus alternate mixes of "Geno" and "Dance Stance," plus a version of "Respect" recorded for the BBC. The reissue is packaged with care and attention to detail, highlighted by Kevin Rowlands liner notes, making the compact disc the definitive version of Dexys debut album. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 16 Title: Master Series: Dexys Midnight Runners Released: 1996 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:07:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Jackie Wilson Said (Im In Heaven When You Smile) (03:06) 2 The Celtic Soul Brothers (03:09) 3 Show Me (03:24) 4 Come On Eileen (04:09) 5 Lets Make This Precious (04:02) 6 Lets Get This Straight From the Start (03:34) 7 Because of You (03:14) 8 Kathleen Mavourneen (04:16) 9 Reminisce, Part 2: Medley: Reminisce, Part 2 / Ill Say Forever (03:34) 10 Old (05:33) 11 Liars A to E (04:10) 12 Knowledge of Beauty (07:02) 13 The Waltz (08:23) 14 The Occasional Flicker (05:49) 15 Dubious (02:41) 16 Love, Part 2 (01:15) |
 | Album: 12 of 16 Title: Lets Make This Precious: The Best of Dexys Midnight Runners Released: 2003-09-22 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:19:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Geno (03:27) 2 The Celtic Soul Brothers (03:09) 3 Come On Eileen (04:09) 4 Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile) (02:38) 5 Because of You (03:14) 6 Manhood (04:24) 7 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (03:46) 8 Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache (03:23) 9 There, There, My Dear (03:15) 10 Plan B (02:36) 11 Show Me (03:23) 12 Lets Make This Precious (BBC version) (03:24) 13 Until I Believe in My Soul (BBC version) (07:12) 14 Lets Get This Straight (From the Start) (03:33) 15 This Is What Shes Like (12:18) 16 My National Pride (07:01) 17 I Love You (Listen to This) (03:19) 18 My Life in England, Part 1 (04:47) |
| Let's Make This Precious: The Best of Dexys Midnight Runners : Allmusic album Review : Lets Make This Precious: The Best of Dexys Midnight Runners collects 18 tracks from the genre-hopping creators of "Come on Eileen," including the hits (in the U.K., at least) "Celtic Soul Brothers (More Please Thank You)," "Geno," "Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache," and "Show Me." All of the best tracks here have been cherry-picked from the groups 1980 debut Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and 1982 smash Too-Rye-Ay, which makes a strong case for searching out the excellent 2002 reissues of each, but as samplers go, its hard to beat this set of infectious folk-kissed, blue-eyed soul-infused new wave jams. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 16 Title: The Projected Passion Revue Released: 2007-01-29 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:15:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Plan B (02:37) 2 Soul Finger (02:16) 3 Introduction by Gary Crowley (00:21) 4 Outlook (AKA. Spiritual Passion, Aka Dubious) (03:39) 5 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (04:02) 6 Soon/Plan B (05:19) 7 Burn It Down (03:49) 8 Respect (05:10) 9 Until I Believe in My Soul (07:15) 10 There, There, My Dear (04:12) 11 Your Own (AKA. Liars A to E) (04:54) 12 Breakin Down the Walls of Heartache (04:05) 13 Lets Make This Precious (03:28) 14 Your Own (04:46) 15 Until I Believe in My Soul (07:15) 16 Show Me (03:25) 17 Soon (02:00) 18 Liars A to E (03:33) 19 And Yes We Must Remain the Wildhearted Outsiders (03:05) |
| The Projected Passion Revue : Allmusic album Review : Kevin Rowland always has been about relentless, eccentric change, which sometimes meant that not all of his metamorphoses were properly documented on record. Chief among those neglected phases is the Projected Passion Revue, an art-soul ensemble Rowland pursued after the startling success of Dexys Midnight Runners debut, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels. Following its 1980 release, Rowland delved deeper into soul, rejiggering the Dexys lineup to create the the Projected Passion Revue, a Dexys incarnation that lasted only 12 months, never recording a full album yet leaving indelible memories among the hardcore fortunate to see them in 1981. They did cut a few singles, some showing up on comps and reissues over the years, but 2007s The Projected Passion Revue is the first major excavation of this largely undocumented yet legendary year. This single disc collects all the recordings -- released and unreleased, studio and live -- that this band did during that brief, tumultuous year and it is quite clearly a transitional effort between Young Soul Rebels and Too-Rye-Ay, yet its quite clearly its own thing. This music -- As and Bs of three singles, a full BBC In Concert from May of 1981, and a three-song Richard Skinner Session from two months later -- manages to be wilder than Searching, its unwieldiness suggesting the careening band of Too-Rye-Ay, but where that played up the Celtic in the groups Irish soul, this is firmly within the soul camp, building upon that undercurrent from the debut yet pushing it to the limits. The Projected Passion Revue is punchier than Searching, sometimes giving the illusion that its more professional, yet this is still punk at its heart: theres a reason why "passion" is the pivotal word in this revue, as this music surges with passion, most evident on Rowlands guttural, unhinged growls and yelps. This sprawling, excited band matches the enthusiasm of their frontman: theyre ragged but right, playing with furor and occasionally precision, a precision that is necessary if the horn players are going to hit their marks at the same time. Their three singles were full of potential, but its the live recordings that really capture the essence of the Projected Passion Revue, how they were boundless in their ambition and energy. Reading the testimonials that form the liner notes -- from John Aizlewood, Gary Crowley, David Quantick, and Daryl Easlea -- its hard not to wish that the band lasted longer, either to create a full-fledged album or to have more of its performances documented, but until 2007 thats all that this phase of the Dexys was: legend. With the release of The Projected Passion Revue, particularly the live recordings, that legend comes alive; this collection functions as a necessary part of the bands history and still sounds thrillingly alive all these years later. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 16 Title: One Day Im Going to Soar Released: 2012-04-30 Tracks: 11 Duration: 56:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Now (06:47) 2 Lost (03:00) 3 Me (04:17) 4 She Got a Wiggle (04:27) 5 You (03:32) 6 Im Thinking of You (07:02) 7 Im Always Going to Love You (05:38) 8 Incapable of Love (05:30) 9 Nowhere Is Home (04:57) 10 Free (03:44) 11 Its O.K. John Joe (07:54) |
| One Day I'm Going to Soar : Allmusic album Review : In the 27 years since Dexys Midnight Runners last studio album, frontman Kevin Rowland has become more renowned for his financial problems, drug addiction, and of course, his bizarre drag makeover on 1999s career-suicide My Beauty than the wondrous blend of blue-eyed soul, post-punk, and folk-pop that he conquered the charts with in the early 80s. One Day Im Going to Soar, the bands first release since 1985s poorly received Dont Stand Me Down, doesnt reach anywhere near the heights of "Come On Eileen" or "Geno," but its far from the embarrassment of his solo effort. Opening track "Now" sets the eccentric tone immediately, as its stately piano riffs and mournful violins make way for a contrasting folksy stomp featuring a typically rousing chant of "Attack! Attack!" while elsewhere, there are solid forays into 70s string-soaked disco ("Im Always Going to Love You"), lounge bar jazz-soul ("Me"), and best of all, seductive Al Green-esque funk ("She Got a Wiggle"). Ever the showman, Rowlands theatrical tendencies are still as ham-fisted as they were in his heyday, as evident on the melodramatic cabaret number "Look," as on "Incapable of Love," a battle of the sexes duet featuring the equally overblown tones of Madeleine Hyland. Theres little need for such a "subtlety of a sledgehammer" approach as Rowlands highly confessional lyrics are dramatic enough on their own. Appearing to revel in picking his own personality apart, there are spoken word notes to self, declarations of independence, and tales of self-loathing, all of which make you feel like youve wandered into a brutally honest but utterly compelling therapy session. One Day Im Going to Soar hardly justifies the almost-three-decade wait, but its as marvelously idiosyncratic as any longtime fan could hope to expect. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 16 Title: Nowhere Is Home Released: 2014-10-20 Tracks: 24 Duration: 2:45:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Now (07:00) 2 Lost (03:10) 3 Me (06:59) 4 She Got a Wiggle (04:44) 5 You (03:40) 6 Im Thinking of You (08:40) 7 Im Always Going to Love You (06:38) 8 Incapable of Love (05:46) 9 Nowhere Is Home (05:06) 10 Free (05:00) 11 Its OK John Joe (12:22) 1 The Waltz (09:27) 2 Geno (03:46) 3 I Love You (Listen to This) (03:24) 4 Until I Believe in My Soul (06:41) 5 Tell Me When My Light Turns Green (05:52) 6 Until I Believe in My Soul (Pt 2) (09:40) 7 Liars A to E (04:52) 8 Old (06:49) 9 This Is What Shes Like (21:19) 1 The Waltz (live alt version) (09:47) 2 Nowhere Is Home (live alt version) (05:15) 3 She Got a Wiggle (radio mix) (04:29) 4 Incapable of Love (radio mix) (05:28) |
 | Album: 16 of 16 Title: Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul Released: 2016-06-03 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Women of Ireland (03:22) 2 To Love Somebody (04:33) 3 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (03:30) 4 Curragh of Kildare (04:11) 5 Ill Take You Home Again, Kathleen (04:36) 6 You Wear It Well (04:51) 7 40 Shades of Green (03:13) 8 How Do I Live (05:00) 9 Grazing in the Grass (04:19) 10 The Town I Loved So Well (06:01) 11 Both Sides Now (03:46) 12 Carrickfergus (06:26) |
| Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul : Allmusic album Review : Kevin Rowland has always been a wild card, to say the least. From the early days of Dexys Midnight Runners to this album, 2016s Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul, he has taken the band in whatever direction his whims and plans demand, no matter the consequences. After coming back in 2012 with a newly shortened name (Dexys), many former bandmembers on board, and an album harking back to the vintage days of the mid-80s and stocked with songs that were quintessentially Rowland, the group slimmed down to the core of Rowland, vocalist Sean Read, and viola player Lucy Morgan and again did something unexpected. The idea of Rowland doing covers isnt so daft, considering hed done two albums of them in the 90s -- it was more the songs they covered and the way they approached them. Half the album is a follow-up to a plan hatched in the 80s (after Too-Rye-Ay) to take traditional Irish standards and give them the full-bore Dexys treatment. That makes sense enough. The rest of the album is a wildly diverse batch of tunes, like the LeAnn Rimes ballad "How Do I Live" and Joni Mitchells "Both Sides Now," that one would never expect Dexys to cover. No matter the song or style, the band takes a firmly middle-of-the-road approach to all of them, ladling goopy strings and tinkling pianos on top of everything and taking everything at a very relaxed pace. Its an interesting choice, one that ironically makes Let the Record Show the most normal-sounding of all Dexys albums despite its eccentricities. While the music is fine, rollicking in spots and suitably arranged on the ballads, the focus, as always, is on Rowlands instantly recognizable vocals and his over the top presentation. His voice may not be quite as elastic as it was in his prime, but age has brought him gravity. Reads backing vocals play the part of the younger, wilder Rowland, while the man himself stays firmly grounded. While he sounds great on the few uptempo songs, he really digs in on the ballads and imbues them with heartbreaking sincerity and finely burnished soul. Its just right for the nostalgic sadness of "The Town I Loved So Well" or "Both Sides Now," and dead-on perfect for the albums showstopper, "Carrickfergus." Taken at funereal pace, the tale of a terminally ill miner returning home was sung in one take with Rowland unable to stifle a cough halfway through. He nails the emotional core of the song and sounds like hes very close to being the kind of crooner hes long yearned to be. Let the Record Show may not be the record Dexys fans who love Rowlands original songs may have wanted, but its a Dexys album through and through. Unpredictable, completely dedicated, and honest to the core, it packs an emotional wallop and is yet more proof that Kevin Rowland is still standing, just as proudly as ever. | ||