Dave Edmunds Rockabilly Legend 'The Lost Interviews' Episode 8

DAVE EDMUNDS ROCKABILLY LEGEND

'THE LOST INTERVIEWS'

EPISODE 8

Guitar hero DAVE EDMUNDS has never followed music trends, and throughout what Edmunds jokingly remarks as a “semi-retired” music career, has probably been more devout and grateful to the original rock and roll format than any other musician.

Edmunds recently released his new album entitled ‘Rags & Classics’ via the MVD Entertainment Group. It’s an all-instrumental masterpiece that displays Edmunds’ proficient guitar work along with his brilliant multi-instrumental and production skills. Recorded in his home studio, most of the cover tracks on the new album have never been performed as an instrumental and are extremely difficult to implement as a one-man band.

 I really enjoyed ‘Rags & Classics,’ Edmunds did a remarkable job handpicking singles that are classics but rarely relished. Some of the more notable tracks are the Brian Wilson &Tony Asher “God Only Knows,” and the Elton John &Bernie Taupin ballad “Your Song,” Both tracks are remarkable instrumental renditions while acquainting the listener to a fresh prospective to an ageless classic. ‘Rags & Classics’ delivers an eclectic mix of captivating musical gratification … you’ll be delightfully swayed by Edmunds’ intricate instrumental renderings of Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas,” Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” tracks from Dave’s guitar heroes … Chet Atkins “Black Mountain Rag,” and Merle Travis “Cannonball Rag,” and a surprisingly but phenomenal finale to an exceptional album, Mozart’s Symphony No.40 in G Minor, Molto Allegro. Everyone will truly enjoy ‘Rags & Classics’ by guitar legend Dave Edmunds. ... (5) Stars!

DAVE EDMUNDS, Welsh guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians the world will ever know, including longtime pal George Harrison. Edmunds is a 1950’s rock and roll purist and remains a loyalist to this day.

After his stint with the blues/rock band Love Sculpture, Edmunds scored big with his cover hit “I Hear You Knocking” (1970), a song written by Dave Bartholomew & Earl King and first recorded by Smiley Lewis in 1955. Edmunds’ rendition added authentic rock and roll dynamism and landed at #1 at Christmas on the UK charts and #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the U.S.  It sold over three-million copies, was awarded a gold disc, and became a rock and roll standard worldwide.

In 1976, Edmunds began collaborating with British musician/singer/songwriter/producer Nick Lowe (Brinsley Schwarz) on several albums. Lowe and Edmunds were signed to different record labels and couldn’t record together as ‘Rockpile’ until 1980 when they released Seconds of Pleasure, their only album to feature the ‘Rockpile’ band name. Drummer Terry Williams and guitarist Billy Bremner were also in the group. Critics and music enthusiasts adored Rockpile. Edmunds describes Rockpile’s short and sweet musical career as a party band for four years which they never took seriously. Rockpile was also hailed as a band that laid the groundwork for ‘new wave.’

Between 1976 and 1981, Dave Edmunds released four albums on Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song Records. After Edmunds and Lowe went their separate ways, Edmunds collaborated and produced albums for an assortment of friends and musicians including … Paul McCartney, King Kurt, Stray Cats, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Status Quo, the Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, and the Flamin’ Groovies. Edmunds also collaborated with singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra. Edmunds released a song written by Lynne entitled “Slipping Away” which became a Top 40 hit in 1983.

In 1985, Edmunds arranged and became the musical director of Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session, a televised concert held in London, England, featuring … Edmunds, Carl Perkins George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton. It was the first public performance by George Harrison in more than ten years.

Dave Edmunds was selected to play in Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band for tours in 1992 and 2000.

Studio albums:

-Love Sculpture: Blues Helping (1968), Forms and Feelings (1970)

-Brewers Droop: The Booze Brothers (recorded 1973, released 1989)

-Rockpile: Seconds of Pleasure (1980)

-Dave Edmunds: Rockpile (1972) ,Subtle as a Flying Mallet (1975),Get It (1977),  Tracks on Wax 4 (1978), Repeat When Necessary (1979), Twangin (1981), D.E. 7th (1982), Information (1983), Riff Raff (1984), Closer to the Flame (1990), Plugged In (1994),Hand Picked: Musical Fantasies (1999), Again ( 2013), Rags & Classics ( 2015)

I had the rare pleasure of chatting with David Edmunds recently about his new all- instrumental cover album ‘Rags & Classics,’ the inception of “I Hear You Knocking,” Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Carl Perkins, George Harrison, my infamous ‘Field of Dreams’ question and much-much more!

I’d like to dedicate this ‘Lost Interview’ to my good friend, fellow broadcaster, and music enthusiast Tom Cobb. Enjoy the legendary music in heaven and rest in peace brother!