In 1974, when Dr Feelgood were playing the pubs of Canvey Island, The Who could fill Madison Square Garden. Career success never did bring the two bands closer together but here we are, 40 years later, with Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey in the same studio at the same time, with the results going out on the resurrected Chess label, no less.
From the opening notes, it's obvious that it's The Who singer who has agreed to step into the Dr Feelgood guitarist's backyard. Daltrey's growly voice approaches the blues holler at stadium volume, while Wilko's distinctive guitar style chops up the riffs so that they're never quite down-the-line rock'n'roll.
Fair play to them for not indulging in a set of well-worn covers (other than an unassuming E Street Band take on Bob Dylan's Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window) but dipping into Wilko's own songbook. Happy, then, is the music fan who stumbles into the backroom of this bar.
The Grim Reaper must also be a follower of both guys' bands, having scooped up Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Lee Brilleaux and Gypie Mayo over the years; Wilko, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, is going out fighting. This is his bucket-list rock'n'roll party, not a wake.
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