Dave Edmunds Albums (15)
What The Critics Say
Dave Edmunds moved from being a contemporary artist to something of a rock & roll elder statesman during the 1990s. This album, recorded in concert at an unnamed venue, is a reminder that he could still put on exciting shows some 35 years into his career. With Geraint Watkins, Billy Bremner, and the Refreshments accompanying him (though hanging on for dear life might better characterize the pacing of some of what's here), he rips through "Juju Man," "I Hear You Knockin'," "I Knew the Bride," "Sweet Little Rock & Roller," "Sabre Dance," and ten other numbers to an appreciative audience. All of it is captured in excellent sound, with lots of presence to the entire band and a nice clean "dirty" rock & roll sound, especially on the guitars, with Edmunds' rhythm and Bremner's lead instruments in good balance. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
'A Pile of Rock: Live'
Release Date 5/22/2000
Tracks 15
Label Essential!
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What The Critics Say
Given his legendary penchant for studio fanaticism, it's easy to overlook Dave Edmunds' abilities as a live performer and guitarist
What The Critics Say
Returning to the one-man band approach of his early records, Dave Edmunds crafted a fine comeback with Plugged In. Though his method is similar in execution to Subtle As a Flying Mallet, the impact is different, primarily because he has stripped away much of his Spector-ian pop influences and sticks to a menu of ready-made roots-rockers. Alternating between covers and originals, the song selection is solid, even if only a handful of songs stand out. Among the highlights is an exciting version of Jerry Reed's instrumental "The Claw," a sweet cover of Al Anderson's "Better Word for Love," and the sunny pop of "Beach Boy Blood (In My Veins)." While the studied, solitary performance on Plugged In can be a little stiff, it's songs like these that make the album his best record in years. Still, "Sabre Dance '94" was entirely unnecessary. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Closer to the Flame'
Release Date 10/11/1989
Tracks 11
Label Capitol
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What The Critics Say
The wait between Riff Raff and its follow-up was a full six years, so it isn't surprising that Closer to the Flame finds Dave Edmunds abandoning the new wave flourishes of his Jeff Lynne productions for a straightforward root rock sensibility. The record still suffers from a stiff production -- the rhythms are extremely mannered, and the sound of the record is slightly sterile -- but Edmunds manages to tear into a handful of driving rockers, including Mickey Jupp's "Don't Talk to Me" and "Stockholm," and his version of Al Anderson's "Never Take the Place of You" is his most affecting performance in years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Dave Edmunds was always notorious for his perfectionist approach to studio recordings, so his skills as a live performer were often overlooked. Although it has been doctored slightly in the studio, I Hear You Rockin' the Hits Live is an energetic, enjoyable record demonstrating that the roots-rocker can be a fun, charismatic performer when he chooses. The album's set list draws heavily from his classic late-'70s records ("Girls Talk," "Here Comes the Weekend," "Queen of Hearts," "Crawling from the Wreckage," "I Knew the Bride [When She Used to Rock & Roll]," "Ju Ju Man"), adding the hits "I Hear You Knockin'" and "Slipping Away," plus "Information" for good measure. It's a basic primer, delivered with passion, making it a fine record for die-hard fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Since "Slipping Away" was a minor hit, Edmunds brought Jeff Lynne back to produce Riff Raff, a record that essentially replicates the sound and style of Information. Lynne has a tighter hold on the album than before, and Edmunds rarely sounds as energetic as he does on his best records, mainly because the processed rhythms are at odds with his roots-rock sensibilities. Like Information, there are a few good moments on the record, particularly in the giddy "Rules of the Game," but overall, Riff Raff is Edmunds' weakest record. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Dave Edmunds assembled a self-consciously eclectic roots-rock album for D.E. 7th, his first post-Rockpile effort. Instead of returning to a one-man band status, Edmunds hired a new band, which prevented him from returning to the studied perfectionism of his early work. Nevertheless, D.E. 7th lacks the pop sensibilities that made early Edmunds a guilty pleasure, concentrating instead on roots musics. While that occasionally means there's mis-steps like "Deep in the Heart of Texas," but it also means the wonderful bluegrass-stomp "Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)," the country-rocker "Bail You Out," the cajun-tinged "Louisiana Man" and the excellent Springsteen cover "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)." The rest of D.E. 7th is uneven, but there a few enjoyable cuts, and compared to what came later, it's certainly more fun. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Twangin' was recorded as Rockpile was in the process of breaking up, and the record suffered as a result. Where the previous Rockpile collaborations were loose and rocking, Twangin' is tight and precise, as if Edmunds recorded it on his own. Only on "The Race Is On" does the record truly cut loose, and he's backed by the Stray Cats on that one. Still, there are a number of fine moments on the record, particularly in the pseudo-new wave pulse of John Hiatt's "Something Happens," the pub rock of Mickey Jupp's "You'll Never Get Me Up (In One of Those)," and the gorgeous Everly-esque "(I'm Gonna Start) Living Again if It Kills Me." The rest of the record is pleasant filler which could have used some of the old Rockpile spark. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Repeat When Necessary'
Release Date 1/1/1979
Tracks 11
Label Swan Song
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What The Critics Say
Recorded simultaneously with Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust, Dave Edmunds' Repeat When Necessary continues the winning streak of Get It and Tracks on Wax 4 simply by sticking to the formula. Though Rockpile's sound is a little cleaner here than before, nothing's changed but the songs, which are uniformly excellent. Culled primarily from pub rock contemporaries (and containing no Lowe songs whatsoever), the record contains four classics: Elvis Costello's galloping "Girls Talk," and Graham Parker's relentless "Crawling from the Wreckage," the funny (a rarity of Edmunds) "Creature from the Black Lagoon," and the country-rocker "Queen of Hearts," which would later become a hit for Juice Newton in exactly the same arrangement. A few songs come close to meeting this high standard, but they are occasionally hampered by a tightness similar to the pinched rhythms of Subtle as a Flying Mallet; in particular, the early Huey Lewis song "Bad Is Bad" and the old Brinsley Schwarz number "Home in My Hand" are hurt by this. But these are minor flaws -- Repeat When Necessary is an energetic, old-fashioned rock & roll record that ranks as Edmunds' last great album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
