Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey "Going Back Home" 2014****

Everyone loves a story with a happy ending, don't we? Well, this cd has exactly this type of back story. Wilko Johnson was the guitarist of English pub-rockers Dr. Feelgood. He always cut an impressive figure on stage with his jerky movements, long limbs, angular face and wild stare. The producers of the Game of Thrones series recognized his imposing presence when they cast him on the role of Ser Ilyn Payne, the mute and menacing royal executioner. His guitar playing was equally no-nonsense angular r&b, indebted to the great Mick Green of 60's rockers the Pirates who could play simultaneously lead and rhythm guitar. After leaving Dr Feelgood, he briefly joined Ian Dury's Blockheads and subsequently led his own band with moderate results, since his vocal abilities did not match his guitar playing. In 2013, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and given a few months to leave. He responded with speeding up his plans to play and record as much good music as possible and reached out to one of his youth's inspirations to help him: The Who's Roger Daltrey. The two men had talked about co-operating before but pressing commitments meant that it kept getting postponed. This time they both rushed in the studio and came out one week later with the songs that make up this cd. As the months went by, Wilko gave his best time after time, playing every time what he thought was his last performance. His tumor kept getting larger and more painful but did not kill him. In the end he went into surgery and the operation that was deemed impossible proved a success. The doctors removed a tumor that was the size of a soccer ball and weighed 3 kilos! Today Wilko Johnson is declared cancer free and successfully recuperating from the extensive surgery he had. And the cherry on top of the cake is that his album with Daltrey was a huge hit, reaching No.3 at the UK chars, the highest since 1976 and Dr Feelgood's "Stupidity" album. And rightly so, because it is a very enjoyable album by two seasoned veterans enjoying themselves, playing rhythm and blues and rock and roll with the energy of men half their age! With the exception of an obscure 1965 Dylan single, the songs are chosen from Wilko's long career. The opening sentence of the album is an emphatic "I Wanna Live" followed by "...The Way I Like!" from "Going Back Home", written by a young Wilko in 1975 with the help of his idol Mick Green. Wilko's razor sharp riffs and Daltrey's swinging harp and roaring vocal combine for a rendition that equals, if not betters, the original. Overall, Daltrey's vocals are incredibly strong and youthful for a septuagenarian. If I hadn't recently seen him live with Who I'd doubt it's actually him singing. "Ice on the Motorway" references The Pirate's "Shakin' All Over", a song also frequently performed by The Who. "I Keep It to Myself" is another rock and roller that sounds like Elvis backed by an early version of The Rolling Stones. "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" is a treat for Dylan fans and "Turned 21" a soul ballad that provides a breather before the funky "Keep On Loving You". "Some Kind of Hero" is the second Dylan-influenced track, but this time an an original composition. The Feelgood's "Sneaking Suspicion" is given a heavier and funkier twist, ditto for "Keep It Out of Sight". "Everybody's Carrying a Gun"'s highlight is its rolling piano and the closer "All Through the City" reminds us why Dr. Feelgood were such a big influence on punk. Overall an excellent album and such a natural pairing that I can't wait for the sequel, when Wilko's health permits it...

**** for Going Back Home, Ice on the Motorway, I Keep It to Myself, Some Kind of Hero, Sneaking Suspicion, Keep It Out of Sight, All Through the City 

 *** for Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?, Keep On Loving You, Everybody's Carrying A Gun
 ** for Turned 21