Wales native Dave Edmunds, who founded Rockpile, also released a slew of singles under his own name. Though a few of those 45s (including “I Hear You Knocking,” a top 5 hit) appeared on other labels, the lion’s share of the roots rocker’s best solo work showed up on Swan Song between 1976 and 1981.
That material, which draws on rockabilly and other early rock styles, has already been anthologized several times. However, the two-CD (or two-LP) Swan Songs: The Singles 1976–1981 is the best compendium yet. It features new liner notes and embraces restored and remastered versions of every A and B side from the period. The September 27, 2024, release is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Highlights include two co-writes with fellow Rockpile member Nick Lowe, “Here Comes the Weekend,” which recalls the Everly Brothers, and the well-hooked “Deborah.” Among other standouts are “Where or When,” the Rodgers and Hart standard that Dion and the Belmonts also recorded; Lowe’s fast-paced “I Knew the Bride”; and covers of Elvis Costello’s “Girl Talk,” Graham Parker’s “Crawling from the Wreckage,” the Trade Winds’ “New York’s a Lonely Town,” and John Fogerty’s “Almost Saturday Night.” None of these infectious songs made much of a dent in the charts, but they should have.
Related: Our Album Rewind of Edmunds’ Get It
A top editor at leading consumer and trade magazines for more than 40 years, Jeff has interviewed dozens of musical luminaries, including Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Wolfman Jack, Tommy James, Tom Waits, the Righteous Brothers, and the members of Steely Dan.
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