Customer Reviews

Cadillac Walk / Mink Deville Collection

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A valiant try at a worthy "best of" collection. With 22 tracks, there's no excuse for omitting "Heaven Stood Still." But any effort to get these other 22 great songs into people's ears is an effort worth commending. If you don't know Willie DeVille, begin with this one, then quickly buy the recent re-issue of Le Chat Bleu.

Prior to this year I couldn't have named one song by Mink Deville. I happened to pick up a punk compilation one day which had "Spanish Stroll" as one of the tracks. Then I was hooked. The group was early on identified with the punk movement because of their performances at various punk venues. But Mink Deville has no ties to the Ramones or the Velvet Underground. This is essential rock n' roll and smooth ballads. Willie Deville's vocals and the instrumentation introduce a bluesy Spanish flavor with even an occasional accordion thrown in the mix.

I was so impressed with this disk that I went out and bought the two CD set "Willie Deville In Berlin" which I would also highly recommend.

This is an outstanding collection of songs ranging from gritty rockers to lovely ballads by a terrific singer. Fans of (early) Springsteen and Southside Johnny will love this stuff.

This unassuming and slightly forgotten 2001 CD compilation is a superb little number - and for two of the best reasons - track choices and sound.

"Cadillac Walk - The Mink DeVille Collection" gives us 22 songs taken from Willy DeVille's first three albums for Capitol [credited as the band Mink DeVille] - all of which feature truly fantastic 24-Bit Remastering by EVREN GOKNAR. There have been reissues of this stuff before, but never sounding this good...and with his tragic loss this year - his legacy is more to mind than ever.

It breaks down as follows (70:22 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 7 are from their debut album "Cabretta" [aka "Mink DeVille"] issued in the UK in August 1977 on Capitol E-ST 11631 and on Capitol ST- 11631 in the USA (7 of its 10 songs are here - produced by JACK NITZSCHE)
Tracks 8 to 15 are from their second album "Return To Magenta" issued in the UK in July 1978 on Capitol E-ST 11780 and in the USA on Capitol St-11780 in April 1978 (8 of its 10 songs are here - also produced by JACK NITZSCHE)
Tracks 16 to 22 are from their third album "Le Chat Bleu" issued in the UK in March 1980 on Capitol E-ST 25390 and in the USA in September 1980 on Capitol ST-11955. The UK album sported only 10 cuts, but the US version has an extra track on Side 2 "Turn You Every Which Way But Loose" which is Track 19 on this compilation. Their 3rd album was co-produced by DeVille with legendary saxophonist STEVE DOUGLAS.

The 8-page booklet has detailed and very affectionate liner notes by BEN EDMONDS while the inlay beneath the see-through CD tray pictures single and album sleeves from all over the world - a nice touch.

While the wonderful "Spanish Stroll" is a great opener, it's not until you reach "The Immortals" singing their doo-wop back up vocals on "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl" that you really start to hear how good the sound quality is - it's beautifully remastered. The cover of John "Moon" Martin's "Cadillac Walk" is punchy as hell too, while the big slide intro for "Venus Of Avenue D" sounds so muscular - a cool street hustle beat that is so Lou Reed it's brilliant (lyrics above).

His 3rd album benefited enormously from a like-minded soul when DeVille co-wrote many of its songs with the legendary DOC POMUS - "Just To Walk That Little Girl Home" and the almost Spector feel to "You Just Keep Me Holding On" are lovely (Steve Douglas who worked with Spector in the Sixties probably made sure of that huge sound). Another little gem is "Bad Boy" - a typically cool cover; it was a hit for a Rhythm 'n' Blues Vocal Group called THE JIVE BOMBERS in 1957 on Savoy; it was subsequently used on the soundtrack to the 1983 movie "Breathless".

Niggles - it's a damn shame that Cabretta's Side 2 opener "Can't Do Without It" which also features The Immortals isn't on here - and another gem "Steady Drivin' Man" from "Return To Magenta" is missing too, but it's good for UK buyers to have "Turn You Every Way But Loose" which was exclusive to the original US LP (see above). Ok - so eight tracks across the 3 albums are missing and when you check the seventy minute playing time, a couple more could have been thrown in easily (so docked a star) - but dirt cheap online - it's still stunning value for money.

DeVille then signed to Atlantic and produced two more albums "Coup De Grace" (1981) and "Where Angels Fear To Tread" (1983) both of which were excellent. Thereafter releases were sporadic, but often brilliant - "Miracle" in 1988 with MARK KNOPFLER jumps to mind - it's long been a unspoken masterpiece in my mind and a hi-fi wet dream as well - while "Loup Garou" from 1996 saw him return to his more romantic troubadour persona, but with honesty about his fatal drug-taking habits - I play both to this day and love them to bits (see review for "Miracle").

Aged only 56, Willy De Ville sadly died of Pancreatic Cancer in August 2009 - another one of my vinyl-days heroes gone. I only have to hear "Hey Johnny! They lookin' for you man..." in "Spanish Stroll" and I'm beaming.

This superb CD is a great way to remember him by. Check it out.

It was easy to overlook Mink DeVille in the explosion of new music that occurred around CBGBs in the early 1970s. With outrageous, highly original acts like Talking Heads, Television, The Ramones, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Patti Smith, Blondie and others all happening in the same place at the same time they kind of got lost in the shuffle. They were a bit old fashioned; a little 50s influenced, a little soul inspired; not quite as shiny and new sounding as some of the other bands on the rise at that time. I always liked them though. I especially liked the song "Savior Faire" which just knocked me out every time I heard it. I have fond memories of seeing them perform at the Lone Star Cafe in Manhattan longer ago than I like to admit.

I purchased this compilation along with some other music a few months ago and it just sat next to my stereo until yesterday. When I finally put it on it transported me back to a time and place I had long forgotten and totally rocked my world!! I had forgotten how great these guys were!!

Willy DeVille's voice is incredibly evocative; raw, harsh but unbelievably tender when he wants it to be. The band is sly, subtle and understated...but they rock! The songs on this compilation are all unbelievably good; "Spanish Stroll", "She's So Tough", "Cadillac Walk", "Venus Of Avenue D", "Gunslinger", "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl", "That World Outside", "This Must Be The Night", "Turn You Every Way But Loose", "Bad Boy" and of course "Savior Faire" which always ends to soon whenever I listen to it.

My advice is to pick up this CD while there are still copies available before it goes out of print. You won't be sorry. Either that or just order all of the original CDs. A bit more expensive perhaps but still worth the investment. Mink DeVille is a classic overlooked band that should not be forgotten.

Drawn from the first three albums of Mink DeVille, this compilation of the brilliant but strangely under-appreciated Willy opens with the edgy rhythm of Spanish Stroll where Spanish guitar, soulful female backing vocals and streetwise delivery reminiscent of Lou Reed guarantee a timeless classic. The stylistic variety is breathtaking, from the catchy doowop of Mixed Up Shook Up Girl to the late 70s angry punk of Gunslinger in the vein of Patti Smith or Richard Hell & The Voidoids.

A blend of moody ballad and furious rock, Venus Of Avenue D erupts in powerful riffs whilst atmospheric sax graces the tranquil parts. A galloping beat heralds the arrival of Confidence to Kill, a brief spurt of angry punk. Cadillac Walk is a brooding story song in a mix of southern boogie and new wave rock. Other energetic uptempo rockers are Soul Twist and Savoir Faire.

The most magnificent ballads on this album include the moving love song Guardian Angel, the rousing You Just Keep Holding On, the romantic This Must Be The Night and the achingly tender I Broke That Promise with spoken vocals in Spanish. And then there's the zydeco sound of the lilting and hypnotic Mazurka ...

As songwriter and performer, Willy DeVille ranks amongst the greats like Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lou Reed, John Cale, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Michael Gira. There is real soul in his always melodious, mostly spectacular songs. The album includes a booklet with information and photographs.

This guy never made it big commercially, and that is a mystery to me. Another reviewer compared him to the boss and to Southside Johnny. There is the grit overlap with Bruce, and the r&b similarities to the Asbury Jukes, but to me he is a rockin' and kickin' Ben E. King who can growl or croon as needed. The Latin rhythms he brings to his brand of street rock always made it sparkle for me. As good as his recordings were, seeing him live (just a few rows back at the Stone Pony) was magical. His rock was modern for its day, but so informed by earlier r&b. Truly a treat for the ears.