Customer Reviews

Stupidity

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr Feelgood was at their best playing live, and even though most of these live versions stick close to the originals, they are played with so much energy and nerve, making this one of the very best Dr Feelgood albums.

Now, live recordings often suffer from a slightly "airy" sound...particularly the drums, which never seem to have the punch of a good studio cut. But on these 28-year-old recordings Dr Feelgood and co-producer Vic Maile have somehow captured the biggest drum sound I have ever heard on a live album - on "Roxette" and "I'm A Hog For You Baby" in particular, the imposing John Martin, "The Big Figure", lays down a thundering beat.

This is down and dirty R&B with crunchy stop-and-go guitar riffs. Lee Brilleaux' vocals sound even more rough and gravelly than usual, and his harp playing is sharp as shards of broken glass. The performance of the band gels perfectly, and on "Stupidity" the Feelgoods actually managed to capture the ferocious power of their live shows.

"Stupidity" is some of the best and juiciest rock n' roll you're ever likely to hear. Why the Feelgoods never made in the US is beyond me.
4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

Since it appears that Dr. Feelgood's magnum opus "Malpractice" goes in and out of print on a regular basis, and unless you can find a used copy somewhere, "Stupidity" may have to be where you'll have to discover the guitar genius of Wilko Johnson. Forget the tired old cliches about "pub rock," this is gritty, down-in-the-dirt R&B, featuring Johnson coaxing huge, chunky, fat, boxy-sounding chords from his battered Telecaster in a staggering pyrotechnical display of rhythm guitar. And to think the guy didn't even use a pick... Wow! Add in Lee Brilleaux's croaking vocals and one of the tightest rhythm sections ever in John Sparks and The Big Figure, and you've got quite a potent brew which may prove to be unhealthy for children and small animals. BUY THIS SINCE IT'S AVAILABLE, THEN MAKE IT A MISSION TO FIND "MALPRACTICE."

This is the chance to hear the most underrated english band of the seventies.Caught between the dinosaur-rock of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. and the back-to-basics approach of Punk.The feelgoods developed a unique blend of rythm and blues musicianship with protopunk attitude.The first thing that catches your attention is the percusive sound of Wilko Johnson's guitar, a totally original approach to traditional r&b numbers like Chuck Berry's "Talking 'bout you".Then you have Lee Brilleaux's distinctive cockney growl and Sparko and the Big Figure providing the most solid drum and bass combination till the arrival of ACDC.This is a great live recording that captures the Feelgood at their best.

This fabulous live album went to no.1 in the UK album charts in 1976, which is quite remarkable if you think back to that era. Glam and Progessive Rock had happened and disco & Punk/new wave were about to be huge. So it makes no sense that a rhythm & blues band album should get to no.1.

Listen to the album though and you begin to understand why Feelgood were so successful. Its a straightahead R&B album (in the old sense) with an un-schooled and English 'lads night out on the town' feel to it. Yes they certainly were influenced by Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry etc but they brought something new the material, and of course wrote some classics themselves. 'She Does It Right' remains my favourite original with Lee Brilleaux belting out the vocals and Wilko Johnson playing incendiary guitar. Of the covers I'd pick their version of 'Riot on Cell Block No. 9'. The atmosphere on this track captures the live feel brilliantly.

Another aspect of Dr Feelgoods success was the visual element. 30 years later its easy to forget the stage presence these guys had. Remember Wilko on tram-lines skating across the stage! Its a shame they didn't film any of these shows from 1975. You can catch film of them performing on the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, which is pretty good.

The CD runs to 47mins, has 15 tracks, with some interesting sleeve notes about the background to their success during the mid 70's.

First off, buy Dr. Feelgood. What a fine Rock and Roll band. Perhaps, no better. The sound on this CD is too thin. Maybe I'm used to the vinyl issue. Might be I'm the wrong guy reviewing this, as I regard Dr. Feelgood to be as important as Little Richard and Chuck Berry. I've seen them all, and Dr.Feelgood stands with them all. I'd suggest "Down By The Jetty" and "Be Seeing You".

Before there was Punk Rock, there was pub rock, the same raw energy, but twice the fun. Top of the pile was Dr. Feelgood, Sparks on bass, & the Big Figure on drums, knocking out the rhythm like a turbo charged hammer drill. Standing out the front in a cheap suit was Canvey island hard man Lee Brilleaux, couldn't sing, couldn't dance, couldn't play the Harmonica, but you wouldn't dare tell him, and then running all over the stage like a demented puppet on a bad hair day was Wilko Johnson, the bands wicked lead guitarist & main song writer. "Stupidity" caught them live on home territory in Southend, and remarkably was a number one album for the Feelgoods. Alternating between home grown classics like "Back in the Night" & "Roxette" with covers like "Riot in cell block number nine", "Johnny B Goode" & my personal favorite "Walking the Dog", this album is what Rock `n' Roll is all about, close your eyes and you could be down the Coach & Horses in Islington or Tahitian Queen Happy Hour on Friday with Clive. Buy it or else. Mott the Dog.

This fabulous live album went to no.1 in the UK album charts in 1976, which is quite remarkable if you think back to that era. Glam and Progessive Rock had happened and disco & Punk/new wave were about to be huge. So it makes no sense that a rhythm & blues band album should get to no.1.

Listen to the album though and you begin to understand why Feelgood were so successful. Its a straightahead R&B album (in the old sense) with an un-schooled and English 'lads night out on the town' feel to it. Yes they certainly were influenced by Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry etc but they brought something new the material, and of course wrote some classics themselves. 'She Does It Right' remains my favourite original with Lee Brilleaux belting out the vocals and Wilko Johnson playing incendiary guitar. Of the covers I'd pick their version of 'Riot on Cell Block No. 9'. The atmosphere on this track captures the live feel brilliantly.

Another aspect of Dr Feelgoods success was the visual element. 30 years later its easy to forget the stage presence these guys had. Remember Wilko on tram-lines skating across the stage! Its a shame they didn't film any of these shows from 1975. You can catch film of them performing on the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test DVD, which is pretty good.

The CD runs to 47mins, has 15 tracks, with some interesting sleeve notes about the background to their success during the mid 70's.

The LP did already not sound THAT good back then. However this is probably the best place to start if you want to explore classic Dr Feelgood. Indeed, the band is very very tight. Wiko Jonhson's guitar plaing is excellent. Back in the 80's this was considered their best album, probably because the Lp's could not capture their live power.

The english band Dr. Feelgood is one of the greatest bands in the seventies. Stupidity (1975) is their masterpiece, Wilko Johson is an excellent guitar player. They have blues influences too. Dr. Feelgood`s sound is original and everybody should know this classical band.

The english band Dr. Feelgood is one of the greatest bands in the seventies. Stupidity (1975) is their masterpiece, Wilko Johson is an excellent guitar player. They have blues influences too. Dr. Feelgood`s sound is original and everybody should know this classical band.