Steve Hooker and Wilko Johnson - "Back in the Day" (Thousands Records, MCD 2005)

Everybody knows who Wilko Johnson is right? No? Well OK, for the few visitors of this space not knowing Wilko, think this. If Dr. Feelgood was the Stones, then Johnson is their Keef. I know it's a bit of blasphemy to say that Lee Brilleaux was their Jagger but don't know exactly how else should i start this piece. A Pretty Things type chap, that kicked started a whole generation to dig the blues. Alright, rhythm & blues and rock & roll, but in my head it's the same thing. Most people knowing him through the Feelgoods but the fans (and we 're a lot of them) worship this animal for all his other works. The Solid Senders, the Blockheads and countless one off shoots like the great single with Lew Lewis ("Bottle Up & Go!" - Thunderbolt THBE-001, 1983) or with Steve Hooker.
Who's Steve Hooker now, huh? A cool almost Johnny Thunder-esque (in his youth) bloke, with huge admiration for rock n' roll in general and especially... well everything. He played punk rock in the mid/late 70s with the Heat. A little later with the Shakers cool rock n' roll / rhythm n' blues and not much later rockabilly and soul... In the underground is a well known if not legendary figure. Chuck Berry and Johnny Thunders had him play. Not many lads in the music business did two of the three best in rock n' roll right (only Keith missed the chance)? If I'm right the colaboration with Wilko Johnson produced originally only a single for Line Records (LIMS 200010 E), back in 1988 and on the A-Side placed a great cover tune on the Rolling Stones "It's All Over Now" (bw/ "I Want to Talk To You" which sounds to these ears at least like a "So Alone" outtake!).
"Wilko has been a good buddy since the mid 70's - we shared a lot of stages and made a good little record together". Steve bumped into Johnny Thunders in Paris in the '80's, then jammed with him in London. "I'm sorry he isn't around anymore - it's not like we were best mates but I was fond of him - he wrote some great tunes. Chuck Berry was everything people say he's not - a professional, a gentleman - it was a privilege for The Shakers to tour with him. Boz Boorer is like the brother I never had - we never go for more that a few days without speaking, wherever we might be in the world. Robert Gordon is the greatest singer I ever stood on-stage with - he called me up for a couple of encores in 2002." In April this year, Robert chose Steve to be his support again for his gig at the 100 Club in London. "I respect all of these people - when you work with someone you got to give them some space, then you'll get along fine. I hope to work with another old friend - Flaco Jimenez (who played accordion with Ry Cooder) again sooner or later." - (Interview excerpt taken from http://swaggerjoint.com)
On the year 2005, Thousands Recs gathered all five songs the duo recorded, the two of the aforementioned single plus three more and here they are. The sad thing about this release is that no one gave a shit. I have killed many time and shoes to earth this up. Finally i got it and i tell you it's a shit kicker. A punky rhythm & blues short drink, well crafted and frantically played. Something like the early on Pretties if have lived and grow in late 70s  instead of the 60s. Sure shot. Lemme know your thoughts on this.
320Kbps 

Back in the Day