Album Club: Week 93: Dexys Midnight Runners - Don't Stand Me Down-The Director's Cut

[Album Club]

A little bit late due to forum issues, but here's this weeks choice brought to you by JohnB (http://theartofsound.net/forum/member.php?u=6373) - hope you all enjoy it.

Dexys Midnight Runners - Don't Stand Me Down - The Director's Cut (1985 - remastered 2002)
http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag89/Jrb1961/image-21_zps86bf1596.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/Jrb1961/media/image-21_zps86bf1596.jpg.html)
http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Don+t+Stand+Me+Down/4246878

The 2002 remastering and re-sequencing of Dexy's 1985 album. (Don't listen to the original or the 1997 reissue....it's got to be the 2002 Director's Cut).*

I bought the LP when it came out in 1985 and was completely underwhelmed but it crept up on me over the next 10 years and I think it's just great.

In 1982 Kevin Rowland had a Platinum album in the form of Too-Rye-Aye, and a number one single in the UK and the USA (think wedding receptions!). He chose to take 3 years to follow up and released an album with no marketing or singles...it was a commercial disaster and the band didn't release another album for another 27 years. (The rather excellent One Day I'm Going To Soar).

I've recommended Don't Stand Me Down to many friends and I have to say that it really divides opinion, half love it and half hate it......so to the latter I apologise in advance and to the former, enjoy.

Cheers
John

* Apologies John if the version on Grooveshark isn't the correct one but this album doesn't appear to be on Spotify and this is the only legitimate free version I could find.

[johnB]

Thanks Mr Curator, yes this is the correct version. (Can I vote?)

[synsei]

Just finished listening to this and I really like the album. It's not Dexys usual frenetic fare but it benefits from a less energetic approach IMO. A solid 7/10 for me ;)

[Bazil]

Isn't "One of Those Things" a rip from Warren Zevon's "Werewolfs of London" ?

[johnB]

Isn't "One of Those Things" a rip from Warren Zevon's "Werewolfs of London" ?

It is Baz.....Kevin Rowland gives join song-writing credits to Warren on the later reissue....
Also sampled on the highly dodgy Kid-Rock track All Summer Long.

[Tim]

Sorry John, but I'm definitely in the latter group as I dislike Kevin Rowland's voice and have never enjoyed DMR - I didn't even like Come on Eileen! Interesting to listen to something I have never heard before and I enjoyed the pedal steel, but overall I found it a bit of a struggle, mainly because of Kevin R.
3/10

:sofa:

[Macca]

I thought it was pretty good, some strong tracks, a bit self indulgent in places with the chatter. 6 out of 10.

[Bazil]

I'm not fussed about this , I liked the early stuff, singles etc and have no problem with KR.
I particularly don't like the chatting between tracks, but it was something different cheers John. 4/10

[MartinT]

This is not doing much for me, whereas a couple of their early hits were ok in a nostalgic kind of way. Sorry, 4/10.

[keiths]

Only a 4/10 from me. I'm afraid. Like some others, Kevin Rowland's voice grates with me.

[The Grand Wazoo]

No, no, no, this is all wrong!
A nasty, messy business - everything that Tim said (including hating 'Come on Eilien' back then) is true.
It's great that you like it, but I can only go as high as 1/10, sorry.