This two-CD reissue of
Ducks Deluxe's first two albums differs from the previous
Edsel two-on-one release, as no tracks were omitted due to space constraints. In retrospect, these recordings seem more relevant after the passage of time, as they provide a clearer linkage between
British blues-based
album rock and late-'70s
punk and
post-punk new wave. In fact, the influences of British
pub rock span back to '50s
rock & roll and
R&B. Their take on
Eddie Cochran's
"Nervous Breakdown" bears an uncanny resemblance to perhaps his biggest hit,
"Summertime Blues." But it's
Ducks Deluxe's original pieces that evoke echoes of artists like
the Rolling Stones,
Them, and
Mott the Hoople.
"Fireball" sounds like a direct outtake from
All the Young Dudes or
Mott, while the
R&B-rich
"Falling for That Woman" suggests
Van Morrison at his soulful best.
"Rio Grande," from
Taxi to the Terminal Zone, wouldn't sound out of place on
Bob Dylan's
Blood on the Tracks. Conversely, the
pub rock forwarded by this band also foretells of sounds yet to come by both their direct offspring
the Motors and indirect kin
Graham Parker, whose early recordings were on par with the historic debut albums of
Elvis Costello and
the Clash.
"Please, Please, Please" is a direct precursor to
the Motors'
"Dreaming Your Life Away." Additionally, next-generation bands like
the Saw Doctors owe a debt of gratitude to
Ducks Deluxe, as they borrowed judiciously from their elders' bold musical stew. But regardless of the multitude of musical influences the listener may cite (and there are too many to mention), this blend of
rockabilly,
R&B,
blues-rock, and
country pre-
punk known as
pub rock continues to stand the test of time. ~ Dave Sleger