Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too-Rye-Ay (Too-rye-ay - Dexys Midnight Runners)

Member Name: clara29

Product:	Too-rye-ay - Dexys Midnight Runners
Date:	19/05/09 (2 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: From start to finish this is brillaint, and has not dated even after 27 years!!

Disadvantages: none

Okay, so you've all seen your uncle slightly drunk on sherry dancing to Come on Eileen at a wedding but there is so much more to Dexy's Midnight Runners than that!

Dexy's started out as a punk / soul band, but after the release of their 1980 debut album 'Searching for the young soul rebels' many members left due to musical disagreements. Kevin Rowland remained and along with new recruits, produced Too-rye-ay in 1982. It still had the soul but demonstrated a strong folk and celtic influence helped by the new fiddle players.
They cultivated a strong image too - many people will remember them for their dungarees!

I first got into them when my mum bought this for me when I was a nipper. I can honestly say its not been off my cassette player / cd player / ipod ever since!

Its an absolute gem of an album with tracks ranging from the opener - The Celtic Soul Brothers with rousing violins, to poignant soulful songs such as 'All in All' and 'Till I believe in my soul'. And yes, their signature tune 'Come on Eileen' is still a corking track :)
They do a rousing cover version of Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said, and really do it justice. Later on they released a deluxe updated version which also includes a cover version of Margherita Time (think original was Status Quo).

Kevin Rowland's voice is just sublime - he sings every song with such emotional range and that really comes across. Lyrically I think he is one of the most underrated songwriters of our time - he writes with such feeling and passion its hard not to get really wrapped up in it.

Although it invokes so many memories for me, it has totally stood the test of time - I find it each song fresh today as I did back then, nothing has aged even slightly.

I don't really do reviews of albums, music is such a personal taste that its hard to do an objective review that would convince a reader to be into that music. The reason I have made an exception for this? I don't know to be honest I just feel that passionate about this album that I decided to try an get it across in a review!

It was and still is one of my favourite albums in my collection and I would urge anyone that's ever wondered to buy it.

Summary: A true classic