REVIEW: Brian Setzer, The Brian Setzer Collection '81-'88 (EMI)
- Don Share
I suppose you could argue that a Brian Setzer collection which runs from 1981 to 1988 is a possible rip-off, tied to Setzer's more recent success as a swing dance act. Well, that's likely the case with this disc, so if you've only recently become a fan of his, beware. Similarly, if you're a big Stray Cats aficionado, don't expect a disc chock fulla rockabilly reincarnations, but keep your eyes peeled for new and forthcoming reissues and compilations of that material, instead. While it does include a few stray Stray Cats tracks, the heart of this collection is Setzer's post-Cats and pre-Brian Setzer Orchestra, covering The Knife Feels Like Justice and Live Nude Guitars albums.
Back when punk was all, literally, the rage, Setzer's Stray Cats (along with Robert Gordon and the Cramps) were notable for bringing hungry punkist energy and fashion to a revival of rock's then-Elvis-bloated rockabilly heritage. Setzer not only had great taste in 50's classics, he had the mind, heart, soul -- and most importantly -- the guitar chops to make it all sound relevant: he played his ass off, and at the time, I swore he was the reincarnation of Johnny Burnette, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent all in one. Complete with stand-up bass, and stand-up drum playing, the Stray Cats became extremely popular -- in Europe. In the USA of the '80s, revivalism could never really find respectability, even if awful radio garbage and big hair somehow could. The Cats, ripped off and let down, languished. You'd have thought that Setzer was, as it were, history.
But he shifted musical gears, and came out with the aforementioned solo albums. These were somewhat successful, commercially -- quintessential American music, lighter and poppier than Springsteen, while not quite as catchy as Mellencamp. Still, it would take further gearswitching to his present (re)incarnation as neo-swing band attraction to make him a big star, at last. Well, he deserves it: whatever he's done, he's brought great energy and to, and that's what binds all this music together.
That said, this disc, has ups and downs, much like Setzer's career. The great Stray Cats cuts "(She's) Sexy + 17" and "Rock This Town" are here in their single edits (no 'stray Cat Strut" kitties), while the swell a cappella version of "I Won't Stand In Your Way" is here, along with a hot live version of "Runaway Boys." Then you get the solo almost-hits, "The Knife Feels Like Justice" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," very worthy tunes, indeed. The rest is up to you. There are studio outakes and B-sides -- 'summertime Blues," "Echo Park," "Cross of Love," "Thing About You," "Waitin' For Desiree," "Keep Your Lovin' Strong," and "Living Souls," by name. The disc is rounded out with "When the Sky Comes Tumblin' Down," "Every Tear That Falls," "Bobby's Back," the Roy Wood-esque "The Rain Washed Everything Away," and "Chains Around Your Heart," a fair taste of the albums themselves, which could be a bit bland. I don't find these songs much fun to hear, but they will please anyone interested in this phase of Setzer's career.
Brian Setzer is undeniably at his best when he's retro, which means that this anthology doesn't collect him at his finest. Still, EMI deserves great credit for coming up with rare and interesting tracks for this disc, instead of being skimpy or merely recycling (though I wish the cuts were in chronological order). Like Setzer himself, this music is solid and full of heart.
