DR FEELGOOD
Singles: The U.A. Years+ [PLG UK Vintage]
or those seeking respite from the bloated mainstream rock of the mid-70s, London’s pub-rock scene provided a pre-punk oasis, where bands reconnected with the genre’s R&B roots. Dr Feelgood’s original line-up cut a menacing dash on stage and on record with their stripped-down, hot-wired R&B sound. This two-LP set, originally released in 1989, delivers more than its title implies, packing in 15 years’ worth of Dr Feelgood singles covering the band’s two most celebrated line-ups and later post-UA singles from formations centred on frontman Lee Brilleaux. Early and , driven by Johnson’s taut riffs, connect like uppercuts. The band’s rise is charted with , fuelled by Brilleaux’s searing slide guitar, and a potent live reading of . Brilleaux’s vocal charisma shines on the raucous and the rawboned . A satisfying, comprehensive overview.
