JOHN OTWAY & WILD WILLY BARRETT, LP NM/EX Orig on EXTRACKTED, Pete Townshend WHO
Description:
AllMusic Review by Dave Thompson [-]
Originally self-released on their own Extracked label (after the duo was dropped by Track itself), John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett's 1976 debut album represents the purest of the pair's recordings, a selection of songs that represented every facet of their partnership, as opposed to the madcap antics that became their public persona. Featuring recordings that dated as far back as a 1971 dalliance with producer Pete Townshend, and songs that were even older, the overall mood of the album dances on a peculiar precipice somewhere between folk and country, pop and pub rock -- a fusion that had seen the partnership develop a fabulously rabid live following, at the same time as keeping the record-buying public firmly at arm's length. All six songs on the vinyl's first side had appeared on 45 in one form or another ("Gypsy" was a re-recording) without so much as bothering the chart; from the moment they were joined on the racks by an alternate take of side two's opening, "Really Free," however, Otway & Barrett's future reputation was assured. The patchwork assembly does not harm the album in the slightest. Four Townshend productions blend effortlessly in alongside Barron Anthony's handling of the anthemic "Racing Cars," while Barrett's production of the remainder proves that he learned much from past experiences. The showstopping "Cheryl's Going Home," Otway's idiosyncratic butchering of a song he found on a Bob Lind B-side, is a master class in special effects, while the closing ballads, "Trying Times" and "Geneve," have a spectral beauty that wraps around Otway's voice like a glove. Certainly the singer's subsequent attempts at "Geneve," recasting it with both full orchestra and lone piano, cannot come close to the crystalline fragility of the original. The decades since John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett have seen both players keep up a steady barrage of new releases, individually and collectively, and all have their moments of sublime glory. Only their debut, however, maintains that level from beginning to end -- maintains and, in places ("Racing Cars," "Cheryl," "Really Free"), even surpasses it. People simply don't make debut albums like this any longer.
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett – John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett
Label:
Extracked Records – EXLP1, Extracked Records – EX LP 1
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:
UK
Released:
May 1977
Genre:
Rock, Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Style:
Folk Rock
TracklistHide Credits
A1Misty Mountain
Written-By – Otway*, Barrett*
A2Murder Man
Written-By – Otway*, Barrett*
A3If I Did
Written-By – Otway*, Barrett*
A4Racing Cars (Jet Spotter Of The Track)
Written-By – Otway*, Barrett*
A5Louisa On A Horse
Written-By – Otway*
A6Gypsy
Written-By – Otway*
B1Really Free
Written-By – Otway*
B2Bluey Green
Written-By – Otway*
B3Cheryl's Going Home
Written-By – Bob Lind
B4Trying Times
Written-By – Otway*
B5Geneve
Written-By – Otway*
Companies, etc.
Pressed By – Lyntone Recordings Ltd. – LYN4431
Pressed By – Lyntone Recordings Ltd. – LYN4432
Published By – Extract Music
Published By – Heathside Music
Published By – C.S.B. Music
Published By – Shelter Music (3)
Published By – Metric Music
Credits
Mastered By – Jonz* (tracks: Side A)
Mastered By [Metalwork] – Max*
Photography – Jerry (2)
Producer – Barron Anthony (tracks: A4), Pete Townshend (tracks: A1,A2,A3,A5), Wild Willy Barrett (tracks: A6,B1,B2,B3,B4,B5)
Notes
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett's self-titled debut album, self financed and released on their own label. The discs are housed in plain white card sleeves onto which stickers were applied on the front and back by hand. An initial batch of 2000 records was followed by a second order of an undetermined number.
Publishers:
Tracks A1, A5: CSB Music
Tracks A2, A3: Shelter Music
Track A4: Extract Music/Heathside Music
Tracks A6 to B2, B4, B5: Ash Grove Music Ltd
Track B3: Metric Music
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Etched in runout side 1): LYN4431-1T EXLP-1A MAX JONZ
Matrix / Runout (Etched in runout side 2): LYN4432-1T EXLP-1B MAX
GOLDMINE GRADING
MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.
NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.
VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.
VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.
GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.
POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.
