Considered one of the pioneers of British Rock and Roll, Marty Wilde released his debut single in 1957. In addition to his career as a singer in the ensuing years, he has also been a successful songwriter, having written songs for the likes of Status Quo, Lulu and Hot Chocolate, as well as numerous songs for his daughter Kim, including co-writing her biggest hit “Kids In America” with his son Ricky. Now, sixty-nine years after that first single, he’s back with a new album, Let’s Rock This Place. The album is a collaboration with Darrell Higham, who has toured with Imelda May, recorded with Chrissie Hynde and Jeff Beck, and alongside The Stray Cats’ Slim Jim Phantom, was a member of The Kat Men. His rockabilly band Darrell Higham and the Enforcers contribute as the backing band on the album. The tone for the album is set perfectly with the opening title track, a really fun, high energy cut of old school rock and roll with a rockabilly beat. Originally recorded by Wilde as a b-side in 1961, he revisits “Your Loving Touch” and gives the rocker a modern day shot in the arm. “The Boogie Was King” is a little more laid-back with a boogie woogie beat and some great piano. Cliff Richard and the Shadows first recorded “Dynamite” back in 1959 and here Wilde keeps the rockabilly spirit of that original alive but also gives it a much fuller and meatier sound. “How I Cried” is a variation of his song “I Cried” that was released by The Wilde Three (Wilde, his wife Joyce and Justin Hayward, later of The Moody Blues) in 1965, and is a heartfelt ballad with an emotional vocal performance and some really nice soulful guitar work. One of the biggest surprises on the album is his cover of The Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You”, which is a super refreshing reinterpretation of the song, turning it into a bouncy rockabilly track. The straight-ahead British rock with a touch of country of “Back On The Road” reminds me at times of Junior Brown. First recorded by Jim Bullington and the Continentals, and then a hit for Jimmy Edwards, "Love Bug Crawl" is a fun and bouncy rockabilly track with a hint of early Elvis. "Just Walkin' In The Rain" was a hit single for Johnnie Ray in 1956 and here is a dreamy, slow melancholy ballad with Wilde showcasing his crooning along with some really nice harmony vocals and Higham's acoustic guitar work, while the upbeat “Lonely Weekends,” (originally a hit for Charlie Rich) adds a hint of honky tonk country flair to the mix. The album closes with two tracks that are not only my favorites but are also completely unlike the rest. Frankie Laine’s original version of “Remember Me (The Girl In The Wood)” had a haunting quality to it, but here it’s taken to an all-new level creating a dramatic, folk-tinged ballad that reminds me of Joe Meek’s production on the John Leyton song “Johnny Remember Me.” The final track is “Words Fell Down,” a song he and his wife wrote that was recorded by their daughter Kim on her debut album. It’s a really cool merging of Kim’s synth heavy new wave pop sound and rockabilly that if given a chance could be a hit. It's so refreshing to hear the eighty-seven year old Wilde experiment with his music, so do yourself a favor and give Let's Rock This Place a listen.
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