Rockabilly’s Dave Edmunds’ Rags & Classics

Dave Edmunds and his blendof powerpop and rockabilly have influenced everyone from Brian Setzer of The Stray Cats to today’s top powerpop acts like Kurt Baker and The Connection. His work with Rockpile is legendary. So when Dave Edmunds puts out a new CD, it’s automatically newsworthy.

Recorded at his home studio in Wales, Edmunds has finally recorded the “guitar album” he says he has wanted to record since he was seventeen. Stylistically, there’s a lot of variety here as Edmunds takes on everything from “Black Mountain Rag” to “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor”, the latter being an amazing version I’ve heard only once before, when Edmunds was on tour over a decade ago. That was before he had a well-documented heart attack and maintained a home in LA. That particular show was at the legendary Maxwells in Hoboken NJ. Edmunds performed the classical piece entirely on guitar and guitar alone. It was mesmerizing. He’ll be performing in Scotland and Wales this summer but has no U.S. dates planned as far as I can tell.

Other Rags & Classics highlights include Edmunds’ interpretation of “Green Onions”, “Classical Gas”, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Your Song”.

If you were hoping for classic Rockpile (with vocals), you’ll have to wait for the next Edmunds record. But, for rockabilly guitar aficionados, this one is a must have.