Album Review by Mark Bayross
I like to think of myself as a fairly open-minded guy when it comes to music. Sure, I have my preferences, but I’ll give almost any type of music a listen once or twice, just out of curiosity. I’ll lend my ear to much vilified genres like country and western should the need arise; heck, I’ve even tried to comprehend why people listen to acid jazz or garage music when both bore me rigid. Unfortunately, “skiffle” is kinda where I draw the line.
Doesn’t sound too promising to start off with, does it? “Skiffle”. Sounds like “piffle”, only sillier. Well, after much reluctance, I finally plucked up the courage to load this into my CD player and, I’m afraid to say, my worst fears were confirmed.
The trio of Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber strum their way through songs with titles like IT TAKES A WORRIED MAN and DON’T YOU ROCK ME DADDIO. Dr. John joins them for the boogie-woogie foot-tappers GOING HOME and GOOD MORNING BLUES, while the harmonica blues of OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN and ALABAMY BOUND mellow things out a bit.
Getting an idea of what this sounds like yet? If not, let me help: this sounds like a cross between a dungaree-wearing Deep South hick sitting on a rocking chair playing his harmonica circa 1890, and one of those one-man-band nutters you used to see on Brighton Pier twanging their banjos while banging cymbals and drums with their legs.
You would think that such sub-George Formby twaddle would send the Belfast audience reaching for their guns to end the misery, but to hear the hysterical applause at the end of FRANKIE & JOHNNY, I guess there’s enough hardcore skiffle fans out there to keep Mr Morrison and pals in plectrums.
Skiffletastic.
