I’m A Man (The Best Of The Wilko Johnson Years 1974-1977)

1. Roxette (2006 Remaster)
2. Cheque Book (2006 Remaster)
3. Twenty Yards Behind (2006 Remaster)
4. Keep It Out of Sight (2006 Remaster)
5. Back in the Night(Live) (2012 Remaster)
6. Watch Your Step (2012 Remaster)
7. Rolling and Tumbling (2012 Remaster)
8. Don’t Let Your Daddy Know (2012 Remaster)
9. Riot in Cell Block Number Nine (2012 Remaster)
10. I’m A Man (Live) (2012 Remaster)
11. All Through the City (Live) (2012 Remaster)
12. Checkin Up On My Baby (Live) (2012 Remaster)
13. Everbody’s Carrying a Gun (Olympic Version)
14. Lights Out (2012 Remaster)
15. Sneakin Suspicion (2012 Remaster)
16. Going Back Home (Live) (2012 Remaster)

Dr. Feelgood cut a wide swath through England’s pub-rock scene in the 1970s, moving swiftly on to  larger venues with electrifying live performances fueled by the band’s swaggering R&B and hard-driving blues. Parlophone harnesses the power and excitement of the group’s early years with a new 16-track collection that mixes remastered versions of studio and live recordings. 

The compilation focuses exclusively on Dr. Feelgood’s original lineup, which featured Lee Brilleaux (vocals/slide guitar /harmonica), Wilko Johnson (guitar/vocals), John B. Sparks (bass) and John Martin (drums). Between 1974 and 1977, the quartet recorded three studio albums: Down By The Jetty (1975), Malpractice (1975) and Sneakin’ Suspicion (1977). In 1976, it topped the UK Albums charts with the outstanding live record, Stupidity.

The group — which took its name from a blues song by Willie “Piano Red” Perryman — played London’s pub-rock circuit relentlessly for years before recording its debut, Down By The Jetty. A number of songs from that album can be heard on I’M A MAN, including “Roxette,” “Cheque Book,” “Twenty Yards Behind,” and “Keep It Out Of Sight.”

Dr. Feelgood’s follow-up built on the group’s sonically charged sound with a mix of Wilko Johnson originals like “Don’t Let Your Daddy Know” and covers of Muddy Waters’ “Rolling and Tumbling” and Bobby Parker’s “Watch Your Step,” all included on this new collection. The band’s live shows were legendary for their reckless abandon, which comes through the speakers loud and clear thanks on the selections from the #1 album Stupidity: “Back In The Night,” “I’m A Man,” “All Through The City,” “Checking Up On My Baby,” and “Going Back Home.”

The band’s final album with Johnson, Sneakin’ Suspicion, was released in 1977. Two standout tracks from that UK Top 10 release are featured on I’M A MAN, including “Lights Out” and “Sneakin’ Suspicion,” which was Dr. Feelgood’s first single to crack the UK Singles chart. The collection also features “Everybody’s Carrying a Gun(Olympic Version)” which was unreleased until 2012. It has the original versions  of the five Dr Feelgood songs which appear on the Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey album ‘Going Back Home’.