The clue is in the last two songs: “I’m The Quireboys Singer, like it or not” spits Spike on “Like It Or Not”. A bluesy, soul-infused thing.
Then the reflection of the title track, the comedown after the party, takes them right back to the early days in London. In a dreamy haze, as the saxophone wails like an offcut from a Springsteen session, the answerphone says: “I know you’re with Guy Bailey, and he’s all over this without playing a note.”
So a bit of backstory. Spike was sacked from The Quireboys, the band he’d formed in the ’80s. So he formed…The Quireboys. That is to say, he got most of the original lineup together again. Then Bailey died. The tragedy spurred them on further. Now they had a cause, so they roped in Luke Morley (you might have heard of him?) and carried on. Spike won the name battle (although as my review of their live launch at KK’s in Wolverhampton in the spring pointed out, any band with Spike in it is the damn Quireboys).
This brings us here, to these 11 songs.
And look, they’re fooling no one; this is a bit of what they fancy, a bit of what we fancy. If “Jeez Louise” sounded any more classic-sounding Quireboys, they’d all be inviting us to a Sex Party. It’s glorious, it’s gorgeous sleaze, and it’s why I’ve loved this band for 35 years. Hell, I loved them before they sponsored Wayne Biggins’ kit in 1990 (apologies to any non-Stoke City fans).
The second one, “Raining Whiskey,” sees Frankie Miller duet, and it’s a beauty. Okay, it sounds like “Honky Tonk Woman,” but are you bothered? No, thought not.
“You And I” is one of those tender ones that the band always excelled at, “I Think I Got It Wrong” sees everyone at their raspy best. The blues are shot through this before Morley—who is clearly enjoying himself—steps it up. Although “it sure is a messy business, three in bed/wish that you had warned me, I don’t look good in a dress” means you can never unsee it… They’ve always had the country side. “Myrtle Beach” is this one’s stab at it. “Happy” is the sort of thing that only this band could do, and the ballad “No Honour Amongst Thieves” isn’t far from setting up around the campfire.
The harmonica is out for “Howlin’ Wolf,” and the keys from original member Chris Johnstone (Willie Dowling is also here) are sublime.
They are so adept at playing it slow, too. Drummer Rudy Richman (he’d left in 1993) is at his best on “It Ain’t Over Now,” and with Nigel Mogg back on bass, there’s magic here.
It’s not betraying any confidences surely – unless ess he’s on tag, which stands a chance—to say I saw Spike at a gig recently. As always, he was dressed as Spike, if you see what I mean. I love the thought that he’s at Tesco in Bilston dressed like that.
The point I’m making is that he’s a rock star; they’re all rock stars. And if The Quireboys have never made a bad record, then this is still one of their best. More than that, “Wardour Street” is one of the absolute best records of 2024. They are The Quireboys—except no imitations. and this is almost perfect rock n roll.
Rating: guess
REVIEW: THE QUIREBOYS – WARDOUR STREET (2024)
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