Howlin’ Wilson and his Plastic Men – Death Of A Clown
Western Star Records – WSRC EP17 [2017]
Death Of A Clown – Plastic Man – Picture Book – Dead End Street
There is a question that has been bothering the little pop-rock galaxy for decades: The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Which side are you on? This question is irrelevant because everyone knows the only possible answer is “I’m a Kinks person! “. Maybe that’s also what Howlin’ Wilson (aka Alan Wilson of the Sharks) thinks. Supported by Mark Palmer (Radiacs) on double bass and Ben Turner (Holloway Echoes, Bob Butfoy) on drums, he released this EP consisting of four songs written by Dave Davies, the most melodic yet rocking at the same, time songwriter on the British sixties scene.
Although recorded with the Kinks, Death Of A Clown was first released as a Dave Davis solo project before being incorporated into Something Else By The Kinks. Picture Book is from The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. The other two tracks were only released as singles at the time.
Wilson being the most melodic of the Neo-Rockabilly and Psychobilly musicians and also being very attached to the production work (we know his admiration for Joe Meek, and we can decently assume that he is not indifferent to the work of Shel Talmy), it’s not surprising to see him rub shoulders with the Kinks repertoire. These four tracks are in the same style as a tune like King Of London released on the Sharks’ Infamy.
Wilson’s versions are relatively faithful to the original versions (we even find the trombone arrangement on Dead End Street). However, his voice gives all their personality to these covers, to which the double bass adds a slight Rockabilly touch.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
