Too-Rye-Ay, As It Should Have Sounded

For one brief moment, Dexys exploded into Americas consciousness -- and what a song to do it with! "Come on Eileen" combines ramalama rock & roll, soul delivery, and Celtic/country flavor into a perfect musical fusion and an irresistible U.K. and U.S. number one hit. The rest of the album is nearly as successful, with quite a few numbers that should have matched "Come on Eileen"s fame. Given that songs obvious debt to Van Morrisons similar fusions, its no surprise that Dexys tipped their hat with a great cover of Morrisons "Jackie Wilson Said," another big British single. Throughout the album, Rowlands distinct, unique voice takes the fore, but the revamped Dexys lineup proves it was the original versions equal, if not better. Given that only trombonist Big Jimmy Patterson remained, and even then only for two tracks, recruiting a new band able to create the "Celtic soul" Rowland dreamed about turned out to be exactly the right move. Excellently produced by Rowland and the legendary Clive Langer/Alan Winstanley production team, Too-Rye-Ay sounds like an old soul revue recorded on-stage, no doubt an intentional goal. Other highlights include the opening jaunt "The Celtic Soul Brothers," which just about says it all both in title and delivery; the slow swirl of "All in All," and the vicious ballad "Liars A to E." ~ Ned Raggett