Mickey Jupp "Juppanese" 1978

Mickey Jupp – known to his fans as ‘Juppy’ – was the singer, pianist and guitar player with the Sixties’ British rock band Legend. Based in Southend On Sea, Juppy had previously performed with the Orioles and was steeped in rock’n’roll tradition. When Legend broke up in 1972 the singer re-launched his career on the London circuit, where he attained semi-mythical status as a pioneer of UK pub rock. He was signed to the eclectic Stiff label, and ‘Juppanese’ was released in 1978 to great acclaim among aficionados. Here are a dozen rockin’ tracks, including the appropriately titled ‘Old Rock’n’Roller’, all composed by the ‘Juppanese’ man himself.Before he released his first solo album in 1978, Mickey Jupp's reputation as a songwriter had begun to grow, as pub rockers like Dr. Feelgood and Ducks Deluxe were covering his compositions. As a performer, Jupp didn't fare as well. The main problem with Juppanese, his first solo album, is his lifeless vocals. The first half of Juppanese was recorded with Rockpile, the rock & roll group fronted by guitarist Dave Edmunds and bassist Nick Lowe. Because Jupp's strength is standard three-chord rock & roll, the first side of the album works the best; while it never captures the joyous energy of Rockpile's best moments, it is considerably tighter and rawer than the slick second side, where Jupp's nondescript voice struggles to be heard amid the studio professionalism. Even though it features several of Jupp's finest songs, including "You'll Never Get Me up in One of Those" and "Old Rock 'n' Roller," Juppanese doesn't include "Switchboard Susan," arguably his best song. Rockpile recorded the backing track for the album, yet Jupp refused to sing on it. Nick Lowe kept the tape, recording his own vocals for the song; his version is included on his 1979 album Labour of Lust. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

the band:

Bruce Lynch - Bass / Dave Mattacks - Drums / Terry Williams - Drums / Chris Spedding - Guitar (Acoustic & Electric) / Gary Brooker - Organ, Keyboards, Producer, Piano / Mickey Jupp - Guitar (Acoustic), Harmony Vocals, Piano, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards / Billy Bremner - Guitar / Nick Lowe - Bass, Producer / Dave Edmunds - Guitar, Vocals

traxfromwax:

1. Making Friends 2. Short List 3. Old Rock 'n' Roller 4. School 5. If Only Mother 6. Down In Old New Orleans 7. You'll Never Get Me Up In One Of Those 8. Pilot 9. S.p.y 10. Ballad Of Billy Bonney 11. Partir C'est Mourir Un Peu 12. Brother Doctor, Sister Nurse