The Mighty Wah! – A Word To The Wise Guy (1984)

I have no idea where or when I picked this up, but it was certainly a deliberate replacement for the LP plus 12" I bought from the record stall in Folkestone Market round about the time of release.

This CD is a 2001 reissue, with a plethora of additions to the original album.

I've long admired Pete Wylie, self-styled Part Time Rock Star, Full Time Legend, and will defend his ability to write a classic pop song to anyone. He is also capable of writing some ...er, less than classics, and it's not clear that he knew the difference in his younger days.

This album starts off where it all began, with The Story Of The Blues, the breakthrough hit single (propelled by a last minute prime time TV guest appearance), all strings and Spector sound with biting lyrics about lack of hope for ordinary people. - a reissue addition to the original album.

But it's not the only great song here. From the original LP Weekends is another of my favourites, as is The Lost Generation (a reworking of the earlier song Shambeko), while Everwanna is a decent bit of scouse soul. Let's not forget the final track on the album, the wonderful hit single Come Back.

Among the other additions to the original of note, are Talkin' Blues - B side of The Story Of The Blues, a spoken narrative over the music, and the joyous Remember.

However, there's a lot that doesn't really work. The five versions/episodes of the proto-rap Yuh Learn, from local poet Eugene Lange, feel like filler, as does various other mixes of Come Back.

But it's an interesting snapshot of the times and the enigma that was Wylie. Perhaps a superstar if he'd been more willing to play the record industry games, or a perennial big fish in a small pond? We're waiting for the autobiography to set the record straight, Pete! Although, I suspect it would only muddy the waters. Worth a listen.

Link to album tracks

3* - there's a lot of ordinary to wade through to get to the magic here