Headcoats (thee) – Headcoatitude
Shakin’ Street Records – YUPPY 018 CD
My Dear Watson – Everybody Lies – Troubled Times – Hog’s Jaw – By Hook Or By Crook – It’s Gonna Hurt You (More Than It Hurts Me) – Neither Fish Nor Fowl – I Wonder Why People Don’t Like Me – Snitch Baby – Gotta Get Inside That Girl’s Mind – Headcoatitude – I Don’t Like You
It’s very easy to get lost in the vast discography of Billy Childish and his numerous bands. But as he himself has said, it’s not necessary to own every album released by each of his different projects; two or three are more than enough. Based on this principle, if I had to choose from the Headcoats’ LPs, Headcoatitude would undoubtedly be among the final selections (along with The Kids are all Square – This is Hip and Heavens To Murgatroyd, Even! It’s Thee Headcoats! (Already)). A live album could also be added for good measure.
So why choose Headcoatitude over any other album? First, because Childish’s songwriting is varied and, moreover, particularly inspired (avoiding yet another version of a previously recorded track). The album evokes the spirit of Bo Diddley and the fiercest elements of the British Blues Invasion, such as the Downliner Sect, the Pretty Things, the early Rolling Stones, and of course the Kinks, who are never far from Childish and his various bands.
This record contains some of the best examples of British Rhythm and Blues produced since that era, but played with an energy and attitude directly inherited from Punk rock (hence that famous « Headcoatitude”) and a bit of Psychedelic stuff (Gotta Get Inside That Girl’s Mind).
It’s ferocious, aggressive, and raw, but if you compare it to the standards set by previous Childish releases, you’d almost say it’s been produced.
With twelve tracks performed in under 26 minutes, Headcoatitude pulls no punches.
Headcoats (thee) – Headcoat Lane
Damaged Goods – DamGood 7 [1992]
Headcoat Lane / Comanche
Headcoat Lane is an atmospheric tune sounding a bit like a slow version of Baby Please Don’t Go, with a groovy bass. The flip is a cover of Link Wray’s Comanche, which seems tailor-made for the band.
Limited to 2000 copies.
Debbie & Jackie
