From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Apr 15, 2002  1:14 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Dave Edmunds
 
DAVE EDMUNDS (By Shaun Mather)

Born 15 April 1944, Cardiff, Wales

Welshman Dave Edmunds is a singer, guitarist and producer whose blood runs
through rock 'n' roll veins. He spent his youth replicating the sounds of
his heroes like Scotty Moore, James Burton, Chet Atkins and particularly
Chuck Berry. He formed Love Sculpture and began a series of rocked up
versions of classical tunes, the best of which, Sabre Dance became a # 5
hit in 1968. He built a studio in Rockfield, South Wales where he taught
himself the art of producing. One of his numbers, a copy of Smiley Lewis'
I Hear You Knockin' became a Top Ten hit both sides of the Atlantic. In 1974
he appeared in the movie Stardust and helped produce the soundtrack. A year
later, his second album, Subtle As A Flying Mallet, spawned a couple more
hits in Baby I Love You and BORN TO BE WITH YOU. Commercially and
artistically successful albums followed in the guise of Get It (1977), Tracks On
Wax (1978) and Repeat When Necessary (1979), which included Girls Talk
(written by Elvis Costello) and Queen Of Hearts. With his backing band
Rockpile taking a share of the limelight they cut Seconds Of Pleasure in
1980. The 1981 LP Twangin' produced a hit in Almost Saturday Night
and a year later he joined Columbia and cut my favourite album D.E. 7th.
Things went downhill when he came under the production of ELO's big hairy
leader Jeff Lynne, whose efforts on Information and Riff Raff were why
hanging should be brought back. Dave Edmunds is a great producer and
musician who doesn't need ELO productions and synthesizers. As a producer
Edmunds helped launch the careers of the Stray Cats, kd lang and the
Fabulous Thunderbirds as well as re-launching the careers of the Everly
Brothers (EB84). His own Closer To The Flame from 1990 was a mixed affair,
with the great rocker King Of Love, a duet with Brian Setzer being the real
stand-out. Recent heart surgery has slowed him down a touch but hopefully
he'll soon be back.

Recommended listening:
Any of the original albums that weren't cut with Jeff Lynne.
A Pile Of Rock (Live) - Sanctuary
Anthology 1968-90 - Rhino (2CD)
More info: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/DaveEdmunds.html (by Shaun and Phil)
Official website: http://www.daveedmunds.com