Chris Spedding

A legendary guitarist of high demand and calibre, Chris Spedding's name can be found on albums by the likes of Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, the Moody Blues, Brian Eno, Tom Waits and Bryan Ferry, and he has even produced such era-busting acts as the Sex Pistols and the gender-bending Cramps. As the album title suggests, Spedding reverts back to the days of simple rock, perhaps even "stripper bar rock," trying to find himself with songs with immediate concerns like cigarettes, women and drinking. The production style of the record is drenched in that artificial snare reverb and old Elvis vocal echo, but with nasal gestures and a medium-level raunchy attitude. His lanky Cramps influence is in full-force and a few songs feature the vocals of Chrissie Hynde to help secure the alleyway atmosphere that Spedding so easily creates. This album is worth a peek through the smoke.