Get It

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineGet It marks a significant departure from Dave Edmunds' early records, as it is the first time he's backed by a full band. Most of Get It was recorded with a fledgling version of Rockpile, with other sessionmen filling in when necessary, and the live band gives the album an energetic feel which Edmunds' had previously ignored. Just as importantly, the song selection is more carefully considered than before, containing only a handful of classics and obscure rock & roll tunes, but concentrating on pub rock staples ("Get Out of Denver," "Back to School Days," "JuJu Man"), and songs written or co-written by Nick Lowe, which gives the album a freshness lacking on his early records. Lowe's homages to the Everly Brothers ("Here Comes the Weekend"), Chuck Berry ("I Knew the Bride"), and Phil Spector ("Little Darlin'") are more appealing than Edmunds' re-creations of the originals, because Lowe's songs are lyrically and musically clever. But Edmunds knows how to make them sound like forgotten classics, and that's why Get It is one of his very best albums.