My Favourite Albums of 2024: Teach Yself WAH! - A Best Of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie (March)

Some folks can get a bit overly precious about adding a Reissue or a Compliation to the their Favourite Albums of the Year Lists mainly for the reason "it's not new" or "it's unnecessary". I thought about this very thing quite frequently and to a degree I understand. I get fed up with labels that seem to constantly be reissuing the same albums time and time again with the only difference being the colour of the vinyl. or the label that just seems to rehash a "Greatest Hits" album two years after the previous one came out and there's either one or two different songs on it or the tracklist has just been swapped around. Hopefully I was able to point out how annoying also this practice is when it came to the release of a recent Springsteen Compilation and a deep dive into a number of the totally unnecessary releases that came before it (CLICK HERE TO READ THAT POST). 

I don't believe we are dealing with an "unnecessary release" here because, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a new Pete Wylie Compilation for 24 Years! For many this might be a good introduction to the music by one of  Liverpool's modern day musical greats..

Teach Yself Wah! - A Best of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Chrysalis Records
1st March 2024

One of the coolest wee collections of the music of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! (and a couple of other named Wah! bands or is it brands?) since the excellent 'The Handy Wah! Whole : Songs From The Repertwah!: The Maverick Years 2000' (2CD set on Castle Music, 2000). Included are of course a few of the classic Singles (I'm guessing the licensing of the other tracks was problematic, hence their exclusion) and freshly Remastered tracks from 'Songs of Strength & Heartbreak' (2000) and the long spoken of but finally appeared, 'Pete Sounds!' (2017).

45RPM: #110 The Story of the Blues - Wah! (1982)

The Story of the Blues Part One / The Story of the Blues Part Two (Talkin' Blues)

Eternal

Produced by Mike Hedges

Released December 1982

UK Chart #3

When it came to making Singles there was no one who quite did it like Pete Wylie. Prior to this release he'd already released two legendary 45s with Better Scream and Seven Minutes To Midnight. Whilst they didn't impact the chart (they were "hits" on the Indie chart) I still think they can (and should) be considered Great Singles.

With the release of his sixth single, The Story of the Blues, under the banner this time of Wah! he got himself a "real Hit Record", not just Top 20, or Top 10 but Top 3!

The B-Side, The Story of the Blues Part Two Talkin' Blues is Wylie telling us what we should do in the face of people putting us down and about reclaiming who we are (you didn't hear this kind of thing too much in pop records!):

 I remember how it was, how every medium - T.V. and papers and
radio and all those people were saying:

 "you're on the scrapheap, you're useless"

I remember how easy it was to start believe in that, 

I remember how you'd hear people take it for granted that it was true 

- just 'cause
someone with an ounce of power' said so.

So listen, when the smile, the condescending pat-on-the-back comes and says: "we're sorry, but you're nothing, you've got nothing for us 

and we've got nothing for you", 

you say: "no",and say it loud: "NO!"

John Peel declared that The Story of the Blues was his Single of the Year in 1982.

Basement Blues /Story of the Blues

John Peel Session

First Broadcast 17th September 1984

Happy Birthday Pete

Birthday Greetings to the man behind the myth

Pete Wylie

Wonderful Life/The Story of the Blues

January 2016

Set list:
Better Scream
Pale Blue Eyes
Story of The Blues
Sinful
The Wonder Of You
7 Minutes To Midnight / War
All Along The Watchtower
Alone Again Naturally
You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory
The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies
Comeback 

45RPM: #79-80 A Liverpool Double Header (1980)

Two brilliant singles were released on this day in 1980 both stemming from Liverpool. First up Teardrop Explodes and their third single on Zoo Records - Treason. It was a #3 hit on the Indie Charts and when re-released when they signed to a major label a year later it reached #18 in the UK Charts. The B-Side is absolutely brilliant, Co-written by Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen.

And then Wah! Heat's Debut single on Inevitable Music. I realise I already posted it on The Brits piece I did moments ago but it does sit a whole lot better here.

Treason

B-Side: Read It In Books.

 

Better Scream

B-Side: Hey (Disco) Joe.

45RPM: #48 Seven Minutes To Midnight - Wah! Heat (1980)

The debut single from Liverpool's Wah! Heat, Better Scream (backed by Hey (Disco) Joe) was an absolute belter of a record but with the release of their 2nd 45, Seven Minutes To Midnight, they went a step further and produced what I think is one of the greatest singles on an Independent label ever.

They had recorded the song earlier in the year for their first John Peel Session (see link down at the bottom of the page) and whilst I love the single version of Seven Minutes To Midnight, it is the Peel Session Version that I think stands as the definitive version (not sure that others agree but that's my take on it).

Right Side: Seven Minutes to Midnight...To Be Continued

Left Side: Don't Step On The Cracks

Wah! Heat

Inevitable Records

1980 

(there seems to be some debate as to when this was released, a couple of places have it as a September release, others October and someone else I saw had it as a November release. Seeing that the song is in my mind at present I'll post it today as an October release - I'll see if I can ask Wylie, he'll know best)

Right Side:

 Left Side:

Wah! Heat Peel Session 1980.

Recorded 19th May

Broadcast 10th June

01 Seven Minutes To Midnight

02. Don't Step On The Cracks

03. Some Say

04 Other Boys

Alphabet Beats #160: W is for....Wylie as in Pete

W is for...

Live at Zanibar, Liverpool December 2010

Set list:
Better Scream
Pale Blue Eyes
Story of The Blues
Sinful
The Wonder Of You
7 Minutes To Midnight / War
All Along The Watchtower
Alone Again Naturally
You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory
The Day That Margaret Thatcher Dies
Comeback 

We finish off the Letter W with a self proclaimed Legend, well actually we all think he's one regardless of whether he proclaims it or not! 

Pete Wylie got married recently (20th May) and I'd like to extend best wishes to both Pete and Kate.

Pete Wylie of course appears in many guises: Wah!, Wah! Heat, The Mighty Wah!, Pete Wylie & Wah! The Mongrel and Pete Wylie and The Oedipus Wrecks. Regardless of the name changes they can all sit neatly under the banner of his own name.

The Music of Wylie

Wah! Heat

 Better Scream (1979).

Seven Minutes To Midnight (1980).

Wah!

Somesay (1981).

Forget the Down (1981).

Nah=Poo - The Art of Bluff (1981 Full Album).

The Story of the Blues Pt1&2 (1982).

Shambeko Say Wah!

Remember (1982).

Wah!

Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me) (1983).

The Mighty Wah!

Come Back (1984).

 Weekends (1984).

 Pete Wylie and The Oedipus Wrecks

Sinful (1986).

Sinful (Extended Version).

Sinful (Tribal Mix).

 Sophie's Sinful! (For Maurice Or Isabelle).

 

 

 Pete Wylie featuring The Fabulous Josie Jones

 Diamond Girl (1986).

Diamond Girl (Extended).

Pete Wylie

If I Love You (1987).

Fourelevenfortyfour (1987).

Pete Wylie and The Farm

Sinful (Scary Jiggin' with Dr Love).

Pete Wylie and Wah! The Mongrel

Long Tall Scally (1991).

The Kerry Baby.

Don't Loose Your Dreams (1991).

The Mighty Wah!

Songs of Strength and Heartbreak (2000)

1. Never loved as a child
2. Sing all the saddest songs
3. Disneyland forever
4. I still love you
5. Hope you fall in love
6. Hey Mona Lisa
7. Loverboy
8. Alone
9. Heart as big as Liverpool
10. J'taime j'taime
11. The return of rock n roll
12. Country epic

More Wylie

Heart As Big As Liverpool ("Liverpool Collective featuring The Kop Choir , Fields Of Anfield Road.").

The Story of the Blues (featuring Mick Jones) - Scala, London December 2011.

Come Back - Dead Men Walking (Guilifest 2001).

Pale Blue Eyes - Edwyn Collins and Pete Wylie (Liverpool Cathedral 2011).

Pete Wylie - Disneyland Forever (Classic4, Liverpool 2007).

Wah! - I Know There Was Something/Remember (Old Grey Whistle Test).

Billy Bragg, Mick Jones and Pete Wylie - Jail Guitar Doors (Liverpool December 2011).

Pete Wylie and Pippa Goodall - The Visitor.

Pete Wylie and Nasher - The Power of Love (Liverpool December 2007).

Wah! - Silver and Gold (The Tube 1983).

The Jams (ft Pete Wylie) - It's Grim Up North.

Stay Free (Cover of The Clash). 

Live in Huddersfield 18th October 2014.

Happy Birthday Pete Wylie

Happy Birthday

 to the

Part Time Rock Star

 Full Time Legend

Pete Wylie

The S4L Wylie Top Ten

10. The Return of Rock and Roll.

09. Sinful.

08. The Lost Generation.

07. Diamond Girl.

06. Heart As Big As Liverpool.

05. Disneyland Forever.

04. Seven Minutes to Midnight.

03. Come Back.

02. Don't Lose Your Dreams.

01. Story of the Blues (Pt1 and 2)

Happy Birthday Pete Wylie

Born on this day in 1958 Pete Wylie - one of Liverpool's finest.

Click on the links to enjoy some mighty fine music.

Wah! Heat

 Better Scream (1979).

Seven Minutes To Midnight (1980).

Wah!

Somesay (1981).

Forget the Down (1981).

Nah=Poo - The Art of Bluff (1981 Full Album).

The Story of the Blues (1982).

Shambeko Say Wah!

Remember (1982).

Wah!

Hope (I Wish You'd Believe Me) (1983).

The Mighty Wah!

Weekends (1984).

Come Back (1984).

Pete Wylie featuring The Fabulous Josie Jones

Diamond Girl (1986).

Pete Wylie

If I Love You (1987).

Fourelevenfortyfour (1987).

Sinful (1988).

Pete Wylie and Wah! The Mongrel

Long Tall Scally (1991).

Don't Loose Your Dreams (1991).

The Mighty Wah!

Heart As Big As Liverpool (1998).

Pete Wylie - Live in Liverpool December 2010.

Heart As Big As Liverpool ("Liverpool Collective featuring The Kop Choir , Fields Of Anfield Road.").

The Story of the Blues (featuring Mick Jones) - Scala, London December 2011.

Come Back - Dead Men Walking (Guilifest 2001).

Pale Blue Eyes - Edwyn Collins and Pete Wylie (Liverpool Cathedral 2011).

Pete Wylie - Disneyland Forever (Classic4, Liverpool 2007).

Wah! - I Know There Was Something/Remember (Old Grey Whistle Test).

Billy Bragg, Mick Jones and Pete Wylie - Jail Guitar Doors (Liverpool December 2011).

Pete Wylie and Pippa Goodall - The Visitor.

Pete Wylie and Nasher - The Power of Love (Liverpool December 2007).

Wah! - Silver and Gold (The Tube 1983).

The Jams (ft Pete Wylie) - It's Grim Up North.