Title: Roll the Old Chariot Along
Written by: Traditional 

Imagine a whaling expedition set in the icy realms of the 19th century Arctic. Join the crew of the Volunteer as they embark upon a perilous quest in pursuit of precious whale oil. But beware, dear friends, for danger lurks upon these tempestuous waters.

You’ve guessed it… Here is the third and final chapter in my EP inspired by and dedicated to the epic TV show that is “The North Water”.

I finish the project with a salty reworking of the sea shanty, "Roll the Old Chariot Along”. It’s not done in a sea shanty style and I changed the lyrics, but other than that you can almost smell the seagulls… ;-)

Sea shanties were work songs sung by sailors during their arduous tasks aboard ships. They were used to help coordinate collective efforts, synchronize movements, and maintain morale while performing physically demanding tasks like hoisting sails or hauling anchor. The rhythmic nature of shanties aided in providing a steady tempo for tasks, fostering a sense of unity among the crew. Beyond their functional role, sea shanties also served as a form of entertainment, storytelling, and a means of preserving maritime traditions.

“Roll the Old Chariot Along” is derivative of an older sea shanty called “A Drop of Nelson’s Blood” which is a reference to the rum that was used to preserve Admiral Nelson’s body for transportation back to Blighty after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The chorus of “Roll the Old Chariot “ was a popular term in the early 1800s signifying the work of spreading of the word of God.

I dropped the Nelson reference and instead introduced one of my own, incorporating a little of the Greenland Sound, which the Whalers would have had to pass to get to arctic whaling waters.

The story goes that this song began life as a spiritual number that grew into a becoming a sea shanty. I take it a step further in its evolution away from the shanty into some sort of folk number.

Roll The Old Chariot Along

Song: Back In The Night
Written by – Wilko Johnson
Appears on single: Dr Feelgood - Back In The Night / I’m A Man (1975)
Appears on album: Dr Feelgood - Malpractice (1975) 

Having now truly got the Dr Feelgood drug in my system I felt the need to do another version of Back in the Night. This time I wanted to play my new telecaster and why not do Lee’s slide in the correct tuning this time? (Open E if you're interested). Oh, and while I'm at it, how about an improv harp solo or two. Ha ha. I'm going for the live Wilko-on-speed vibe here. Oh, I do hope he likes it!

I’ll finish with some words from Wilko Johnson himself from an interview with Songwriting Magazine:

“I remember when I wrote Back In The Night – I sat up all night writing that fucker – and I was so chuffed with it, and I went to the rehearsal the next day and played it to them and they just sneered at it. Well, they didn’t sneer. They just went, ‘Oh, it’s alright’. You know, ‘You bastards, it’s really good!”

I agree Wilko. It IS really good!

If you are interested in hearing more songs from this project, please check out my playlist “Inspired by Dr Feelgood” where I present my take of some of the music created by Dr Feelgood. I even lay down some of my own compositions to mix it up a bit. My focus is predominantly on those very early formative years of the band and trying to capture some of the passion and raw energy of the music that they were creating at that time. Have I got the chops to capture the magic of a Dr Feelgood live performance? Have a listen and you be the judge!

If you’re interested in hearing more of the music that originally inspired and influenced Dr Feelgood, listen to the following Artists: The Rolling Stones (the band that first turned Wilko and Lee onto the Blues); Bo Diddley (whose signature rhythm guitar inspired Wilko’s distinctive “choppy” style); Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker (whose music inspired Wilko’s songwriting); Howlin’ Wolf (the artist who inspired Lee with his stage presence and growling vocal style); Chuck Berry (the artist whose “duckwalk” inspired Wilko’s very own “springwalk”); Little Walter, James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson I (whose cross-harp playing styles inspired Lee’s spine-tingling delivery); Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (whose fast and furious live 3-piece energy and all-in-one rhythm and lead guitar presence inspired Wilko).

Dr Feelgood were labelled as being leaders in what is often referred to as “Pub Rock”, a phenomenon than revolved around a tight-knit set of bands playing a regular circuit of venues in and around London in the 1970s. It’s a term that’s always felt a bit derogatory to me, but today you’ll hear it used to refer to the style of music that started to emerge from this scene. If you’re interested in hearing more British “Pub Rock” from notable contemporaries of Dr Feelgood, check out some fantastic music from the following artists: Graham Parker & The Rumour; Nicke Lowe; Nine Below Zero; The 101ers; Lew Lewis; Chris Spedding; The Inmates; Steamhammer; Kilburn & The High Roads; Ducks Deluxe; Eddie & The Hot Rods; The Count Bishops; The Kursaal Flyers.

Back in the Night

Song: She Does It Right 
Written by – Wilko Johnson
Appears on single: Dr Feelgood - She Does It Right / I Don’t Mind (1975)
Appears on album: Dr Feelgood - Down By The Jetty (1975) 

I posted a version of this song briefly about a month ago. I was striving for the vibe of the famous speed-fueled "Geordie Scene" gig, but I didn't manage it. Obviously not enough speed. Here's me having another go. This is probably one of Wilko's more famous tunes, one that helped to break the band. Talking to Louder Sound, Wilko Johnson recalled a visit to a nightclub: "I saw this girl dancing and thought, 'That girl really does it right.' And then I thought, 'That's a song title.'" Catch him on another day and he would focus on the long hours spent striding the room putting words to music.

Wilko Johnson was Dr Feelgood’s sole songwriter in the early days and it is well documented the pressure he felt needing to come up with new material. It was this pressure in part that finally drove him to leave the band in 1977. Years later looking back on his time writing songs for Dr Feelgood he revealed how he always came up with the riff first and then he’d have Lee Brilleaux’s voice in his head as he conjured up the lyrics.

“She does it right” has arguably one of Wilko’s most memorable riffs. He claimed it was the first song he remembered writing for Dr Feelgood. It’s not a complicated one, but bloody hell, it’s a tricky little bugger to play! Well done Wilko!

If you are interested in hearing more songs from this project, please check out my playlist “Inspired by Dr Feelgood” where I present my take of some of the music created by Dr Feelgood. I even lay down some of my own compositions to mix it up a bit. My focus is predominantly on those very early formative years of the band and trying to capture some of the passion and raw energy of the music that they were creating at that time. Have I got the chops to capture the magic of a Dr Feelgood live performance? Have a listen and you be the judge!

If you’re interested in hearing more of the music that originally inspired and influenced Dr Feelgood, listen to the following Artists: The Rolling Stones (the band that first turned Wilko and Lee onto the Blues); Bo Diddley (whose signature rhythm guitar inspired Wilko’s distinctive “choppy” style); Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker (whose music inspired Wilko’s songwriting); Howlin’ Wolf (the artist who inspired Lee with his stage presence and growling vocal style); Chuck Berry (the artist whose “duckwalk” inspired Wilko’s very own “springwalk”); Little Walter, James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson I (whose cross-harp playing styles inspired Lee’s spine-tingling delivery); Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (whose fast and furious live 3-piece energy and all-in-one rhythm and lead guitar presence inspired Wilko).

Dr Feelgood were labelled as being leaders in what is often referred to as “Pub Rock”, a phenomenon than revolved around a tight-knit set of bands playing a regular circuit of venues in and around London in the 1970s. It’s a term that’s always felt a bit derogatory to me, but today you’ll hear it used to refer to the style of music that started to emerge from this scene. If you’re interested in hearing more British “Pub Rock” from notable contemporaries of Dr Feelgood, check out some fantastic music from the following artists: Graham Parker & The Rumour; Nicke Lowe; Nine Below Zero; The 101ers; Lew Lewis; Chris Spedding; The Inmates; Steamhammer; Kilburn & The High Roads; Ducks Deluxe; Eddie & The Hot Rods; The Count Bishops; The Kursaal Flyers.

She Does it Right

Song: Lights Out
Written by – M. Rebennack, S. David
Appears on single: Dr Feelgood - Sneakin’ Suspicion / Lights Out (1977)
Appears on album: Dr Feelgood - Sneakin’ Suspicion (1977) 

Introducing “Lights Out”: a tune so fast that even Dr Feelgood were terrified to play it live! I was in two minds about whether to go with a guitar solo, or harp solo. In the end I did both, and even after all that the song still only comes in at a meagre 2 minutes 16 seconds. That's fast!! The song itself is from 1958, originally performed by Jerry Byrne. I love it! If only I could play it! Ha ha. And yes, I had to break my no plectrum rule here, but only for the solo. Will try harder next time...

I first heard “Lights Out” on the b-side to the “Sneakin’ Suspicion” single. It quickly became a part of the set my band - The Blisters - played in the 80s. If memory serves me right, we played it faster than the Feelgood version, but then we played everything fast. Today’s rendition is closer to the version that Wilko Johnson laid down at Rockfield Studios for the “Sneakin’ Suspicion” album, which went on to spend 6 weeks at number 10 in the UK charts in 1977. Wilko Johnson left the band right about this time but not before he got to play “Lights Out” live with the Feelgoods. There is a recording out there somewhere which is worth tracking down if you’re interested in how he tackles the solo on stage. Enjoy!

If you are interested in hearing more songs from this project, please check out my playlist “Inspired by Dr Feelgood” where I present my take of some of the music created by Dr Feelgood. I even lay down some of my own compositions to mix it up a bit. My focus is predominantly on those very early formative years of the band and trying to capture some of the passion and raw energy of the music that they were creating at that time. Have I got the chops to capture the magic of a Dr Feelgood live performance? Have a listen and you be the judge!

If you’re interested in hearing more of the music that originally inspired and influenced Dr Feelgood, listen to the following Artists: The Rolling Stones (the band that first turned Wilko and Lee onto the Blues); Bo Diddley (whose signature rhythm guitar inspired Wilko’s distinctive “choppy” style); Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker (whose music inspired Wilko’s songwriting); Howlin’ Wolf (the artist who inspired Lee with his stage presence and growling vocal style); Chuck Berry (the artist whose “duckwalk” inspired Wilko’s very own “springwalk”); Little Walter, James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson I (whose cross-harp playing styles inspired Lee’s spine-tingling delivery); Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (whose fast and furious live 3-piece energy and all-in-one rhythm and lead guitar presence inspired Wilko).

Dr Feelgood were labelled as being leaders in what is often referred to as “Pub Rock”, a phenomenon than revolved around a tight-knit set of bands playing a regular circuit of venues in and around London in the 1970s. It’s a term that’s always felt a bit derogatory to me, but today you’ll hear it used to refer to the style of music that started to emerge from this scene. If you’re interested in hearing more British “Pub Rock” from notable contemporaries of Dr Feelgood, check out some fantastic music from the following artists: Graham Parker & The Rumour; Nicke Lowe; Nine Below Zero; The 101ers; Lew Lewis; Chris Spedding; The Inmates; Steamhammer; Kilburn & The High Roads; Ducks Deluxe; Eddie & The Hot Rods; The Count Bishops; The Kursaal Flyers.

Lights Out

Song: Hard Times
Written by – John King (2023) 

Get ready to experience the thrilling conclusion to my furious recording project! Throughout this journey, I've lived and breathed the captivating world of Dr Feelgood. Their music has been my inspiration, igniting my passion and fueling my creativity. I've explored their incredible discography, dissecting their songs, got under the skin of my heroes and their influencers. I've relived the events that defined them and reignited the fire in me that first sparked when I got to know their music in the early 80s. It's been wonderful! If I've achieved just a fraction of their raw energy and infectious rhythms in my recordings then I'll be a happy man. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey of love.

But now, if you read between the lines, something unexpected and exciting just happened that will be taking up my time! For the climax of this project, a spark of inspiration has lead me to create something new. In this grand finale, I proudly present to you a special tune — a re-imagined version of Dr Feelgood's cover of James Cotton's rendition of Little Walters' timeless classic: 'Everything is gonna be alright.'

Prepare yourself for a rockier twist, a wonderful tune reworked with a double-shot of power and intensity. Alongside this musical transformation, I've crafted entirely new lyrics that feel pretty relevant to me today. It's an amalgamation of homage and a little bit of me.

This, my dear friends, is the culmination of it all — the culmination of countless hours of dedication, love, and respect for Dr Feelgood's legacy. It symbolises the true essence of what this project has been about — an homage to the timeless music that inspires us, the unyielding spirit of rock and roll, and the unending pursuit of creative expression. Enjoy!

If you are interested in hearing more songs from this project, please check out my playlist “Inspired by Dr Feelgood” where I present my take of some of the music created by Dr Feelgood. I even lay down some of my own compositions to mix it up a bit. My focus is predominantly on those very early formative years of the band and trying to capture some of the passion and raw energy of the music that they were creating at that time. Have I got the chops to capture the magic of a Dr Feelgood live performance? Have a listen and you be the judge!

If you’re interested in hearing more of the music that originally inspired and influenced Dr Feelgood, listen to the following Artists: The Rolling Stones (the band that first turned Wilko and Lee onto the Blues); Bo Diddley (whose signature rhythm guitar inspired Wilko’s distinctive “choppy” style); Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker (whose music inspired Wilko’s songwriting); Howlin’ Wolf (the artist who inspired Lee with his stage presence and growling vocal style); Chuck Berry (the artist whose “duckwalk” inspired Wilko’s very own “springwalk”); Little Walter, James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson I (whose cross-harp playing styles inspired Lee’s spine-tingling delivery); Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (whose fast and furious live 3-piece energy and all-in-one rhythm and lead guitar presence inspired Wilko).

Dr Feelgood were labelled as being leaders in what is often referred to as “Pub Rock”, a phenomenon than revolved around a tight-knit set of bands playing a regular circuit of venues in and around London in the 1970s. It’s a term that’s always felt a bit derogatory to me, but today you’ll hear it used to refer to the style of music that started to emerge from this scene. If you’re interested in hearing more British “Pub Rock” from notable contemporaries of Dr Feelgood, check out some fantastic music from the following artists: Graham Parker & The Rumour; Nicke Lowe; Nine Below Zero; The 101ers; Lew Lewis; Chris Spedding; The Inmates; Steamhammer; Kilburn & The High Roads; Ducks Deluxe; Eddie & The Hot Rods; The Count Bishops; The Kursaal Flyers.

Hard Times

So, can anyone tell me why there is no Blues genre on Soundcloud? The music is a rough tough fast and loose swipe from The Feelgoods. The words are all mine. I don't often knock out guitar solos these days and now you know why! Ha ha. Bring back the harp!

Feelin' Thirsty

A tribute to the late great Lew Lewis with a version of one of his songs I heard on youtube. Don’t know what it’s really called. I added in a third verse. Intended to play it like he does, but ended up just winging it. I think he would have approved of my approach.

Lew's Blues

Just a snippet of an idea that captured my imagination this afternoon...

Sinkin' (a short Blues interlude)

Do you do voodoo?
I certainly do do voodoo!
Here's a Muddy Waters cover done in the Humber Delta Blues style.
Run for the hills!

I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man

This is a demo that a bottle of wine says I must share worh you. Enjoy it while you can! Cheers!

Big Bad John

A very quick lay-down of a favourite tune of mine.
How's everyone feeling this fine bank holiday weekend?

The Blues Had a Baby

Roxette (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Hot Hot Hot (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Lady Day (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Hard Time Blues (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Milk and Alcohol (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Banged Up (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

Are You Ready To Rock & Roll (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

I'm A Bluesman (Live at Castle Hill 10/09/24)

The Letter

Bad Norman Watt-roy

“I'm in a Rock'n'Roll band. We've never recorded a ballad." ~ John King 1976.

John King and the Argonauts are a Humber Delta Blues band with a penchant for hard and fast Rock’n’Roll.

“The Humber Delta Blues is more than just a genre—it's a cultural expression and a testament to the rich musical heritage of the region. It celebrates the resilience, creativity, and passion of the people, making it a truly distinctive and captivating musical experience.”

In case you're wondering where all the old cowboy tunes went... https://soundcloud.com/john-king-frontier

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