Song: Sneakin’ Suspicion
Written by – Wilko Johnson
Appears on single: Dr Feelgood - Sneakin’ Suspicion / Lights Out (1977)
Appears on album: Dr Feelgood - Sneakin’ Suspicion (1977) 

I did say I'd not do another Dr Feelgood number for a while, but as you can see here, I'm breaking my promise. Today I offer a ham-fisted rendition of Dr Feelgood's first hit single and the only one that featured Wilko Johnson: Sneakin' Suspicion. I've just dug out my old vinyls and I actually have this single. It was issued in 1977 under United Artists Records. At the time I bought this(which was a good few years later), my favourite song on the single was actually "Lights Outs" which I would go on to play with The Blisters. Anyhoo... This version is a little closer to the one performed by Wilko and Norman Watt Roy years later. Given my renewed love of harmonica and my desperate attempts to learn it, you get a couple of harp solos instead of Wilko's guitar riffs into the bargain. Now, if only I could find my 12" promo of "She's a windup"...

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.

Sneakin' Suspicion

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

01 I GET OFF ON YOU MASTER 2024

Silver Blue

Final orders

Star

John Stone

These are dark dark days and dark dark nights 
Do our best days lie behind us? 
As I made my way on frosted feet 
Would I stumble, would I fall?
I lift my eyes in search of light
Only clouds fill the horizon 
In the dark I see  there no-one near
Is  there nothing to rely on? 

But surely there are better days
The beating of the drum 
Will fade away, the clouds will clear
Are there better worlds and better times and better thing to come?

Then I saw the star
It’s courageous light
Had travelled far 
To be there that night
Pushing through the clouds
‘cross the scudding  sky
A message from afar
And it gave me hope that beyond the night
There’s a blazing sky
That’s filled with light
There are better worlds 
and better lives
And brighter days by far
I remember that one night I saw the star.

So I looked around Though the light was dim
but my eyes grew strong from the fire within
Now I see that there are other’s near
With their eyes ablaze as they conquered fear
And we walked together arm in arm 
As together we would Am feel no harm
Though clouds may still obscure our view
We could feel a future better, bright and new


I don’t know where I’m going but know where I am (remastered)

The Whips cover of the Joni Mitchell classic released in 2007 on 'The Other Creek' album.

The Other Creek

Big Yellow Taxi by The Chief Whips

The Sisters of Suave

Davey Crockett

Darkest Days (demo version)

“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

Sneakin' Suspicion

John King and the Argonauts

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