Dave Walker Discussion

chriskisn · #1 11-11-2009, 07:55 AM

Ok so I take my life in my hands and go forth to once again spruik the virtues of Mr Dave Walker, the contributor of two songs to this great band we call Fleetwood Mac.

Dave has often been unfairly criticised over the years, partly because many people do not like (I'm A) Roadrunner or The Derelict, and partly because Dave was never seen as fitting in to the Fleetwood Mac sound (that elusive FM sound that no-one can quantify).

Yet, Dave was so much more than two songs on Penguin. He has featured on several Savoy Brown albums and various other bits and pieces. His discography includes:

The Redcaps - 3 x singles
Idle Race - Time Is (1971)
Savoy Brown - Street Corner Talking (1971)
Savoy Brown - Hellbound Train (1972)
Savoy Brown - Lion Share (1973)
Dave Walker Band - Dave Walker Band (1979 - unreleased)
Savoy Brown - Make Me Sweat (1988)
Savoy Brown - Kings of Boogie (1989)
Savoy Brown - Live In Central Park '72 (1989)
Savoy Brown - Live & Kicking (1990)
Dave Walker & The Ambulators - Mostly Sonny (2005)
Dave Walker - Walking Underwater (2007)

He also contributed some vocals to two albums by Donovan's Brain (Tiny Crustacean Lightshow and The Great Leap Forward) both albums are about as enjoyable as listening to a strangled cat but that is beside the point and certainly the Dave vocals are the highlight.

Personally I always liked The Derelict from the moment about 14 years ago that I bought a second-hand copy of Penguin and I never looked back.

While I acknowledge that Dave's voice isn't for everyone, he really does have a fantastic raw blues voice like so many great blues singers before him. I would encourage anyone who hasn't managed to get past his Penguin contributions to give the earlier Savoy Brown albums a listen or his two latest albums.

Additionally I am informed that there is a new album in the works, so we can only hope!

So other than John (wetcamelfood) and myself, who likes Dave and his contributions not only to FM but also in his non-FM work. It is mighty lonely for John and myself being a two man fan club.

chriskisn · #2 11-11-2009, 08:22 AM

Oh and here is a current picture of Dave (which I stole directly from the Dave Walker Band page on Facebook).

holidayroad · #3 11-11-2009, 08:26 AM

Well, I wish I could get into liking Dave more. I've heard some well written songs, but I don't care for his voice. So I guess I could say I like him as a musician but not a vocalist.

chriskisn · #4 11-11-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holidayroad

Well, I wish I could get into liking Dave more. I've heard some well written songs, but I don't care for his voice. So I guess I could say I like him as a musician but not a vocalist.

I guess you aren't a Bob Dylan fan either?

What stuff of Dave's have you listened to?

holidayroad · #5 11-11-2009, 08:29 AM

Again, Bob Dylan is also someone I like more for the songs he wrote than the way he sings.

holidayroad · #6 11-11-2009, 08:32 AM

Oops! Missed your other question! I have a couple early Savoy Brown albums from before Dave was in FMac.

chriskisn · #7 11-11-2009, 08:38 AM

I think you need to try Walking Underwater (the album not literally) which is certainly some of his best stuff. The link below allows you to hear a few short samples of the tracks on the album.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/walkerdave

michelej1 · #8 04-26-2010, 06:54 PM

From an article on the Yardbirds, from April 2009

http://www.goldminemag.com/tag/eric-clapton

According to future Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac frontman Dave Walker, who recorded his own album-length tribute to Williamson in 2004 (Mostly Sonny), “There was a simplicity to Sonny Boy … the same as Jimmy Reed, it was just a shuffle, but it was a beautiful shuffle. Some of those old guys, you listen to the records and they’re out of tune, or you can’t understand them. But Sonny Boy’s records were so warm and so exciting.”