Marty Wilde rocking on at 86 with a great new album
I interviewed rock & roll legend Marty Wilde a couple of years ago and his enthusiasm for the music had not diminished one little bit.
Now aged 86 he is still doing shows, he plays the Epstein Theatre Liverpool this weekend with the Wildcats, and his vocal range still remains with big numbers like Jezebel and signature hits like Endless Sleep and Donna.
His 2020 album Running Together scored in the Official Album Charts meaning he had a hit album in eight successive decades, an incredible feat.
No surprise then to hear he has expanded what was an idea for an EP into a full 12-track album. Released this week Let’s Rock This Place sees him collaborate with Darrel Higham and the Enforcers giving an authentic rockabilly feel throughout.
Darrel is known for his tours with Imelda May and sessions with Chrissie Hyne and Jeff Beck. Some choice covers are included too like the Cliff Richard rocker Dynamite or a tasty arrangement of the Police hit Can’t Stand Losing You.
Marty stirs up Charlie Rich’s Lonely Weekends while making Just Walking In The Rain a rediscovered classic.
Originally a 1956 belter from Johnny Ray, it becomes a real gentle groover with acoustic guitar and tasteful backing vocals. Of the original songs, Marty has now quite a catalogue. In the 1960’s he penned Ice In the Sun for Status Quo and Jesamine for The Casuals.
For himself he wrote Bad Boy which was covered by Nirvana and for his daughter Kim Wilde co-wrote Kids In America, Chequered Love and the one he was most proud of, Cambodia. On this new album there are more. Your Loving Touch is a duet with Darrel Higman, a mid-tempo rockabilly while the title track is a great rock & roll boogie with happy lyrics and period backing singers making it instantly likeable.