Dave Edwards - Many Rivers

by Kimberly Bright

published: 31 / 7 / 2022

Label: Cadiz Music
Format: CD

Patchy retrospective of four decades worth of work from East End guitarist and singer-songwriter Dave Edwards

Review

Dave “Spud” Edwards is one of those guitarists who has played with a whole raft of better-known artists over the course of his long career. He has led British Isles, National Gold, Ramrod (with members of Rory Gallagher’s band), and Remus Down Boulevard (RDB). Luckily a large chunk of his archive from the ‘80s and ‘90s seems to be pretty much intact, thanks to a chance unearthing of old reel-to-reels and cassettes and capable friends who could digitise and tidy them up. ‘Many Rivers’ features Edwards’ work with National Gold, his country-rock band British Isles, Three Piece Suite, and newer material with TNT (with Mick Geggus and Vince Riordan from The Cockney Rejects) from the late ‘10s. Lou Martin and Ted McKenna from Gerry McAvoy’s Band appear on the title track, originally recorded by Jimmy Cliff. Other guests include Rod de’Ath, Ted McKenna, Gerry McAvoy, and Clive Brooks. Edwards’ band Remus Down Boulevard or RDB (not included on this compilation), which also featured early Iron Maiden guitarist and longtime Edwards collaborator Dennis Stratton, was the house band at the Bridge House club in the Canning Town area of London’s East End in the latter half of the ‘70s. It was at the Bridge House, considered the local equivalent of the 100 Club thanks to manager Terry Murphy, that Edwards earned his well-deserved reputation and befriended so many other musicians over the years, celebrities and struggling journeymen alike. Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, The Blues Band, Steve Marriott and Rory Gallagher all played at the Bridge House at one point or other, but Edwards was a regular performer throughout the venue’s history. He also auditioned for Wings in 1979, but the post ultimately went to Laurence Juber. He continues to play in clubs in southeast England and runs a successful small business as a luthier. Edwards’ vocals and guitar playing are beyond reproach, making it more surprising that so much of the material here is otherwise unremarkable. Shaun Fetser nicknamed him Golden Tonsils, after all. On a couple of occasions, like on ‘It’s Our Time’ and ‘Love Won’t Fool Me Again’, it sounds like an AC/DC song is about to unfold. The power ballads (‘Forever’, ‘Never Wanna Hear You Say Goodbye’) are quite good; in fact, they’re probably among the best examples of that genre. The best songs here are National Gold’s hard rock-meets-metal ones that let Edwards’ abilities take centre stage (‘Enemies’, ‘Party in the Back Seat of My Car’) and the bluesy ‘Railway Station’. One hopes that lost RDB tapes are located on a dusty shelf somewhere too. For fans of Dave Edwards who have enjoyed his live shows and wished for more recorded material from him – and who also have a completionist streak – this compilation is a dream.

Track Listing:-

1 Maybe This Time – British Isles (1981)
2 Enemies – British Isles (1980)
3 Never Want To Hear You Say Goodbye – National Gold (1981)
4 Many Rivers – Gerry McAvoy Band (1982)
5 Party In The Back Seat Of My Car – National Gold (1981)
6 It’s Our Time – National Gold (1981)
7 Dreaming – National Gold (1981)
8 Forever – JoKev (1995)
9 Feels Like Ice – JoKev (1995)
10 Railway Station – Three Piece Suite (2015)
11 Love Won’t Fool Me Again – National Gold (1981)
12 Baby Says – National Gold (1981)
13 Can You See It – National Gold (1981)
14 Don’t Tell Me Lies – Union Jack (1996)
15 The Old Man Of Canning Town – TNT (2017)
16 Davey’s Eyes – TNT (2017)