Dr Feelgood - Sneakin' Suspicion

This album, the one where Wilko Johnson left the band, is one of their best.

The usual mix of covers and originals, with these sometimes containing little Canvey Island references, maintaining the Feelgoods’ kayfabe that the Thames Delta was just the British version of the Mississippi Delta.

Midnight on the river,
In the light of the flames (Sneakin’ Suspicion)

Me and my best girl along the wall,
In the long grass side by side,
Where the big ships go gliding by, go gliding by (Paradise)

Nowadays, Canvey has the UK’s largest ultra-orthodox Jewish community, who made the exodus (can I say that?) down from London over the past few years to live in this ultra-Brexity estuary-side town.

The Gered Mankowitz photographed sleeve has Lee Brilleaux looking both snug and cool in a proper old sheepy, lighting a fag outside the Alibi Club, keeping a watchful eye on a woman and man having a proper old snog.

Flip it over, and you get a closer shot of the woman’s arse, because her beau has hoisted up her skirt, and it has a Dr Feelgood tattoo on it. Class.

Nowadays, people would assume that Brilleaux was being a bit of a nonce for doing this, but I think he was supposed to be exercising coercive control, which of course everyone was greatly in favour of in those days.

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