From his very first solo hit in 1970 (a cover of Dave Bartholomew's "I Hear You Knocking") to his final album release (2015's On Guitar...Rags and Classics), Welsh guitarist-singer-songwriter-producer Dave Edmunds proselytized for the power of pure rock-and-roll.  Whether stripping the sound down to basics or doing a spot-on emulation of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, Edmunds emphasized the joy of the genre.  In January 1972, he released his first solo album: Rockpile.  Its title would augur prominently for Edmunds' future when, four years later, he co-founded a band of that name with his former Love Sculpture bandmate Terry Williams, singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, and songwriter-guitarist Billy Bremner.  Between 1976 and their official breakup in early 1981, Rockpile recorded roughly five albums together (three for Edmunds, one for Lowe, and one as a band) plus LPs by Carlene Carter and Mickey Jupp, and various one-offs.  That period of Edmunds' career remains arguably the most cherished, and this Friday, September 27, Omnivore will anthologize it with a definitive, new 2CD or 2LP collection.

Swan Songs: The Singles 1976-1981, available on both CD and vinyl, brings together Edmunds' 29 A- and B-sides originally released on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label (also home to Bad Company, The Pretty Things, and Maggie Bell).  Robert Plant and his Zeppelin cohorts - Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham - launched Swan Song in 1974. Edmunds wasn't as unexpected a choice as some might have felt at the time; Plant was a fan and would indulge his own love of vintage sounds with his 1980s band The Honeydrippers.

The variety and breadth of Edmunds' recordings for the label - many of which were recorded with Rockpile - is staggering, with songs written by and with the likes of Nick Lowe ("Here Comes the Weekend," "I Knew the Bride"), Elvis Costello ("Girls Talk"), John Fogerty ("Almost Saturday Night"), Graham Parker ("Crawling from the Wreckage"), Chuck Berry ("It's My Own Business"), Will Birch ("A.1. on the Jukebox"), Huey Lewis ("Bad Is Bad"), Hank DeVito ("Queen of Hearts"), Mickey Jupp ("You'll Never Get Me Up (In One of Those))", Bob Seger ("Get Out of Denver"), Billy Bremner ("Trouble Boys," "The Creature from the Black Lagoon"), and even Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart ("Where or When").  Rockabilly, country, rhythm and blues, pop, and muscular rock-and-roll were all fused together by Edmunds at Swan Song with unerring musicianship.  His restless creative spirit found its ideal outlet on the 7" single, where he was able to indulge his passion for the roots of rock and make every song sound fresh.  These tracks were originally released on Swan Song in both the United Kingdom and the United States, and all songs are presented in their original single mixes as newly restored by Michael Graves.

The 2CD set is housed in a six-panel digipak with a 12-page booklet containing new liner notes by The Second Disc's Joe Marchese.  The liner notes are included within the gatefold of the deluxe 2LP set which features both black-vinyl LPs in protective sleeves.  The package has been produced and designed by Omnivore's Greg Allen.

Though Dave Edmunds quietly slipped into retirement in 2017, his music remains as vibrant and vital as ever.  Look for Swan Songs: The Singles 1976-1981 this Friday from Omnivore Recordings.  You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Dave Edmunds, Swan Songs: The Singles 1976-1981 (Omnivore OV-559, 2024)

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Omnivore
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Omnivore

* previously unreleased on CD

CD/LP 1

1. Here Comes the Weekend
2. As Lovers Do
3. Where or When
4. New York's a Lonely Town *
5. Juju Man
6. What Did I Do Last Night?
7. I Knew the Bride
8. Back to Schooldays
9. Little Darlin'
10. Get Out of Denver
11. Worn Out Suits, Brand New Pockets
12. Deborah
13. What Looks Best on You
14. Television
15. Never Been in Love
16. Trouble Boys

CD/LP 2

1. A.1. on the Jukebox
2. It's My Own Business
3. Girls Talk
4. Bad is Bad
5. Queen of Hearts
6. The Creature from the Black Lagoon
7. Crawling from the Wreckage
8. Singing the Blues
9. Boys Talk *
10. Almost Saturday Night
11. You'll Never Get Me Up (in One of Those)
12. The Race is On (with the Stray Cats)
13. (I'm Gonna Start) Living Again If It Kills Me

CD 1, Tracks 1-2 from Swan Song single SSK 19408, 1976
CD 1, Tracks 3-4 from Swan Song single SSK 19409, 1976
CD 1, Tracks 5-6 from Swan Song single SSK 19410, 1977
CD 1, Tracks 7-8 from Swan Song single SSK 19411, 1977
CD 1, Track 9 from Swan Song U.S. single SS 70113, 1977
CD 1, Tracks 10-11 from Swan Song U.S. single SS 70116, 1977

• Above tracks (except 2 & 4) also released on Get It - Swan Song SSK 59404 (U.K.)/SS 8418 (U.S.), 1977

CD 1, Tracks 12-13 from Swan Song single SSK 19413, 1978
CD 1, Tracks 14-15 from Swan Song single SSK 19414, 1978
CD 1, Track 16 from Swan Song U.S. single SS 70118, 1978
CD 2, Tracks 1-2 from Swan Song single SSK 19417, 1978

• Above tracks also released on Tracks on Wax 4 - Swan Song SSK 59407 (U.K.)/SS 8505 (U.S.), 1978

CD 2, Tracks 3-4 from Swan Song single SSK 19418, 1979
CD 2, Tracks 5-6 from Swan Song single SSK 19419, 1979
CD 2, Track 7 from Swan Song single SSK 19420, 1979

• Above tracks also released on Repeat When Necessary - Swan Song SSK 59409 (U.K.)/SS 8507, 1979

CD 2, Tracks 8-9 from Swan Song single SSK 19422, 1980
CD 2, Tracks 10-11 from Swan Song single SSK 19424, 1981
CD 2, Tracks 12-13 from Swan Song single SSK 19425, 1981

• Above tracks (except 9) also released on Twangin... - Swan Song SSK 59411 (U.S.)/SS 16034 (U.S.), 1981