Search - Jake Burns & Big Wheel :: Fortune Street

Jake Burns' Style Council-Not For The Inflammable Kiddies!

ThrEaD NUGENT | Newport Beach, CA United States | 05/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recently after an SLF show in So. Cal., I spoke w/ Jake Burns and Steve Grantley and asked them if the Big Wheel singles would ever be released. To my surprise Jake said EMI were releasing a Big Wheel compilation. I then produced the "Fortune Street" and "Nobody's Heroes" singles for them to sign. They were kind of blown away by that and put me on the list for the following night's gig. Great guys!!
Jake's post-SLF band to me is analogous to what Paul Weller did w/ the Style Council: a more polished, soul driven and brass orientated project. This direction was very natural for Jake as he flirted w/ poppier songs like "Good For Nothing," "Silver Lining," and "Won't Be Told" in SLF. Fans of SLF's early blistering punk will not understand this cd. There are also alot of SLF fans that dislike their last two and best lps: "Go For It" and "Now Then." Jake took a more sophisticated approach on those records w/ brass, acoustic guitars, ballads, clean production and a less gruff vocal style. It should hopefully be understood by fans of this genre that most 'punk' bands in the late 70's-early 80's UK were writing and singing pop songs rather than 'punk' songs(See the Buzzcocks, Tenpole Tudor, Undertones and 999). And yes, "Barbed Wire Love" is a pop song.
Now then, Jake once stated that Graham Parker was the Godfather of punk (I couldn't agree more). The Rumour's r&b brass arrangements combined w/ the anger and brilliant wit of GP's vocals were a huge influence on Jake and can be heard on the "Silver Lining" and "Talk Back" singles. The point is that Jake's musical tastes were more sophisticated than many of his contemporaries-he's a huge Deep Purple fan as well.
So what about the Big Wheel Cd? Well it basically is the natural evolution of a songwriter who is no longer bound by angry,3minute rippers. "She Grew Up" is a nod to Van Morrison, while it's b-side "Race You to the Grave" (later re-worked as I Could Be Happy Yesterday)is a pleasant, organ tainted gem. "Fortune Street" is a heartfelt beauty (lyrically analogous to "Piccadilly Trail" by Style Council). "Here Comes That Song Again" again is very Weller-esque as in "A Solid Bond In Your Heart." The slickest and most interesting songs are from the '87 single "Breathless w/ "Valentines' Day." Great horn break ("Breathless") and female backing vocals. The rest you'll have to hear for yourselves and make up your own mind. And remember trying something new isn't always a bad thing. HANX!!"