1998
Everybody Knows The Monkey
About This Album
Singer/songwriter Chris Bailey still can't escape the outpouring awe everyone has for the first three Saints LPs (two punk stunners, and the best Stax R&B-punk LP ever), from when he teamed with the also-awesome Ed Kuepper and the band was Australia's Sex Pistols/Ramones. He may even be alluding to his distaste for ceaseless historical curiosity on Everybody Knows the Monkey's opener, "What Do You Want." Whatever, the tremendously talented Bailey has made a string of superb LPs since, only two of which, 1989's Prodigal Son and 1990's solo Demons, fell flat to all but devotees. And what a creative, great career it has been! From the flawless strings'n'horns majesty of his twin post-Kuepper Saints masterpieces, 1984's A Little Madness to Be Free and 1986's All Fools Day, to the languidly lush folk-rock of early-'90s solo LPs Savage Entertainment and 54 Days at Sea, Bailey has never lacked for inspired backing tracks and tunes for his beefy, still marvelous, post-blues snarl/bellow. His pipes still scream rock & roll. And now, having decided on 1996's Howling to assemble a third Saints and try basic rock & roll again, Bailey still has it in spades in his forties.
Track List (try tracks 1,3,6,8 and 9)

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