Riff Raff (album)


Riff Raff is a 1984 album by the Welsh rock musician Dave Edmunds. The album was his third release for Arista Records and Columbia Records, following 1983's Information.

Overview

Riff Raff continued Edmunds' collaboration with Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne; Lynne produced six tracks on the albums, and wrote three of the songs.
The majority of the tracks on Riff Raff are originals by Lynne, Edmunds, and band member John David. The most notable cover is the aforementioned "Something About You", originally a top-20 hit for the Four Tops in 1965. Edmunds also covered the Paul Brady-penned "Steel Claw" which was originally recorded, with a tighter, more frenetic hard rock arrangement, by Tina Turner for her multi-platinum comeback effort, Private Dancer, released just four months prior.

Reception

Compared to the Edmund's success with Information, Riff Raff was a commercial flop. The album made it to only No. 140.
"Something About You" failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100.
Riff Raff was the last time Edmunds and Lynne would collaborate on record. Edmunds wouldn't make another studio album for five years.

Track listing

  1. "Something About You" – 3:03
  2. "Breaking Out" – 3:26
  3. "Busted Loose" – 4:33
  4. "Far Away" – 4:11
  5. "Rules of the Game" – 4:10
  6. "Steel Claw" – 4:18
  7. "S.O.S." – 3:14
  8. "Hang On" – 3:24
  9. "How Could I Be So Wrong" – 3:20
  10. "Can't Get Enough" – 3:08

Personnel