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Dirty Work





         

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British blues guitarist Mick Clarke on Roots Music Report UK Album Chart 2024
British blues guitarist Mick Clarke on Roots Music Report UK Album Chart 2024

The album reached Number 2 on the Roots Music Report UK Album Airplay Chart - Also Number 13 on their Blues Rock Chart, and Number 48 on their main Blues Chart - at the time the only British artist in their Top 50.



Mick writes:

Here's my album for 2024 - 12 tracks of rockin' blues. Most have already been released through the year, but the title track is brand new.

The album is available online on Friday 13th September.

And yes, I know the Stones released an album called Dirty Work - but that was back the 1980s so no wonder I'd forgotten about it. And anyway it's not all that - the best track was 'Harlem Shuffle' and even that wasn't a patch on the Bob and Earl original.

So this is a collection of recordings from 2024, all recorded here at Fabulous Rockfold Studio deep in the Badlands of Surrey, England. I took the cover photo in Rockfold's 'Green Room' sometime last Autumn. I'm 74 now..(but, as Ronnie Scott would have said, with the body of a man of 73).

Gnasher, of course, remains eternally youthful.

1. Dirty Work

Well I just liked the title so I wrote the song and set it to a funky Willie Mitchell type groove. The guitar solos are from the very first time I ran through the song .. I was playing fingerstyle on the riff so I just carried on and did the same for the solos. I think they work fine.

2. Walking Dental Bill (aka Walking Doctor Bill)

is, of course, (for those who know) a variation on BB King's 'Walking Doctor Bill'.. confusingly spelt on the original album cover as 'Walking Dr. Bill' so it took me a while to work out that it wasn't actually about Doctor Bill who walks a lot.

Anyway my song is based on reality.. I currently sport just one front tooth.. not a pretty sight but fortunately you don't have to see it. An expensive bridge is on its way - as I say in the lyric 'a bridge too far'..

To keep everything legal I've released the track under it's original title 'Walking Doctor Bill' and put BB as the sole writer. But for all other purposes, radio etc, please use its real title 'Walking Dental Bill'.

3. Just Dropped In

Back in January I released my version of Mickey Newberry's song 'Just Dropped In' - a cult track which was featured in the Coen Brother's film 'The Big Lebowski'. Pleasingly the track did really well on the American platform Pandora, and so far has chalked up over a third of a million streams.

Basically a drugs song but I think the lyric can apply to other psychiatric conditions. I released the single in mono, but here for the first time is the stereo mix. I think it sounds pretty good.

4. Gonna Miss You Like The Devil

A favourite track is Slim Harpo's song which features Bill Thorndycraft on acoustic harp. We formed the band Killing Floor together back in 1968 and are still the best of friends through many years of life changes. Bill's still the only guy I know who plays Slim Harpo style harp! And very well too - thanks Bill.

5. Strongo

A Freddie King style instrumental dedicated to an imaginary circus strongman.. why not? I'd forgotten about this track until I received an encouraging and supportive email from a blues guitar fan over in Austin. So I thought yes.. just what the album needs.. Strongo.

6. Do Me Right

A rocking shuffle, originally by Lowell Fulson. I went see him at the 100 Club in London back in the 60s / 70s, and BB King got up to jam. One of those nights! Anyway I think it's a funky little song which I wasn't really aware of until recently. thanks Lowell.

7.Digging This Trench

My friend Mac, the bass player with Killing Floor, came up with this phrase -'I've been digging this trench for a long time'. He does that kind of thing. So here's the song.

8. Don't Wanna Boogie

I believe this could be described as 'balls out full tilt bad asse boogie', but I wouldn't be so crude. A conversation with The Devil - remixed and slightly longer than the original single release.

9. Ain't That A Pity

And I felt that I owed myself a straight ahead rocking 12 bar shuffle.. the stuff I was brought up on. So here it is.

10. Ragged but Right

I've really liked the original of this, or at least the version by the 1930s country singer Riley Puckett, since I discovered it a year or so back. And I fancied trying to create my own version with a nice mess of acoustic instruments as backing.

I ended up using a combination of most of my small collection of acoustic guitars - the 1930s Harmony for the slide mixed in with my ex music school classical guitar for the solos. Rhythm on my Cort acoustic which sounds OK and stays amazingly in tune whatever chord shapes you give it! Drums on the back of the classical. I like it a lot.

11. Red Sails in the Sunset

I've always loved the Fats Domino record, and recently noticed what a bluesy little tune it is. It was actually written in the 1930s by an Austrian, Wilhelm Grosz, with lyrics supplied by a guy from Northern Ireland, one Jimmy Kennedy. The red sails in the lyric are those of a local yacht, the 'Kitty of Coleraine' which frequented his local port.

I think my version works nicely, with slide guitar on my 1930s Harmony archtop - only a few years younger than the song itself.

12. Got To Find My Baby

A Chuck Berry song from an album that I still remember buying back in the early 60s. Fuzzy guitar with my 1963 Danelectro through a little Danelectro pre-amp.

I think this album is a good mix of blues, rock and a few tangents, reflecting where I'm at going into my 75th year on the planet. And here I am enjoying the freedom and possibilities of the internet age, while looking back to walking home from Wimbledon Broadway clutching my brand new Chuck Berry LP all those years ago. Keep rockin' that blues!

"the album dominates with its diversity, energy and special atmosphere, it offers us something for everyone"
Mladen Loncar review - Croatia

"Great Album" - Mark Stenzler, Blues Zeppelin, Radio Bern (RaBe) 95.6 MHz Switzerland.
www.blueszeppelin.net/podcast

"This is Great!" - Simon Flint, 94.1fm 3WBC, Australia
Rock Stompin' Funk & Blues Show



1.Dirty Work 04:15
Writer: Mick Clarke

2. Walking Dental Bill (aka Walking Doctor Bill) 03:06
Writer: BB King

3. Just Dropped In 04:12
Writer: Mickey Newberry

4. Gonna Miss You Like The Devil 02:59
Writer: James Moore

5. Strongo 02:43
Writer: Mick Clarke

6. Do Me Right 02:57
Writer: Lowell Fulson

7. Digging This Trench 04:05
Writer: Mick Clarke

8. Don't Wanna Boogie 02:34
Writer: Mick Clarke

9. Ain't That A Pity 03:39
Writer: Mick Clarke

10. Ragged But Right! 03:04
Writer: Public Domain Arr: Mick Clarke

11. Red Sails in the Sunset 03:08
Writer: Wilhelm Grosz, Jimmy Kennedy

12. Got to Find My Baby 03:13
Writer: Chuck Berry


British blues guitarist Mick Clarke - Autumn 2023



















































































Mick Clarke - Dirty Work Well I'll drive your car
where ever you are
Take care of business
I'll be your star
well - best I can

I'll work all night
yeah too damn right
And I won't get done
Til I see the mornin light
Yeah mmm.. you know where I am
Well I'll do whatever you want me to do
but i ain't gonna do your dirty work for you

well I'll work for you
in the dust and the dirt
but I ain't gonna cause
nobody no hurt
mm - know what I mean
Well I'll do whatever you want me to do
but i ain't gonna do your dirty work for you

well I'll count your money
take it to the bank
keep your hand on your purse
there ain't no need to thank
I'll do whatever you want me to do
but i ain't gonna do your dirty work for you
yeah Dirty Work for you

yeah Dirty Work for you
Well, my head's in misery
My heart's in a sling
I'm a walking Dental Bill
Man my life is full of pain
Yes, it's the blues baby
Yeah there ain't no doubt
And I won't get no satisfaction
Til I get em all pulled out

Well, I can't sleep sound at night
I just cat-nap through the day
I can't hold out much longer
Yeah livin' this-a-way
Well..
Yeah it's the blues there ain't no doubt
But I won't get no relief baby
Til I get em all pulled out

Yeah I know you've got to pay the man
Don't matter who you are
I'm looking at the prices
Man it's a Bridge too far - it's the blues
Yeah there ain't no doubt
But I won't get no relief baby
Til I get em all pulled out

Well, my head's in misery
My heart's in a sling
I'm a walking Dental Bill
Man my life is full of pain
Yes, it's the blues baby
Yeah there ain't no doubt
And I won't get no satisfaction
Til I get em all pulled out
I woke up this mornin' with the sundown shinin' in
I found my mind in a brown paper bag within
I tripped on a cloud and fell eight miles high
Tore my mind on a jagged sky
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
I watched myself crawlin' out as I was a-crawlin' in
I got so tight that I couldn't unwind
Saw so much I broke my mind
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

Someone painted 'april fool' in big black letters on a dead end sign
I had my foot on the gas as I left the road and blew out my mind
Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare
Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I said I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in
Baby, you left me
I did you nothing wrong
You know I love you, darling
And I'm sorry that you're gone
I'm gonna miss you
I'm gonna miss you like the devil
I'm gonna miss you like the devil but these
These things I'll overcome

You had me wrapped around your finger, I did anything you say
I tried so hard to please you, but you left me anyway
I'm gonna miss you
I'm gonna miss you like the devil
I'm gonna miss you like the devil but these
These things I'll overcome

You told me that you loved me
I thought your love was true
I found another man hugging you the way I do
I'm gonna miss you
So long I'm gonna miss you
I'm gonna miss you like the devil but these
These things I'll overcome
You got to do me right I don't wanna do you wrong
you got to do me right I don't wanna do you wrong
you got to treat me mellow - we got get along

treat me kind babe or let me be
treat me kind babe or let me be
cos everything you doin
what you tryin to do to me

hold me baby c'mon and squeeze me tight
hold me baby c'mon and squeeze me tight
you got to make me love you every day and every night

treat me kind babe or let me be
treat me kind babe or let me be
cos everything you doin
what you tryin to do to me
Feels like I got one more mile to go
one more turn - one ride at the rodeo
listen out for a tune on the radio
lookin' for a tune that I used to know
no fuss - not us - that ain't our style
Yeah I know it might take a little while
But I been digging this trench for a long long time

got my ticket gonna stand in line
don't look around to see who's right behind
got enough in my pocket for a bottle of wine
got my pay just to get me by for another day
take a drink have a think say a word and then
knocked down gettin' up again
cos I been digging this trench for a long long time

lead me down on a road I know
down to the beach to a place I used to go
bright light so white and the sand like snow
big moon shine like a spoon out in the night
I need a hot beer bring it right over here
and a little boogie blues that's ringing out clear
cos I been digging this trench for a long long time
Well I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
Yeah you do too

Y'know when the rhythm
Get into you
Make your eyeball twitch
Make you boogie too

Well I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
'less I boogie with you

Yeah stone cold boogie
Put you in a trance
Get ya on ya feet
Y'just have to dance
Well the Devil got the boogie
And he called you out
You say I don't wanna boogie
He say I have my doubt

Well I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
I know you do
I Don't Wanna Boogie
'less I boogie with you
Ain't that a pity - when the blues come down on you
Ain't that a pity - when the blues come down on you
Thought you had it made up - then yo plans go fallin through

Ain't that a pity - trouble knockin at yo door
Ain't that a pity - trouble knockin at yo door
Thought you was a high roller - now you don't roll no more

Stumblin' and stallin'- out here in the rain
Just blues come callin' - worry trouble n pain
Ain't that a pity - when the blues come down on you
Thought you had it made up - then yo world go fallin through
Ain't that a pity
Ain't that a pity
Ain't that a pity
mm
Thought you had it made up - man what can you do
I've come here to tell you - I'm ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler I stay out every night
I get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford
A big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A big ol' guitar and an amp at my feet
I'm a rambler a gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right

I go everywhere - I don't pay no fare
I can get a ride to just 'bout anywhere
If I win or lose - I don't get no blues
lord it's rock'n'roll ramblin' for me

I've come here to tell you - I'm ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler I stay out every night
I get a porterhouse steak three times a day for my board
That's more than any loafer in this town can afford
A big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A big ol' guitar and an amp at my feet
I'm a rambler a gambler and I'm drunk every night
I tell you boys I'm ragged but right
Red sails in the sunset
Way out on the sea
Carry my loved one
Home safely to me

She sailed at the dawning
All day I've been blue
Red sails in the sunset
I'm trusting in you

Swift wings you must borrow
Make straight for the shore
Yeah but after tomorrow
Well go sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset
Way out on the sea
Carry my loved one
Home safely to me

I'm gonna search this town
From door to door
Love I crave
I can't find no more
I got to find my baby
I declare I wouldn't lie
I ain't had no real good loving
Since that girl said goodbye

You know I hate to see the sun
Hurry to the west
'Cause I know my whole night
Will be in a solid mess
I got to find my baby
I declare I wouldn't lie
I ain't had no real good loving
Since that girl said goodbye

Yes, ever since she said that we were through
I've been nervous and shook up too
I got to find my baby
I declare I wouldn't lie
I ain't had no real good loving
Since that girl said goodbye

Yes, I don't care if it's the last thing
I ever do in my life
I'm gonna find that little girl
And make her my wife
I got to find my baby
I wouldn't lie
I ain't had no real good loving
Since that girl said goodbye