For The Record - A Tribute To John Wicks

There’s no escaping the bittersweet aspect of For The Record, the impressive but final album of new material from the late John Wicks. As a founding member of the U.K. band The Records, Wicks sang lead on the enduring power pop hits “Starry Eyes” and “Teenarama,” and later moved on to a successful solo career. While battling pancreatic cancer over the course of five years, he co-wrote a batch of songs with Richard Rossi. The duo enlisted Jamie Hoover from The Spongetones to produce an album, but unfortunately, Wicks passed away before he was able to record the vocals. Determined to finish the project in Wicks’ honor, Rossi and Hoover recruited an all-star collection of singers.

Like Wicks, a number of the well-known performers who agreed to help out on For The Record - A Tribute To John Wicks were frequent participants at charity events organized by the California-based Wild Honey Foundation. Wicks and Rossi provided solid material to work with, from gritty character studies ala Warren Zevon—another musician we lost too soon—to messages of strength and inspiration. Most of the songs have basic but catchy, guitar-driven arrangements.

Bill Berry humorously conveys the jealousy of a low-rent doctor who discovers a former friend has become a major star on “1-800-Colonoscopy,” and Jamie Hoover is authentically sleazy as the title character of “Repo Man.” Al Stewart lends his appealing vocals to “The Beltway,” an ironically breezy portrait of corrupt politicians, and Carla Olson has a ball with “(The Sordid Tale Of) Elvis Strange.” Peter Case nails the quick and clever rhymes of “In And Out Motel” while Paul Collins captures the heartache of “Glittering Gold.”

The mood is more upbeat when Ray Paul performs the picturesque “The Sun Sets Over London Town,” which sounds like it was influenced by Ray Davies. Wicks wanted to poke fun at his own legacy with “The Ballad Of Johnny Wicked,” and Chris Thompson gives it a satirical cowpoke ambience. Wicks obviously also had more serious themes in mind, and Nick Guzman brings this tribute to a touching conclusion with a gorgeous acoustic version of “Chasing Angels.”