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Today, 2nd February, sees the limited cinema release in the UK and Ireland of Oil City Confidential, a so-called ‘rockumentary’ about Dr FEELGOOD.

Four lads from Essex’s Canvey Island, located at the mouth of the River Thames and 30 miles from London, who for three short years (1973 / 74 / 75) were the acknowledged leaders of what became known as "Pub Rock", that many say influenced the British Punk movement of the late 70s. Or as one journalist long ago put it, when the likes of the Sex Pistols lobbed a grenade onto a stagnating British popular music scene, it was earlier efforts of Dr Feelgood that had first kicked the door down for them.



For those not familiar with the term "Pub Rock" ... watch this You Tube clip as it attempts to explain the London roots of the genre …



While Dr Feelgood still play their brand of R&B today, albeit having gone through many changes in personnel over the years. The film, Oil City Confidential, focuses on the original line-up of the group …

• Lee Brilleaux (born Lee Collinson, 10 May 1952, Durban, South Africa — died 7 April 1994) … lead vocalist 1971 to 1994. Brilleaux regularly played harmonica and occasionally slide guitar
• Wilko Johnson (born John Wilkinson, 12 July 1947, Canvey Island) … lead guitarist 1971 to 1977.
• Sparko (born John B Sparks 22 February 1953 … bass guitarist 1971 to 1982.
• The Big Figure (born John Martin, 8 November 1946 … drummer 1971 to 1982.

Taken from a live 1975 performance at The Kursaal Theatre, Southend-on-Sea, this is Dr Feelgood at their “in-your-face” and energetic best … and as the performance testifies, singer Lee Brilleaux lengendary wore the same uncleaned stage suit for best part of three years before it finally fell apart on him.

Great post! Thanks
Quote from Paul Weller about the start of The Jam obviously a major Dr.Feelgood fan.
When we got the Jam together
Down by the Jetty - Dr Feelgood (1975)

At first we only played Beatles covers, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, not only because we loved that kind of music but because the songs only have three chords. The rock'n'roll influence comes through my mum, a big Elvis fan, and then through Dr Feelgood. This album's menacing, edgy sound was a turning point amid the hangover from the Sixties that went on with Fleetwood Mac and Reo Speedwagon. Wilko Johnson is an English Chuck Berry: he takes English subjects and puts them into an R&B idiom.

Interestingly i just made a comment about Dr.Feelgood in another thread on the RRF about how Wellers new track Wake up the nation still has a tip of the hat to Dr.Feelgood probably more the guitar style of Wilco Johnson i was getting at.Every year since Brilleaux's death, a special concert, known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial, is held on Canvey Island, where ex and current Feelgoods celebrate the music of Dr. Feelgood, and raise money for the Fairhaven hospice. I would like to try and see Oil City Confidential im sure i would love it.I really enjoyed the vids thanks again for the post.

Peter, thanks for presenting more good music that we never would have heard of otherwise!

Thanks Peter - I've heard a lot of people rave about Dr Feelgood but never heard them - now I know what they were on about! Raw and absolutely brilliant!