New Wave Outpost Forum

Got a question that maybe someone in here can answer for me.Awhile back,I heard some sample songs online of one of Pete Wylie's aliases that he went by at the time back in the 80's.as The Mighty Wah,Wah and Wah Heat? And I can't reemmber which alias it was,but one of those he went under had a very Nick Lowe style to it,and I don't remember which alias he was going under at the time,but I would like to get all of the CD's that he did that have that style,as I was a huge Nick Lowe fan back in the 70's and 80's.

Also,how many albums by Pete Wylie under that alias name he went by have that Nick Lowe style and sound to them,and can you please post the album titles to them? Thank you so much.Sincerely,Newwavepopman.

I'm going to take a listen to several of his songs, but I'm guessing that maybe you're thinking of just Wah!, that of the "Somesay"/Maverick Years/Nah=Poo! The Art of Bluff era. I remember having the single a long time back. More guitar slinging.

To those asking, Wylie's best known moments and style besides the epic and arithmetic "Story of the Blues" and "Come Back" are from his "Sinful" era when he was on Virgin and going by his own name with some nice touches of slick 80's production (great singles, by the way). Wylie's a man of quite a few music styles and many great songs.

I'm just guessing, but who knows, maybe I'm on the right path.

Hi and thank you for responding back to my post.I can tell you for sure that it's not from his solo years and album Sinful.It is way before that time period.Most likely the first one that you suggested.Do they have a greatest hits collection out on CD? It was most likely from something like that.Just not sure under what alias though.

Possibly the best sampler is Castle Music's The Handy Wah! Whole. The first chapter is represented through recordings by Wah! Heat and Wah! (Wah! Heat's "Seven Minutes to Midnight" is possibly the best known of that first round of Wah!). there was a time when he also called the project Shambeko! Say Wah! (Certainly as in Captain Sensible's "Say Captain! Say What!" line) and even one JF Wah! for the legendary hit "Story of the Blues" - although it was just plain old Wah! on the cover and label.

Still, by judging by the track listing here, it's focused on the singles, missing out on some album tracks. Still it seems a very good starter kit.

http://www.discogs.com/Wah-The-Handy-Wa ... se/1417214

Castle released a full on extended CD of The Maverick Years, which may be more what you're looking for. This also included the whole "Story" in one track instead of putting it into separate parts.

http://www.discogs.com/Wah-The-Maverick ... se/1945203

Eternal also released the album with the very cringe-worthy title of The Way We Wah! around the time of his Word to the Wise Guy era ("Come Back" being the small hit featuring a video that's pretty interesting (caught this one again as this edit. Great song!), This is for Vinyl fans only, as I don't think it was on CD.

http://www.discogs.com/Wah-The-Way-We-Wah/master/133858

Nick Lowe style?

I was always a big Wah fan, used to love finding those hard to find 45s, and I have to tell you I can't think of anything Pete Wylie did that was in a Nick Lowe style.

Pete Wylie's best song is "Somesay" and that has a very angry Elvis Costello/John Lennon feel to it. There are a few different versions of the song (different intros, different tempos, different vocals...) and they are all outstanding. That song is kind of like "Hamlet." No matter how it is done it will always be brilliant. youtube has a number of versions of the tune. Find one with the lyrics and enjoy. (And yes, Wylie is referencing Joy Division and "Transmission" at one point. One version makes it very clear.)

Sorry, can't help you with the Nick Lowe sound.

I have to agree with you on that. Pete always had his own style, even when during his Sinful era when the music was with more polished 80's style sounds.

I felt that maybe the question could be answered with a possible guess as to what the question was about. It was maybe a slight half remembered hearing of a certain song. If it pointed to that certain song, the all the better for it - it's certainly not "Nick Lowe Style," but maybe there was a chance of the OP going "That's the one!" while hearing more great songs along the way.

I actually used to have "Somesay" a long time back, but sadly my small collection of singles went missing while moving. Great stuff, but sadly not many of my friends in the outside world have heard of his music, even those who are long standing (There were very few releases where I'm at - The US).