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Dexy's Midnight Runners 
dexys.htm

John Victor 'Rhino' Edwards


Dexy's Midnight Runners

This infamous creation ofKevin Rowland's was almost a parody of parodies. Despite the dictatorial style of Rowland, John has been quoted as saying that in almost 3 years, while he was with them, the band never rehearsed once. 
Steve Torch, who had been asked to play bass forDexy's but had felt he wasn't up to it, recommended John to them. The day John turned up for what he expected to be a meeting, they put him in a room for 15 minutes and gave him two songs to learn. On emergence he played the tracks, trying to impressRowland and co., butRowland stopped the song and politely said 'Just play the song. We're looking for someone to just copy what's on the record.'. John got the gig anyway, especially because he tuned up the bass they lent him using harmonics, which they'd never seen anyone do before.
John mainly only played on B-Sides for earlyDexy's singles during his time there, although he does feature on a large portion of the studio album 'Don't Stand me Down', 3 years after his first session with them.
Because of You

He was, however, used for many of the 'live' TV performances, notably on his induction as the hit 'Come on Eileen' appeared onTop Of  The Pops and also the remake of the classicVan Morrison song 'Jackie Wilson Said [I'm in Heaven When you Smile]'...
Although on neither promotional video, the 'Jackie Wilson...' appearance is best remembered for a assumed 'mistake' made by the TOTP crew that week; instead of a photo of R&B singer Jackie behind the group, there was a large colour image of top UK dartsman, Jockey Wilson. A moment of sheer TV hell...
Another spectacular 'eye-bite' is the'Runners' appearance on 'The Young Ones' 1982 episode 'Bomb', where for some reason [best known, it turns out, to Rik] they play in the bathroom...
John was eventually sacked from Dexy's, "Because they expected you to always be at their beck and call..."

 


From the RhinoSite Archives

With the reputation of a well-oiled, if slightly dictatorial, machine, Dexy's Midnight Runners [named after the speed-effecting drug, Dexedrine] were strangely popular.
What wedding disco is complete without the anthemic Come On Eileen?
And while this track rode high atUK #1, a young John Edwards was being trialled as their new bass-player, with immediate effect. Impressing them by tuning his bass with harmonics - they had never seen the like before - he instantly appeared on all their 'live' TV promotional appearances for Eileen, despite never having played a note of it on the record.
And so it was that in 3 years of 'Running', John scored myriad B-Sides and most of an album, Don't Stand Me Down, with these gypsy-styled pioneers. Although, such was Rowland's regime, John was sacked after not bowing to their beck and call. This is the same Rowland who is currently trying for a solo comeback, whilst wearing a dress.
Some things never change.

The second, budget album [the cassette starts at 2 UKP] is the only piece pressed covering almost all of John's recordings with the 'Runners, most of them B-Sides. There are no particularly outstanding tracks from a Rhino point of view, but for those nostalgists among us, the track Because of You - the theme tune to UK sitcom Brush Strokes - is good track for a singalong.
The first album really suits Rhino collectors best if they can find the REISSUED and remastered version from 1996 which has 8 more tracks than the standard version, most of which John played on. It is also of interest to Status Quo collectors after Dexy's version of Quo's 83 Christmas smash Marguerita Time . It can be picked up from anything from 9 UKP. Some tracks are completely unexpected, and these albums will definately change your view to Dexy's, there's more to them than the hots for a girl called Eileen.

Title

Label

Cat. No.

Track Listing [ * = track featuring Rhino]

Dexy's
Midnight
Runners
Too-Rye-Ay

Mercury

514839-2

The Celtic Soul Brothers
Let's Make this Precious
All in All
Jackie Wilson Said
Old
Plan B
I'll Show You
Liars A to E
Until I Believe in my Soul
Come on Eileen

The Celtic Soul Brothers (US Mix)
Jackie Wilson Said [Live]*
Come on Eileen [Live]*
Marguerita Time
Respect [Live]*
Dubious
Love Part 2
T.S.O.P

Dexy's
Midnight
Runners

Because
of You

Spectrum/
Karussell

5500032

Celtic Soul Brothers
Show Me*
Liars A to E
This is What She's Like*
Let's Make This Precious
Soon
Reminisce [Part One]*

Because of You
Let's Get This Straight [From the Start]
Old*
All In All [This One Last Waltz]
One of Those Things*
Dubious
The Occasional Flicker*

Rhino!

Dexy's Midnight Runners

Junior Giscombe

Biography Index

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