Too-Rye-Ay
Too-Rye-Ay is the second studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, released in July 1982 by Mercury Records. The album is best known for the hit single "Come On Eileen", which included the lyrics "too-rye-ay" that inspired the album's title.
Too-Rye-Ay | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 1982 | |||
Recorded | December 1981 – March 1982 | |||
Studio | Genetic, Streatley, Berkshire[1] | |||
Genre | New wave[2] | |||
Length | 40:37 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Producer | Kevin Rowland Clive Langer Alan Winstanley | |||
Dexys Midnight Runners chronology | ||||
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Singles from Too-Rye-Ay | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 8/10[6] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Collector | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | B+[9] |
Background
Shortly before recording this album, Dexys' bandleader Kevin Rowland had decided to add a violin section to the band's existing horn section, which had contributed strings (viola and cello) to the band's previous single, "Liars A to E". However, after violinists Helen O'Hara and Steve Brennan joined the band, the three members of the horn section, including Dexys' co-leader and album co-composer "Big" Jim Paterson, decided to leave Dexys and become an independent horn band (ultimately known as The TKO Horns). Rowland convinced them to stay with the band long enough to record the album and to perform in a kick-off concert debuting the album on BBC Radio One in June 1982.
All the songs on the album were rearranged to add strings, which caused Dexys to re-record the 1981 singles "Plan B", "Liars A to E", and "Soon". During the rearrangement process, "Soon" was revised into the opening section of "Plan B"; since both songs were written by Rowland and Paterson, the merged songs are credited on the album simply as "Plan B".
Release
The album's "Come On Eileen" became a number one hit in both the UK and the US. Dexys Midnight Runners is best known as a one hit wonder in the US ("Come On Eileen" was also the first US single release by Dexys), but in the UK, "Geno" had previously reached number one, and "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" and "The Celtic Soul Brothers" were also UK hits.
Before "Come On Eileen", Dexys' only North American single was the Northern Soul classic "Seven Days Too Long", which Dexys' previous label EMI America had released only in Canada (with "Geno" as the B-side).[10] However, on the strength of "Come On Eileen", Too-Rye-Ay reached number 14 in the US.[11] Dexys' success in US was not maintained; the best performer of the band's follow-up singles in the US was "The Celtic Soul Brothers", which peaked at number 86.[11]
Different releases of Too-Rye-Ay featured different versions of "Come On Eileen". Certain editions of the album featured a version beginning with a solo fiddle playing the first line of the folk song "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms" and ending with a simple fadeout (length: 4:12).[12][13][14] This version of the song is the one featured on the single release. Other editions of the album (including many of the "re-releases") featured a version without the violin intro and including a tag of Kevin Rowland singing "Young Charms" at the end (length: approximately 4:32), while the digital version offered by Spotify and the 2002 US CD reissue includes both front and end "Young Charms" tags. (length: approximately 4:47, or 4:19 without the ending tag).[15][16][17][18] In addition, the most common release of the album features "Come On Eileen" as the final track, while the original US release features the tune as the opening track on Side 2.[19]
The album was re-released in 1996 on CD with 8 bonus tracks. In 2000 an enhanced edition was released with the music videos for "Come On Eileen" and "Jackie Wilson Said" as bonus material. In 2002 a US edition with bonus tracks was released. Marking its 25th Anniversary, a 2007 2-CD Deluxe Edition was released, which included the entire 14-song album kickoff performance on BBC Radio 1 that had previously been released (without "I'll Show You") as BBC Radio One Live in Concert.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The Celtic Soul Brothers (More Please)" | Kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson, Mickey Billingham | 3:07 |
2. | "Let's Make This Precious" | Rowland, Paterson | 4:03 |
3. | "All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz)" | Rowland, Paterson | 4:08 |
4. | "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" | Van Morrison | 3:06 |
5. | "Old" | Rowland, Paterson | 5:00 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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6. | "Plan B" | Rowland, Paterson | 5:04 |
7. | "I'll Show You" | Rowland, Paterson | 2:41 |
8. | "Liars A to E" | Rowland, Paterson, Steve Torch | 4:10 |
9. | "Until I Believe in My Soul" | Rowland, Paterson | 7:00 |
10. | "Come On Eileen" | Rowland, Paterson, Billy Adams | 4:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "The Celtic Soul Brothers" (US mix) | Rowland, Jim Paterson, Billingham | 3:05 |
12. | "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (live) | Morrison | 2:48 |
13. | "Come On Eileen" (live) | Rowland, Paterson, Adams | 7:16 |
14. | "Marguerita Time" ("This Is What She's Like" B-side) | Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost | 4:50 |
15. | "Respect" (live) | Otis Redding | 7:45 |
16. | "Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side) | Rowland, Paterson | 2:38 |
17. | "Love Part Two" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" B-side) | Rowland, Billingham | 1:43 |
18. | "T.S.O.P." ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side) | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 3:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Show Me" (single) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:24 |
12. | "Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side) | Rowland, Paterson | 2:50 |
13. | "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side) | Gamble, Huff | 3:42 |
14. | "Let's Get This Straight (From the Start)" (Single) | Rowland, Adams, Helen O'Hara | 3:36 |
15. | "Reminisce Part One" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" reissue B-side) | Rowland | 5:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Love Part Two" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" B-side) | Rowland, Billingham | 1:43 |
12. | "Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side) | Rowland, Paterson | 2:50 |
13. | "T.S.O.P." ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side) | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 3:45 |
14. | "Let's Get This Straight (From the Start)" (Single) | Rowland, Adams, O'Hara | 3:36 |
15. | "Old" (Live at Shaftsbury Theatre, London) | Rowland, Paterson | 4:55 |
16. | "Respect" (Live at Shaftsbury Theatre, London) | Redding | 7:42 |
17. | "Let's Make This Precious" (original version) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "T.S.O.P." (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Gamble, Huff | 4:15 |
2. | "Burn It Down" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland | 4:01 |
3. | "Let's Make This Precious" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 4:05 |
4. | "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Morrison | 3:16 |
5. | "Come On Eileen" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson, Adams | 6:33 |
6. | "Soon" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 1:27 |
7. | "Plan B" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 4:05 |
8. | "Geno" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Kevin Archer | 3:33 |
9. | "Respect" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Redding | 6:59 |
10. | "Old" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 4:27 |
11. | "The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You)" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson, Billingham | 2:46 |
12. | "There There, My Dear" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Archer | 4:55 |
13. | "Show Me" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:25 |
14. | "I'll Show You" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:03 |
15. | "Let's Make This Precious" (BBC Session with David Jensen) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:41 |
16. | "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" (BBC Session with David Jensen) | Morrison | 3:05 |
17. | "All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz)" (BBC Session with David Jensen) | Rowland, Paterson | 3:52 |
18. | "Old" (BBC Session with David Jensen) | Rowland, Paterson | 4:40 |
19. | "Reminisce Part One" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" reissue B-side) | Rowland | 5:47 |
- There are several unlisted tracks on the album— "Old" includes a reprise of "Let's Make This Precious" at the end. The beginning of "Plan B" is actually the song "Soon", a version of which is the B-side to the "Show Me" single. "Come On Eileen" ends with an acapella rendition of an excerpt from Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms, which is excused on the original US vinyl release.
- Original US pressings have "Come On Eileen" at the beginning of side two. Also, "Plan B" and "I'll Show You" are presented as a single track.
- The 2002 US CD reissue features the single version of "Come On Eileen" instead of the album version (which removes the fiddle intro).
Charts
Chart (1982/83) | Peak position |
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Australian (Kent Music Report) | 2 [24] |
Personnel
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References
- "Dexys Midnight Runners - Too Rye Ay - Uncut". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- Rowley 2018-08-22T11:58:18Z, Scott. "New wave: A guide to the best albums". LouderSound.
- Raggett, Ned. "Too-Rye-Ay – Kevin Rowland / Dexys Midnight Runners". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- Harris, John. "Dexy's Midnight Runners: Too-Rye-Ay". Blender. Archived from the original on 27 March 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
- Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- Beaumont, Mark (20 September 2007). "Dexys Midnight Runners: Too Rye Ay". NME. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "Dexys Midnight Runners: Too-Rye-Ay". Q (170): 130. November 2000.
- Staunton, Terry (November 2007). "Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay". Record Collector (342). Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- Christgau, Robert (26 April 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "Dexy's Midnight Runners* – Seven Days Too Long". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- "Dexys Midnight Runners – Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (Italian version) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (Japanese version) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (French release) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (German version) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (UK and European reissue) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (U.S. reissued version) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (Japanese reissue) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- Dexy's Midnight Runners- Too Rye Ay (original U.S. release) @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-16-2013.
- "Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Retrieved 2012-11-03.
- "Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay (CD) at Discogs". Retrieved 2012-11-03.
- "Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay (CD, Reissue, US Version) at Discogs". Retrieved 2012-11-03.
- "Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay (2 × CD, Deluxe Edition) at Discogs". Retrieved 2012-11-03.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 88. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.