Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey: Going Back Home

At the start of 2013 Wilko Johnson was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told he might not survive beyond October. But he has, and in Going Back Home he celebrates in suitably raucous fashion, teaming up with Roger Daltrey to revisit 10 songs from Johnson’s pub-rock heyday, plus a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window”.

The Who singer gives it the full theatrics, hollering and growling away as Johnson cranks out choppy Canvey Island R&B riffs; piano, harmonica and drums stomp away in support. “When I think about the girls in California,” Daltrey roars, “I tell you man, I’d rather stay at home.” As Wilko knows only too well, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey

Going Back Home

(Chess)