''Secret Drinker'' is an album by British musician

Pete Atkin Pete Atkin (born 22 August 1945) is a British singer-songwriter and radio producer, notable for his 1970s musical collaborations with Clive James and for producing the BBC Radio 4 series, '' This Sceptred Isle''. Early life Born in Cambridge, ...

, co-written by Atkin and songwriting partner

Clive James Clive James (born Vivian Leopold James; 7 October 1939 – 24 November 2019) was an Australian critic, journalist, broadcaster, writer and lyricist who lived and worked in the United Kingdom from 1962 until his death in 2019.Morgan Studios Morgan Studios (founded as Morgan Sound Studios) was an independent recording studio in Willesden in northwest London. Founded in 1967, the studio was the location for recordings by notable artists and bands such as The Cure, Jethro Tull, the Ki ...

in London. Atkin again produced, with Roger Quested as engineer. A re-recorded single version of "I See the Joker" was recorded December 1974-January 1975 at the same studio and released as a follow up to the album. The lyrics to “Sessionman’s Blues” were written not during a music session, but during an appearance on DJ Sarah Ward’s late night show on

Capital Radio Capital London is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Global Media & Entertainment as part of its national Capital (radio network), Capital Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Bri ...

. James wrote while Atkin performed with his backing band, and read him the words at the end of the show. “I See the Joker” features a recording of guitar played in reverse, an idea suggested by engineer Roger Quested. “National Steel” is a homage to an instrument owned by Atkin; the track was recorded with five microphones to capture the unique sound of the guitar as Atkin played it on the session. “Little Sammy Speedball” was the result of James acquiring a dictionary of drug terminology. The imagery of the barfly in “Secret Drinker” was inspired by the poetry of

Hart Crane Harold Hart Crane (July 21, 1899 – April 27, 1932) was an American poet. Inspired by the Romantics and his fellow Modernists, Crane wrote highly stylized poetry, often noted for its complexity. His collection '' White Buildings'' (1926), feat ...

. “Tongue-Tied” was a retitled and slightly edited version of one of their earliest songs. It originally appeared on the private-pressed ‘’While the Music Lasts’’ in 1967, accompanied by bass player Daryl Runswick, who reprised his role for the new recording.

Critical reception

Like previous releases, the album received critical acclaim despite not yielding any hit songs.

John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...

praised the single "I See the Joker" as "marvelous," with others observing its more commercial appeal and dramatic musical elements.

Charles Shaar Murray Charles Shaar Murray (born Charles Maximillian Murray; 27 June 1951) is an English Music journalism, music journalist and broadcaster. He has worked on the ''NME, New Musical Express'' (''NME'') and many other magazines and newspapers, and has ...

, writing for

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

, praised the album, singling out "Sessionman's Blues" and "Secret Drinker" as stand out tracks. ''Sounds'' noted that the album was sonically more cohesive and continued the duo's innovative approach to songwriting.

Simon Frith Simon Webster Frith (born 1946) is a British sociomusicologist and rock critic who specializes in popular music culture. He is professor emeritus of Music at University of Edinburgh.Frith has written a number of sociological analyses of popul ...

, by contrast, criticized James' "well-wroughtness" and thought that the love songs were the better tracks, allowing Atkin to provide a more accessible emotional connection to the material.{{cite news , last1=Lewis , first1=Dave , title=On Record - Pete Atkin: Secret Drinker , work=Acton Gazette , date=7 November 1974

Track listing

# "Rain-Wheels" # "Sessionman's Blues" # "I See the Joker" # "National Steel" # "Nothing Left to Say" # "Tenderfoot" # "Time and Time Again" # "Little Sammy Speedball" # "Secret Drinker" # "Tongue-Tied"

Credits

Musicians

*Pete Atkin – vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards *Paul Keogh – electric guitar * Daryl Runswick – bass guitar, double bass *Barry Desouza – drums *

Frank Ricotti Frank E. Ricotti (born 31 January 1949) is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist. Early life and education Frank E. Ricotti was born in St Pancras, London, England; his father was a drummer. Bill Ashton, founder of the National ...

– percussion, vibraphone * Ronnie Ross – baritone saxophone

Technical personnel

*Pete Atkin - producer, arrangements *Roger Quested - engineering *Pat Doyle - art direction *Sutton Paddock Associates - design *Fay Godwin - photography

References

1974 albums Pete Atkin albums RCA Records albums