Too-Rye-Ay
Studio album by
Dexys Midnight Runners
Released22 July 1982
RecordedDecember 1981 – March 1982
StudioGenetic, Streatley, Berkshire[1]
GenreNew wave[2] Celtic folk[3] pop[3] blue-eyed soul[3]
Length40:37
LabelMercury
Producer
Dexys Midnight Runners chronology
Searching for the Young Soul Rebels
(1980)		 Too-Rye-Ay
(1982)		 Don't Stand Me Down
(1985)
Singles from Too-Rye-Ay
  1. "The Celtic Soul Brothers"
    Released: March 1982
  2. "Come On Eileen"
    Released: 25 June 1982
  3. "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)"
    Released: August 1982
  4. "The Celtic Soul Brothers"
    Released: March 1983 (re-release)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Blender[5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
NME8/10[7]
Q[8]
Record Collector[9]
The Village VoiceB+[10]

Too-Rye-Ay is the second studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners. It was released in July 1982 by Mercury Records. The album is best known for the hit single "Come On Eileen", which included the refrain that inspired the album's title. It was the band's most successful album, debuting at number two on the UK Albums Chart.[11]

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 are 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). However, on the strength of "Come On Eileen", Too-Rye-Ay reached number 14 in the US.[12] 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.[12]

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). This version of the song is the one featured on the single release. However, many other versions of the album omit this fiddle solo, beginning directly with the bassline (length 4:07). 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). 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.

The album was re-released in 1996 on CD with eight 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 two-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.

In August 2022 the album was again re-released with three CDs with the bonus tracks from 1996 plus five more and a live show from 1982. The studio album was also remixed; thus, it is called Too-Rye-Ay 'As It Should Have Sounded.' Rowland said about the remixes, "The songs and performances are great, but I always felt the mixes could be better. It's my most successful album, but it doesn't sound as good as the others."[13] It was also released on vinyl.

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You)"Kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson, Mickey Billingham3:07
2."Let's Make This Precious"Rowland, Paterson4:03
3."All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz)"Rowland, Paterson4:08
4."Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)"Van Morrison3:06
5."Old"Rowland, Paterson5:00
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Plan B"Rowland, Paterson5:04
7."I'll Show You"Rowland, Paterson2:41
8."Liars A to E"Rowland, Paterson, Steve Torch4:10
9."Until I Believe in My Soul"Rowland, Paterson7:00
10."Come On Eileen"Rowland, Paterson, Billy Adams4:32
1996 CD release bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."The Celtic Soul Brothers" (US mix)Rowland, Jim Paterson, Billingham3:05
12."Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (live)Morrison2:48
13."Come On Eileen" (live)Rowland, Paterson, Adams7:16
14."Marguerita Time" ("This Is What She's Like" B-side)Francis Rossi, Bernie Frost4:50
15."Respect" (live)Otis Redding7:45
16."Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side)Rowland, Paterson2:38
17."Love Part Two" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" B-side)Rowland, Billingham1:43
18."T.S.O.P." ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side)Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff3:45
2002 US issue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Show Me" (single)Rowland, Paterson3:24
12."Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side)Rowland, Paterson2:50
13."TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side)Gamble, Huff3:42
14."Let's Get This Straight (From the Start)" (Single)Rowland, Adams, Helen O'Hara3:36
15."Reminisce Part One" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" reissue B-side)Rowland5:47
2007 deluxe edition bonus tracks (Disc one)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Love Part Two" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" B-side)Rowland, Billingham1:43
12."Dubious" ("Come On Eileen" B-side)Rowland, Paterson2:50
13."T.S.O.P." ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" 12 inch B-side)Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff3:45
14."Let's Get This Straight (From the Start)" (Single)Rowland, Adams, O'Hara3:36
15."Old" (Live at Shaftsbury Theatre, London)Rowland, Paterson4:55
16."Respect" (Live at Shaftsbury Theatre, London)Redding7:42
17."Let's Make This Precious" (original version)Rowland, Paterson3:42
2007 deluxe edition bonus tracks (Disc two)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."T.S.O.P." (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Gamble, Huff4:15
2."Burn It Down" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland4:01
3."Let's Make This Precious" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson4:05
4."Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Morrison3:16
5."Come On Eileen" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson, Adams6:33
6."Soon" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson1:27
7."Plan B" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson4:05
8."Geno" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Kevin Archer3:33
9."Respect" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Redding6:59
10."Old" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson4:27
11."The Celtic Soul Brothers (More, Please, Thank You)" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson, Billingham2:46
12."There There, My Dear" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Archer4:55
13."Show Me" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson3:25
14."I'll Show You" (BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert, Newcastle)Rowland, Paterson3:03
15."Let's Make This Precious" (BBC Session with David Jensen)Rowland, Paterson3:41
16."Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)" (BBC Session with David Jensen)Morrison3:05
17."All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz)" (BBC Session with David Jensen)Rowland, Paterson3:52
18."Old" (BBC Session with David Jensen)Rowland, Paterson4:40
19."Reminisce Part One" ("The Celtic Soul Brothers" reissue B-side)Rowland5:47

Release notes

  • 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 excised 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

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24] Platinum 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[25] Platinum 15,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Dexys Midnight Runners - Too Rye Ay - Uncut". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Rowley 2018-08-22T11:58:18Z, Scott (22 August 2018). "New wave: A guide to the best albums". LouderSound.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Huey, Steve. "Dexys Midnight Runners – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 28 July 2013. "Come on Eileen," a distinctive fusion of '80s pop, Celtic folk, and blue-eyed soul.
  4. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Too-Rye-Ay – Kevin Rowland / Dexys Midnight Runners". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  5. ↑ Harris, John. "Dexy's Midnight Runners: Too-Rye-Ay". Blender. Archived from the original on 27 March 2004. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  7. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (20 September 2007). "Dexys Midnight Runners: Too Rye Ay". NME. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Dexys Midnight Runners: Too-Rye-Ay". Q (170): 130. November 2000.
  9. ↑ Staunton, Terry (November 2007). "Dexys Midnight Runners – Too Rye Ay". Record Collector (342). Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (26 April 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100: 01 August 1982 - 07 August 1982". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Dexys Midnight Runners – Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "The Quietus - Features - Reissue Of The Week - Reissue Of The Week: Dexys' Too-Rye-Ay, As It Should Have Sounded". The Quietus. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6216a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  17. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Charts.nz – Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  19. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners – Too-Rye-Ay". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  22. ↑ "Dexys Midnight Runners Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1982 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "Platinum and Gold Singles 1982". Kent Music Report. 28 February 1983. Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via Imgur.
  25. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Dexy Midnight – Too-Rye-Ay". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
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