Dr Feelgood – Milk and Alcohol

Oh, how I love some British Rock. I want to thank Clive for bringing this song to my attention. I first learned about Pub Rock a few years ago from CB and Dave. The Motors are the first band I knew about and then Brinsley Schwarz. The genre sounded like raw rock and roll with a lot of power and punch. I could relate after playing in many bars myself through the years. There is a feel to that music…a lot of loud guitar and sweat which I enjoy. 

I’ve been told that “pub rock” was not a compliment at the time. It started in the UK in the early 1970s.  It was the anti-progressive and glam rock at a time when they were popular. It’s more of roots-type music which is right up my alley. Not that I don’t like glam and progressive but I like the stripped-back approach. 

Dr Feelgood was formed in Caney Island, Essex, in 1971. Their members included Lee Brilleaux on vocals and harmonica, Wilko Johnson on guitar, John B. Sparks (Sparko) on bass, and John Martin on drums. They were one of the main bands in pub rock along with Brinsley Schwarz. They got their name from a Johnny Kidd and The Pirates song Dr. Feelgood. I’ve read different origins but that came from their official site. 

By 1973 they were getting popular on the pub circuit and released their debut album in 1975 called Down By The Jetty. They released Milk and Alcohol in 1979 and it was written by Nick Lowe and John Mayo. Doesn’t it seem there were like 5 Nick Lowes back then? The man was everywhere. The song was influenced by Lowe drinking  Kahlúa-milk drinks after a John Lee Hooker in the United States. It was inspired by a Hooker lyric about milk, cream, and alcohol. 

The song peaked at #9 on the UK charts in 1979. This was the only top 10 song of their career. It was on the 1978 album Private Practice which peaked at #41 on the UK Album Charts that year. A version of the band is still going on now with different members. 

Milk and Alcohol

White boy in townBig black, blue soundNight club, I paid inI got a stamp on my skin

Main attraction dead on his feetBlack man rhythm with a white boy beatThey got him on milk and alcoholThey got him on milk and alcohol

Stay put I wanna goHard work, bad showMore liquor, it don’t helpHe’s gonna die, it breaks my heart

I decided eventuallyThis ain’t doing a thing for meThey got him on milk and alcohol

They got him on milk and alcohol

They got him on milk and alcoholThey got him on milk and alcoholThey got him on milk and alcoholThey got him on milk and alcohol

Got up, I walked outTo the car, start it upFeel bad, sad nightI never saw a red light

Sirens were a screamin’ all aroundI pulled on over and I shut her downA black cop gave me a shove with his gunSaid up against the wall and don’t make a runThey got me on milk and alcoholThey got me on milk and alcohol

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

54 thoughts on “Dr Feelgood – Milk and Alcohol”

  1. Great tune Max. They seem to me from the live clips I watched to have a harder edge than most of the Pup Rock scene. But without them it might not have developed. As Chrisse Hynde is quoted as saying “All roads lead to Nick Lowe”!

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    1. I never heard that quote…but damn it’s true! I heard of these guys but never really heard them much. After Clive sent a link…I was like yea…this is good.

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  5. you and Randy are thinking along the same lines today! Funny, I don’t know if I had heard of these guys , I hear the term ‘Dr Feelgood’ and I think of the ’80s metal song. But they seem to have had something going. The Motors you mention made a few good records too.
    Hope you’re feeling better today!

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    1. I’m so so Dave…not there really. I called out sick because there was no way I could go through a day. Just really tired and still feeling stuffed although nothing is in me lol.

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  6. They were known over here too, this was their big hit. Nick Lowe involved? No!

    Feel better Max. Rest up, take aspirin, keep hydrated. NOT with ‘Cold Duck.’ Oh no no, never with ‘Cold Duck.’

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  7. It still sounds great, even after all these years. I’m pleased you like it, and thanks for the link back to me, but I apologise for messing up your Brinsley Schwarz link, which I’m guessing was to my post from Sunday? I posted again today so it just goes to the new one 🤣

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    1. LOL…sorry about that!
      Oh yes I really like it and started to listen to some others that were popping up like Ducks Deluxe and some of the others…I really appreciate it. I do like out of the box here.

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      2. LOL… it is a great song. A lot of good songs came out of this scene…I liked this much better than the punk scene that followed.

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  12. Excellent article! But now I have Motley Crue’s Dr. Feelgood stuck in my head… yes, just seeing that name gets my internal head spinning with music. And I must sleep now. Ha!
    I can’t say I knew anything about British pub rock. I have been to a hard rock concert in a Scotland pub though! Ha!

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  13. Pingback: Dr Feelgood – Milk and Alcohol – MobsterTiger

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