Every now and then I run across an album that makes me forget about picking just one song. Good ‘N’ Cheap by Eggs Over Easy is one of those records. I kept telling myself I’d settle on a favorite, but every time another track came on I changed my mind. So I finally gave up and decided the album deserved the spotlight instead. They are an American band that helped start the pub rock scene. They also have a link (no pun intended) to Link Wray. This album has me excited; I recommend this to any roots music fan.
Eggs Over Easy were an American band, but their story became part of British rock history. Formed by Jack O’Hara, Austin de Lone, and Brien Hopkins, they moved to London in the early 1970s hoping to land a recording contract. While waiting for that break, they began playing regularly at the Tally Ho pub in Kentish Town. Those performances inspired countless local musicians and helped spark what would soon become the pub rock movement.
Bands like Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, Kilburn and the High Roads, and later Rockpile all owed something to the path Eggs Over Easy helped create. They may not have become stars themselves, but their influence reached far beyond what album sales ever showed.
This album was released in 1972. Good ‘N’ Cheap captures everything I enjoy about roots rock. It has country influences, rock and roll, blues, a little folk, and plenty of rhythm and groove. The songs never sound overproduced or forced. Instead, they feel like a group of musicians gathered in a room simply playing the music they loved. The album was co-produced by the legendary Link Wray, and you can hear that straightforward, no-frills approach from beginning to end.
There really isn’t a weak track here. Party Party opens the album with plenty of energy, while songs like Arkansas, Runnin’ Down to Memphis, The Factory, and Home to You all have their own personality. Some lean toward country rock, others have more of a bar-band feel, and a few could almost pass for early Americana years before that label became popular. What ties everything together is the songwriting. Nothing feels flashy. The hooks are natural, the harmonies are warm, and the musicianship is outstanding throughout. One song that I cannot get out of my head is the one called Henry Morgan about the 1600’s pirate.
Listening to this album, it’s easy to hear why so many musicians admired them. I hear pieces of The Band, a little early Little Feat, and hints of what Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, and other pub rock artists would soon be doing. At the same time, Eggs Over Easy never sound like they’re copying anyone. They found their own lane, and it still sounds fresh more than fifty years later.
Sometimes the best albums are the ones nobody talks about anymore. Good ‘N’ Cheap is one of those hidden gems that reminds me why I enjoy digging a little deeper. It has the rootsy feel I love, great songs from beginning to end, and musicians who clearly cared more about making honest music than chasing the latest trend. If you’ve never heard Eggs Over Easy before, this is the place to start. Don’t be surprised if you end up listening straight through without ever reaching for the skip button.
Henry Morgan
There was a boy who found a freedom that he felt
He swore he’d sail Spanish Main
‘Twas a man who wore a pistol in his belt
And Henry Morgan was his name
Henry Morgan, where you going?
Can you tell me where you’ve been?
Hey, hey, Young Henry
Can you tell me what you seen?
‘Cross the sea, deep blue sea
There was a boy who found a freedom that he felt
He swore he’d sail Spanish Main
‘Twas a man who wore a pistol in his belt
And Henry Morgan was his name
Henry Morgan, where you going?
Can you tell me where you’ve been?
Hey, hey, Young Henry
Can you tell me what you seen?
‘Cross the sea, deep blue sea
There was a time when he sat happy in his home
Sweet Patience took him for her own
Came a time when he got restless, for to roam
And Henry Morgan roams alone
Henry Morgan, where you going?
Can you tell me where you’ve been?
Hey, hey, Young Henry
Can you tell me what you seen?
‘Cross the sea, salt, salt sea
Here comes my friend Henry
There was a time when he set sail to fair Panama
And sin and slaughter walked the walls (Yes they did)
There were those who said that he couldn’t take it all
But Henry Morgan never falls
Henry Morgan, where you going?
Can you tell me where you’ve been?
Hey, hey, Young Henry
Can you tell me what you seen?
‘Cross the sea, cruel, cruel sea
Yeah, bye-bye, Henry
My old friend Henry
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye
So long, Henry
So long, so long, Henry
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye
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What a great band name lol…. I listened to the Memphis tune and that fits their band name. If I would have started an act it would be ‘scrambled eggs’ lol
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LOL…you could have opened for them with that name!
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Henry Morgan does sound like the Band could have done this.
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It really does…
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These guys are literally the egg before the chicken for British Pub rock. They may not sound like the artists you mentioned. But you are so right, they certainly were the catalyst for it all. Nick Lowe has said this himself. Great stuff Max!
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I never thought an American band would be there in the British pub scene and helped, in their own way, to start it all. At first I was confused…I thought they were British…then when I heard them…no…they cannot be British! Interesting story…but I love this Randy…they were good.
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Sold, Max, right away! I didn’t know these guys. The album cover looked very familiar. Then I noticed what’s going on here. Evidently, it’s inspired by a famous Edward Hopper painting (“Nighthawks”)
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Dude…SAME with me! I heard the Memphis song first and then went to another and another…damn it’s just really good through and through.
I thought the cover was familiar as well….that answers it.
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(‘Nighthawks’ parodies/homages pop up everywhere!)
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Henry Morgan has a definite Band flavor to it. Not sure who came first EOE or them?
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Oh The Band did…but I do like this music. I was shocked…because at first I thought they were British…then I heard them…no way could these guys be British lol. They were in the beginning of the British Pub rock scene…thats why I didn’t know they were Americans.
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Crazy path. They would have fit in with the music that was starting to get some traction in the States. I’ll have to give the whole album a shot. New one on me. I do know Henry Morgan’s story though. A good sea story for you Max.
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CB…when I heard these guys…I was like wow. You are right though…they would have fit in more over here, I didn’t know they were important on the British Pub scene. It IS a good sea story!
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Well I recognized the inspiration for the cover at least, iconic painting. I can hear the resemblance to The Band more than with Rockpile & Co., but I think The Band would win out based on the two videos . Good under the radar find though! Actually thinking about it more, I think I can hear some 70-71 Rolling Stones kind of sounds too.
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All their songs are really good on this album. Look at Randys comment…Nick Lowe and others credit them a lot for the pub rock scene…although these guys are pure roots…they sound really good.
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Yeah, good bit of rock archaeology Max. The writing of one verse in Henry Morgan is top level shorthand for the story, the ‘Sweet Patience-And Henry Morgan roams alone.’ I love that, cuts to the chase perfectly, it doesn’t need a long winded chapter of explanation… which is what I’m doing!
I’ll shut up now.😑
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That is the song that won me over right away. It has a feel that I just love automattcally. No more convincing…but I will say…the album has that same feeling. NO…you are fine…I’m glad you liked them. It’s nice to see other people hear what you are hearing. I heard of Morgan but didn’t know his story…hey mom…rock and roll CAN teach you something!
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Yeah, Ma!
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*automatically*
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Yeah, I know! I tend to rattle off a reply, press “reply” and look at the !&_^ mess of mess I’ve made, commas missing, extra letttters and I think ‘I rilly shoulda prooved red that b4 I prest ‘reply.’
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I usually don’t correct myself but I had to this time…it was so far off lol. I will admit…ik not for sepll ckcek I would be helpless at times!
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I’ve heard of Link Ray but I’ve not heard of the band Eggs Over Easy until now! Good tunes though
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Thanks for giving it a try Glyn. I can’t believe they had some space in the British Pub scene…Lowe credits them a lot…but they don’t sound like the rest…but good.
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