Dave Edmunds serves up Rags & Classics

Dave Edmunds is to release an all-instrumental album of cover versions.

The Welsh guitar icon issues Rags & Classics on June 9 via MVD Entertainment Group. He’s also made his version of the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows available to stream.

Edmunds says: “I recorded this, off and on, at home, over a period of four months. But I guess the idea of making a guitar album had been lurking subconsciously since I was 17.

“That’s when I discovered the fascinating guitar styles of Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and Jerry Reed, along with other truly innovative guitarists of the 50s and 60s music revolution.”

As well as his solo career and efforts with the band Rockpile, Edmunds has worked with Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynn, Elvis Costello, Carl Perkins, Stray Cats, Status Quo and many others.

He adds: “I’ve chosen a selection of what I consider to be classic singles from the past, but with a Fender Stratocaster guitar interpretation, along with others reflecting my earlier influences. As with my recent album, Again, there was nobody else in the studio at any time – just the way I like it.”

Rags & Classics tracklist

  1. A Whiter Shade Of Pale 2. I Believe I Can Fly 3. God Only Knows 4. Wuthering Heights 5. Your Song 6. Black Mountain Rag 7. Classical Gas 8. Green Onions 9. Cannonball Rag 10. Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, Molto Allegro

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.