Feelies Side Project Yung Wu's Solo Album SHORE LEAVE Being Re-Released

Yung Wu was a Feelies side project that released a sole album, Shore Leave, onSteve Fallon's Coyote Records in 1987. Bar/None Records in conjunction with Coyote is proud to be re-issuing this much sought-after, long out-of-print album on April 21, Record Store Day as LP, CD and digital download; this is its first appearance on CD or as a digital download. The album packaging features previously unseen photos and liner notes by Yung Wu frontman Dave Weckerman.

There will be an exclusive Record Store Day version of the LP that includes a limited edition flexi disc of Weckerman's incredibly rare 1980 solo 7" comprising the original version of Shore Leave's title track and "Out Of Baby's Reach," a song only appearing on this single.

Shore Leave featured Feelies' percussionist Dave Weckerman as lead singer and principal songwriter backed by the rest of the Feelies circa the Good Earth album (the same line-up who perform as the Feelies today): Glenn Mercer and Bill Million on guitars Brenda Sauter on bass and Stan Demeski on drums. John Baumgartner from Speed The Plough and the Trypes joined them in the studio playing keyboards. Shore trades the Feelies' neurotic intensity for a more pop gentleness.

After releasing and promoting their album debut Crazy Rhythms in 1980, the Feelies pulled back from touring to concentrate on woodshedding a number of different projects including the Trypes, the Willies and Yung Wu. These outfits shared many of the same members and would take turns opening for each other on Sundays at the Peanut Gallery, a local watering hole in their hometown of Haledon, New Jersey.

In a certain sense the post-Crazy Rhythms Feelies started with Yung Wu. The semi-acoustic approach of Shore Leave is very similar to the sound the Feelies introduced on 1986's The Good Earth. Dave Weckerman brought eight cleverly catchy originals to the sessions which took place at Water Music in Hoboken with Glenn Mercer and Bill Million producing. Shore Leave also boasts a trio of covers songs: the Rolling Stones's psychedelic b-side "Child of the Moon," the equally obscure "Big Day" penned by Brian Eno for the Phil Manzenera Diamond Head solo outing and Neil Young's "Powderfinger," The Dave Weckerman originals certainly hold their own.

AllMusic called Shore Leave "a minor classic of '80s jangle pop ripe for rediscovery." We couldn't agree more.

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