The Feelies are among the most beloved bands in alternative rock history, influencing countless artists since they formed in the late 70s. The group was well-known for their many side projects, one of which was a one-off group called Yung Wu. Showcasing the softer pop sensibilities of the members, the group was lead by Dave Weckerman, percussionist for The Feelies. Joining him were the members of the band from the period when they released Good Earth, which is also the current Feelies lineup. Bill Mercer and Bill Million played guitars, Brenda Sauter played bass and Stan Demeski was the drummer. They were asked to record a Yung Wu LP in 1987 – the band’s first and last record – which has been long out of print.
On April 21, 2018 – Record Store Day – that album, Shore Leave will once again be available as a reissue from Bar/None Records. Today we are pleased to premiere the title track from the album, a short burst of power pop that is as unforgettable as it is easy on the ears.
Joining the members of Yung Fu in the studio for the recording sessions was John Baumgartner of another Feelies-related project Trypes as well as Speed the Plough, who played keyboards. Besides the title track, Weckermen penned seven other original Yung Wu songs. To beef up the track list, the band chose three covers for the album. The first a cover of Neil Young’s “Powderfinger,” the second a Rolling Stones b-side “Child of the Moon” and the Brian Eno-penned “Big Day” from Phil Manzenera’s album Diamond Head.
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