Get It marks a significant departure from
Dave Edmunds' early records, as it is the first time he's backed by a full band. Most of
Get It was recorded with a fledgling version of
Rockpile, with other sessionmen filling in when necessary, and the live band gives the album an energetic feel which
Edmunds' had previously ignored. Just as importantly, the song selection is more carefully considered than before, containing only a handful of classics and obscure rock & roll tunes, but concentrating on pub rock staples ("Get Out of Denver," "Back to School Days," "JuJu Man"), and songs written or co-written by
Nick Lowe, which gives the album a freshness lacking on his early records.
Lowe's homages to
the Everly Brothers ("Here Comes the Weekend"),
Chuck Berry ("I Knew the Bride"), and
Phil Spector ("Little Darlin'") are more appealing than
Edmunds' re-creations of the originals, because
Lowe's songs are lyrically and musically clever. But
Edmunds knows how to make them sound like forgotten classics, and that's why
Get It is one of his very best albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine