Wet Willie

Wet Willie is an American band from Mobile, Alabama, U.S. They were best known for their hit "Keep On Smilin'," reaching #10 on the Billboard Chart in August 1974, but had a number of charted songs in the 1970s utilizing their soulful brand of Southern rock.

Wet Willie put out several albums on Capricorn Records between 1971 and 1977. Along with a "Greatest Hits" album released on Polydor Records, they also released 2 more final studio albums on Epic Records, although some hits collections and further live recordings have been released as recently as 2006. Perhaps their best-known LP is the 1973 live album, Drippin' Wet, but their main claim to fame is the hit single, "Keep On Smilin,'" which reached #10 on the Billboard singles chart. They also enjoyed some other Billboard-charted songs with "Country Side Of Life," "Everything That 'Cha Do" (Will Come Back To You), "Leona," and from their Epic Records period, "Street Corner Serenade" and "Weekend" from the LP's Manorisms and Which One's Willie? They toured and recorded extensively from 1969 through the early Eighties, and they still perform today in two slightly different versions, depending on whether Jimmy Hall is present. When Hall is with the band, it is billed as Wet Willie; otherwise, it is billed as The Wet Willie Band.

Wet Willie- Manorisms

Manorisms

Released in 1977, Wet Willie's debut on their new label Epic entitled "Manorisms", was an excellent album which was more pop than their past southern "Dixie Rock" releases on

the Capricorn label. Wet Willie's style had changed with the addition of new memebers into the band such as Larry Berwalk who replaced Ricky Hirsch on lead guitar,Theophilius

Lively who replaced Lewis Ross on drums, Marshall Smith replaced Wick Larsen on guitar. Original members Jimmy Hall (lead vocals, harmonica & saxes), Jack Hall (bass & vocals)

and Michael Duke (keyboards and lead vocals) still remained with the group. Standout cuts are "Rainman", "Make You Feel Love Again","We Got Lovin'", "Street Corner Serenade"

(which was the hit off the album), and "One Track Mind" (which recalls the old Wet Willie sound). I found this cd to sound flat, obviously it wasn't remastered for improved

fidelity. Also, the inner cd sleeve is pretty cheap with no liner notes what so ever. The whole packaging of the cd seems cheap. I'm surprised Wounded Bird Records would

release a product like this. I've several other cd's on their label and all sound great and the packaging is superior to this. Sony Special Products had something to do with

this release so I guess that pretty much tells the story on why the cd sounds bad and the packaging is what it is. If you enjoyed listening to past Wet Willie albums such as

"The Wetter The Better", "Drippin" Wet", and "Keep On Smilin'", etc. then you won't be disappointed in "Manorisms". Recommended.