The Sheriff McCoy is back in the saddle again, and he’s packing a 14-track shooter of an album. ‘Jukebox Junkie’ follows his 2019 long player ‘21st Century Rocks’, and is a collection of cover versions by artists that have influenced the ex-Hanoi Rocks guitar legend, songs he feels should get more love.

Andy’s influences cover a broad spectrum. Whether it be reggae, new wave & punk, or power pop & country, it seems all bases are covered in his own imitable style. Some familiar, some not so, these 14 tracks (only 13 if you’re a vinyl junkie) are obscurities and oddities that need further exploration.

While Andy of course handles guitar duties, the lead vocals are shared between other artists on this collection. He does however share lead vocals on several tracks with his bass player and co-producer Matthew Janaitis, but there is a whole host of vocalists on board this project.

The most notable is CKY singer Deron Miller who sings lead on first single ’Take Me I’m Yours’. The highly amusing video for the Squeeze classic bizarrely has Andy lip synching along, looking like Jack Sparrow’s drunken uncle. It’s a great version, the harmony guitars sound great, and the uplifting power pop melody is intact. It gets better with every spin.

Elsewhere, Andy’s love of reggae is covered with Toots & The Maytals’ ‘54-46 That’s My Number’, Phil Lynott’s misty-eyed ‘Solo In Soho’ and Ronnie Wood’s ‘I Can Feel The Fire’. The latter, with Andy’s familiar vocal drawl and killer guitar break, is suitably ramshackle, fits McCoy to a tee and is just as good as you would want it to be.

Don Williams’ countrified ‘Shot Full Of Love’ seems to have been written for Andy to sing. The lyrics are full of reflection and sentiment, and seem quite fitting. “I used to be a moonlight bandit, I used to be a heartbreak kid”, he croons before unleashing a guitar solo to match Hanoi’s classic ballad ‘Don’t You Ever Leave Me’. This could’ve fitted nicely on the Suicide Twins album methinks.

With retro sounding synths, ringing guitars and haunting female lead vocals courtesy of Sofia Zida, The Divinyls ‘Back To The Wall’ is brought bang up to date for 2022. There’s a certain power and assertiveness to the vocals that surpasses the original and I just love the delivery and production here. Another killer McCoy guitar break seals the deal. 

You’ll know the funky ‘I Couldn’t Get It Right’ as soon as you hear that chorus, but whether it’s from the Sunday chart rundown as a kid, or simply as the opening track from Fun Lovin Criminals ‘Mimosa’ album is purely down to either good luck or good taste! It’s a killer version of the Climax Blues Band tune that adds more rock n’ roll that the smooth FLC take on it. Again, Matthew Janaitis’ vocals work well against the funky backbeat.

Wanda Jackson’s ‘Funnel Of Love’ is a great tune, surely it’s been used in a Tarantino movie? If not, this take would be a worthy addition to the next one! While Sofia Zida lacks the raw, raspiness of Wanda Jackson’s original vocal, it comes over as fresh, sweet and vibrant. The cool wah-wah guitar lines giving it a boost as well.

If you are old school and purchase the retro CD format, then you get a bonus track by the guy who was the Womble with a flying V guitar! Yes, Andy and co admirably tackle Chris Spedding’s 1975 top 20 smasher ‘Motorbikin’, and you know you need it in yer life, right?

Covers albums are usually hit and miss affairs. Sometimes made as a contractual obligation, or hastily cobbled together when an artist is going through a creatively bleak period. But sometimes they are just made for fun or as in this case, they are simply made to bring obscure songs to a wider audience and give them the attention they so rightly deserve.

‘Jukebox Junkie’ is certainly littered with obscurities. It made me search out and appreciate the originals I was unaware of, and reacquaint myself with the ones I had forgotten about. And if that was Andy’s one intention then, its job done. While several fall short, most match and some even surpass the originals. I implore you to listen, learn and make up your own mind which have come out on top.

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Author: Ben Hughes