'Chubby, gruff singers from the UK'

Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend might still be rockin', but two new releases from often-overlooked peers may make you prefer chubby, gruff singers from the U.K. to the aforementioned slender senior statesmen of British pop.

Plus, both Eric Burdon, 71, and Van Morrison, 67, concede the influences of great African-Americans with well-known stage names – for Burdon, it's Ellis McDaniel (better known as Bo Diddley; for Morrison it's McKinley Morganfield (AKA Muddy Waters).

Burdon's 'Til Your River Runs Dry and Morrison's Born to Sing: No Plan B remind listeners that these two legendary musicians are both deeply rooted in Rhythm & Blues, and each of their vocal phrasings shows them both to be gem-masters if not outright geniuses of the voice-as-instrument.

Although Burdon's record is immediately gripping with the angry anthem "Water," it accelerates about halfway through in his triumphant tribute cut "Bo Diddley Special," and it achieves virtual escape velocity in a fist-pumping, heart-stopping screamer cover of a Bo Diddley tune, "Before You Accuse Me."

Along the way, his "Memorial Day" is a sleepy, sweeping reflection, "27 Forever" almost a bookend to Townshend's iconic "My Generation," and "Invitation to the White House" a wonderful nod to Burdon's post-Animals success with the band War.

Musically, there are some similarities between Burdon and Morrison, whose early fronting for the group Them is almost forgotten in the great – truly, great – career he built since. Morrison and Burdon both are energetic, often angry, and effectively use horns to fine advantage. But the differences make the comparison one of visceral vs. ethereal. Burdon, a bit more bluesy, can be as rough and raw as a railroad tie; Morrison, more jazzy, is at once thoughtful, mystical and befuddled in a Buddha-meets-Boo Radley nexus.

Lyrically, Morrison is more philosophical and Burdon more emotional; Morrison wonders and Burdon wails. Especially noteworthy on Morrison's recording are the title tune, "Close Enough for Jazz" and the powerful and peculiar opposites, "Mystic of the East" and "Pagan Heart."

(That said, Burdon's "River Is Rising," "In the Ground" and "Devil and Jesus" all have theological backbeats, too, and Morrison seems to sneer between the lines in a few numbers, such as "Goin' Down to Monte Carlo.")

Interestingly, both occasionally share progressive politics. Morrison sees worldwide financial crises and rails against capitalism, especially on "End of the Rainbow" and "Educating Archie." Burdon sings "Nothing bugs me, I'm Mr. Anarchy" on "Old Habits Die Hard" and in the scene-setting "Water" promises, "This world is not for me / I'll make a new one, wait and see / Hopelessness has seized the land / I will not beg, I will demand."

Of course, it's mostly superb rock 'n' roll, not some Tom Jones/Noam Chomsky mix tape.

Still, curiously, both acknowledge they hold grudges against demons of sorts. Burdon softly roars in "Water," "The enemy does not know who the enemy is," and Morrison in his own opening track, "Open the Door (To Your Heart)" sings, "Don't you think I know who my enemies are?"

Finally, however, Morrison's title cut could speak for each of these giants, as the chorus offers, "When it gets to the part / When the band starts to swing/ Then you know everything /

'Cause you were born to sing."

PHOTO CAPTION: Bo Diddley, left, being interviewed by Bill Knight, circa 1972.

About the Author

Bill Knight recently retired after a couple decades teaching journalism at Western Illinois University. Now, you might find him strolling through the streets of Elmwood with his wife and fellow writer, Terry Bibo, along with their son, Opie, and his beloved collie, Lassie.* *Actually this last bit isn’t true. Not to mention the fact that our writer got “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Lassie & Timmy” mixed up.