John Otway - The Patron Saint Of Losers

A fascinating encore longer than the main show

If he makes an ass of himself on stage and TV screen, John Otway is a fair guitarist and blessed with a charm peculiar to certain vocalists who warp limited range and eccentric delivery to their own devices. He’s also realised extraordinary visions as a songwriter. Any young chart act looking for its next smash might find it on Castle’s 46-track anthology of Otway’s output since 1972’s Misty Mountain, his debut 45. Louisa On A Horse may be too lyrically idiosyncratic, but Geneve would suit some soppy boy-band well. Regardless of content (which also embraces him playing silly buggers with revivals of songs such as Blockbuster and Crazy Horses) The Patron Saint Of Losers is conspicuous for imaginative production, courtesy of distinguished console boffins such as Barron Anthony and Pete Townshend. More recently, Barry Upton (Steps, Cheeky Girls) oversaw 2002’s disco-paced Bunsen Burner, the third hit after signature tune Really Free and 1980’s psychedelic DK 50-80. Loser? Doesn’t seem to be.

Castle | CMEDD 1566

Reviewed by Alan Clayson
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