In 2022, the erstwhile Green On Red man Chuck Prophet was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma, That’s not something anybody ever wants to hear. Many of us would crumble, I suspect. Not Chuck though. Oh no, instead of moping around and worrying about it, what did he do? Yes, that’s right. He got better then recorded and released his best record in years. In all honesty, it’s not only his best record in years, it’s also amongst the finest albums he’s put out in his entire career. With a musical canon that spans a mighty five decades, with some major high points along the way, that really is some compliment.
One of the most striking things about Wake The Dead is the remarkable musical backing provided by Cumbian band ¿Qiensave?, complementing Chuck’s fabulous lyrics with a kind of reggae-punk with which The Clash often danced, though there’s often a slightly Cajun undercurrent here too, as well as the early roots rock of bands like Dire Straits, most notably on the stunning ‘Sally Was A Cop‘. There’s even a dash of Springsteen‘s brand of rock and roll on ‘Sugar Into Water‘, and a hint of The Specials on ‘Betty’s Song‘, which is a real standout, as is the devastatingly gorgeous closer ‘Good Day To Be Alive‘, which, I’m presuming, came from the relief of being cleared of the potentially life-threatening illness. As the title suggests, this is a new lease of life for Chuck, giving him new perspectives on the things that matter to him. This is a more gentle track, evoking shades of JJ Cale‘s ‘Magnolia‘ musically, and if it doesn’t give you a warm glow inside, then really, there’s something seriously wrong with you.
There are so many nuggets of gold on this album though, that it’s hard to single any of them out for special praise. Each track is worthy in a different way. ‘Give The Boy A Kiss‘, for example, starts out all Johnny Cash, but then turns into a reggae tune that I can imagine the likes of Jimmy Cliff performing. ‘Red Sky Night‘, on the other hand has that sun-soaked beauty of, say ‘Couldn’t Be Better‘ by Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
Above all, Wake The Dead is a bastion of positivity in the face of darkness. It’s impossible not to marvel at some of the words: “Well, I get a little sentimental / when I’ve had a couple of drinks / Sometimes I think I’ll phone you / Mostly I just sit here and think.” A simple lyric (from the intense ‘First Came The Thunder‘) but so awe-inspiringly effective and relatable. Then later on, ‘One Lie For Me, One Lie For You’ made me picture Chuck dancing a waltz with his wife in the living room after getting news of the all-clear.
What an amazing record. Chuck Prophet should be an inspiration to us all, both musically and in life in general.
Wake The Dead is out now on Yep Roc Records.
