Jimmy Nail – Crocodile Shoes (1994)

Jimmy was born a real working-class rebel in Newcastle, he drifted and spent some time in jail before trying acting, he was also lead singer in a local band – The King Crabs.  He adopted the stage surname after an accident where a six-inch spike went through his foot.  His big break came with TV series ‘Auf Weidershein Pet’ followed by ‘Spender’.  He had a couple of decent selling albums and a number one hit single.  He conceived, wrote, produced and acted in a new TV show ‘Crocodile Shoes’ about a struggling Country singer in the North East; he wrote some of the songs in this series and a few were by Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout.  The album is a cracker and though not his first it introduced him to a much wider public.  I loved the album and the follow-up from series 2.  It is really Americana, a modern mix of country and folk-rock with great tunes and production.  Best are the title track, ‘Cowboy Dreams’ and ‘Only One Heart’.