White Rose Motor Oil - Pre-Owned Songs - The Collection (1955 - 1995) (2024)

A collection comprised of a number of songs released individually over the last year from the duo White Rose Motor Oil. They are Eryn DeSomer on guitar and vocals and partner Keith Hoerog-DeSomer on drums. You could perhaps lazily describe them as a cowboy White Stripes. But equally there’s something of the Flat Duo Jets in there too. The tracks were produced, recorded and mixed by Brian Hunter and the whole thing is a big bag of fun.

The tracks chosen come from a number of different sources that all work in context of the simple delivery that connects with the essence of the songs. The collection opens with their version of the George Jones/Elvis Costello covered Good Year For The Roses. It starts with a voice and guitar intro similar to the latter’s version, and builds with the bass and drums, but remains a sombre take on a failed relationship. In a different mode, with a distorted vocal, is their version of a theme from a 1964 very B movie ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’. Hooray For Santa Claus captures something of the aesthetic at play. Next up is I Want You To Want Me, their account of the extremely catchy Cheap Trick song. Then back further in time for a rendition of, Making Believe, a song recorded back in 1955 by Kitty Wells and also recorded by Social Distortion. This version is closer in spirit to the latter than the former - a full on hot to trot take.

Another track picked from a film soundtrack is Nowhere Fast from the 1984 movie Streets Of Fire, a nice punk pop feel prevails, with a touch of Joan Jett in the air. Post punk is also the source for Vaseline, originally released by Elastica, again this is done in a stop-start singalong way that works for them. An old favourite up next that has been recorded many times and, while it may not surpass the original, their interpretation of Werewolves Of London prowls along at a pace. It has to be said that Eryn exhibits a vocal prowess that manages to capture a little of the original and, as such, this is her most soulful outing. You Got To Sin To Be Saved dates from 1993 when Maria McKee recorded it and it allows Eryn another opportunity to show she can sing as well as she can play. Letting the object of her displeasure know what she thinks of him is the subject of their rendering of the Dee Dee Warwick/Betty Everett classic, You’re No Good. That’s definitely not something that can be levelled at this powerful duo, who take their garage country out for a spin and show off how the engine of their enterprise still has some good mileage to go as this collection of songs, chosen to suit their dynamic, shows. These pre-owned songs have been be given a new home and a new lease of life in the hands of WMRO.