Too Rye Ay
Dexys Midnight Runners
1982
Album Summary
Too-Rye-Ay is the second studio album by English pop band Dexys Midnight Runners, released in July 1982 by Mercury Records. The album is best known for the hit single "Come On Eileen", which included the refrain that inspired the album's title. It was the band's most successful album, debuting at number two on the UK Albums Chart.
WikipediaWow. What to say. I was going through some really bleak times in 1982. Both my older sisters had killed themselves in a suicide pact. I sought solace in the music of Dexys Midnight Runners and boy did it change my outlook on everything. 40 years on and I still have a bittersweet feeling stuck in my throat about it. To this day you can find me both dancing and crying to Come On Eileen. It did ruin my cousin's wedding, but she's a complete slut.
Not bad, not bad at all. "Come On Eileen" is a classic, and the rest (for the most part) blended together - but into an enjoyable mash. Would revisit.
Deserves a 5 just for managing to make dungarees cool. Top effort. If it was a footballer it would be sarong wearing trendsetter David Beckham.
This was actually fantastic. Ahead of its time in ways, rooted in old school folk idioms in others. Nearly every song full of emotion. I'm doing it, I'm giving it a 5.
So much more than just Come On Eileen. Great horns all over the album. Not that far from Housemartins at certain tracks.
Surprisingly good. Enjoyed this more than I thought. Last track is shite though
The only decent thing to come out of the 80’s was me. I used to like Michael Jackson during the 80’s but turns out he has a thing for staring at bum holes.
fucking insufferable. the guy nobody really wanted at the party, waiting for a high five, hand in the air, for over an hour.
Absolutely amazing. I definitely knew Come on Eileen, but I have never listened to this entire album. Definitely one of the best so far, in my opinion.
I love “Come On Eileen.” One of my all-time favorites. But for reasons unknown I have never listened to this album. I’m glad I did. This is a hell of a lot of fun and I really enjoy this album. Kevin Rolland’s vocals have a Freddie Mercury-like drama to them that I am surprised to have never noticed before. Songs like “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile)” exude joy and make this album is a real pick-me-up. The strings and horns are exciting. The lyrics are often serious and even dark and contrast with the music, as in the peppy song’s “I’ll Show You” exploration of school boys change into ‘alcoholics, child molesters, nervous wrecks and prima donnas, jilted lovers, office clerks, petty thieves, hard drug pursuers’ all to the happy horns. This makes TOO RYE AYE a fun listen that exposes more depth than you might expect as you become more familiar with the songs. “Plan B,” “Liars A to E” and “Until I Believe In My Soul” were other standout tracks to me on the first few listens. Even “Come On Eileen” had a little surprise at the end. I also enjoyed the bonus tracks a lot as well. Great album!
A very fun listen. An upbeat album with multiple tracks that are absolutely welcome into my playlists.
Nothing "I need to hear" aside from the song I've heard 3000 times in my life.
Absolutely glorious - all coming together in one of the ultimate pop singles, which is even better at the end of this album that as a stand-alone song. Yes!
10/10 didn’t know acoustic 80s pop like that would sound so cool it’s got so many cool songs, it sucks that it’s all over shadowed by Come on Eileen
Adorei o álbum! Achei as músicas alegres, animadas e divertidas. Verdade que não prestei atenção nas letras, mas adorei. Me animou pra fazer um bolo, que é uma tarefa que me faz feliz. Acho que volto a ouvir com mais atenção depois. :)
This album is dated in a good way. It's all greens and yellows, with cringy falsettos, silly performative singing, trompettes, church organs, and cough, cough, cough.
Such a unique voice the lead singer has, and it carries the album along with some great instrumentals. 'Come on Eileen' is obviously the standout hit, but this album is just such a joyous romp from start to finish. Listen to it on a bad day and your mood is sure to improve! The album would have been 4 stars if not for the fantastic 'stick-the-landing' ending that is 'Come on Eileen,' which bumps it up to a 5.
a real ringer on this list for me, just love it. Unique, incredible tunes, a medley to rival Abbey Road and one of the biggest hits of the '80s tossed on at the end. What's not to love?
More glorious sounds from Dexy’s including the imperious ‘Come on Eileen’, probably the weirdest floor filler there’s ever been. The energy on the track as the piano and fiddle dance along is infectious. Across the rest of the album, keep those horns blowing. I don’t pretend to understand Kevin Rowland but I do appreciate his artistic flair and commitment to playing whatever the hell he likes. This is an absolutely classic album from the best British band of the eighties.
Great, fun album. It reminds me of the Irish comic,Sean Hughes, who was a big fan of ‘Come on Eileen’.
Una especie de The Cure animado y trompetero. Opino lo mismo que con el otro disco: les compro el vinilo, va.
5 This is my first favorite right out of the gate, I think. Upon first glance I didn’t think I knew anything on this album and it was such a party. Catchy and unique. Front to back I loved every single song and I will absolutely be buying on vinyl one day.
Phenomenal record, glad that they’ve gotten to the point where a lot of people recognize them as great outside of just Eileen. Love this album.
Come on Eileen is a 10/10. Everything else is a 6 plus. So, 7/10 FT: need you ask?
Surprisingly good album. Not just a one-hit wonder. The Van cover is good, and Until I Believe is great, too.
Have a couple of listens. More to it than a one hit wonder. His voice sounds like a fun version of the cure. Interesting back story with all of the line up changes and affected image the main dude seems a bit of a control freak. And Dexy is a drug? Cool.
I mean 'Come on Eileen' is a legendary song and this album is actually a bit of fun.
I never really thought of them as a British band (having only ever heard Come on Eileen before), but they have a fun and consistent sound that occasionally reminded me of XTC.
Fun! I should've listened to more of their songs after I loved Come On Eileen. That's still my favorite, but the rest has a similar fun vibe, fiddle part, and that great English singing voice.
Full of big tunes and big horns Plan B, Liars A to E and Dubious are highlights
A lot better than I thought it would be. And actually quite like Come on Eileen now, whereas before it annoyed me.
A very good find, those strings do really belong there, even if the record drags a little it is outstanding
I was listening to this album thinking I knew that voice, and that the music was good but nothing special until I heard it, this album is heavily carried by Come On Eileen, if it wasn't for that song the score would be lower, although I did appreciated how varied the instrumentation and the melodies were
I thought they were one hit wonders but the rest of the album is very strong. Loved the strings and horns
"First let's hear somebody sing me a record That cries pure and true No not those guitars, they're too noisy and crude The kind that convinces, refuses to leave" (Let's make this precious) "And you'll hum this tune forever" (Come on Eileen) HostiA QUÉ SORPRESA ESTE DISCO.
Cool, fun album. Like the different strings and Celtic sounds. Pretty good Van Morrison cover in there - Jackie Wilson
Completely unique sound, utilizing big band, banjo, some strings, it honestly feels like a nightmare to play live. But the studio album? Perfectly campy. A show within itself. Just a ton of fun. There's even a little refrain they do of the main melody at the end of "Old" as if they're changing the stage for side b, haha. Reminds me a little bit of Supertramp's Crime of the Century in it's framing and whatnot. I think it's a very well-done album, but something will always keep me from absolutely loving this big theatrical albums. No matter how good, it always comes up a little short. Oh, and Come On Eileen is the ultimate white-people jam, so credit for that.
Loved this, nice bass, nice strings, vocals - everything. A real party record
Absolument dingue, Robwup je vais devoir te faire taire tes critiques musicales font honte à la France
Great fun to tap and sing along to; could have done with some cuts towards the end.
Really dug it, thought the familiar one was coming around eventually and there it was with Come on Eileen
one hit wonder with come on eileen, but the rest of the album is decent. i've always loved the guy's voice.
Enjoyed a lot more then I thought I would. I hear their influence in today alternative music
First song's instrumentals starts off strong, sets up for the rest of the album. Goddamn nice accompaniments. Smooth. Come on Eileen is a classic.
I must have worn out my original copy of this album I played it so much in the 80s. It’s a big improvement over their prior release with some real cracking tracks including 2 great cover songs. Plus it’s also got Come on Eileen which is a classic. I’d give this a solid 3.5, but round up to 4 for old times sakes.
I like the production and arrangements on this album better than their first. The horn section has a nice pop, the strings are great, especially in Celtic Soul Brothers and All in All, where the backup vocals too are amazing. I find the song-writing is on par with the first LP, but as a smash hit I’ll take Eileen over Geno any day.
I really liked this album. Maybe it is known by the one hit wonder 'Come on Eileen' but the whole album is awesome and tematically in sync with that song
I don't love how nearly half the songs on the album are not available on Spotify. That being said, I unironically love Come On Eileen and the songs I CAN listen to are upbeat, enjoyable, and moderate bangers.
It seems Dexeys are more than one hit wonders. This album has depth to it. Catchy songs throughout, in their signature style. Well sequenced with a run of quieter songs at the end before the release Come on Eileen hoedown. The only thing that lets it down is that the singer's voice gets a bit grating after a while. Overall, really, really good though. 4/5.
a lot of the horn tunes are catchy and fun, but apparently not breakout hits like Eileen... their slower songs don't have enough gravitas to carry them
Enjoyed this. Never really thought about checking them out as Come On Eileen is all anyone ever plays. I shall be returning to this.
Great album! From an era when pop music was approached with bags of integrity and charismatic songwriting! Upbeat, Northern soul influences but with a melancholy thread running through. I like it
Takes me back. Really great album. Kevin Rowland remains sadly unappreciated. Prefer the Young Soul Rebel era version of Dexy's. No matter.
The instrumental was great. The singer’s voice could be a little annoying and sometimes sounded whinny. I appreciated hearing more than just their famous song. They do have depth.
This is enjoyable… could’ve done with a little more attention on my part! I’ll revisit!
It's good but it would be better if instead of "come on eileen" it was "come on guyleen"
A couple of top quality songs on here, and would definitely listen to again. I love having some very happy music to bop along to on. I enjoyed it a lot, but it's a bit too eclectic an album for me to rate it 5/5.
On first listen, while taking a pleasant walk through the park, I thought that this album was a confused schizophrenic mess. And it is. But then, while filling out some paperwork I really didn't want to have anything to do with, I gave it another listen. I get it now - a confused mess it may be, with a frustrating track arrangement and sound bouncing all over the place, but it's one hell of a fun album. You can start in a melancholy mood, but by the time the riff of Come On Eileen kicks in you'll have left that long behind. Standouts for me were Precious, Plan B, and of course the greatest wedding disco track of all time.
We all know why this album is on here, but it was surprisingly enjoyable despite the one-hit wonder. Very energetic and fun plus can’t hate on come on Eileen. Fav songs: Jackie Wilson said, old, come on eileen
"Come on Eileen" by far the best and most popular song but it was a fun album to listen to. Lead singer almost kind of sounds like Brandon Flowers from The Killers... well, Brandon sounds like him since he came later. 7/10.
Well of course you have one of the great 80’s tunes that led to one of the raunchiest halloween costumes ive ever seen. But this album is packed with great pop sensibilities and a lot more Celtic influence than I’d been expecting. There’s almost some Queen style harmonies at the start of “Old” Fav tracks: “Come On Eileen” “Celtic Soul” “Old”
What a surprise! Of course I only knew the hitsingle "Come on Eileen" before listening to the album. I really enjoyed the whole thing. Great musical variety and entertaining artistic elements.
Honestly, their songs all sound very similar. Does that mean they are bad? No way. Enjoyed the album!
Enjoyed it more than I expected but likely not enough to seek it out again.
Other than Come On Eileen, I knew nothing of this album. It was good. The few tracks really appealed to me. I thought that I would really love this album. The instrumentation and vocals were excellent. Then as the album neared the end, the tracks were not as appealing and I found them difficult to listen to. The final Come On Eileen track was a rally back to my good side, but overall the album did slip to a 4 by the end.
Part of the fun novelty of "Come On Eileen" was the addition of a fiddle sound to pop music, and that is true throughout this album. What I didn't expect were the horn sections as well, plus piano, making for a very eclectic but fun sound. Kind of old timey, but definitely not old fashioned sounding. It's a shame this band is shorthand for "one hit wonder" in the US, since I think there is lots more to get to know and enjoy.
I picked this one out of all the ones I haven't listened to because I knew I'd enjoy it. Great album and 'come on eileen' is just a song that hits the fun button in my soul every time