Willy DeVille - vocals, guitar; Tom "Manfred" Allen - drums; Willy DeVille - lead vocals, guitar; Louis X Erlanger - guitar; Rubén Sigüenza - bass, vocals; Vinnie Cirincione - saxphone
The second of three shows recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour, this performance is from the critically acclaimed run by Mink DeVille at New York's famed Bottom Line club. This mini-set features all the same songs played in the early set, but with versions that seem slightly more energetic.
Opening with "Gunslinger," leader and singer/songwriter Willy DeVille guides the band through a set that includes "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl," "Venus Of Avenue D," "Little Girl," and "Spanish Stroll," all of which had been on the group's Capitol Records debut, simply entitled Mink DeVille. They encore with a memorable version of the Ben E King classic, "Stand By Me."
Born William Borsay, DeVille took his surname from his favorite car, a Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Growing up in the heart of Greenwich Village, Willy DeVille absorbed the influences of the already established folk movement (Bob Dylan, Odetta, Phil Ochs), and the growing rock movement (The Blues Project, Jimi Hendrix, and others) which used the Village as its launch pad.
By the late 1970s, he had formed his own band, entitled Mink DeVille, which operated as a group and as a musical foundation for the songs DeVille was writing and singing. They quickly gained acceptance by the punk and alternative music scene, which revolved around New York's legendary CBGB club. In 1977, Mink DeVille was signed to Capitol Records, and was produced by legendary Phil Spector/Wall-Of-Sound arranger, Jack Nitzsche. DeVille had an affinity with the classic Spector recordings and the music of the Brill Building. He also had a deep love of Latin, blues, and folk music. Therefore, his own music style was one of great diversity.
He never saw much commercial success in America, but he was loved by critics and had a core cult following that remains loyal to this day. In Europe, however, he became a superstar and he has been able to sustain a successful career across the Atlantic for nearly 30 years.