- Source: Talk Dirty (John Entwistle song)
"Talk Dirty" is a song by the English rock musician John Entwistle, former bassist for the Who. It was released in September 1981 as a single from his fifth solo studio album, Too Late the Hero (1981), on which he is also joined by guitarist Joe Walsh (who was a member of three commercially successful bands such as the James Gang, Barnstorm and the Eagles). He also joined by drummer Joe Vitale, who had a career dating back to the early 1970s.
The song received airplay in the United States on the album-oriented rock radio, and John Entwistle had a 1987 radio interview with Howard Stern about it. It later proved to become Entwistle's highest charting single release, peaking at number 41 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Critical reception
When critic Chris Welch was reviewing the album (available on the 1997 release of the album) he stated (in length) that "'Talk Dirty' is the kind of concept that would get severely criticised by the politically correct. A snappy cowbell rhythm brings in an uptempo raver during which John falls into a kind of Rap, telling his partner that he'd rather talk dirty than discuss the merits of Chopin, Shakespeare or Van Gogh"
Compilation appearances
The song is also on Entwistle's 2005 compilation album, So Who's the Bass Player? The Ox Anthology the version on this album is faster than the release on Too Late the Hero.
Personnel on track
John Entwistle — lead vocals, bass guitar, 8 string bass guitar, synthesizers
Joe Walsh — lead guitar
Joe Vitale — drums