Published on Feb 28, 2001
It’s been three years since I was last exposed to the twisted
world of Rev. Billy C. Wirtz… and after listening to his
career-spanning compilation
The Best Of The Wirtz: 15 Years On The Road With A 77″
Pianist… well, let’s just say that if all “preachers” were
like Wirtz, I’d be in church a helluva lot more often.
Combining a selection of cuts from his numerous album releases
over the years with live snippets from concerts, radio interviews
and moments from his days in professional wrestling, this disc is
the kind of release that will make you max out your credit card as
you order all his CDs just to see what the hell you’ve been missing
all these years. I guarantee you will find yourself laughing
uncontrollably at times throughout this disc… or Wirtz will
personally come and put you into a sleeper hold. (Offer valid until
Wirtz hears that I made it on his behalf.)
Whether it’s lamenting the passage of time and its effects on
one’s body (“What I Used To Do All Night”), Elvis worship (“The
Visitor”, “WWED” – the latter standing for “What Would Elvis Do”),
or just giving the finger to political correctness (“Grandma’s
Behind The Wheel,” “Baby Got Dot,” “Wirtz Of Wisdom”), Wirtz proves
to be both a talented musician and a grade-A satirist who refuses
to protect anything from his potential sarcastic wrath. He even
pokes fun at himself as he tries to use an electronic keyboard
(“The Rev. Vs. The Computer”), turning his frustration in trying to
program it into a lesson for the live audience in the many sounds
the machine could make. (Memo to Wirtz: I actually do remember
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor.)
If there is one stumbling point on
The Best Of The Wirtz, it’s the side trip into the world of
wrestling that Wirtz takes. I don’t necessarily mind the “rasslin'”
interview (“You Are Nothing”), but the two songs with the wrestling
theme (“Sleeper Hold On Satan” and “Teenie Weenie Meanie”) – well,
they just don’t bodyslam my funny bone the way the bulk of the
material does. To Wirtz’s credit, he groups these tracks
together… meaning I can skip right over them on future
listens.
If you think Wirtz to be nothing more than a clown, listen to
“The Visitor,” which has its light moments but turns out to be a
surprisingly touching number. (If memory serves me right, this was
on Wirtz’s last studio album,
Unchained Maladies.) I don’t care if you don’t like Elvis;
chances are good that you will be moved by this song. In general,
Wirtz’s musical talents are hidden by his sense of humor, but he
often does show he’s a consummate musician.
Wirtz has built up a significant following over the years with
his off-beat material, and
The Best Of The Wirtz suggests that all of that praise is
well-deserved. You might not find God in these songs, but you’ll
definitely experience some form of a spiritual awakening – and
might re-discover your comedic soul. To that, all I can say is:
Hallelujah.