I can’t understand why I haven’t featured this band on this blog before, because they are one of the best bands in British blues:
The Blues Band is a British blues band formed in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann, and guitarist Tom McGuinness also of Manfred Mann and The Roosters. The band’s first line-up also included bassist Gary Fletcher, slide-guitarist Dave Kelly who had previously played with The John Dummer Band, Howling Wolf and John Lee Hooker and drummer Hughie Flint, of John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and McGuinness Flint, the band he formed with Tom McGuinness. In 1982 Flint left and was replaced by former Family drummer Rob Townsend.
Their first album The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album, a mixture of blues standards and original songs featured the Jones and McGuinness composition “Come On In” and their long-standing stage favourite “Flatfoot Sam”. This album initially attracted no interest from major record companies, so the band pressed a limited run of 3,000, hand-stamped their logo on the cardboard sleeve and signed them all. After unqualified endorsement from BBC Radio 1 presenter Simon Bates and others, media interest resulted in a recording contract with Arista Records, who re-released the album under the same title. After that they released Ready, Itchy Feet and Brand Loyalty albums and regularly toured through Europe.
They briefly disbanded after recording a live album Bye Bye Blues (1983), but reformed three years later. In 1995, they unveiled their version of the ‘Unplugged’ craze, but rather than a MTV event, Wire Less was recorded at the Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. In the new millennium they recorded albums such as Stepping Out (2002) and Thank You Brother Ray (2004), which paid tribute to Ray Charles. Now in their thirty-ninth year as a band, they still perform across Europe with the same line-up. (wikipedia)
And here´s their 9th album:
Recorded in 1993, this was the Blues Band paying respects to the greats they idolised. Line-up – then, as it is today – is Paul Jones (lead vocals & harmonica), Dave Kelly (lead vocals & slide guitar), Tom McGuinness (guitars), Gary Fletcher (bass) and Rob Townsend (drums). The content is classic Blues and R&B, from artists ranging from Little Walter and Jimmy Reed through to Willie Dixon, and Bo Diddley to Ma Rainey. Highlights include: ‘I Go Crazy’ – the James Brown classic and the first song the Blues Band ever performed in public, ‘You Shook Me’ – later popularised by Led Zeppelin, Paul Jones solo reworking of the jazz standard ‘Work Song’ and ‘Fine Brown Frame’, with Jools Holland guesting. Long hard to obtain, due to a one-off deal with the original now defunct label. (press release)
It’s not often that I’ll begin a review by listing the band’s personnel, but sometimes that aspect says it all, and regarding The Blues Band, it certainly does … Tom McGuinness floating vocals, guitar, background vocals; Lou Stonebridge on accordion, organ; Mike Paice on saxophone; Jools Holland [yes, that Jools Holland] with Peter Filleul on piano and organ; Jona Lewie, Bob Hall flipping those piano keys; Gary Fletcher on bass guitar, and background vocals; Rob Townsend on drums, and percussions; Liz Kitchen on percussion; along with Fiona Hendley, Dyan Birch, Frank Collins, Paddy McHugh laying out background vocals.
The songs are crisp and clear, sparkling, and laid out in a rockin’ blues fashion, the kind of band you might find yourself swaying to on a hot summer night on the boardwalk, and thinking how cool this unknown house band is. Their cover of “C.C. Rider” has a swaggering stroll to it, while “Rolling & Tumbling” actually does, with “That Same Thing” conveying an essence of early Dr. John, and I haven’t even gotten to the sexy, spine shimmering, “Swamp Medley,” reminding me of “Walkin’ To New Orleans,” and plastering my face with a mile wide smile at every 50’s line dance laden turn. The Blues Band is nothing short of fine, fine, fine, mixing genres, styles, and unexpected instrumentation to brighten any night, and cooling your body temperature, like flipping the pillow. But this ain’t no dream, this is the real deal … and one that’s not to be missed. (streetmouse)
Personnel:
Gary Fletcher (bass, vocals)
Paul Jones (vocals, harmonica)
Dave Kelly (guitar, slide guitar, vocals)
Tom McGuinness (guitar, vocals)
Rob Townsend (drums)
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Peter Filleul (piano on 06. + 13.)
Bob Hall (piano on 04., 08., 10. + 14.)
Jools Holland (keyboards on 01.+ 11,)
Liz Kitchen (percussion on 09. + 14.)
Jona Lewie (piano on 03. + 05.)
Mike Paice (saxophone on 03. + 05.)
Lou Stonebridge (organ, accordion on 02., 08, + 12,)
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background vocals:
Fiona Hendley – Gary Myakicheff – Kokomo Singers – Lan Myakicheff
Tracklist:
01. Let The Good Times Roll (Moore/Theard) 3.14
02. I’ll Go Crazy (Brown) 2.35
03. Temperature/Fever (Medley) (Cooley/Cohen/Davenport/Jacobs) 5.02
04. Rolling And Tumbling (Traditional) 3.11
05. C.C. Rider (Traditional) 3.47
06. How Can A Poor Men Stand Such Times And Live? (Reed) 6.29
07. Work Song (Adderley/Brown Jr.) 3.18
08. Swamp Medley5.32
08.1. Honest I Do (Abner Jr./Reed)
08.2. Send Me Some Lovin’ (Marascalco/Price)
08.3. Rainin’ In My Heart (Moore/West)
09. That Same Thing (Dixon) 4.31
10. I Ain’t Got You (Carter) 2.43
11. Fine Brown Frame (Cartiero/Williams) 4.08
12. I Can Tell (McDaniel/Smith) 5.12
13. You Shook Me (Lenoir/Dixon) 5.17
14. Wang Dang Doodle (Dixon) 4.56
15. Sweet Home Chicago (Johnson) 4.55
The official website:
The Blues Band is a British blues band formed in 1979 by Paul Jones, former lead vocalist and harmonica player with Manfred Mann, and guitarist Tom McGuinness also of Manfred Mann and The Roosters. The band’s first line-up also included bassist Gary Fletcher, slide-guitarist Dave Kelly who had previously played with The John Dummer Band, Howling Wolf and John Lee Hooker and drummer Hughie Flint, of John Mayall’s Blues Breakers and McGuinness Flint, the band he formed with Tom McGuinness. In 1982 Flint left and was replaced by former Family drummer Rob Townsend
England’s the Blues Band is led by ex-Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones and guitarist/vocalist Dave Kelly, who, before forming the group in 1979, had been a member of the John Dummer Blues Band and issued several solo recordings on his own (Kelly had also received praise for his playing by such blues legends as Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker). After hooking up with friend/bassist Gary Fletcher, the seeds for the Blues Band were sown, resulting in countless albums (by Greg Prato)
The individual members of The Blues Band were already held in admiration by generations of rhythm & blues fans when they formed back in 1979. Almost two and a half decades and over 16 albums later they continue to add to their growing army of followers, and it’s not unheard of to find three generations from the same family at a gig.
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