The great white hopes

Press, 17 April 1980, Page 14

The great white hopes

RECORD REVIEWS!

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Nevin Topp

THE BLUES BAND “Official Blues Band Bootleg Album” (Arista BBBP 101). The English cornered the'rhythm and blues market' about 16 years ago, and the likes of Wilko Johnson and Dr Feelgood would like to say that the United Kingdom has again got the blues. However, a new band on the scene, The Blues Band, has the British Isles all shook up with an energetic mixture of blues covers and originals all in the sleeve of an album designed to look like a boot-

leg, a bit like the Beatles ■ white double album. The Blues Band has some roots in early English R. and B. Hughie Flint, from McGuinness Flint, used to drum on the John Mayall “Blues Breaker” album, which also featured Eric Clapton and John McVie, om McGuinness, who used to be gui- ' tarist for Manfred Mann (1963-69) is also in the band, along with former Mann vocalist; Paul Jones (1963-66). With the addition of slide guitarist and vocalist, Dave Kelly, and bass guitarist, Gary Fletcher,

The Blues Land had little joy from the record companies so they financed their own recording. However, Arista was lucky td sign them to. a three-year contract late in the race, and now the group are a hot number in Britain, as the album shows. The original numbers are not as good as the covers of early blues material like that of “Talk To Me Baby” by the slide guitarist, Elmore James, and. Son House's “Death Letter,” which sends a shiver up the spine. There is also humour and plenty

of energy, especially on “Flatfoot Sam.” The film clip on “Radio With Pictures” on April. 8 gave some indication of how The Blues Band are knockin’ ’em dead.