The number six in the bible represents human weakness and imperfection. “Lord have mercy”. It is the blues in a nutshell. So there just had to be a Blues Portrait Volume Six. Pauline (Bailey) has once again elegantly brushed her ultramarine, cobalt and phthalate pigments off her palette and on to the canvas of another forty two blues and roots artists.
If the premise of a forward is to provide credibility and ‘prepare ye the way’ from a respected authority, then who better than the OzBlues man hisself, Matt Taylor (featured in Volume 1). It was Matt and his band Chain back in 1971 that paved my harmonica journey with their harp drenched single Judgement. “Lord I come in judgement to see if I go up or down”.
As in each of the preceding volumes there is a variety of blues and roots artists from different eras and circumstances (some you’ll know and others you soon will), all connected by a deep felt passion for their music and its Deep South origin.
There are a few international performers (including an engaging interview with a harp legend) and some touching tributes too. Hey! ‘Wonny’ even has a mention. I won’t reveal any of the forty two, except to suggest with an anagram, that my first point of call was with ‘Rex Al Buns’.
Do your self a service and grab yourself a copy from Pauline’s online shop. For previous volume reviews, head here Jazzamatazz, Train Rhythm and One Eyed.
Postscript (for Pauline): One of my favourite blues toons is from the band mentioned in your introduction, Ride On.
Alex Burns. Born in Glasgow, Scotland 1951. Moved to Australia later. Plays ….. Guitar, ukulele, steel guitar and harmonica. Music ….. American string styles, blues and early jazz. 😊 The wonder of the internet Shep. If right, now I gotta go listen. See what the sound is like.
Have recently listened to a bit of Zoot. Saw they did Eleanor Rigby and got curious. That was a unique Australian band listen! And they sounded a bit like The Hollies when listening to a bunch of their songs. I liked the Hollies a lot. So went for a YouTube listening stint on them next, found their Distant Lights album and listened all through with some really nice harp music on a few tracks. And it has Cable Car and Long cool woman on it too. Two amazing songs.
You do send us on some strange and wonderful journeys Shep. 😉 Cheers and all the best. 🙏🏽🍁🍂
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You’re the official winner, Alex it was, congrats….reviewed a single of the Caledonian Castaways not long back, ‘Schizo Scot’…also checkout ‘Black Pudding’ by them…think I referred you to Zoot’s cover of Eleanor Rigby, I also like ‘The Freak’…love the Hollies too, and ‘Long Dark Road’ on that album is not too shabby and has harp…thanks for dropping by and sharing Gray..🐾🐾
check out these links for Alex;
https:/caledoniancastaways.bandcamp.com/track/schizo-scot,
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Wow! I never win anything. What a nice feeling. 😊 Cheers Shep.
I actually do tend to get overwhelmed with recent music memory listens Shep. Recalling newly heard music over the last few years is always difficult to remember what is what. There have been so very many, dozens on dozens on dozens, of new songs heard. And then again, certain bands recently over the past couple of years have cemented themselves totally into the heart. I listen to Cigarettes after sex, Mazzy Star, Her’s, Ian Hunter’s Defiance albums and, from yesterday, a duo called Beach House an awful lot. Just bought Once, Twice Melody by Beach House. Absolutely amazing sound.
This new stuff is ‘mixed listened to’ amongst standards from the collection from the decades. Two days ago was the Fairground Attraction album ‘The first of a million kisses’. I love that album so much, I actually played some of their songs on guitar acoustically for the vibe of giving them my own slant.
Weird how new music you really enjoy when listened to and enjoyed can become very transient. Or music you are aware of and liked from decades on decades ago is probably listened to four or five times in a lifetime.
For example. Loved watching Alex wearing the same hat I actually own and playing against a crowd chattering in a small barroom gig. To identify the gig, he was wearing a white vest. He was brilliant. I watched a few more of his live songs then. And yet, it may be that I listen again in maybe a year or so time. I liked the link you sent Shep. Listened to 4 songs, then had to take Angie into work. Will return later to carry on.
Cheers again Shep. All the best and hope Spring weather is still behaving itself. 🙏🏽🍁🍂
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