A
RARE WATTS APPEARANCE
Charlie Watts
never made a habit of appearing on other people’s records, but he did
make an exception for Paul Jones…
Charlie Watts is
the drummer on "Bad Penny Blues", a track to be found on The
Blues Band album "These Kind of Blues". Released in 1986, it
consists of recordings made between 1979 and 1982. How, where and why
did Charlie join forces with Paul Jones & Co? Here’s the exclusive
answer! Says Saul Arone of The Blues Band website: "Paul Jones and
Tom McGuinness had the idea of doing a single of "Bad Penny
Blues" which had been a hit for Humphrey Lyttleton in the 50s. They
discussed the idea with long-time friend and sometime Blues Band piano
player Ian Stewart, who suggested Charlie would be well up for playing
the drums on it, and also bass player Dave Green who had himself played
with Lyttleton. The track was recorded at Nova Studios in Marble Arch
around 1981".
Ian
Stewart on piano
Saul continues
the story: "Although originally destined to be a single in its own
right and nothing directly to do with The Blues Band other than Paul’s
performance and Tom’s production duties, it never actually saw the
light of day in this form. When the "These Kind of Blues"
album was being put together it was suggested that the track be included
on the album. Thus, almost by default it became a Blues Band
track". Interestingly, the piano on this track is by sixth Stone
Ian Stewart, to whom the album is dedicated. Charlie and Ian would later
also team up for the Rocket 88 project. Anyone interested in putting
together a list of Charlie’s other extra curricular work – excepting
his own jazz band?
Picture: from
left to right: Ian Stewart, Tom McGuinness, David Green, Charlie Watts
& Paul Jones (kneeling). Courtesy of Tom McGuinness.
CD Reference:
The Blues Band: These Kind of Blues, Date Records, DACD 9.00160,
Germany, 1986
Link: www.thebluesband.co.uk.
Author: Eddy
Bonte. Write to Molenstraat 15, B 9890 Gavere, Belgium, fax +32 9 384 89
69 or email [email protected]
