Music Week:

The Blues Band lifted the roof off The Venue before an audience of punters and industry people in one of the best gigs we've seen in a long time.

The Evening Times, Scotland:

The buzz about them in London is amazing, so I went to check the band out at a university gig up here last week.  They didn't disappoint.

The Observer:

.... we all bounced up and down on the spot, spilling beer down one another's trousers.  It's not difficult to understand why The Blues Band has this effect.  Experience tells; tempos are cunningly varied, dynamic contrasts achieved with off-hand ease, and Paul Jones fronts the band with the skill of a practised showman.

Black Echoes:

(referring to The Official Blues Band Bootleg album) .... Like their stage act, the LP is a steaming hot set of cooking blues with a humorous edge.  It's well produced, with a full, fat sound.  To pick out the best tracks ain't easy; every cut has a lot going for it .....

Making Music:

.... Hymes became aware of The Blues Band when an Arista promotions man recently showed a series of videos at EMI Records.  "The Blues Band was the one that really stood out. Everyone there was saying it was the pick of the 38 groups that were shown," he said.

Smash Hits:

One of the most pleasing side effects of the revival of rhythm & blues at the moment is the return to prominence of the guys who make up The Blues Band.

Evening Standard:

The Blues Band lived up to their name.  Not a trace of Manfred Mann anywhere.  Just solid, driving blues, which had the steamy pub stamping for more by the time they left the stage.

The Guardian:

The occasion was the first birthday party for a band of old friends who got together to play some blues, and ended up as leaders of the growing R&B revival.  There was solid, rolling good-time music with the crowd joining in on songs like Boom Boom.  It was a great evening.

The Times:

"Death Letter" was a showpiece for Dave Kelly's bottleneck slide guitar, which resonated with rich vibrato, "Come On In" was an idiomatic original, one of many numbers that highlighted Jones's soaring, gritty mouth-harp virtuosity. McGuinness's guitar breaks, Hughie Flint's drumming and  bass work by Gary Fletcher showed how the blues went to town and became technically adventurous.

From a letter from the Rt. Hon. Len Murray, General Secretary of the TUC:

I am writing to thank you most sincerely for your very fine performance at our rally on Tuesday.  The Blues Band was a high spot of the evening and this was the first occasion the TUC was treated to a rock band of such style and energy.  This rally was something completely different for the TUC, and we all enjoyed your unique way of putting across our message that Maggie's Farm is not for us.  With all good wishes for your continued success.

Not sure where this one's from but it's quite interesting:

WHITE BLUES NOT SO POOR

"I wish I knew how to say it in German," said Paul Jones, casting his eyes round the dressing room for assistance. "George Bernard Shaw said it, and it’s the ideal response to the person who starts booing at the back after everyone has has clapped – "I agree with you wholeheartedly, but who are we two against so many?"

A stroll around this venue in Hamburg suggested that The Blues Band might indeed need that kind of ammunition. Imagine a bigger, grander version of the Wembley Conference Centre. Opulence masquerading as civic dignity. Hardly ideal conditions for the passionate and yet intimate music of The Blues Band, supporting the Allmans.

It’s a compliment to the power and perseverance of the group that they not only overcame the disadvantages, but turned the set into a triumph of sorts. Greg Allman was impressed too. He invited Paul and guitarist Dave Kelly on stage for a jam. And he indicated, in his own inimitable Southern slur, that he’d like to take the boys back home with him to America.

"There are two misconceptions about blues," said Paul Jones. "One is that it has to be played in places that are too small for the number of people. The other is that you cannot play unless you have been poor for most of your life, or have had no success, or are black. B B King spent only a small percentage of his life suffering. Mostly he’s been a well-off, well-to-do businessman, with expensive clothes. But nobody is going to convince me that he’s not one of the greatest blues guitarists."

Together and individually, The Blues Band have been playing blues and R&B for years, covering old songs and comprising their own. And that’s the balance they like.

The most contentious thing the band have done so far is to release a version of Maggie’s Farm on an EP, specifically aimed at the Downing Street jugular. They first played it as a TUC protest meeting in April, and they’ve been playing it ever since. They suspect it was ignored by radio for political reasons.

- Carol Clerk

Music Week:

Good to see The Times acknowledging rock music again with Robert Shelton's live review of The Blues Band .......

The Sunday Times:

(referring to The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album) ..... British blues men often take their role too seriously but The Blues Band so obviously had fun cutting this album.  Its release was originally restricted to a few thousand copies distributed by the group, but demand outstripped the original intention.  And rightly so for it contains some of the most rollicking R&B ever to emerge from Britain.  Best tracks: pretty much the bulk of the album.

The Scotsman:

The Blues Band are becoming so popular that a lot of people are being turned away at the doors, and sooner or later Jones and his men will surely be hauled unwittingly into the concert-hall circuit. This is the healthiest bunch of over-30 rock musicians I've ever seen.  On stage, they played with the incisive power of seasoned professionals and the elan of men having themselves a ball.

The Daily Express television section:

ROCK GOES TO COLLEGE, BBC2 11.30pm: Raw and powerful blues will steam up your lenses in this Keele University concert by The Blues Band ...

The Listener:

 Band photo caption: 'The Revival of the Fittest'  ...... The Blues Band declare genuine surprise that their small-club gigs have built them an enormous two-generation following .....

Sounds:

On TV I thought they were a bit clean-sounding, no punch, but live it's a different story.  The main sparkle is provided by Dave Kelly's slide playing which is so accomplished as to be favourably compared with the likes of Ry Cooder.  It's Paul Jones though who, with 20 years of crowd control behind him, really holds the audience.  His Dorian Gray looks, easy wit and howling harp playing is the real catalyst.  Let's not talk of revivals, the blues is a living thing that hopefully will always be here for people to enjoy. Go and see The Blues Band and gain an experience beyond nostalgia, and don't begrudge them a few ackers for reliving their youth.

Sounds:

Van Morrison heads the bill for the Capital Radio Jazz Festival which is being held at London's Alexandra Palace on July 11, 12 & 13.  He'll top the Saturday Night Blues Party in the Great Hall on the 12th with BB King, Muddy Waters and The Blues Band and appear on the Sunday outdoors in the park with Stanley Clarke, Dave Brubeck and Osibisa.

Record Mirror:

There's always been something magical about any band that features bottleneck guitar and harmonica.  The sound seems to sizzle straight through the air right into your central nervous system. The Blues Band feature mouth-harp and bottleneck.  Magic is exactly the word to describe them ......

So far the surprising success story of the band who got together for laughs has continued with no signs of abating.  In fact their reputation internationally has reached such a peak that they played on the prestigious West German Rockpalast TV special a couple of weeks back which was transmitted all over Western Europe and Russia........

To quote Shakespeare, "Be not afeared - this band is full of noises, sound and sweet airs that give delight and hurt not."

New Music Week:

The Blues Band lie together as close as five coats of paint forming a bumping wall of boogie and balls that bites, curls its lip and howls at the night.  They deliver from the hip, it's so easy for these boys to draw first and be good - they've seen it all and the time's ripe for them to tell their tales again.  None of yer boring old blues buccaneer jams slurring rust from the strings here. The Blues Band are lubricated with slick, skreeling oil - and absolutely delightful. The vets are okay!  You can't teach old dogs new tricks and all that crap - but they can show you some, sonny.

Now!:

(referring to Knebworth Festival) .... Musically it has broken many barriers, presenting some of the world's finest names.  This year there's an interesting cross-section of artists including The Beach Boys, Mike Oldfield, Elkie Brooks, The Blues Band and Santana.

New Music News:

......... Record companies - surprise surprise - didn't look at it that way.  As confused as a dog with two heads - and in one case nine - they came to see, and went away.  Still scared by punk and new wave and jobs on the line, they wouldn't make a decision ..... "EMI actually sent nine people to come and see us.  After they couldn't make up their minds, we thought Fuck, we'll do the effer ourselves. That was strange for us, it made for doing everything the opposite way round to what we'd been used to.  As it's turned out, that's the reason why the band has worked."  .....

The Sunday Times:

The only differences between the performances of The Blues Band and those of musicians like Alexis Korner, Brian Jones and Mick Jagger, with whom Jones played in small London clubs before The Beatles were even famous, is that the amplifiers used on the stage are bigger and more powerful and there is a lot less hair than there used to be.

Salient (New Zealand):

On The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album: ... This album has ten tracks of classic R&B and blues.  It's brilliant.  In fact it's replaced London Calling at the top of my play list.  The Blues Band could play this stuff with one hand tied behind their backs.  But instead of sauntering lazily through this album, they've got down and laid out some fine tracks.  They obviously enjoy what they're doing and the main reason for doing it is for their own benefit.  It's really only incidental that the record buying public love it as much as the band. This is an album of solid, no nonsense music.  Any rock & roller with any style will love the sweaty, red blooded style of these blues men.  And if you're into nostalgia or want a condensed view of the roots of rock & roll (subtitled Every Riff You Ever Wanted To Hear But Were Afraid To Ask For), this record is for you.

Melody Maker:

Lisdoonvarna will provide the interesting spectacle of Emmylou Harris working with an acoustic band, current rock faves The Blues Band, Richard & Linda Thompson and John Martyn, alongside the cream of the Irish Festival.

Melody Maker:

The Blues Band's "The Blues Band E.P." has four good tracks from our favourite old blues freaks who finally got the break they deserve.  Great stuff, and not just for blues fans.

Billboard:

New York - The blues have never really gone away in American popular music, but it occasionally assumes a low profile.  Time and again it returns with a vengeance and the British always seem to be the ones to remind us of the music's vitality and continued viability. It's significant then that The Blues Band, a British quintet featuring an impressive line-up of music veterans, is coming here on a small club tour following the group's successful Arista LP, "The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album".  The album caused a stir upon its release in the UK and on the Ariola label in Germany.  The LP, in fact, has been on the UK charts since its release last year.

Not sure where this one's from:

The Blues Band had jetted to New York by Laker Airways direct from the Knebworth Festival. Having got into the big record biz by the back door in Britain – via the bootleg release being eventually snapped up by Arista – they decided to do the same thing in the States, where they do not have an automatic release. At Trax club, Jones and Jagger met for the first time in 15 years, and Mick performed the honours at the Blues Band’s soundcheck. Peter Tosh and Carly Simon were among the enthusiasts at The Blues Band’s set.

Musicians Only:

THE BLUES BAND EP: My pick of the week.  Now that Bob Dylan's changed his mind and gone to work on Maggie's Farm (or maybe he owns it), The Blues Band tell it like it is.  Listen, England.  A hot platter.

Time Out:

9 (-) Maggie's Farm (EP) THE BLUES BAND.

The Other Singles Chart is compiled on a strict points basis from the personal selection of DJs and music writers: Stuart Colman, Phil Shaw, John Collis, Ian Birch, Davie Pirie, Charlie Gillett, Mick Houghton and Giovanni Dadomo.

Melody Maker:

"The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album":  If we're about to see a renaissance of British blues - and there are some small but significant straws in the wind indicating that we may - there could be no finer spearhead than this fine, fun album.  But despite the huge and rapturous receptions they've been drawing wherever they appear, none of the cloth-eared individuals who sign talent to record companies have been able to perceive the enormous potential of a band with this pedigree, so the band have put out this "official bootleg" themselves.  Like most bootlegs, it comes across as a labour of love, but the quality is superb, even the sprinkling of live tracks that accompanies the studio stuff.

NME:

Harry George discovers how five ageing ex-stars become cult heroes singing the blues:

"The initial idea was four gigs - end of story," relates bassist Gary Fletcher.  That was in May of last year.  In January 1980, having scarcely played outside central London, Arista want them for the world.  Who are these guys, anyway? ......... (etc etc)

'The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album' is a fine record in its own right.  The drums swing unfailingly, Kelly's gnarled tones complement Jones' lighter voice to sublime effect and the playing is uncannily imaginative.

Record Mirror:

(reviewing Knebworth Festival)  The Blues Band did better than any other opening band I've seen on any festival stage.  They played with a confidence and vitality that belied the relaxed and informal arrangements surrounding their formation.  The music was pure fun with an R&B base.  They managed to draw an enthusiastic response, deservedly so, for their traditional interpretations of Chicago R&B from the surprisingly attentive crowd.

Melody Maker:

On the album "Ready":  The group are convincing on a whole range of moods and styles; the mournful blues of Paul Jones' "Can't Hold On", the rattling liveliness of the group composition "The Cat", the racing cajun flavour of "Hey Hey Little Girl", and guitarist Dave Kelly's traditional arrangement of "SUS Blues".  What gives the album (and the band) its character is a certain sense of atmosphere and drama, with effective contrasts between restraint and aggression.

Record Mirror:

Can a white man sing the blues?  On the strength of this showing the answer is most certainly yes.  The Blues Band have a pedigree, a rich vein of raw talent spawned from the heady days of the early/middle Sixties .......

The new album "Ready" is given the traditional promo treatment and I must say, the material seems very strong, particularly Gary Fletcher's "Green Stuff", in which the combination of Dave Kelly's bottleneck and Paul Jones's harp is superb.

Jones is the ideal front man: charismatic, never static.  He holds the audience in the palm of his hand throughout.  The Blues Band are excellent.  The rhythm section is as tight and driving as any around. The criticism?  I have none really.  The set lasted nearly two hours all told including four encores.  They never played a bum note, used quiet phases to emphasise the louder parts marvellously, they sweated buckets, they looked good etc etc.  Everywhere I turned, faces were smiling, heads were banging (yes really!), hands were clapping, voices were singing.  Is this the real world?

Sounds:

On the album "Ready": "Ready" isn't new, it isn't complicated, it's just bloody good.  I'd recommend it to anyone who isn't actively averse to getting happy - although of course a lot of what The Blues Band sing about is being miserable .......

..... another of the band's strengths is that you barely notice any difference between their covers and originals.  Either they are very good writers or their style is so masterful that it elevates any material on to the same plateau of excellence.  You could praise each individual player amply, but the crucial factor is really the empathy which has them all biffing the beat with such relish and then taking off into flights of fancy which might seem egotistical yet fit together as clearly as a two-year-old's jigsaw.  McGuinness and Kelly are a wonder, a whole symphony of tones on two guitars. You don't miss the punching horn section on Roy Head's "Treat Her Right" because it sounds as though they're it .

They may be old but these boys are athletes of the blues.

Sounds:

..... Dave Kelly's slide guitar warms like fine brandy; Tom McGuinness, like Hughie Flint, provides a full, wholesome entertainment with no dazzling pyrotechnics, just something every bedroom Rory Gallagher impersonator can aspire to ...... Paul Jones crams more sucks and blows into a break than you get in an oxygen tent.  'Maggie's Farm', with its audience singalong and powerful bass solo from Gary Fletcher is worth your ticket money alone, and 'Let Your Bucket Down' could raise the dead in any disco.

Even after two long encores, no-one is prepared to leave this shabby hall and venture out into the rain.  After a thousand stomping feet almost mash the floor to pulp, the old masters return and finish the night off with 'Treat Her Right'.

Bradford Telegraph & Argos:

Fabulous fun with a great band: It's no wonder, really that The Blues Band are so hugely popular.  They combine musicianship of the first order with a tremendous sense of enjoyment.

Once again they left the St George's audience yelling for more with a show that found them all in extrovert mood - so much so that their set ended with Paul Jones & Dave Kelly performing a Shadows-style dance while Tom McGuinness played his guitar round the back of his head.  It wouldn't meet with the approval of the blues purists, but it was great entertainment from a superb band, driven on by their small but powerful drummer, Rob Townsend, through an evening that mixed Jimmy Witherspoon with Led Zeppelin and Chuck Berry.

Kelly & Jones complement each other perfectly as they share the vocals: Kelly the gutsy blues belter, Jones bringing a tremendous sense of theatre t his performance - and still looking and dancing like some about 25!

Folk Roots:

Cambridge:  ...... The crowd was a seething mass when the The Blues Band, including guest Bob Hall, launched into an exquisitely tasty, yet volcanic set .....

Folk Roots:

Assembly Rooms, Derby: 

From playing for pints in Canning Town in '79 all the way to comfy, Radio 2 stardom in 1991.  The purists loathe 'em, the public love 'em, the record shops don't know where to put them.  Are they a blues group?  A pop group? M.O.R.?

Judging by The Blues Band's audience these days, they're all three. The Blues Band are the kind of outfit the rock press love to hate. And watching their performance tonight, it's easy to see why.  Let's face it, the last thing you're allowed to be is forty-something; age is still a big joke to rockists (unless you're James Brown).  And all that virtuoso playing; oh no, we can't have that.  Good vocals? Yeeucch.  Showmanship, audience contact?  Out with the ark.

With all these obvious faults working against them, it's a wonder the thick end of two thousand souls will brave a rainy night to fill Derby's premier concert hall.  But here they are.  Paul Jones, as Manfreddy as ever, still proving just how powerful your lungs can be if you don't abuse them.  His version of Oscar Brown Junior's 'Work Song' is a tour de force in breath control and timing; he makes harmonica playing look deceptively easy.  Tom McGuinness; laid back and sophisticated in his cotton suit, coaxing tumultuous slow blues solos from his emerald Strat.  'Victim of Love' from their current album, 'Back for More', shows how far The Blues Band have come from what the NME once called their 'stock open-air R&B'. Dave Kelly simply has to be the best English blueser of his generation; no pretence - the eyes close, the bottleneck shimmers skilfully along the frets, and the grinding, smoky voice gives it to you straight.

With a veritable Sellafield of a rhythm section in Gary Fletcher on bass and Rob Townsend on drums, the whole package after a few minutes of listening and watching begins to look just what it is - a high-class, turbo-charged, value-for-money show which makes you want to dance, smile, and sing.

But there I go again with those dirty words.

Record shops - file under 'B' for brilliant .... faults permitting, of course.

West Sussex Gazette:

Fine Fare by the Fortysomethings: The Blues Band provided yet another foot-tapping evening of high-class music on Friday night at The Hawth in Crawley.  This band is fast moving into the realms of 'veteran' status .......

Blues On Stage:

On the "Brassed Up" album:  The Blues Band have created an album filled with sweet shuffles, some solid swing and hot rockin' rhythm and blues - complete with a wonderfully talented big band, appropriately named, "The Onslaught Orchestra."  Paul Jones' vocals are solid and smooth, and could compete with the most famous "crooners" of our time.  Dave Kelly's vocals, guitar and slide guitar all cry out BLUES!  His vocals are low down and sultry.  The Blues Band plays a wide mix of tunes on this album - from exciting "brassed up" arrangements to a quiet, powerful rendition of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready".  This band has been popular throughout the US and Europe.  This twentieth anniversary album is indeed a celebration.

Cornish Guardian:

On Jazz & Blues in the Park at Lanhydrock: It was the first time blues has been introduced to the predominantly jazz event and, said Brian Muelaner, countryside manager for the National Trust, it is something which will be repeated.  "The blues element was a real hit.  As The Blues Band took to the stage there was a huge movement forward, as people went to have a dance.  It was a bit of an experiment and it was a big success.

Blues & Rhythm:

On "The Bootleg Album/Ready":  ...... The old hands of The Blues Band mixed experience and genuine generic scholarship with the prevailing energy and produced a good-time mix of rock, pop and r&b that sounded exciting then and which has served them kindly to this day.  I can well remember how refreshing the 'Bootleg Album' in particular seemed back then - for a start, it had that same slightly under-the-counter DIY feel which was part of the appeal of punk. Twenty years on, both these discs still seem like the sound of a great boozy night out.

Birmingham Post:

A GOLDEN DEBUT FOR TRUE KINGS OF BLUES.  August at Ronnie Scott's was brought to a rousing end with the start of a week-long residency by The Blues Band, making their first appearance at the club.  The band has been together for almost 20 years and the artists' professionalism and enthusiasm certainly shines through .......

The Blues Band left the stage to a standing ovation, leaving those present in no doubt that they are perhaps the finest exponents of the blues in this country today.

Not sure where this one's from:

It was a standing room only welcome at Ronnie Scott's to greet the return to the club of The Blues Band.  It was not long before one was able to appreciate why the band is presently celebrating 20 years together in the music business.  Although sporting such impressive longevity, it was immediately evident that the band was not simply going through the motions and there is still a genuine enthusiasm about how every gig is approached.

Blues & Rhythm:

On the "Brassed Up" album: The Blues Band have been an increasingly popular fixture on the European blues scene over the last twenty years (it don't seem that long).  On a personal level I must admit to never having been much of a fan myself.  But this new CD is a bit different .....

........ It came as an exceedingly pleasant surprise, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.  I'm sure that hard-core Blues Band fans will be buying this CD whatever I say but others may also benefit from giving it a listen.

The Independent:

........ Memories are also stirred up by The Blues Band, Britain's very own blues and R&B archivists.  Fronted by the singer Paul Jones, the group marks its 20th anniversary with another nationwide tour and a new album, "Brassed Up, featuring George Fame and horn arrangements form Pete King and Pee Wee Ellis.

Customer Comment from the Amazon website

Brassed Up

[email protected] from UK , 1 March, 2000
Doesnt get much better than this
Having recently seen the boys live on their 20th anniversary tour (Saw them first in 1980 God Im old!) I can state that they are as good as ever and really rock. Brit blues gets no better than this combined with an excellent brass section to add depth. GO BUY IT!

Blueprint:

On the "Brassed Up" CD: The premise of this album was: take one blues band, stick them in a studio with a heavyweight jazz line-up and get something down at a rate of knots.  The end result - one of the most refreshing British blues albums for some while.  The album bristles with great original songs like "Take me to the Red Line", "Losing you put the Blues in me" and "Swing out Dave", scintillating slide guitar from Dave Kelly, who also turns in some great vocal performances, and the sort of brass arrangements which really make a blues album soar.  Best track?  The vote goes to a menacing version of "Baby please don't go" delivered as a threat rather than a plea.  Die-hard fans will not be Brassed Off, because The Blues Band have made a celebration album to be proud of.  Rating: 9.

The Times:

BLUES CHOICE: Paul Jones and the rest of The Blues Band effectively mix big band swing and blues on "Brassed Up".

DON'T MISS: The Blues Band twentieth anniversary tour rolls on to the Ashington Centre, Ashington on July 10, the Exeter Festival, July 17, and Kew Gardens, July 21....

Customer Comment from the Amazon website

for LIVE (reissue of Bye Bye Blues):

A music fan from Devon , 16 September, 2000
Almost as good as being at one of the concerts.
Its a rare thing to listen to a band where nearly all the performers take a turn at the mike. Lead by Paul Jones and Dave Kelly this music never tires from being listened to. The energy and enthusiasm that the band puts it into never fails to have your feet tapping before the first bars over with. After over twenty years together the music is as fresh as the first time you hear it. A must for all fans of the blues and even those who are not die hard blues fans.

Customer Comment from the Amazon website

WIRE LESS:

A music fan , 20 September, 2000
Great to hear unplugged blues a stunning sound
Unplugged but still a fresh and vibrant approach to the blues. The Blues Band have for the past twenty years led the British blues scene and this is must for all, fresh, raw and a great listen.

Nottingham Evening Post:

............ At one point McGuinness & Kelly made sparks fly, trading riff with riff centre-stage - and the audience got a scent of what blues is all about.  They slid from blues, to swing, to jazz and back again with the ease that comes from a long time playing together.  And that is where blues becomes exciting - a bunch of musicians improvising and extending and creating something on the spur of the moment.

Guitarist:

On the "Brassed Up" album: If you're into the jumpin' jive of the Brian Setzer Orchestra then you're going to revel in the augmented Blues Band. "Brassed Up" features 14 tracks where the already stonking line-up has been beefed up by some of Britain's finest horn players.  Big Joe Williams' 'Baby please don't go' has a wonderful groove, great horns, some killer slide guitar and Jonesy's ever wailing harp.  McGuinness's 'Losing you put the Blues in Me' evokes the 1940s.  Billie Holiday would've loved it!  Marvin Gaye's 'Stubborn kind of Fellow' highlights how this band just loves playing together.  It's good-time music and you'll have a good time listening to it.

The Times:

Watching The Blues Band in front of the elegant Temperate House in Kew Gardens while dining on smoked salmon sandwiches is a slightly unnerving experience.  Still, even the chorus of celery-crunchers couldn't disguise the fact that The Blues Band, now in their twentieth year, have matured into a top-flight group of seasoned professionals.  They are fortunate in having first-rate instrumentalists such as guitarists Dave Kelly and Tom McGuinness and, in Paul Jones, a frontman who, although of the Jagger generation, is still lithe enough to throw himself around stage and provide some nifty harmonica solos ......

Customer Comment on the Amazon website

Brassed Up

A music fan from England , 10 October, 2000
Blues and Brass really do match
An excellent anniversary album. New and innovative but the same great standards. Its worth buying just for Paul's rendition of the Curtis Mayfield classic People get Ready. The Guitar Song also deserves a close listen, very funny.

The Classic Society:

'The Blues Band' has become something of an institution in the UK blues scene.  Now these guys are seriously good ...........

Newark Advertiser:

So to The Blues Band, fronted by charismatic singer Paul Jones, first among equals in this dedicated five piece.  Drummer Rob Townsend laid a firm foundation for lead and slide guitarist Dave Kelly to sing 'I'm Ready'; Jones' moody version of 'Down by the River' with harmonica cadenzas; Tom McGuinness' reflective 'Mean Old World', and bass player Gary Fletcher's long, lean intro for Jones' stomping 'Twenty-nine Ways'.  Jones led a stonking singalong version of 'It's Got To Be The Blues' that reflected the enthusiasm of the appreciative audience for one of the gutsiest nights at the Palace for many moons.

Sunday Life, Belfast, April 2001

…… Classy, tasteful live acoustic blues from The Blues Band on Scratchin’ on my Screen …..

The Advertiser, April 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen: These five guys, led by Paul Jones (he of Manfred Mann), prove there is still a wide market for country blues when it is performed well. And perform well they do on 16 great songs from some of the best writers in the history of the genre. Lining up with Jones are Dave Kelly (guitars, dobro, slides), Tom McGuinness (guitars, mandolin), Gary Fletcher (bass) and Rob Townsend (percussion). All except the latter are lead vocalists and all are masters of their chosen instruments. I had a whale of a time with Crossroad Blues, Jesus On The Mainline, Georgia On My Mind and the original Captain Spalding’s Blues. Star track: Mean Old Frisco.

Rating: 8

Customer Comment on the Amazon website 

[email protected] from Loughborough, UK, 20 April, 2001
Live, acoustic Blues Band. You might have been there.
Scratchin' On My Screen was recorded live at venues around the UK and Germany and captures the feel and vibe of the band's opening acoustic set. Comments between band members are audible, as are the audience and help transport the listener to the concert itself. There is a feel, swing and authenticity to this disc which draws the listener in and begs an increase in volume to envelop completely. Highlights of the disc are the opening track, Mean Old Frisco which ploughs a path and Lonely Avenue which features Dave Kelly in inspired form. The feel, touch and dynamics of the songs on this CD are of major credit to the band and are what seperate them from others. If you have not heard the Blues Band in acoustic mode, this CD will astonish you. A must listen for all fans of acoustic music.

Blues & Rhythm (May 2001):

On the re-release of Back For More: The Blues Band are a kind of musical Coronation Street: originally expected to last weeks rather than months, they've become an institution whose public won't let them go away, though they do sneak off from time to time only to reappear when their whim suits them.

This CD, a reissue of an original LP, chronicles one of those reappearances, in this case the 1989 model. Evidently, the BB had decided not to be stereotyped as happy-clappy goodtime blues entertainers, and for 'Back For More' they composed a number of individual songs and invited some very heavy guest musicians to the sessions. The opener, 'Normal Service', is powerhouse funk, driven by the multi-tracked Memphis Horns, and including novelty telephone-voice effects - hardly yer average Blues Band music! Tracks such as the reflective hard-luck song 'Blue Collar', the plopping soft-rock 'Victim of Love' and the big-production ballad 'Leaving' also extend the band's musical horizons beyond their fans' expectations, and most listenably so.

Of course their trademark choogling rockers do get their share of the album, most notably 'Can't Get My Ass In Gear', whose tempo is the antithesis of its title and which is embellished by a splendid controlled scream of a tenor sax solo from the great Plas Johnson. 'Don't Buy The Potion' is a bright, guitar-laden rocker, while 'The Great Crash', apparently written by its singer Tom McGuinness as the theme tune for a tv programme about the Stock Exchange, slows the tempo to something resembling the Bluebird beat. 'Bad Boy', even slower, is the bluesiest item in the package, with oodles of Dave Kelly's full-blooded slide guitar.

Other celeb guests such as Mike Sanchez, Bob Hall and Katie Webster pop up to add even more sparkle to the always high-grade musicianship of the regular band members. If you like your BB fast, furious and fun, go for 'Official Bootleg' or 'Itchy Feet' rather than this album; if you want a broader picture of their talents, give this one a try.

Letter sent in to Blues & Rhythm, May 2001:

UK BLUES AND THE SECRET OF LONGEVITY?

I recently picked up a copy of B&R and a couple of Gary Hearn’s reviews prompted me to write to you. But first let me explain that I have been brought up to appreciate Muddy Waters, Wolf, BB King etc by British blues players such as Eric Clapton and The Blues Band. They are always singing the praises of their mentors and have in some way helped to bring them the acclaim that is their due.

Now to my points on the reviews. Whatever the merits of The Blues Band’s ‘Fat City’ album, Gary says he doesn’t recall any of the songs on this album appearing on their live sets. He’s wrong. In recent years I’ve seen them include ‘Fat City’, ‘Longing for you Baby’, ‘I Can’t Tell It All’ and ‘Down to the River’. As they have over a dozen albums to choose material from I guess it just depends on which night you catch them. They never seem to have a set list.

As for his review of ‘Here ‘Tis’ (artists who influenced Eric Clapton), it seems a little difficult to understand Gary’s opaque paragraphs. However, he seems to suggest that Clapton stopped playing the blues about the time he joined Cream. This seems to me to be a mightly blinkered view. To me everything Eric does – and I do mean everything – is suffused with a blues feeling. And I think the same could be said of The Blues Band’s work.

It may not be all straight ahead 12 bar bars – but it is a lot more interesting than just trying to re-create the sounds of Chicago circa 1955, which a lot of UK bands seem happy to do. And look at how the career of a master like BB King will always be able to draw on other musical genres – soul, funk, ballads, jazz, doo-wop etc. Keep your ears open would seem to be the key to longevity.

Finally why doesn’t someone interview Eric Clapton, Paul Jones, Tony McPhee, Dave Kelly, Bob Hall etc about their work back in the 1960s with touring US blues artists? I bet they would have some tales to tell.

John Hayes
Richmond, Surrey

Blues in the South, May 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen:  ……. there are some songs on this album that the band should be praised for featuring … Robert Wilkins’ "New Stockyard Blues" is one …. "Lonely Avenue" by Doc Pumas is another …. plus it’s a delight to hear the correct chords used in "Mean Old Frisco"!! Paul Jones’ vocal on "Georgia on my Mind" is for the most part as soulful as I’ve ever heard him ….. The Blues Band are excellent musicians with many years of experience … they are also very knowledgeable when it comes to the blues …. so, now they’ve produced an album of blues standards (with the exception of those noted – Wilkins etc), how about a set containing some of the more obscure items they must know …. and take my word for it …. they do know a lot. If purchased as a memento of one of their gigs, this will more than serve its purpose.

Country Music Round Up, May 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen: Way back in the days of Manfred Mann and Do-Wah-Diddy-Diddy it was obvious that Paul Jones was one of the best white blues singers around. It was a genre he has a real feel for and proves this, once again, on this superb collection of 16 country blues. But it is not all down to Jones. The four guys with him, all stars in their own right, play the music as though they were born to it. Dave Kelly handles guitars, dobro, slide and shares lead vocals with Jones (who also blows a mean harp). Tom McGuinness plays guitars and mandolin and adds a couple of lead vocals and Gary Fletcher, the bass player, also has the odd lead vocal. Finally, there’s Rob Townsend, on percussion. The material is very satisfying, with a song from each of the band except Townsend nicely blending in with compositions by Arthur Crudup, Robert Johnson, Sleepy John Estes, McKinlay Morganfield (Muddy Waters) and Huddie Leadbetter. Beautiful interpretations of Crossroads Blues, Jesus on the Mainline, Georgia on my Mind, and Mean Old Frisco.

Retford Times, May 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen: Paul Jones and his cohorts have been strutting their stuff on stage and on record for more than 20 years now, but their passion for the blues seemingly remains undiminished. This new live set explores a blend of new material and classics such as Robert Johnson’s Crossroads Blues and Muddy Waters’ Can’t Be Satisfied, all of them delivered with the verve and panache which has become a Blues Band trademark over the years.

Norman Darwen’s BLUES NEWS FROM ENGLAND, May 2001

The Blues Band usually start their shows with an acoustic set. Their new album Scratchin’ On My Screen presents this country blues sound and besides being as musically impressive as you would expect, it is also great fun!

PRINT, May 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen: Apart from being one of the busiest touring band on the UK blues scene, The Blues Band are also one of the most prolific, having completed a dozen albums since they formed way back in 1979. During that time they’ve maintained a constant high standard, and the new CD ‘Scratchin’ On My Screen’ is a continuation of the legacy. This live collection, subtitled ‘An Album Of Acoustic Blues Music’ finds the band as relaxed and natural as I have ever heard them.

Standards such as Georgia On My Mind and Jesus On The Mainline are given a new lease of life. However, pride of place is granted to a blistering version of Robert Johnson’s Crossroads. An obvious choice perhaps, but if you’re going to do it make sure you do it well, and Kelly doesn’t disappoint.

These standards sit comfortably alongside the group’s own compositions; even bassist Gary Fletcher takes to the mic for his own song Don’t Let Them Grind You Down.

Obviously at home in front of an appreciative audience, this set finds the group at their most intimate, making Scratchin’ On My Screen one of the most pleasing blues albums you will hear all year. With a new studio album in the pipeline for release later this year, it is a great time to be a fan of the group.

Rating: 8

GLASGOW HERALD, May 26 2001

Through the mailbox comes a couple of magnificent CDs from a mob called Frontier Music who are producing some startlingly splendid music these days.  One of them is the new release from The Blues Band, that group headed by ex-Manfred Mann lead singler and blues harpist, Paul Jones, for more than two decades.  I met Paul shortly after he split from the Mann operation and he proved a very nice chap with apublic school accent and a Chicago sound.  Their new CD is titled Scratchin' On My Screen and is rocking as much as you need. 

I know that Huddie Leadbetter said that no white man could play the blues.  Leadbelly can be forgiven a wee bit of racism here but he's wrong all the same.  As is evidenced by Scratchin'.

GUITAR, June 2001

On Scratchin' On My Screen:  Sub-headed 'An Album of Acoustic Blues Music', this delivers in spades.  Packed with the formidable - and homegrown - talents of Dave Kelly's slide and dobro, Tom McGuinness' guitar and mandolin, Gary Fletcher's bass, Paul Jones's harmonica and Rob Townsend's percussion (with vocals shared round liberally) it's a thoughtful and informed romp through the un-amp'd tradition.

WONDROUS The Journal of the Classic Rock Society, June 2001

On Scratchin' On My Screen:  This album of acoustic blues will delight long term fans with its collection of standards along with others penned by band members.

..... As you would expect from this much respected band this is quality stuff from a band that have clocked up over two thousand gigs since they formed in 1979 though individual members have been around for far longer than they'd appreciate my commenting!

Record Buyer, June 2001

On Scratchin’ On My Screen: Here they go again, the four old lags with the slightly younger bass player, grooving through another 16 tracks which demonstrate most importantly that this bunch really love the blues, and have evolved a style which is irresistable to their sizeable fan following.

…… The Blues Band is a finely tuned machine so practised at performing that the only way a gig would be less than impressive would be because a band member was unwell. The strange thing about this is that it is released by a label based in Hamburg. Can it really be that no UK label is brave enough to release a new Blues Band album? Surely that can’t be correct, but that means they’ll be selling a lot of German imports of this, which is distributed by Proper (the magic words if your friendly local record emporium reckons they can’t get it for you.)

Blues & Rhythm, June 2001

On Scratchin' On My Screen:  When The Blues Band first appeared, the idea of a group of well-known rock musicians taking a band on the road just to play the blues seemed like a radical one.  The boom of the sixties and early seventies was over, and the next one hadn't yet begun.  In the intervening years, in one sense blues has become part of the average citizen's cultural baggage, to the extent that it has been widely used in TV ads and film soundtracks, but it still seems like dedication to an extraordinary level to have kept a band like this going strong.  If much of that early sense of radicalism no longer applies, it is probably fair to say that it has been supplanted by a sense of depth, a mature professionalism that shines through this set of recordings.  I don't know how long they've been doing 'Still A Fool', for example, but this performance of it seems like something that is virtually bred in the bone ........

....... Another reminder of what outstanding musicians these guys are, this album should appeal to the band's many followers - and it's also worth pointing out that, while all tracks are recorded live, the sound quality is excellent.

Q, July 2001

On Scratchin’ on my Screen:  Acoustic blues from the band EMI turned down 22 years ago for being too old.

Abandoning the big band sound of their 20^th anniversary album Brassed Off, The Blues Band revert to the blend of enthusiasm, simple arrangements and well-chosen standards that has served them so well over the past two decades. Recorded during last year’s UK tour, this album offers populist, well-played versions of less well-known classics, such as the Rev Robert Wilkins’ New Stockyard Blues and Sleepy John Estes’ Drop Down Mama – all songs which enthused them as teenagers. Co-vocalist Dave Kelly plays nifty slide guitar on Can’t Be Satsifed, while frontman Paul Jones’ timing is as sharp as ever on a gentle Georgia On My Mind. Business as usual, then.

The Times, July 14 2001

Blackheath Concert Halls, July 20 (020 8463 0100)

There is always a danger that after being at the forefront of the British blues scene for 20 years, The Blues Band might be considered to be past their sell-by date.  But the boys are far too talented to forfeit their place at the top table.  Their album, Scratchin' On My Screen, sows their commitment to continue pushing back the boundaries and bringing in new fans.

John Clarke

31 August 2001:

Readers of The Guardian letters page may have been following correspondence since the death of Larry Adler as to who else is a good harmonica player.  This letter appeared very recently: 

Not only have we hosted the Festival of the Sea, Portsmouth has also produced one of Britain's finest living harmonica players, Paul Jones.

Dave Allen, Portsmouth

BLUEPRINT August 2001

Blues On The Farm : Pumpbottom Farm, Chichester, 28/6/01

...... Regular headliners, The Blues Band, took over and, as the dark came down, the crowd packed into the tent.  As ever, Paul Jones, Dave Kelly & Co. were in fine form.  They tore into their set with some broomdusting Kelly slide, while "I Can't Be Satisfied" was given a fine reading.  Paul Delivered a short speech on Louis Jordan before they "Let The Good Times Roll".  It was a great ending to an idyllic evening. - Frank Franklin

THE INDEPENDENT, 8 September 2001

.... Finally, just to dispel the myth that only share-croppers from Alabama can sing the blues, the latest release from The Blues Band offers a fine introduction to the UK group's acoustic side.  On Scratchin' On My Screen (Hypertension), Paul Jones, Dave Kelly and Co play a mixture of the familiar, such as "Georgia On My Mind", and the obscure, such as Sleepy John Estes' "Drop Down Mama".  A delight. - Roger Trapp 

9 November, 2001

Customer Comments on the Amazon website

On Scratchin' On My Screen:

  It depends where you're itchin'

Reviewer: A music fan from Cambridgeshire, England

The no frills sound gives this album a clean sound that is rare these days, and it shows off the band's technical abilities really well, especially Paul Jones' harp playing which has sometimes taken a back seat. My only criticism of 'Scratchin' is that it's a little long, although as someone who has all their CDs that's not a problem to me! If you've never heard the Blues Band in acoustic mode then you'll learn loads from this recording; if you've never heard them at all, you'd want probably want to buy the double press of 'The Bootleg Album' with 'Ready' at the same time to provide you with a way in first. But don't be put off: this is a good CD and well worth buying not least for Paul's peachy rendition of 'Georgia on my Mind' and Dave Kelly's wonderful 'Sus Blues'.

On The Bootleg Album/Ready:

  Top notch and great value for money

Reviewer: A music fan from Cambridgeshire, England

If you've never bought a Blues Band CD then this is the place to start. It's right at the band's musical beginning, you get studio and live together, and best of all it's two great albums for the price of one. I know blues is an emotional expression of life's sorrows, and that's there of course, but you just can sense the band's real joy in getting together to play great music. They can all play, and most people know of Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, but if you've never discovered Dave Kelly's vocal and slide guitar before then you're missing something. I could point you to more sopisticated later albums (like 'Fat City' and 'Brassed Up') or to blistering live performances (especially on 'Live') but if you want a bit of everything then get this brilliant double. Go on go on go....

Wrexham local paper, Feb 2003:

A couple of weeks ago, Europe’s best known blues exponents – The Blues Band - made their debut in Wrexham by stepping–out at Hooker Blues Club. This has to be the biggest coup that the five year old club has managed to pull off so far. With advance tickets sales going like hot cakes, they were guaranteed a sell out within weeks of going on sale. The bumper crowd experienced a red hot display from the twenty four year old established five piece from London. The night, divided into sets, acoustic and electric, this was in effect to promote their last album Stepping Out. But the event wasn’t restricted to that collection alone as they delved into a considerable group back catalogue and solo ventures. This was the second time I’ve seen the full line–up, the first being at Liverpool Empire Theatre fifteen months ago. Then in October 2002 the Jones–Kelly acoustic set at Hookers. Having heard both formats I knew that this night would be special – and it was. The seated and relaxed acoustic set was without doubt better than the aforementioned, and that took some beating. Jones, forever the consummate frontman, and arguably the finest harp player on the scene, steered the band through material that hit all their individual and collective skills to perfection. As much as I love the electric sets, it was the acoustic numbers that gave me the biggest buzz, with nuances and inflections coming to the fore on all fronts, particularly the steel/slide guitar work of Dave Kelly, who still managed to mesmerize me the third time around. Ranking as one of the greatest in the world, he is only surpassed by the likes of Clapton and Co. Homage was paid to Blues icons such as Oscar Brown Jr, Nat Adderley on Work Song, Howling Wolf , Mississippi McDowell, Arthur ‘ Big Boy ‘ Cruddup, but the self penned material like On The Street, I Am The Blues, Last Chance To Dance, was as effective as the standards. Arrangements at every level are this band’s forte, and somehow they actually make the genre uplifting, barely touching on the melancholic, even though the subject matter is riddled with trouble and strife. The soul–gospel influenced Resting On Jesus being a perfect example. As a band they have to be the complete fusion of skilled musicians flying the flag as true purveyors of the Blues. They’re tight and very disciplined in all areas, with Gary Fletcher – bass, and Rob Townsend – drums, keeping the rhythm section on course for Kelly and McGuiness to texture with alternating guitars. Hottest Blues set I’ve heard to date.

 Elly Roberts

The Middy (Sussex newspaper) Oct 2002

Audience treated to a blues masterclass

.... even if you didn't know a jot or tittle about rhythm and blues, you'd still have a brilliant time at a Blues Band concert.

If there is a universal template for quality, this is it.  Here are five chaps who combine flawless musicianship, a passion for their business, a joy in live performance and a genuine rapport on both sides of the stage.

They have a feel for the music, for the audience and for each other - and all without a trace of celebrity hype.

Blues Band concerts are about heart and craft, and the gig at the Martlets Hall in Burgess Hill was no exception.

A multi-generational audience - another hallmark feature - was treated to a blues masterclass.  In keeping with BB tradition, the first half was an acoustic set, performed with a virtuosity borne out of individual skills, creativity and decades on the road.

Paul Jones is a consummate performer on vocals and harmonica, and good naturedly recalled his days in Manfred Mann by pointing out that the B side of 5-4-3-2-1 was, in fact, a blues No Good Without You.  Credentials established, he then performed it paint-fresh despite the intervening 40 years - and recounted Chris Rea's recent comment on his own blues reinvention - "Just trying to clear my name."  No need.  He and his BB mates - Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend - are blues journeymen incarnate.

They're in a class of their own and this concert showed it.  Let's hear it, too, for the Martlets Hall which had the good sense to book them - and the flair to put on a wonderfully eclectic autumn programme.

Blues in Britan, May 2002;

The Blues Band - Stepping Out Hypertension 2213HYP

......... the material herein is well written and musically faultless if unsurprising ...... Although Kelly's vocals have the edge, Jones is rarely given due credit for his harmonica work.  "I Am The Blues" (Kelly/Stonebridge) is a good slower blues early in the set.  A light reggae tribute is paid to Sleepy John Estes by quoting him in "Mr Estes Said" (Kelly).  Fletcher's "The Other Side" is an interesting, philosophical, questioning song with layered arrangement.  The stand out number is the concluding gospel-blues "Resting On Jesus" ......  Overall this is good Blues Band fare .....

Blues & Rhythm, February 2002:

THE BLUES BAND Stepping Out Hypertension 2213 HYP

This is The Blues Band's 14th album, a series which began (if my memory is correct) in 1979 with 'The Official Bootleg'.

.......... Now, I'm not a tremendous fan of the majority of Euro blues acts but these guys really are in a class by themselves.  They've been at it so long that they make it seem effortless (which of course it isn't) and can show a clean pair of heels to most of the so called blues bands on the scene these days, the majority being half the age of this bunch!

The arrangements are kept simple, always swinging but without any of that in-yer-face macho posturing assumed by many bands nowadays.  The songs I enjoyed most are 'Last Chance To Dance', Dave Kelly's jug band meets reggae number 'Mr Estes Said' and Jones & McGuinness's tongue in cheek anthem to technology 'Wait A Minute'.  But the whole album is a solid sender with nary a weak song in sight.

Got the previous Blues Band releases?  Then youa re sure to want this one. - Phil Wight

Blues In The South, February 2002:

THE BLUES BAND/Stepping Out (Hypertension 2213 HYP)

It's hard to believe that The Blues Band came together as long ago as 1979 - some members of the band having previously found 'fame' in other musical areas - but all were extremely experienced by the time this unit was formed!

Here on their fourteenth album, they're sounding really good and, as far as this reviewer is concerned, not one weak track on the whole disc.  That experience is on show here - big time!

........ Ian 'Mac' McLagan (remember The Small Faces or The Faces?) plays Hammond organ to great effect on a few tracks and on the final track ... a version of Blind Roosevelt Graves' 1936 recording of Woke Up This Morning ... legendary jazz trombonist and band leader - Chris Barber.

This is possibly their best album yet ... and one you should check out.  The Blues Band are touring from the end of February to promote it.

Guitar, February 2002:

The Blues Band:  Stepping Out (Hypertension)

Putting their best feet forward, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly lead their Blues Band cohorts out for a 14th album and, after more than 20 years of playing together, there's a polished ease to the way the band comes together.  Of course, there's not much here that you won't have heard before - though good blues playing never goes out of fashion, does it?  One or two of the band's songs are gems: Stepping Out On Main, Wait A Minute and the opening track Half The Man (Twice The Fool) are especially good.  Nothing revolutionary, perhaps, but still advancing.

WONDROUS The Journal of the Classic Rock Society, February 2002:

The Blues Band: Stepping Out Hypertension 2213 HYP

The Blues Band should need no introduction as they are one of the UK's longest serving R&B/Blues combo's with a wealth of experience dating back to the British Blues boom of the 60s.  'Stepping Out' is their 14th album and sees them sticking to the "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" formula which has served them well over the years.  Former Manfred Mann frontman Paul Jones' instantly recognisable vocals/harmonica and the effortless guitar playing of Dave Kelly and Tom McGuinness are the cornerstones of The Blues Band's sound and they have a wonderful "less is more" approach to playing the Blues which makes listening to their albums a highly enjoyable experience and this new CD is no exception.

Guest musicians include legendary Jazz trombonist Chris Barber and former Faces keyboard man Ian McLagan and their presence enhances a fine selection of songs, with the Canned Heat style 'The Other Side' being the pick of the bunch and only the reggaefied 'Mr Estes Said' failing to maintain the high standards.

On one track Dave Kelly sings the lyric 'I Am The Blues' and who am I to argue.  And talking of Dave Kelly brings me to his new solo album ...

Steve Ward 

The Times, 26 Jan 2002:

THE BLUES BAND  Steppin’ Out
(Hypertension)
Telephone 1013

A LENGTHY absence from the recording studio seems to have given the Blues Band fresh impetus. Eleven self-penned songs, plus one traditional gospel number, display their many strengths and influences. Paul Jones’s vocals are as faultless as ever, and the band plays together with the sort of empathy that only years on the road can bring. John Clarke (rating: xxxx)

The Independent, 19 January 2002

....... British performers fare well on the recordings side, too. Stepping Out (Hypertension Music) sees a set from The Blues Band that - whilst almost entirely composed of originals - is steeped in the blues that the band members so obviously love.

From www.netrhythms.co.uk January 2002

The Blues Band - Stepping Out (Hypertension)

The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Dave Kelly, Tom McGuiness, Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher. What can you say, except that The Blues Band, which was put together initially for fun, has become an institution after two decades with their old-style funky, rockin' R&B. And they're still having fun. 'Stepping Out' grooves along nicely with a punchy, passionate and polished collection of original numbers by the band. Kelly's slide guitar, always a pleasure to hear, some nice Hammond organ from Ian McLagan and the last track, a gospel number, Resting On Jesus (with harmonica, tambourine and Chris Barber on trombone), makes for all round listening pleasure.

Its inspirational lead singer Paul Jones is an institution himself, he celebrates his 60th birthday this February, if I'm not mistaken, but he shows little sign of the passing years, visually or musically. There's still that unforgettable voice and that matchless enthusiasm for the blues as audiences throughout this country and Europe and millions of Radio 2 listeners who listen to his broadcasts will testify.

Just about to commence another extended tour of this country, here is the album The Blues Band will be promoting - and I bet you won't want to miss them. - Sue Cavendish

BLUES MATTERS!  Dec. 2001- Feb 2002 (published quarterly):

The BLUES BAND @ THE STABLES, WAVENDON, MILTON KEYNES

So we're here for the 4pm show and the place is almost on full (the 2nd show is sold out) and it's a game of two halves with the first half a new acoustic set which fits in neatly with the album "Scratchin' On My Screen", an idea I like, representing the music you've just experienced.  Everybody gets a turn here including special guest, pianist Bob Hall, boodying like a good 'un.  Stand out moments of this first set for me are Dave Kelly's slide supremacy on "Crossroads" and Paul Jones' equally impressive solo outing blowing a storm through "Jesus on the Mainline". All of 'em are fine musicians though and do justice to a fairly well known set of tunes with the only diversion taken to Georgia where Paul has Georgia on his mind, again putting in a superb example of his harp playing ability.  The CD has been reviewed elsewhere but the copy they kindly gave me provided me with a nice momento of a very entertaining set from a very entertaining bunch of people.

2nd set lets get them amps wound up and sweep away the cobwebs. mm I think I'll dust my broom and let the good times roll 'cos I just can't be satisfied with your sweet temptation (a superb song of Tom's written for Eric Clapton to record and Tom to retire on the royalties .... neither happened) but let's talk it over though I can't tell it all as being still a fool I'm off down to the river so although it's got to be the blues, don't let it grind you down (this one written and sung by bassist Gary Fletcher), here we go then on our journey, the first of 29 ways, everybody ready 5,4,3,2,1.  How they managed to jam their way into 5,4 etc from 29 Ways showed me the mark of a very fine band. - Al Tait

BLUES MATTERS!  Dec. 2001- Feb 2002 (published quarterly):

THE BLUES BAND: "Stepping Out" Hypertension CD 2213HYP

Just whose leg is that on the cover?  The boys are laughing on the back photo, probably because they know they did a great job here and had fun doing it, it sounds like they did.  They make it sound so easy.  Tracks 1-11 all written by the band members and the final a 'Trad . Arr' by Paul.  Recorded at The Cow Shed!  Great name.  Bet they watched it as they were 'Steeping Out' of there!

This album has a great feel, it's not cluttered, not heavy, has a smoothness and occasional funkiness to it that is so easy to enjoy and just leave on repeat.  Each performance is classy, catchy.  Grab your partner for "Last Chance To Dance", you can hear the glasses clink in the bar as this plays.  You can feel Paul smiling as he semi talks the lyrics.

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