APRIL PLAYLIST

Apologies for the two-week absence. These are some of the things that’ve been on the old stereogram this month.

1. Sonny and Jaycee – “You Keep Doggin’ Me” (1958)

Harmonica man Sonny Terry taught his nephew J.C. Burris to play the blues harp from the age of seven and together – many years later - they blow a mean storm. As a bonus, click here for footage of Burris demonstrating his puppetry and hand jive skills in 1978.

2. The Rob Hoeke Rhythm & Blues Group – “When People Talk” (1966)

Hard hitting, Cuban heel stomping, Dutch beat from pianist and vocalist Rob Hoeke and his group.

3. The Misunderstood – “Find The Hidden Door” (1966)

A Yardbirdsian pop-art rave-up which almost unbelievably sat unreleased gathering dust for years. Now forms part of Love, Poetry & Revolution: A Journey Through The British Psychedelic and Underground Scenes 1966-1972, a three CD set from Grapefruit/Cherry Red Records.

4. Savoy Brown Blues Band – “The Doormouse Rides The Rails” (1967)

All the guitar virtuosity Martin Stone would bring to Mighty Baby is evident here on his self-penned track from Shake Down, the only original on the Savoy Brown Blues Band’s debut album.

5. Eddie Floyd – “That’s All” (1969)

It was sheer lunacy on the part of Stax to release 27 albums all on the same day in May 1969, meaning many fine records fell through the gaps, one being You’ve Got To Have Eddie. Admittedly it was no game-changer but it was a solid enough cruise through mainly covers, including this old Nat King Cole song given a smooth finger-clicking makeover.   

6. Dave Davies – “Creeping Jean” (1969)

The highlight of April was, of course, meeting Dave Davies and catching his show at the Barbican. His voice might now be a little shaky but he was as likeable on stage as he was off it. Dave picked a good set too including "She's Got Everything" and “Creeping Jean”, a track which deserved more than being tucked away on the flip of his 1969 single “Hold My Hand”.

7. Sonny Phillips – “Black On Black” (1970)

Sonny’s third album, Black On Black!, is a corker from start to finish. No slow blues numbers, no boring standards, just five in-the-pocket soul-jazz numbers as cool as Phillips looks on the front cover.   

8. Irene Reid – “I Must Be Doing Something Right” (1971)

Don’t know anything about Irene Reid except she cut this electric piano and funky flute dancer for Pilgrim Records.

9. The Primitives – “Rattle My Cage” (2011)

Coventry’s finest came down to the smoke for a couple of stand-alone shows at the Lexington this month. After suffering the woeful June Brides whose song delivery was as welcome as a wodge of soggy pizza leaflets smacking on a door mat, it came as a blessed relief to see The Primitives pick up their instruments. There was Paul Court, magnificent hair silhouette, like the Ronettes’ kid brother, and Tracy Tracy, twisting and turning wearing a pair of glittering gold kitten ears. With a set neatly balanced with old classics and second-era Prims they have an innate understanding that pop music is built on both style and substance. The three brand new songs bode well for the next album.

10. RW Hedges – “A Broken Heart” (2014)

New release on Uxbridge’s Balcony Records from local troubadour RW Hedges. Lovely production and banjo-led instrumentation with a melody which soon nestles in the brain.   

STAX! with EDDIE FLOYD at the 229 CLUB

This was Eddie Floyd in London on Wednesday night. It was difficult to get a better photograph as he refused to keep still. From one side of the stage to other he stomped, clapped, pointed, danced, wiped sweat from his brow and flicked it out with his fingers; the energy he produced was incredible.

After the Stax house band of Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Lester Snell and Steve Potts had raided the Booker T. & The MGs catalogue, there was a palpable sense of impatience festering in the room. “Melting Pot”, “Green Onions”, “Soul Limbo”, “Hip-Her-Hug”, “Summertime” and others were all decent, even if a deaf ear had to turned to the occasional drum or guitar solo. What makes Steve Cropper so respected is his crisp and economic guitar playing, so when one witnesses him squinty eyed and gurning, pulling an axe solo, it doesn’t warrant much of a soul clap. Not that I blame him after knocking out the same songs for fifty years, but after 45 minutes and when time is tight, it needed fresh impetus.

That came once Cropper introduced Eddie “The Alabama Slammer” Floyd to the stage. 75 years old but in his movement and strength of voice, could’ve been half that. I make allowances for classic acts; they can’t be expected to match their peak years, but if Eddie Floyd was better than this in 1967, then histories need rewriting. Considered a rung below the soul ladder to Otis, the Wicked Pickett, Sam and Dave, his contribution has been unfairly overlooked. As well as his own stormers like “Raise Your Hand”, “Big Bird” and his anthem “Knock On Wood”, he wrote and produced for others and his career at Stax career lasted well into the mid-70s. As one of the last remaining true soul men he went up a few notches in my estimation after this performance. Fingersnapping good.

STAX HITS LONDON - WEDNESDAY 27th JULY 2011

A couple of readers have recently pulled me up about reviewing gigs they hadn’t known were happening. With that in mind, here’s notice of a special night in London Town. Playing under the banner of simply “Stax”, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Eddie Floyd, plus Lester Snell from Isaac Hayes’s band on Hammond, and Steve Potts – Al Jackson’s replacement in the MGs – on drums, they’ll be playing numbers from their label’s immense back catalogue, so expect all the classics. Even better, it’s in a large dancefloor space rather than the seating venues these things tend to take place in these days (see details on flyer). You’ll spot me at the front shouting for "Things Get Better" and "Melting Pot".