Welcome to the RPM Record Club Seven Day Soundtrack, week ending Friday 18th November 2022. Here's your alternative to loads of tedious footy matches....over to...

Piers -

"My three for this week..."

Jean -

"I’ve had celebrations for the BIG birthday and am feeling good.

Therefore, I shall be picking some Blues artists in contrast. I knew BB King but didn’t know Albert and Freddie until I watched Bonamassa use their works in concert at the Greek Theatre. I can see how they inspired Joe.

The three Kings of blues...""

"Hope everyone is keeping well."

Kevin -

"Hope I’ve made up for the last couple of absent weeks with some quality....you be the judge."

"So long for now RPMers."

Tony -

"Here's my choices for this week. Very nice to see Jean back with us again treating us to some classic soul tracks. Best wishes to you all from soggy Norfolk."

Alan -

"Sticking with the compilations for another week, here's some late sixties blues from several of the UK's finest purveyors."

Albert Lee- 'Water on my fire' (from 'Immediate Blues' LP released late1980. Virgin Records)

"Looking around t'internet it seems this track has featured on at least two Immediate label comps in the past but hasn't been released on any other format. Lee, of course, is what is commonly referred to as a 'musician's musician' but, in truth he's so much more than that. After taking up the piano aged seven, Lee fell under the influence of Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis, purchased his first guitar in 1958 and, within a year, he was playing London's clubs supporting Richard Keller and had broadened his style to include the likes of Grady Martin, Cliff Gallup, Scotty Moore and Jerry Reed. Keller was spotted at The Castle pub in Tooting by Russ Conway and signed by Larry Parnes (hence the inevitable name change to Dickie Pride!!) and Lee moved on to blues shouter Bob Xaviers band, followed by a stint with ex Springfield Mike Hursts Methods (replacing Jimmy Page and being replaced by Ritchie Blackmore) before signing on with Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds who would soon move to Immediate. Lee featured on all Farlowe's releases on that label and it's during that period (1966-68) that, along with vocalist Tony Colton, he laid down the few tracks which have since escaped on the company's compilations. Immediate, of course, was the brainchild of Andrew Oldham but perhaps its biggest claim to 'fame' is the fact that few, if any, of the label's artists ever received royalties for their work. Bored with r&b, Lee left the Thunderbirds in 1968 and concentrated on backing visiting US country artists. hooking back up with Colton in Poet and the One Man Band before the pair went on to form Heads, Hands and Feet in 1969. When they split in 1973 Lee appeared on the 'London Sessions with Jerry Lee Lewis' album and commenced his now famed career as guitarist to the (country) stars including The Crickets, Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris and Jackson Brown (with side orders with Joe Cocker and Eric Claptons outfits inbetween) before forming Hogans Heroes and releasing a spate of solo albums. Still touring, Lee even managed to fit a gig in home town Godalming between dates in recent and upcoming gigs in California. Lovers of blue rock are advised this album includes the 'holy trinity' of sixties UK guitarists, Clapton, Page and Beck, as well as scarce tracks from John Mayall."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1KmUSG3yNc

John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield- 'All my life' (originally on John Mayall's .....'EP released April 1967. Decca label. This from 'The world of blues power' LP released 1969. Decca label)

"Sometimes there's a record you would gladly expose bare feet to hot coals for, and here's one of 'em. What more could you want? Peak period Mayall with new signing Peter Green on lead guitar and, as a bonus, one of the finest white blues harmonica players in Paul Butterfield............ Unfortunately (ahem!!! Honest!!!!) I couldn't find this track in isolation so I've posted the whole EP (the first time I've ever heard all the tracks!) and I hope you enjoy 'em as much as I am whilst I tap this out. After losing their Decca contract in 1965 (following just two singles and the era defining 'John Mayall plays John Mayall' live LP) but returned to the fold after a further single (on Purdah) with new guitarist Eric Clapp. He stayed around for an LP (whatever happened to Mr Clapp?) before he was replaced by Green alongside John McVie and Ainsley Dunbar. Green stayed long enough to record 'The Hard Road' LP, this EP and a further album backing Eddie Boyd (who also features on 'The world of Blues Power') before poaching McVie, compatriot Mick Fleetwood and to form the impossibly named Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac who went on to limited success Stateside I've heard. Mayall, meanwhile, formed (yet) another band featuring a young, talented guitarist named Mick Taylor (after Davy O'List turned down the offer to join) to record 'Crusade' and 'Blues from Laurel Canyon' (another satisfying release) before losing that band in its entirety when Taylor joined the Rolling Stones and the rest went on to form Coliseum. At this point Mayall put the 'Bluesbrakers' appellation to rest and moved to the USA full time where he became something of a cult figure and, having recently written his autobiography, has continued touring worldwide until the present day. Other Decca artists featured on the LP include Ten Years After, Savoy Brown, Eddie Boyd and Champion Jack Dupree."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR040iW52_c

John Mayall and Steve Anglo- 'Long Night' (from 'Raw Blues' LP, released mid 1967. Ace of Clubs label)

"Another fine collaboration which retains Dunbar and McVie and see's Mayall possibly rehearsing a prospective new guitarist/organist to replace Green. Except 'Steve Anglo' is the quietly disgruntled boy wonder Steve Winwood from the Spencer Davis Group who saw the bands appearance in 'The Ghost Goes Gear' film in late 1966 as the nadir of their career. It seems like 'Long Night' is perhaps the only track recorded (or released) by the line up and, certainly, early 1967 saw Winwood already in the process of forming Traffic, having taken part in an after hours jam session with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason(both ex-Hellions), and Chris Wood (ex Locomotive) at Birmingham's Elbow Room club. The 'Raw Blues' release is a fine album including tracks from Otis Spann and (again) Champion Jack Dupree (both featuring Mr Clapp) and a couple from Curtis Jones alongside further appearances from Mayall, solo, and with Messrs Clapp and Green."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoTtB6WAHW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rR5LFt0qkw

"Not too sure which was more sickening............ news clips of Hands, cock groveling for forgiveness and 'a little understanding' in some TV programme or other in the jungle or Hunt (beware mis-type alert..... oh no, that's his right name!) grovelling on Kuenssberg this morning in advance of taking an axe to just about everything except non-dom status, multinational company profits and second property owners. Still, at least the last two Prime Ministers have promised to honour the 'triple lock'. I'm sure they wouldn't break a twice made promise........... would they???

Oh well............"

Philip -

"First, a message to Alan this week: It wasn't you who wrote those letters to NME was it?

To start this week, the opening (and best I think) track from The Deslondes' "Ways and Means" album..."

"Best wishes to everybody."

Jackie -

"I found out this week that Robert Plant is the vice president of Wolves football club (no, I'm not a football follower like some RPMers, so this was news to me)...and as I come from Wolverhampton, thought it an excuse for my three songs this week."

Nina -

"Hi folks. Enjoyed listening to your musical choices last week, as ever.

Thanks for the cue about First Aid Kit's new album, Jayne, I'm a fan too. I was trying to say 'Salaam Aleikum', not sure what happened when I typed..

Back in the UK after an arduous trip home via Luton, thanks to refused boarding BS & shenanigans at Sharm El Sheikh airport from a very aggy Arab. Prof John, a Dundonian & Cop 27 chair intervened, assisted & ensured I didn't end up in jail so 3 Scottish choices from me by way of thanks."

"Best wishes + cheers!"

Dave -

"Hi RPMers, hope you are well. Here’s my 3 this week..."

Jayne -

"With good wishes to RPMers far and near. Here’s three songs performed at three different sessions this week (the first accompanied by a story of a dead mouse having its eyes pecked out by a pet jackdaw with a broken wing, the second as a singaround and the third with lots of instruments and voices)."

Tim -

"Apologies to those, this week, with short attention spans or adverse reactions to long psychedelic tracks......that's just how it's been this week.....but I do offer a pastoral intermission..."

'Til Next Time...