V/A - The Anthology of British Blues LP
V/A - The Anthology Of British Blues LP
Label: Imperial Records; Year: 1968; Format: Vinyl LP
It's not like I need more artists or genres to get my teeth into as I sure as hell have enough I am trying to get through and to learn about when it comes to music from the past, but sometimes the records seem to find me instead of the other way around. Last week I walked to a small local independent book store in Downtown Buffalo during my lunch and in the few boxes stuffed with second hand records the cover of an old British Blues record struck my interest. After having listened to the record last night and having done some research about the artists themselves I have the slight suspicion that in the future I will want to grab more of old British Blues records and to immerse myself in its history. And in that sense this record is a good introduction as it is a highly enjoyable compilation that was recorded in 1968 highlighting tracks by known and not so known British Blues artists of that time. Tony McPhee for instance - the sole constant member of the Groundhogs - is to be found on this LP with three outstanding tracks, one of them a great take on "Death Letter" by Mississippi legend Son House. The one artist I found most compelling on this record and naturally dug deeper into the history of though is Andy Fernbach from Bournemouth on the sunny coast of England. None of the three tracks Andy contributes to the album are his own but we are talking 1960's here where that was standard with Andy paying tribute to some great US blues players including Skip James whom Andy had the pleasure to tour with shortly before James' had passed away. For a much more detailed biography and history of the Blues in Bournemouth make sure to read the Beat Boom article. Also to be found on this LP are sister and brother Jo-Ann Kelly and Dave Kelly, equally fascinating when it comes to their personal histories with Jo-Ann having been a much wanted pursuit by Canned Heat from Los Angeles. If you are like me and just start out getting interested in British Blues then seek this one out and I have the feeling that just like me you'll get the bug to be wanting to find out more. The liner notes on the back of my US pressing state the following: "It's music to nurse two jiggers of Scotch by in the lonely wee hours. It provokes melancholy reflections of reality, and gives glimpses of life as it really is. Here, without pretense, is basic blues."
