Reviewed by Tony May

Oh yes they can! Play the blues that is. White boys I mean, OK, so it may not rumble up from the pain-soaked streets of some ghetto like a Muddy Waters wail, or convey the mournful suffering of a Leadbelly trapped behind prison bars for acting like a human when he couldn't take any more oppression. But give the Blues Band something like Dylan's "Ain't Gonna Work On Maggie's Farm No More" (new National Anthem?) and the guys rip into it with blazing passion, no prisoners taken. Nothing quite like a hot blues/rock band, and this one follows hot on the heels of such as Canned Heat and The Night-hawks. Recorded in 80/81 when the Band were at peak prowess, eclipsing their so - so recent album, the LP jumps in with a straight ahead get down and boogie "Talkin' Woman Blues", lashings of sizzling R&B mouth harp from Paul Jones and that intense Dave Kelly guitar sound. 'Itchy Feet' covers standards from Blues giants Lowell Fulson, Willie Dixon and one Chuck Berry. Now, McKinley Morganfield, was he Howling Wolf or Bo Diddley? Some originals from Blues Band members too, standout being the Fletcher/Jones product "Who's Right, Who's Wrong?" So in all, a mean dollop of goodtime blues, sparse, taut, and riveting as only rockin' blues can be. Be honest, you love it really.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.