It takes a lot of talent – and panache – to turn a group’s description into their name, but then THE BLUES BAND had it all from the off. When erstwhile Manfred Mann‘s sidekicks – or, rather, front men – Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness decided to join forces again in 1979 and called on Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Hughie Flint to round off the collective, they immediately became a great attraction, especially on-stage. Which was why the ensemble’s debut, “Official Blues Band Bootleg Album” from 1980, featured a mix of studio and live cuts – and which is why a forthcoming box set titled “Boom Boom”, not after a John Lee Hooker staple yet rather after a Little Walter one, focuses on the veterans’ concerts as well.
Spread over four discs are whopping 75 tracks, including only a score of the previously released ones, housed on the first CD alongside three numbers from 1981 taped for radio and left unissued. The live material stored on the other three platters – among it an early set from the band’s inaugural year – has never been out either. With liner notes by Chris Welch, the collection, scheduled for August 14th, promises to be a treat.
Boom Boom
CD 1 – Intakes And Outtakes:
1. Death Letter (Original Bootleg 1980)
2. Noah Lewis Blues (Ready 1980)
3. Green Stuff (Ready 1980)
4. Flatfoot Sam (Original Bootleg 1980)
5. Maggie’s Farm (Ready 1980)
6. Talk To Me Baby (Original Bootleg 1980)
7. Find Yourself Another Fool (Ready 1980)
8. Someday Baby (Original Bootleg 1980)
9. SUS Blues (Ready 1980)
10. Treat Her Right (Ready 1980)
11. Diddy Wah Diddy (Original Bootleg 1980)
12. Twenty Nine Ways (Ready 1980)
13. Hallelujah I Love Her So (Ready 1980)
14. The Cat (Ready 1980)
15. I’m Ready (Ready 1980)
16. Come On In (Original Bootleg 1980)
17. Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights) (Original Bootleg 1980)
18. Talkin’ Woman Blues (Itchy Feet 1981)
19. Nothin’ But The Blues (Itchy Feet 1981)
20. So Lonely (Itchy Feet 1981)
Capital Radio, TGIF – December 1981 – previously unreleased:
21. Rollin’ Log
22. Death Letter
23. Can’t Be Satisfied
CD 2 – Top Rank, Sheffield – February 1st, 1981:
1. The Cat
2. Find Yourself Another Fool
3. These Kinds Of Blues
4. Green Stuff
5. Sus Blues
6. I Don’t Know
7. I Can’t Be Satisfied
8. Back Door Man
9. Flat Foot Sam
10. Someday Baby
11. Maggie’s Farm
12. Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)
13. Death Letter
14. I’m Ready
15. Hoochie Coochie Man
CD 3 – The Hope & Anchor, London – December 1979:
1. Come On In
2. Talk To Me Baby
3. Death Letter
4. Someday Baby
5. Two Bones And A Pick
6. Flat Foot Sam
7. Blues Band
8. Going Home
9. Smokestack Lightning
10. Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)
11. Nadine
12. I Don’t Know
13. Diddy Wah Diddy
Capital Radio, 24 July 1981:
14. Interview Part 1
15. I Can’t Be Satisfied
16. Interview Part 2
17. SUS Blues
18. Interview Part 3
19. Itchy Feet
20. Interview Part 4
21. Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio
22. Interview Part 5
CD 4 – Glastonbury Festival – June 1985:
1. Come On In
2. Talk To Me Baby
3. Death Letter
4. That’s All Right
5. Someday Baby
6. Twenty Nine Ways
7. Nadine
8. Find Yourself Another Fool
9. I Can’t Be Satisfied
10. Flat Foot Sam
11. Hoochie Coochie Man
12. Green Stuff
13. Hey Hey Little Girl
14. Can’t Hold On Much Longer
15. Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)
