The first two albums were mastered at ‘Chop Em Out’ in Ladbroke Grove by Simon Heyworth, with whom I shared many musical interests. Simon had completed a Channel 4 production called ‘Living with the blues’. From this original source material which comprised dozens of two inch tapes stored in his shed, we ploughed through hours of blues recordings to find some of them were classics. Three Months later, after much editing, overdubbing and compiling, we had the bones of what finally was released as BLUE BRITANNIA .
The art director on this one was Stuart Catterson, the art director at Music Maker publications where I had begun producing cover mount CD’s for Terry Days magazines. For the cover design I commissioned Stuart to paint a 6 foot square canvas oil of Britannia with one breast revealed. (This being the blues I felt some breast and a National Guitar were essential).
The album was released through my newly acquired three year distribution contract with Grapevine/PolyGram in 92. Radio 2 played the track ‘Bluemonia’ by Mickey Moody for months. Other great moments include Cliff Aungiers version of ‘Guilty’ and Steve Marriots ‘Hambone.’
Tracks on the album are: Got to move, Gamblers blues, Sandiago Serenade, Blood red river, Ho long blues, Born under a bad sign, Bluemonia, Guilty, Out of order, Highroller, Hard times/Killing floor, Forgotten the Blues, Hambone, Perfect Strangers rag, Love thats all, Living with the blues, One more whiskey, A Little security.
Musicians appearing: Peter Green, Geoff Bradford, Chris Farlowe, Micky Moody, Jerry Donahue, Ronnie Johnson, Snowy White, Steve Marriot, Richard Newman, John Spencer, Cliff Aungier, Charlie Morgan, Jeff Allan, Dave Mattacks, Danny Thompson, Paul Jones, Dave Pegg, Dave Kelly, Mike Simmonds, Joe Brown and Gerry Conway.
As the album featured many fine British guitarists, GUITARIST magazines publisher TERRY DAY was instrumental in helping to promote the players and the album through his Publications.
Sadly Cliff Aungier, whose version of Sandiago Serenade is such a highlight of the album, passed away in 2004.
- Order ‘BLUES BRITANNIA’ HERE
